by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Clermont Garden Club, 849 West Avenue, located on the shores of historical Center Lake Park in downtown Clermont, hosted its 8th Annual Spring Garden Festival on Saturday, May 2nd.
The festival was complete with vendors offering ornamental plants and exotic plants, such as medicinal herbs and beautiful orchids. The forty plus booths also offered growing tips for anything from everyday outdoor ornamental landscape plants to homegrown vegetable gardens that can provide herbicide and chemical-free nutrition to the family dinner table.
Many area residents are unaware of the beautiful clubhouse that is nestled under stately oak trees and surrounded by lush walking gardens that provide resting places and even homes to a wide variety of bird life, and beneficial insects such as lady bugs, bees, and hoverflies, all of which are helpful with pollination and pest control.
The club, which was established in 1948, celebrates 78 continuous years of community beautification and education this year. Club President Cindy Simon, who is a long-time member of the club, stated that the club is not only invested in the beauty and importance of nature and horticulture but also in the future of the environment and the youth that are destined to be a part of that interest and preservation process.
The club sponsors children in grades 3-6 to an annual youth camp located at Wekiwa State Park in Apopka. The one-week sleepover camp allows the children to experience nature hikes and trails while also gaining knowledge about wildlife animal track identification and plant identity- including ones that hurt, such as poison ivy.
The club also sponsors teenaged youth, grades 9-12, to a 3-day conference at the Saving Earths Environment through Knowledge (SEEK) program at Wekiwa Springs. SEEK is an educational experience sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and supported by the University of Florida. Youth get a chance to experience nature related field trips and workshops on critical environmental issues such as climate and water conservation.
The Clermont Garden Club continues to be an intricate part of the historical downtown Clermont area by offering walking garden tours and shows throughout the year. The club house is also available for rental and has been the site of beautiful weddings, anniversary party’s and any other social event that would embrace the natural grace that surrounds the cozy club house.
Visit www.ClermontGardenClub.org for information regarding membership, rental availability, show schedules and more.
