In spite of the inclement weather on Saturday, August 23, ten hardy souls counted pollinators at Deerwoods Poillinator Garden before the storm moved in. 838 pollinators were counted, on three varieties of plants: porter weed, lantana and pentas. Celebration’s Deerwoods Pollinator Gardens is a successful!
The Garden Club of Celebration invites nature lovers of all ages to take part in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on Saturday, August 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the the beautiful Deerwoods Pollinator Garden.
This interactive, community science event offers residents a chance to slow down, sip lemonade, and become citizen scientists for the day. Participants will be provided with a tally sheet to record the number of pollinators—such as bees and butterflies—that land on the plant of their choice within a 15-minute window.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a curious student, or just someone who enjoys the outdoors, the census is a fun and educational way to support conservation. Attendees can choose to stand or are encouraged to bring a comfy chair for a more relaxed experience.
Cold lemonade and sweet treats will be available, courtesy of the Garden Club, making it a perfect summer outing for families, friends, or anyone with a passion for nature.
The data collected will contribute to a regional effort to track and protect pollinator populations across the Southeast. So come out, enjoy a treat, and help make a difference—one pollinator at a time.
The Celebration Garden Club held elections at the March 19, 2025 general club meeting at Heritage Hall. Nominations for all positions were made at the February meeting, and the nomination period for all positions was open until the election was held.
The election winners and the new board members will take office in May 1, 2025.
President- Cindy Smith
Co-Vice Presidents- Dorothy Bracey, Kathy Gordy
Treasurer-Bob Boyer
Secretary- Jaime Eriks
Community Liason-Brad Wagoner
Membership-TBD
Thank you to the new board members for making themselves available to the Club for the next two years. The membership looks forward to your leadership.
On February 7, the garden club, along with IDEAS for us and Mattamy Homes, erected and set up two raised bed gardens for the new, student run garden club at Island Village elementary school. Two teachers are taking it upon themselves to teach the kids about where their food comes from, and what it takes to grow their own food. Our club is supplying seeds, tools, storage bins and information on how to use raised beds. The Island Village school is working with Creation Village World school to share ideas and avoid the big mistakes that can occur when starting up a new program. Good synergy!
Brad Wagoner shared information about how to determine why your plants have leaf spots, and what to do about it!
Each year at the Veterans Day Ceremony Garden Club members create a United States Flag with flowers. After the ceremony veterans are invited to take one of the plants home with them.
Jeff Eriks and his son Lachlan brought their garden tools and met up with Brad Wagoner to reset trees and spruce up the library pollinator and memorial gardens. Several of our memorial program trees had been blown at a severe angle and one blown completely over. We staked and tied down trees where needed. At the memorial garden we found most of the low lying plants and shrubs in good shape. After cleaning up broken branches and such, we cut down two Yellow Trumpet Tabliabua trees that have blown over in each of the last three hurricanes. Their time was up this time as they could not be saved this time. All in all the trees and plants could have been in much worse shape.
We will have a better cleanup and planting get together at 8:00 on Friday, October 25. Please show up and help us get the gardens in good shape for the Foundations Memorial Service on November 2. Trimming, planting and weeding. Come prepared for an hour or so of work.
The Celebration Garden Club supports the planting of pollinator plants in Celebration gardens. These gardens attract pollinator insects and help increase their numbersby giving them food sources that are being wiped out through urban expansion and herbicide/pesticide use.
The Club has an anonymous donor who will reimburse half the cost of planting pollinator gardens! Just get your plants from Green Isle Gardens, near Clermont, and send the receipt and your contact information to [email protected]. You will be reimbursed as soon as your receipt is received.
Green Isle Gardens is a wonderful nursery with helpful staff who can help you with your plant list, even if you know very little about good pollinator plants for this area. You can also find a list of good pollinator plants online. So please help out the pollinators (butterflies, moths, and bees) while helping out your pocketbook. The Garden Club thanks you!
Before you start planting your own pollinator garden, it’s important to review theDesign Guidelines/Plant Guides and receive ARC approval. This step ensures that your garden not only supports our local ecosystem but also enhances the beauty of our community.
Last Spring, in partnership with the Education Foundation of Osceola County, the Garden Club awarded three $2000 scholarship. Two of the recipients sent us thank you notes – displayed below. We are happy we were able to play a small part in helping these three young woman as they embark on the next part of their educational journeys.
