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Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Program 2019-2020

Friday, Sept. 13: Good Bug or Bad Bug – Barbara Meyer, Master Gardener

Friday November 8: Landscaping to protect the Watershed – Dr. Serge Thomas, Aquatic Ecologist and Assistant Professor, Gulf Coast University

Friday, January 10: Mixing and Matching Edibles and Flowers – Adrienne Diaz of “Miss Potter’s Place”, Master Gardener

Friday, March 13: Plant this, Not that – Vanessa Hazelton, Master Gardener

Friday, May 8: Floral Design using Fruits and Vegetables – Suzy Valentine, Master Gardener and Master Flower Show Judge

Flower Show March 6-7, 2020

Show open to the public:
Friday, March 6, 2020 – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 7, 2020 – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

A Flower Show is so much more than the words “flower” and “show” suggest.  It is an opportunity to celebrate and share what we have, what we grow, and what we love to do.  If you– or your children– were in the school band, on a sports team, in a dance class or maybe the church choir, you know about all the hours practicing, rehearsing, and practicing some more before THE BIG DAY.  The parade, the game, the Recital, the Sunday Service—the time to shine!  However much practice went into it, there were always some fumbles, mis-steps, false notes and tears amid the clapping, cheering, bows and curtsies.  But mostly we remember the applause—and the fun we had working together as a club to put on the show.

Our 2020 Show is titled “On Your Mark….Ready….Set….Go!!!!  The theme is a continuation of last year’s “You Are Here—And You Can Do It!”.  We have added two new Divisions to allow those of you who are only here in Florida a few months, or who have limited gardening space, to participate and show what you CAN do.  Photography is now a part of shows, so take pictures of your own gardens, trees, shrubs and flowers.  Botanical Arts is the other new opportunity to show what blooms or grows at another time or place.  Dried and/or pressed flowers and leaves from your garden anywhere may be exhibited in a variety of ways. Watch for details in our Newsletters.

Please thank our Flower Show Sponsors: 

  • Edison Ford Winter Estates
  • Florida Repertory Theater
  • Gulf Coast Symphony
  • Lee Co Sports Development
  • Naples Botanical Garden
  • Pelican Landing Dental
  • Pelican Sound Golf & River Club
  • Southwest Florida Symphony

Horticulture must be in your possession for at least 90 days, so December 13 of 2019 is the last day for adding new plants to your garden or lanai. The show will be judged March 6, 2020.

Click here for the Horticulture Rules. 

Click here for the list of Horticulture Classes. You can also download and print the pages that appear.

Click here for more horticulture information provided by Rosemary DiLorenzo 

Click here for information about the Horticulture Entry Card

The Design classes are planned to be fun and ‘doable’ for all levels of experience.

Click here for the Design Rules. You can also download and print the pages that appear.

Click here for the 12 Design Classes. 

Read them over and email Entries Chair Pat Townsend pattytow60@yahoo.com with your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices.  (Or just 1 or 2 choices).  Classes 4 & 5 are for Novices Only—meaning of  Novice in this case is one who has not won a Blue/First Prize in a Standard Flower Show. Everyone is receiving this information at the same time, and entries will be accepted beginning August 1.  If you have questions about specific details, email Pat Townsend  at pattytow60@yahoo.com.

Botanical Arts and Photography are detailed on another attachment.  No excuses now!!!  All of you can do something to make this show truly a Gulf Coast Garden Club Spectacular!  Committees will be formed in the coming weeks and we welcome volunteers.  At the end of each of our regular monthly meetings, for about 30 minutes, those interested may participate in “Fun Flower Show Facts” or “Show Girls”.  This will be a time to ask questions, see demonstrations, and learn all you need to know to be a winner!  And you’ll still be on your way by noon!

Click here for Botanical Arts and Photography information

proposed changes to GCGC BYLAWS

A message from the President:

Dear Gulf Coast Members,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and we wish you all a Happy New Year.

Attached is a copy of the proposed by-law changes suggested by the current by-laws committee.  Please take the time to review these changes as they are important to the club. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of us: Anina Bachrach, Claire Flynn, Anne Marie Dooley or Diane Schmidt.

In the attached document, changes are marked in red.

However, there are large sections of our current bylaws that the committee feels should be moved to either the standing rules or to position job descriptions. These areas are designated with green.

Areas underlined in black are sections that were moved to/from another part of the document.

The bylaws committee has worked very hard to make these changes easily understandable. To further simplify the intention of the committee, the by-laws committee also developed the document below to explain our thoughts and actions:
December 2018 – Explanation of proposed bylaws changes
Members: The purpose of the first meeting of the bylaws committee was to simplify and streamline the bylaws, moving a lot of information from the February 2017 revision to a yet-to-be determined document.
The few changes were needed in order to have elections in March for a fewer number of officers than what is currently described in the February 2017 version of the bylaws. There are other areas that still need to be reviewed and changes proposed, but the committee wanted to focus on only a few at this time.

CHANGES
Article IV Finances,
Section 2. Changed dues due date from May 15 to May 1.

Article V Officers,
Section 1. Added the word “Audit” to 1st VP title.

Section 3. Changed the officers to be elected in odd and even
years, reverting back to pre-Feb. 2017 changes. Those
changes had President, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd VPS all elected in
the even years. The other officers: Treasure, recording and
corresponding secretaries in the odd years.

Section 4. Added the words “beginning June 1st” for the start
of a new officers’ term.

Article VI Duties of Officers,
Section 1. Added the words “standing rules” and “current
addition.”

Section 2. Duties
1.  President – moved most of the description for this office to
be included in another document, such as Position
Description.

2.  1st Vice President – deleted responsibilities of “appointing
yearbook committee and community outreach.” Those
tasks will be assigned to other club members.

4.  3rd Vice President – deleted “responsible for internal
communications” as the corresponding secretary has
that task.

5.  Treasurer – moved information pertaining to audit and
budget to a yet-to-be determined document.

7.  Corresponding secretary – limited duties to internal
communications only.

8 and 9 – moved Parlimentarian and Advisors to Article VII.

Section 3. Vacancies – moved to Article VII.

Article VII Board of Directors – added description of those members who comprise the BoD.
Section 3. Quorum – Added “in person or via
telecommunications.”

Article IX Standing Committees – Removed sections 2 – 22. These areas required review and discussion to determine if applicable. If they are, that information will be part of another yet-to-be determined document.

Article X Special Committees – removed sections 2-3 for same reason as stated above.

Article XI Amendments – inserted “in the months of October through April” to specify when amendments can be changed.

To see the attachment, please click  BYLAWS