June Newsletter

 Hi, everyone.

Thank you for all of your strong support this month!
We accomplished a lot; including two new native gardens at Folly. .

 Here is your June update on Club news….

Our June Membership meeting was held at the Folly Farm Preserve Gazebo on Wednesday, June 23.

The meeting was a little bit business, a lot of planting in the new Meadow Garden and finished with ice cream and cupcakes as we sang happy birthday to our native plant garden (The Wind Garden is now 1 year old)!

 Here are a few photos of the day…(and some prep shots)

 

 

Our new "Rain Garden" got planted the very next Monday!

The Rain Garden is located across the trail from the new Meadow

Garden and directly behind the Gazebo.

 

More news:

The Butterfly House has been erected near our existing green house and it was agreed that any money left over from the $500 budgeted be kept in an account for accessories for the House such as tables, irrigation and shelves. 

 

Safety Harbor Garden Club donates $2,000

The Folly Farm summer camp scholarship fund just got a big boost from the Garden Club. One thousand dollars ($1000) was gifted to the program by the SHGC.

Ten Children will be selected by the city recreation department to attend summer camps offered at Folly Farm.   

The Safety Harbor Garden Club “Folly Farmer” contingent looks on as VP Leslie Zambito presents a $1,000 check to Kelliann Gerlach, Community Center Facility Manager.

 

Additional gifts to the community include:

$500 to Mattie Williams Neighborhood Center.

 

                            Barbara Nelson presents a $500 check to Mattie Williams 

                    executive director  Janet Hooper along with VP Leslie Zambito, 

                                        Teresa Cline and Becky DeCroteau.

The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center has been helping families since 1994.

"Our mission is to nurture and strengthen children, youth, adults, families and communities through education, support services and collaborative partnerships to help people improve their lives and achieve self-sufficiency."

The Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. It has a small staff headed by an Executive Director. The Center provides programs and services for families in need of temporary support in these areas: Critical Basic Needs, Family Support Services; Youth Programs and Services; Career Development.  

$500 to The Harbor Dish,

The Harbor Dish Mission:

Reduce food insecurity in the community by providing healthy meals and educational experiences in a dignified environment, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.

 In 2020, the Dish prepared and delivered nearly 33,819 meals while providing friendly support to many people suffering from debilitating health conditions, including elderly citizens, cancer patients and disabled veterans who otherwise would have gone hungry.  

                         Everyone is excited as Garden Club member Becky DeCroteau 

            presents fellow member and Harbor Dish representative

                         Michele Abruzzi with a check for $500.

Malachite Butterfly sighting at Folly!

Leslie Zambito shrieked with delight when she spotted the Malachite butterfly amongst the wild coffee plants near the greenhouse! 

It was determined there may have been at least two Malachite's at Folly. Several knowledgeable butterfly experts descended on Folly in hopes of getting a glimpse.

The sightings went on for a couple of days but no reports lately.

Wanting more Malachite's, The club ordered twenty malachite eggs which arrived mid-June and quickly became caterpillars! The caterpillars can be seen at Folly on Monday and Tuesday mornings (in their net house). We hope to have a Malachite butterfly release party in the near future - stand by!

 Malachite photos from Folly!

Plant Sales:  The Club’s two largest plant sale events are the

Annual  Plant Sale on Main Street in December (Kiwanis) and

the Enchanted Garden Fest at Folly around April. These

events bring in $2,500-$3,000 in plant sales.  There was

discussion regarding a proposed monthly plant sale and it was

generally agreed to limit plant sales to three a year:  the

Enchanted Garden Fest in April, a plant sale in September

and the Kiwanis event in December. 

 

Education:  Coming this fall - there are three classes scheduled

through the City to be led by our master gardeners and Folly

volunteers.

The Club currently has a table at the Explore Discover Grow events

at Folly the 2^nd Saturday of each month.  We conduct butterfly

safaris and butterfly education at these events.

 Folly:  Volunteer Day at Folly (and sometimes Mullet Creek Park)

will now be on Monday and Tuesday due to increase in number of

volunteers attending.  There is a possibility that Wednesday will also

become a volunteer day depending on the number of volunteers. 

We start at 8:00 am.

Membership:  There are now approximately 63 total members. 

 New SHGC Contact Information

 We have a new official mailing address! 

 Safety Harbor Garden Club

690 Main Street #209

Safety Harbor FL 34695

 

We have a new official phone number!

727-281-6856

This number is for our new smartphone.

It is complete with an attachment to accept credit card payments!

Especially nice for our plant sale activities!

 

Our Email address is: SafetyHarborGardenClub@gmail.com

 

Our Website is:  SafetyHarborGardenClub.weebly.com

That's all for this month! 

Phew!!

We have a board meeting next week to finalize plans for our July Membership Meeting. Stand by!

We dig Folly Farm!

Hope to see you soon

Gary

Leslie