For this month’s garden spotlight, we’re featuring one of the beautiful orchids grown by our own Kathleen Peters, an accomplished gardener who seems to have a natural understanding of what plants need to thrive. Kathy serves as our Second Vice President and Membership Committee Chair, and her love of plants is reflected in the stunning orchids she nurtures at her home in Jensen Beach Country Club. Her collection proves that growing beautiful orchids doesn’t always require rare finds or complicated methods—just attentive care, patience, and a gardener’s touch. One of Kathy’s favorites is her Aree Dang Green Apple, a dendrobium. She has been growing this delightful orchid for the past three years. It enjoys plenty of bright, indirect light on her lanai, where most of her orchids happily spend their days. Kathy waters about once a week and fertilizes monthly during the growing season using Better-Gro orchid food. This past winter, she repotted her orchids in a blend of sphagnum moss and Better-Gro orchid potting mix, and the results have been rewarding—healthy plants that are clearly thriving. While the Green Apple remains a favorite, Kathy is currently watching another orchid with great anticipation. Her Cesar Green, also a dendrobium, is beginning to bloom, opening a little more each day. The flower spike stretches more than two feet in length and promises an impressive display of vibrant, intense color. Like many orchid enthusiasts, Kathy finds that part of the joy comes from the anticipation of waiting for each new bloom to unfold. Even more encouraging for those thinking about starting their own orchid collection, Kathy says many of her orchids came from Home Depot—a reminder that extraordinary blooms can begin in very ordinary places.

Memorial Day Weekend 2026

Congratulations Class of 2026

The Cupcake

The park you know… and the hidden gardens you may not...

Shoreline Restoration at Shepard Park – October 28, 2025 Members of the Jensen Beach Garden Club recently joined forces with the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) for a hands-on shoreline restoration project at Shepard Park in Stuart. Led by ORCA Research Assistant Natalie Stephens, volunteers worked to refresh the park’s 7,947-square-foot buffered shoreline—a living barrier designed to slow stormwater runoff and filter pollutants before they reach the Indian River Lagoon. Armed with trowels, gloves, and plenty of enthusiasm, members helped weed and replant native species, replacing vegetation that had been lost since the original 2021 installation. These “living filters” not only stabilize the shoreline but also improve water quality and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. This collaborative effort reflects the Garden Club’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community beautification. It was a rewarding morning of teamwork, learning, and friendship—all in the name of keeping our local waters clean and healthy.

A Fresh New Look for the Log Cabin

June 2025 The Jensen Beach Garden Club was proud to partner with the Martin County Orchid Society (MCOS) to beautify downtown Jensen Beach Boulevard with 95 orchids—including 65 native species and 30 colorful non-native Dendrobium hybrids.

Downtown Jensen Beach Gets a Fresh Burst of Color

Invasive species fueled by state’s growth, global warming