Horticulturalists were in a state of botanical bliss as they turned out in droves for the two-day Gardenfest 2026: Nature’s Finest Marketplace at Riverside Park. The Garden Club of Indian River County’s signature annual event transformed the park into a labyrinth of orchids, native plants and garden art.
Despite the bout of Florida frost that damaged between 40 percent and 60 percent of vendor stock, according to several landscape nurseries, the enthusiasm for the event remained evergreen, with an estimated 20,000 attendees meandering along the pathways.
The frost may have actually spurred sales, having left many home landscapes looking lackluster.
Many attendees arrived with a “replacement list” in hand, eager to fill the brown gaps in their home gardens. The Master Gardeners on-site, however, cautioned garden enthusiasts to let their damaged plants rest and see what recovers before digging them out.
“We’ve always thought we were bringing something special to the area,” said Barbara Russell, event co-chair with Karen Vatland.
“It’s developed from a simple plant sale, where members sold cuttings, to something that draws vendors from across the state and even internationally.”
The Garden Club was founded nearly 100 years ago to beautify the city and has continued to do so by educating the public in gardening and design, beautifying the county through civic projects, and promoting the conservation of native plants and natural resources, and scholarships.
“The scholarships for kids are what make us most proud,” Russell explained. The proceeds from Gardenfest help them to foster future generations of environmental stewards through educational grants.
The club operates through smaller group member Circles, which focus on specific gardening interests and community service, landscape design, and plantings for other local nonprofits. The various Circles meet on different days and times.
The club is far from dormant throughout the rest of the year. They recently celebrated the county’s 100th anniversary with a flower show at the Heritage Center, and later this year will host their biennial Trash and Treasures sale, and their annual Christmas ornament sale.
For more information, visit GardenClubOfIRC.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
