VERO BEACH — Residents and visitors can’t wait to come to Riverside Park every year for Gardenfest put on by the Garden Club of Indian River County. This two-day weekend event always brings out thousands of plant lovers to get their annual fix of flora.
Workshops at the 14th annual event ranged from how to set up native vegetation gardens to cultivating butterflies with specialized plantings. Even if your thumb is anything but green, the experts helped make it simple to find plants that work in a novice gardener’s favor.
Every type of plant, tree and the container to put them in was on hand at one of the more than 75 tents, which were packed with inquisitive gardeners. On Saturday, plant hunters looked for items on their list coming from all over the state to find them at this well-known show.
“We have a boat at the city marina and we come down from St. Augustine every year specifically for this and have a girls’ weekend,” said Kimberly Pacetti who was watching over a two tiered wagon overflowing with vegetation. “The quality and the prices are amazing here.”
Many people also came for scheduled lectures, which were held throughout the event and offered mini workshops on everything from caring for Orchids and making terrariums to Butterfly Gardening.
Sunday, Janice Broda talked about using native Florida wildflowers to bring color to your landscape and to reduce fertilizer-needy turf areas.
Transactions were constant and vendors were smiling on Saturday. If buyers went overboard, the Boys & Girls Club was on hand with carts to take everything out to your vehicle and then return the carts back to the tent. Many took advantage of that amenity Saturday and, in return, the kids earned tips and learned some very important skills.
“It’s a wonderful way for them to get volunteer hours, do some community service and learn a work ethic,” said adult BGC volunteer Hollis Stockard. “There is a very diverse group of people here and the kids are really breaking out of their shells.”
They were just one of many volunteer groups who make Gardenfest a success in addition to the hardworking crew of the Garden Club. Everywhere you looked someone was offering help or assisting visitors.
Kathie Althoff of the Garden Club estimated 30,000 visitors would pass through their trellised garden gates before the event’s close Sunday afternoon.
“We donate scholarships, give to charitable organizations and do so many beautification projects each year,” said Althoff who is most happy about the Main Library beautification project. “It’s so exciting to see how beautiful the library is now.”
“They planted the Oaks on Victory Boulevard, landscaped the city cemetery, did the Royal Palms on the boulevard and planted so many gardens around town,” said volunteer Jan Schubert. “In many ways the Garden Club has shaped and enhanced the look of Vero Beach.”
