KEY WEST GARDEN CLUB Fall News Letter

2017

Message from the President Happy Holidays to everyone! Whether you are in snowy parts of the world or in the Sunny Keys, I wish you all a wonderful season with friends & family. West Martello looks particularly festive right now, thanks to our Holiday decorating elves, Donna Farrow and team, who have decorated the fort classily and beautifully! The restoration of the Gardens is going forward apace, thanks to our amazing volunteers, some very generous donations of both money and plants, plus grants from the TDC (Tourist Development Council) Emergency Hurricane Relief fund. In just the last two months we have extended our fantastic Flexi-paving so that all of the gardens are accessible by wheelchairs and strollers, and the area around the

newly restored Green Gazebo is much improved for events held in the gardens. The funding for this project came from donations in memory of the wonderful Fran Ford. The Flexi-Pave path is to be named “The Fran Ford Way” In her honor. We have had twelve large mature fruit and native trees donated by the Trophia Foundation (Thank you Sam Trophia); two gorgeous large stands of Black Bamboo from Susan Cardenas and six beautiful mature Simpson Stoppers from Barbara Sowers…all of which, now planted, have helped make the Garden look more lush and full. We have been busy redesigning much of the gardens, due to losing so many large trees and now having so much sun rather than shade, providing an interesting and educational experience for our visitors with the newly planted “Pre-historic garden” (full of plants which were around in the time of the dinosaurs!!); the white Perfume garden in the inner courtyard; the spectacularly newly planted Butterfly garden, already attracting over twenty different species of butterflies and caterpillars, extended orchid collection and native garden on top of the hill. The “Piece de Resistance” is being installed as I write this letter – we are installing a new large pool and fountain opposite the double iron gates, this will be flanked by the two stands of black bamboo and two stunning bright red lipstick palms (grown and donated by Perry Johnston )– a truly dramatic entrance to the gardens which will be lit at night for everyone to see! I could not be more thankful to be part of this wonderful club, full of incredible people, contributing so much to restore and replant our gardens; making it once more a place of beauty, joy, and spiritual renewal for all of us and our visitors. I wish you all a peaceful, restful Holiday season and a Happy and Healthy New Year! Looking forward to seeing you in the gardens in 2018! Rosi

Plant Sale “Lite” The decision to go ahead with the Plant and Art Sale after the hurricane turned out to be a good idea. Mary Brady, Plant Sale coordinator, worked amazing feats with Mary Olson and Jane Tiedeman. We had enormous support with fantastic volunteers and the end result was that the event was a financial success. It was also an enormous community event. People streamed in with a hungry look on their faces and streamed out with plants and smiling faces. It was a disappointment that Soroa Orchids did not come due to a miscommunication on his part but he will be coming later this year.

Laurie Tifts in her “orchid ball selling tutu” and Sally Dodd getting ready for the sale.

Fran Ford Way The Garden Club is now very ADA accessible thanks to a Flexi-pave system installed in areas formerly covered with gravel. The porous covering is made from recycled tires that allows rainwater to seep through. It moves and bends when tree roots push up. The first part of the flexi-pave was done in Feb 2016 and the second part was completed in November 2017. This was done in memory of our beloved Fran Ford. Very generous donations were given to the club in her honor. She was able to utilize some of the paths while she was still with us. We think she is very happy looking down and seeing the all grounds so easy to access.

Replanting the Garden

Caro planted many of the new fruit trees.

Coast Guard volunteers did the enormous job of moving and planting the black bamboo.

Butch Steely overseeing the large trees donated by Sam Trophia.

Rosi and Hazel Hans with other hard working volunteers. And Life goes on… Since “Irmageddon”, the Club could not use our beautiful meeting room until the mold situation in the “dungeon” rooms is dealt with. Our innovative Jane Tiedeman came up with a garden meeting for the December meeting. It was a perfect day to be outside, President Rosi Ware gave an update on progress in the Gardens. We were introduced to our new speaker system which is much easier to use and can be transported to all parts of the gardens.

