‘Dooryard Tropical Fruit’ topic of next Pine Island Garden Club meeting
The Pine Island Garden Club will feature Steve Cucura as guest speaker at the Thursday, Nov. 21, meeting.
After graduating St. Leo University with a degree in business management and accounting and working as an accountant for a few years, Cucura realized his passion was farming. In 1999, he moved to Pine Island, worked for Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market and Treehouse Nursery and in 2008, he and his partner purchased Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market and turned it into Fruitscapes. They now operate 7 acres on Stringfellow Road, half of which is a fruit orchard and the other half a nursery.
Cucura’s presentation will address Pine Island’s unique climate, fruit tree selection for South Florida, and site selection, planting, and care of tropical fruit trees in your yard.
Also at our Nov. 21 meeting, D&D Growers will be set up in the breezeway to sell herbs and vegetable plants. Additionally,
Dot Birmingham will be selling her island-inspired water colors, and Pine Island Tropicals will offer an assortment of bromeliads and orchids for sale.
Holiday Luncheon
This year the club’s holiday luncheon is Thursday, Dec. 12, at Chef Georgio’s Misto Bar & Grill, 231 Del Prado Blvd., S., in Cape Coral. The November meeting is the last meeting to pay for the luncheon. Don’t forget your gift for the Chinese Auction at the luncheon.
Gala Update
The gala will be held Feb. 22. There are spaces available for vendors who would like to participate. Please contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175 for details.
Monthly Garden Club meetings are held at the Fishers of Men Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10360 Stringfellow Road, and begin at 9 a.m. with coffee and refreshments followed by our guest speaker’s presentation and finishing up with a brief member’s business meeting.
Club meetings are free and open to everyone. If you are interested in attending a meeting or becoming a member (annual dues are $20), call Kathie Reiter, membership chairman, at 283-3176.
Please visit the group’s website at www.pineislandgardenclub.org for membership information and events.