Our Adventures at the GTM NERR by Garden Club President, Claire Fioriti

January is a month to get outdoors and enjoy the clean fresh air, which is what members of the Garden Club of Switzerland did.  Trooping to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR)* on A1A in Ponte Vedra gave us all what we were looking for and more.

Shepherded by wonderful and informed guides, we divided into two groups: one to learn the workings of an estuary and the other to take a 2.2 mile hike to view the Guana River Marsh and the Tolomato River.  Both groups were equally ecstatic about their experience and the GTM NERR.  Speaking for group 2, we saw  the Guana River dam, a “toothache” tree and hardwood hammock, birds, a Minorcan well and an oyster bed.   It was 64 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze. Following the tour, we enjoyed lunch at a nice restaurant on the Intercoastal waterway.  A perfect day!

* According to their web site, www.gtmnerr.org, "The GTM NERR is part of 28 sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems, established thru the Coastal Zone Management Act."   It offers educational events and activities for schools and the general public (admission fees may apply).  For information do a GTMNERR search. There are many informative sites.

We've recently published a few articles that might also be of interest.  In The Creekline January 2016, see our, "Bluebirds Beat the Winter Blues," and in the St. Johns Sun for February 2016, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,"  with a notice about Washington Oaks Gardens State Park's presentation on maintaining roses, 11AM on February 13.   All our articles are at Our Published Articles at the About Us page.

And don't forget!  We're back at the Bartram Trail Library, Thursday, 2/11 from 10AM-noon.  Our featured presenter, Master Gardener Shirley Barber, will share how "Beautiful Gardens Start with Seed."  She gave this presentation ro a paying audience last October at the state-wide Florida Master Gardener Convention.  Guests are welcome to join us (no charge!) and encouraged to RSVP so we'll have enough snacks for everyone!  See our Calendar for future events and activities.

A New Year and We're Happy!

Happy 2016!  And, "happy" is the word that describes our December luncheon at Carabba's Italian Grill.  "Yummy," also applies.  Lots of smiling faces and full plates - so full that some "doggy bags" were in order!  We were especially touched when the manager stopped by our table to thank us for creating our Freedom Butterfly Garden at Alpine Groves Park.  He told us he loves to come there to watch the butterflies.  And so do we!

We are happy to play our part in supporting nature and contributing to its enjoyment and understanding.  January's Creekline newspaper features an article, "Bluebirds Beat the February Blues," encouraging our fellow residents to follow our example and provide habitat for Eastern Bluebirds.  By having a suitable bluebird house waiting for them, you can help ensure the survival of the next generation and enjoy the experience of seeing a bluebird family grow.  These beautiful and shy birds usually return to our area in late February.  However, it's been so warm this past month, thanks to an El Nino weather system, the author has already seen some small flocks investigating the bluebird houses in her back yard!

The January issue of The St. Johns Sun features a look back to January 2015, when Master Arborist, Chuck Lippi, was our presenter for Florida Arbor Day.  The article, "Adventures in Arboriculture," recounted Chuck's descriptions of all the wrong ways to plant and maintain trees.  See all Our Published Articles at our About Us page.  Don't forget our Blog Archives for 2015.


This January we are planning a trip to the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuary Research Reserve (GTMNERR) near Vilano Beach.  The GTMNERR encompasses 74,000 acres of coastal lands in northeast Florida from Ponte Vedra Beach to Palm Coast.  It is part of a national system of research reserves that focus on research, education and stewardship.  In February, we'll be back at the Bartram Trail Library for a presentation by Master Gardener, Shirley Barber, "Beautiful Gardens Begin with Seed."  See our calendar for this and other program event descriptions.  The public is welcome, but we ask that you Contact Us, so we can provide sufficient refreshments

As you can see, we are a friendly group always interested in sharing our learning and love of gardening and the environment.  You are welcome to join us as a member.  Your garden club membership also connects you to a wider network of state, regional, and national garden clubs, which have a variety of events and programs to enjoy!

 

Happy New Year!

Christmas is Coming!

We're looking forward to our holiday luncheon December 10 (remember it starts at 11AM).  And we'd be remiss if we didn't invite you to share our website archives at 2015 Web Archive on the Resources page; we've also put a link to the 2015 Archive in the home page sidebar under Home Page Posts & Archives.  This month, look for our article, A Break from the Holiday Hoopla, in the Creekline and Honey in the Mornin', Honey in the Evenin' in this month's St. Johns Sun.  See all our published articles at Our Published Articles in the sidebar on the About Us page.

Don't forget to shop 'til you drop!  (Just kidding.)  But if you want to shop and support FFGC or NGC, see the  Support Our Affiliated Organizations section on the Resources page.

Now's the time for thinking about those New Year's Resolutions.  Here's one you might consider:

Get involved in a National Garden Clubs affiliated garden club and enjoy events like those at the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.  If you are interested in joining our garden club, why not be our guest at a few meetings?  See our Meetings and Events section at our website, and if you'd like to participate in an activity just contact us using the email address provided.  We want to have enough space (and enough munchies) for you.  Ask for or download our Membership Application if you'd like to become a member.  We saving a seat for you!

In The Garden and in the Kitchen - Happy Thanksgiving!

The month of November took us to the Westminster Woods Community Garden, courtesy of St. Johns County Master Gardener, Jerrel Powell.  Jerrel has done something pretty special to take the sweat out of gardening.  He has installed a vertical hydroponic garden system.  After explaining the science behind the hydroponic garden, we enjoyed a visit to the garden where residents were growing anything from flower, to herbs, to some really amazing vegetables.  See the photos at the end of this article.

During our business meeting Arlene shared her latest visit to Julington Creek Elementary in her Junior Gardening report.  Sarah discussed the Florida Water and Land Legacy and the need to keep the pressure on our legislators to honor that commitment.  Mickey updated the club on the Monarch Butterfly Committee's accomplishments; see Year End Report from Butterfly-Monarch Conservation Committee.

November's bounty inevitably leads us to the kitchen, and our president, Claire Fioriti, gave us some inspiration when she served up her roasted kale chips at the meeting.  See our our Holiday and Any Day Recipes posting on the Resources page for her recipe and for other ways to use local and seasonal produce.  Our Publicity Chair, Dianne Battle, wrote an article, Honey in the Mornin' Honey in the Evenin' for her Master Gardener column in the December 2015 St. Johns Sun on her  adventures on Tour de Farm and shared an unusual cookie recipe.

Click on the Read More >> link below to see some holiday ideas that support our affiliated garden clubs.  Don't forget to enjoy the pictures of our visit to Westminster Woods Garden!