First Cleanup Day of 2023 was held at Orange Hall on January 17, 2023
A shout out to all those who volunteered their time to clean-up the vines and overgrowth. The azaleas are breathing a sigh of relief that they are no longer being strangled by those pesky vines. A job well done, thank you ladies!
Cleanup at the First Presbyterian Church January 30, 2023
Some of our members gathered to plant a tree in preparation of Arbor Day. They also cleaned up the property and gardens around the church. Many thanks for all who attended this fun event.
Some of our members gathered to plant a tree in preparation of Arbor Day. They also cleaned up the property and gardens around the church. Many thanks for all who attended this fun event.
February 14, 2023 Garden Club Meeting
Speaker: Emily Floore, Executive Director St. Marys Riverkeepers
Emily Floore gave a presentation on "River friendly practices for your yard and gardens".
It was a very engaging talk about the Saint Marys River and what is going on in the Okefenokee Swamp and how this impacts the river and waterways and thus our gardens and yards here in Saint Marys and any land abutting this river. At our meet and greet hour before the meeting, were four delicious soups made by our members. Thanks goes out to our soup-makers. All were delicious and enjoyed by those in attendance. Many want the recipes!
It was a very engaging talk about the Saint Marys River and what is going on in the Okefenokee Swamp and how this impacts the river and waterways and thus our gardens and yards here in Saint Marys and any land abutting this river. At our meet and greet hour before the meeting, were four delicious soups made by our members. Thanks goes out to our soup-makers. All were delicious and enjoyed by those in attendance. Many want the recipes!
March 14, 2023 Garden Club Meeting
Speaker: Jessica Warren, Camden County Extension Agent, UGA
Speaker: Jessica Warren, Camden County Extension Agent, UGA
Jessica Warren gave a presentation on "How we can be better Georgia Landscape Stewards"
Field Trip to Baxley March 30, 2023
Members travelled by carpool to the County Farm Garden Center in Baxley for a fun filled morning of driving golf carts around the grounds of the County Farm picking out plants to add to our garden that were available for sale. The farm has more than plants with statues and outdoor decorations, pots and such. Lunch was enjoyed by all at Sarah's in the City Restaurant. This has become an annual event for the club and is very much enjoyed by all who attend. Thanks to all our drivers and passengers who partook of the event. It was a blast!
April 11, 2023 Garden Club Meeting
Members were educated by Dr. Taylor Clem of the Nassau County Florida Extension Service. Dr Clem presented a very interesting program titled "The Solitary Bees in our Gardens". We learned there are 300 bee types in our area and 9 types of solitary bees among them. We thank Dr Clem for bringing this program to us.
Members were educated by Dr. Taylor Clem of the Nassau County Florida Extension Service. Dr Clem presented a very interesting program titled "The Solitary Bees in our Gardens". We learned there are 300 bee types in our area and 9 types of solitary bees among them. We thank Dr Clem for bringing this program to us.
April 18 - 20, 2023 Garden Club of Georgia State Convention - "Magic on the Mountain"
Several members: our current president and two past presidents of the Saint Marys Garden Club attended this annual event held at Stone Mountain Georgia outside of Atlanta. It was a beautiful venue with workshops on Daffodils, Floral Design, Container Gardening and Landscape Architecture were very informative and entertaining. Information booths on Conservation, Trees and Wildlife in Georgia as well as Historic Landscape Preservation. Floral design done by several members of clubs throughout Georgia was on display and enjoyed by all in attendance. The club was presented with two 2022 state awards (see awards tab). One of our past presidents will become the State Treasurer. Congratulations to her!
May 25, 2023 Field Trip to "Eat Your Yard JAX"
Members attended a field trip to a non-profit sustainable 43-acre nursery in Jacksonville. This educational nursery grows all edible plants and trees. The two-hour tour was led by founder Tim Armstrong who explained every plant and tree grown on this forest farm and how to use it in cooking as well as just taking it and eating it from the plant.
Members attended a field trip to a non-profit sustainable 43-acre nursery in Jacksonville. This educational nursery grows all edible plants and trees. The two-hour tour was led by founder Tim Armstrong who explained every plant and tree grown on this forest farm and how to use it in cooking as well as just taking it and eating it from the plant.
