Donations to Punta Gorda Garden Club have a significant impact on the quality of life in Charlotte County. By supporting environmental projects, beautification and education, the club helps to promote a healthy and sustainable community. Additionally, the shcolarships provided to local students encourage the pursuit of careers in fields that benefit the environment and the community as a whole.Your donations support the following projects and organizations:Arbor Day – Tree plantings in the communityCharlotte County Home and Garden Show – Display promoting club membershipCharlotte Habitat for Humanity – Plants installed at homesCharlotte County Public Schools:East Elementary – Hands on projects with studentsSallie Jones Elementary– Hands on projects with studentsCharlotte High School – Gardening at History Park Community Garden FloridaSouthwest Collegiate High School – Help teacher of Horticulture Course plan and design gardensPunta Gorda Public Gardens – The club maintains these gardens with monthly workdays providing plants, mulch and general upkeep:History Park Heritage GardenPunta Gorda Library GardensPunta Gorda Woman’s Club Quiet GardenElise Haymans Memorial Butterfly Garden at Charlotte Harbor Environmental CenterTEAM Punta Gorda – Partnership in beautification of Punta Gorda. Monetary DonationsCharlotte Harbor Environmental Center – Supporting education of the public about environmental awareness and conservation of resources.College Scholarships – Students from Port Charlotte High School, Charlotte High School, Lemon Bay High School and Southwest Florida Collegiate High School are eligible for club-provided scholarships in Environmental Science, Horticulture, Biology, or related fields of study.Green Thumbs Gardeners – Donation for Nature Park in Punta Gorda Isles.ECHO: Educational Concerns Hunger Organization – Contribution to their fight against world hunger.Keep Charlotte Beautiful –Donation to support two events, participation by members at these events.The Last Straw Initiative –Donation to help eliminate single-use plastics.Peace River Botanical Gardens – Monetary donation for improvements at the gardens, members work to maintain entrance shrubbery.Peace River Wildlife Center – Monetary donation for the upkeep of the wildlife sanctuaryFFGC Garden Therapy Program: Avon Park Correctional InstitutionFFGC Wekiva Youth Camp Building FundFFGC Wekiva Youth Camp General FundFFGC Wekiva Youth Camp ScholarshipsFFGC Scholarships for Higher EducationFFGC Coral Reef RestorationFFGC SEEK ProgramNGC National Garden WeekNGC Penny Pines Project

Historic Punta Gorda Garden Seeking Community SupportFor years, the Woman's Club Garden at 118 Sullivan Street in Punta Gorda has served as a tranquil sanctuary for residents and visitors alike. This lush tropical oasis, complete with comfortable benches nestled among beautiful plantings, has provided a peaceful retreat from daily life thanks to the dedicated maintenance efforts of the Punta Gorda Garden Club.Despite weathering devastating blows from Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, the resilient Garden Club worked to nurture what survived and plant new specimens each time. However, the garden now faces a different enemy entirely—tenting and fumigation due to termitesTermite Treatment Succeeds Where Hurricanes FailedThe historic Woman's Club building recently required fumigation for termites, resulting in damage to surrounding vegetation. According to Beth Magnin of the Punta Gorda Historical Society, which owns the Women's Club, the sight was heartbreaking."The garden has always been a special place," Magnin explained. "It was devastating to see half the garden disappear after the tenting process."While garden volunteers managed to save some smaller plants by carefully transplanting them into containers, the majority of mature shrubs and trees—including several rare and unique specimens—were either severely damaged or killed. The building's entire perimeter now sits barren, showing only dirt and remaining stumps.Recovery Efforts Face Financial ChallengesMary Yeomans, president of the Punta Gorda Garden Club highlighted the stark difference between this situation and previous hurricane recovery efforts."After each hurricane in the past, we worked diligently to clear debris and replace damaged plants using cuttings propagated by our members or donations, particularly for our Succulent Garden area," Yeomans noted. "However, this restoration project is simply too extensive, with costs exceeding our current capabilities."The Garden Club plans to pursue grant funding, but grant applications require demonstrated community support to be competitive. Without sufficient donations and grant assistance, the complete garden restoration could take several years to accomplish.Additional Fundraising ObstaclesAs a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Punta Gorda Garden Club understands hurricane impacts all too well. Their primary fundraising event, the popular Holly Days Home Tour, has been cancelled twice in the past four years due to storm damage affecting historic downtown homes. These cancellations have significantly reduced the funds available for community garden projects and plant replacement at the five gardens under their care.How the Community Can HelpThe Garden Club has established multiple convenient donation options for the Women's Club Garden restoration project. Community members can contribute through:QR code donations available on the Garden Club's website and Facebook pageMailed checks to: Punta Gorda Garden Club, P.O. Box 511167, Punta Gorda, FL 33951-1167All contributions are tax-deductible and will directly support the garden's restoration efforts."With community collaboration and financial support, we can successfully restore this beloved garden," Yeomans emphasized. "I encourage all community members to consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us accomplish this important goal."The Woman's Club Quiet Garden represents more than just landscaping—it embodies the community's commitment to preserving beautiful, accessible spaces for everyone to enjoy. Your support can help ensure this historic oasis continues to provide peace and beauty for future generations.

Discover floral design from garden to vase in this six-part series. Learn practical techniques for arranging fresh flowers while gaining a deeper appreciation for the plants that brighten our community. 🌸Your registration supports the Punta Gorda Garden Club’s work in our community.