In addition to Rosi’s update there were demonstrations on wreath making and creating succulent gardens. It was fun for everyone.

Robin Robinson’s sister, Rene, gave tips on making wreaths.

Sharon Lieberman, our succulent garden creator extraordinaire, demonstrated how to make a falling water type garden.

Members took a stroll in the gardens and were amazed by the number of butterflies having a wonderful time with our new plants. The butterfly garden is looking marvelous. Thanks to Donna Farrow and her crew.

Farewell party for Kim Gabel

Kim Gabel, Extension Agent for Monroe County, is retiring. Kim has trained many Master Gardeners over the years and been a good resource for all our members and the community. Darren Robert provided us with his wonderful scones and we toasted Kim with Mimosas. More Clean Up Hazel Hans and a group of hard working assistants are seen cleaning up and moving everything out of the meeting room area. This has been off limits since the hurricane. There is black mold in the dungeon areas and we are waiting for the official County approved cleaning company to come and take care of the problem.

New Fountain Our new fountain has been installed. The crew from Atlanta finished in a few days. Once it is landscaped it will be another beautiful focal point in our gardens. Jeff Ware is working “with the flow.” Our newly refurbished flag pole.

Exciting upcoming events: Luncheon The Winter Luncheon is Sunday, January 28th, 2018 from 12:00 to 2:00. It will be held at the Hyatt Centric Hotel at 601 Front St. in Key West. Reservations can be made with :Jill Benado at keyguys@aol.com 305-293-1886 or Marlynn Wolkoff at mands65@aol.com 646-861-8899 The cost is $35. Payment can be made by going to the Garden Club website www.keywestgardenclub.com (link for the luncheon is on the home page) or make out a check to KWGC and mail to Key West Garden Club, 1100 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, 33040. If you mail a check, please email us and let us know. The cut-off date is January 12. This is always a lovely, fun event. It is a relaxing way to catch up with friends. Fund Raiser Film “the Gardener” Garden Club member Colin Cabot is hosting the showing of “the

Gardener”, a new movie about his father’s fabulous creation – the “Quatre Temps” gardens in Canada. The event will be a Fund Raiser for the Garden Club to help pay for the restoration of the gardens post-IRMA. The Studios of Key West have kindly agreed to host the event free of charge, in their large theater on the second floor of 533 Eaton Street on Monday, January 8 at 4:30 pm. The movie is a feast for the senses – anyone with any interest in plants, gardening and creativity should not miss this spectacular film, which has been selected by all the major Film Festivals worldwide. Please click on the link to see the preview: https://vimeo.com/213602278 Mark the date on your calendars now! Bring a friend…or better still, 3 friends…or your whole neighborhood! This will be a very special evening which should inspire all of us to create something of beauty for the soul. If you have ANY questions at all, do not hesitate to contact Rosi Ware (cell) 917-365-6823 or (email) rosi.ware@kantar.com.

Membership Dues Don’t forget, it is that time of year to renew your membership! A Single membership is $30.00 and Family is $50.00. It can be done on line at our website, keywestgardenclub.com or write your check to KWGC and mail to 1100 Atlantic Ave , KW, 33040. It is tax deductible!! Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas is in the air. Many hands were involved with the Christmas decorating of the Fort. Donna Farrow and Robin Robinson headed up all the elves. Thanks to Donna and Darell Dye who were again masters of the light decorations.

January Meeting The January 4, 2018 meeting will feature Ronnie Rupe, a local florist who will entertain us with some ideas of how to use tropical flowers in arrangements. This will be a fun event with demonstrations and handy hints. The meeting will be held at the garden with the specific location to be determined. If weather permits, we will be outside in the wonderful ambiance of the garden. We may see a frog turn into a tropical prince! Huge thank yous to everyone who donated time, plants,money and good thoughts to our recovery.

Wishing you all happy holidays and only good Happenings in 2018! Thank you for photos from Rosi Ware, Lynne Bentley-Kemp, Kitty Somerville, Eloise Pratt, Hazel Hans and Sue Sullivan. Thank you to Christa Varacalli for proofing. Editor, Sue Sullivan