June 3, 2023 Orange Hall Azalea Talk and Trimming
Today we invited the public to Orange Hall at the corner of Conyer and Osbourne Streets for a talk about azaleas. Judy Molnar, our "Garden Maven" spoke briefly to garden club members and the public about trimming and care of azaleas. Judy gave a brief trimming demonstration. After, the group went and used their newly learned skills to trim the azaleas and clean out vines and brush. Remember, the club cleaned up this area back in January removing invasive vines and plants to allow the azaleas to continue to grow but some have returned. It was well attended and we appreciate all the hands with loppers and hand clippers that came to help.
Today we invited the public to Orange Hall at the corner of Conyer and Osbourne Streets for a talk about azaleas. Judy Molnar, our "Garden Maven" spoke briefly to garden club members and the public about trimming and care of azaleas. Judy gave a brief trimming demonstration. After, the group went and used their newly learned skills to trim the azaleas and clean out vines and brush. Remember, the club cleaned up this area back in January removing invasive vines and plants to allow the azaleas to continue to grow but some have returned. It was well attended and we appreciate all the hands with loppers and hand clippers that came to help.
National Garden Week Celebrated in Saint Marys June 4-10, 2023
Members met with Saint Marys Mayor, John Morrissey who read a proclamation declaring June 4-10 as National Garden Week in Saint Marys. Bouquets and plants were given to civic departments and organizations throughout Camden County to thank them for supporting our communities through their work. Thanks to all members of the Garden Club who participated with their talents in making their bouquets and plants so beautiful.
June 13, 2023 Garden Club Meeting
At the June 13 meeting our Speakers Terry and Ray Wensell presented their love of Day Lilies of Southeast Georgia and North Florida. Ray is a Master Gardener and member of the North Florida Daylily Society. Ray and Terry showed us how to split daylilies and spoke about the number of daylilies available and what to look for in purchasing them from nurseries. Ray goes through 40 pounds of fertilizer a month for his daylilies. WOW!
At the June 13 meeting our Speakers Terry and Ray Wensell presented their love of Day Lilies of Southeast Georgia and North Florida. Ray is a Master Gardener and member of the North Florida Daylily Society. Ray and Terry showed us how to split daylilies and spoke about the number of daylilies available and what to look for in purchasing them from nurseries. Ray goes through 40 pounds of fertilizer a month for his daylilies. WOW!
August 8, 2023 Garden Club Meeting
Three lovely ladies from the North Florida Violet Society came to speak to us about violets at our meeting. This was a hands-on talk where every member who came was able to take home a new violet plant(s) for their home. It was so much fun and we appreciate them coming to help us to enjoy these beautiful plants.
Three lovely ladies from the North Florida Violet Society came to speak to us about violets at our meeting. This was a hands-on talk where every member who came was able to take home a new violet plant(s) for their home. It was so much fun and we appreciate them coming to help us to enjoy these beautiful plants.
September 9, 2023 Special Date and Time
Plant Sale and Lunch & Learn
Members gathered at the First Presbyterian Church grounds in the early morning hours to organize the many plants that were grown and donated by our members for our Fall Plant Sale. We bring our "native" plants and herbs that will grow in our area and share our knowledge to the public about the plants we grow. Also available were bee houses made and donated by a members husband for our native bees to place their eggs in to help in seeing that our native pollinators continue to support our plants. People came from as far away as Yulee Florida to support our club. The proceeds of this plant sale, will be brought back into the community when members help to beautify the various historical buildings and non-profits in Camden with flowers, trees and bushes. Following this plant sale we held our annual Lunch & Learn in the church hall which was also open to the public where our presenter and fellow garden club member, Angel Bernier put on a educational and informative program on "Hummingbirds in our Yard". A slide presentation showed us the many types of hummingbirds in our world and area. Angel educated us on how to attract and keep hummingbirds coming back to our yards as they traverse the many thousands of miles from the tropics in South America and Mexico through North America to Canada each year. Members of the club made finger sandwiches, appetizers and desserts to have available for the public to enjoy while they fed their minds with information about the Hummingbird.
2023 Club Christmas Party
It was good to get back together again to celebrate Christmas with a catered lunch. There were 31 members in attendance for food, fun and fellowship. We even played some Christmas games. Thanks go out to Marty K. who found our caterer. The food was enjoyed by all.
It was good to get back together again to celebrate Christmas with a catered lunch. There were 31 members in attendance for food, fun and fellowship. We even played some Christmas games. Thanks go out to Marty K. who found our caterer. The food was enjoyed by all.