‘March in the Park’ today; Garden Club event offers plenty of plants
The Garden Club of Cape Coral will host its third annual March in the Park event today at Jaycee Park..
Ginny Huffer, a member of the Garden Club, said March in the Park is an annual fund raiser that began three years ago because a couple members wanted to do something more, which led to providing scholarships for students.
As a result, the club had the opportunity to provide one $250 merit award to an individual last year who wanted to purse horticulture. This year they will provide two $250 awards.
The March in the Park will have more than 40 vendors offering an abundance of plants, shrubberies, palm trees and apple and peach trees.
The event will feature seven speakers concerning various garden topics from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The first speaker, Cheri Sukovich, will share information about the Natural Resource Academy at Island Coast High School at 9:30 a.m. The academy will also be selling fresh tilapia filets during the event.
Tom Becker with the Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program said Joyce Comingore will teach people how to plant the “right plant in the right place” at 10 a.m.
Becker said she will promote native Florida friendly landscaping and the practices associated with that. He explained being a gardener is about creating habitats and learning how to design native plants into an existing landscape, which can be done cheaply.
Ginny McCarthy will talk about growing and using herbs at 11 a.m. and Marty Ward will demonstrate to his audience how to do a floral arrangement at noon.
A presentation about worm castings will be addressed by Rachel Singletary, who raises red wigglers and African night crawler worms, because they can tolerate being captive in a bin, at 1 p.m.
Geri and David Prall will talk about bromeliads and succulents at 2 p.m. and how to grow and use citrus will be addressed by Debbie Hughs, who is in charge of the nursery at the Ford and Edison estates, at 3 p.m.
Huffer said that the garden club will raffle about 45 items off throughout the day. The vendors also will donate things to be raffled off as well.
A master gardener and representative from the extension office in Fort Myers will be present during the event, so individuals can ask any specific questions they may have.
Garden art vendors will also have items set up at the event.
A table will be set up for those who are interested in a club membership, she explained because they are always looking for new members.
Joe’s Italian Kitchen will be offering breakfast and lunch. Ice cream will also be for sale.
Last year between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended March in the Park throughout the day.
The Garden Club of Cape Coral holds a monthly meeting, which is open to the public, on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Epiphany Episcopal Church, 2507 Del Prado Blvd, one block south of the Midpoint Bridge.