Cindy Simon, former President of the Clermont Garden Club accepts “ The Deep South Unified Project Award”. The award is given to garden clubs that increase awareness in their community/neighborhood of the benefits of planting native plants, flowers, trees and vegetables. To receive this award, 38% of the club members (who live in the surrounding towns of Clermont, Groveland, Mascot, Montverde, Minneola and Leesburg) planted native plants in their gardens. Out of the 6 states in the Deep South Garden Clubs (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee), the Clermont Garden Club took the second place award for the State of Florida.
Tina Worrell, Horticulture Chairperson of the Clermont Garden Club, received a matching grant from the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, FFGC. With the grant, Tina initiated a raised gardening program at Clermont Head Start, located on E. Desoto Street in Clermont. The local Boy Scout Troop #551 contributed to the program by building 4 wooden raised garden beds. Tina and members of the Clermont Garden Club then planted vegetable seedlings with the children from Head Start. In following weeks, club members also read flower/gardening books to the children, then the books were donated to the school. The raised garden program at Head Start will continue through the coming years.
Clermont Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Clermont Garden Club members meet at the clubhouse located at 849 West Avenue, Clermont, FL 34711 from September through May. New members and guests are warmly welcome. The club facility is also available to rent for meetings, parties, weddings, etc. by contacting the Club’s rental chairman. at www.clermontgardenclub.com.
