Garden Gala to be one of island’s biggest events
This weekend marks one of the area’s biggest events for gardening enthusiasts. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the Pine Island Garden Club will host its annual Garden Gala from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Garden Club Park adjacent to Phillips Park at the island center. Dozens of vendors will be on hand and this gala promises to have something for everyone.
Among the plant vendors to be on hand for the day will be Schneider’s Pine Island Tropicals; Pelican Coast – Jerry Melio Orchids; Earth and Spirit Garden Center; Jim Welch’s Paradise Gardens; Wingert’s Bonsi Plants; Garden Club Plant; Larimer Nursery; Exotic Blossoms Tropical Plants; Gardino Nursery; Phil Elting with bromeliads, airplants, orchids and plumeria; George Griepenburg’s butterfly and hummingbird plants; John Lucas with Tradewinds Signature Botanicals; Stephen Currura with Fruitscapes; Rachael Singletray with Pine Island Forest Fruit Farm, including composting worms, work castings, native and tropical seeds; and Anne Pedgeon with Colorfield Farms.
All of the plant vendors present for the event will be on hand to answer questions about the plants purchased or plants already owned.
In addition to the plant vendors, others with wares to sell the day of the event include watercolor artist Dianna Willman; Leaves by Jenney with leaf-shaped waterfalls and fountains; pottery and purses by Marty Kendall and Suzie Quatro; tatouage decals; Xango Vitamins; fused glass crystals and jams by Allison Laccettis; watercolor prints and originals by Kathleen Conover; hand-crafted jewelry by Juanita D’Anna; shell crafts by Serena Mommaert; hand-crafted jewelry by Laura Devoe; fused and diocroic glass by Karen’s Kreations; hand-painted floral glass by Judi Revercomb and Barb Darling; T-shirts and floral arrangements; Marcine Smith Originals by Marrine Tillandsai; with orchid arrangements on palm fronds, shell and wood, zipper pulls, bracelets, wood turtles and porpoise by Ann Schwab’s Zipper Sisters; hand-painted hats by Lynne Thorsen; beaded jewelry by Gabriele Solterra; purses and totes by “The Bag Lady” Sue Roddie; Calusa Palm Liner’s-Potted Palms and Pottery Express and Bamboo Farm.
The gala also will feature a number of informative free demonstrations provided by area specialists and are as follows:
– 10 a.m., Nancy Palmer of Pottery Express
– 11 a.m., Carolyn Littleton with Native Plants
– 12 p.m., Donna Cook with Flower Arrangements
– 1 p.m., Jerry Milo with orchids
– 2 p.m., Gary Schneider with Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Tickets also will be sold for a chance at several raffle items. For $1 each or six for $5, each ticket will put the purchaser in the running for a $250 gift card from the Pine Island Winn-Dixie or a Garden Starter Package which includes a 6-cubic-foot wheel barrel, mulch, compost and potting soil, worm compost, garden gloves, garden hand took, a basket with organic seeds, pots and teas as well as two autographed books, “Easy Gardens for South Florida” and “Best Color Garden for Florida,” by Pamela Crawford, as well as plants from Pelican Farms, Pine Island Tropicals, Colorfield Farms, Larimer Gardens and George Griepenberg. Chances also will be provided for a travel package for two which includes a two-night stay at the Tween Waters Inn on Captiva, lunch for two at the Collier Inn on Useppa, a cruise on the Lady Chadwick from Captiva Cruises and admission for two to the Barbara Sumwalt Museum on Useppa. Other prizes include a rain barrel from Pat Rooney and hand-painted by Marty Kendall, a watercolor painting by local artist Dianna Willman and a cocktail basket with three bottles of wine and snacks.
Raffle tickets will be on sale the day or they can be obtained from any Garden Club member or call Jane Schneider at 283-4874.
Ample parking is available and admission to the event, as well as all of the demonstrations, is free. Proceeds from the gala will benefit island charities.
For more information about the Garden Club or the Pine Island Garden Club Garden Gala, visit pineislandgardenclub.org.