Members' Gardens in Bloom

As part of JBGC's 75th Anniversary celebration, club volunteers hosted private tours of their gardens during our 2024-2025 season. Available only to club members, these mini field trips allowed us to gain new ideas for our own gardens and provided a valuable learning experience. We enjoyed a pleasant stroll through the gardens of friends, each tour offering unique insights and knowledge. These stories are a perfect example of how JBGC inspires and supports its members in their gardening journeys. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, our club offers the knowledge, camaraderie, and encouragement to help you create your own outdoor oasis.

Thank you to all of our gracious hosts who opened their homes and gardens, while narrating a tour of their treasured works of love! All of the tours were unique in their own way, and were inspiring to us all.

PART 1 - STACIE'S EDIBLE GARDEN

It was an absolutely lovely morning for Laura Young's garden tour, and the sun was shining brightly, casting a soft, warm glow over everything. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and there was a sense of calm and joy in the atmosphere. Her garden, affectionately called The Pink Hideaway, was a stunning retreat, brimming with vibrant life. Beautiful pink cleodendrums, stunning oleander bushes, and a breathtaking display of fuchsia pink bougainvillea dotted the landscape, each adding a splash of color. Coconut palms swayed gently in the morning breeze, completing the picture of serenity.

Laura said "I have lived at The Hideaway for 8 years. Of course it's a work in progress and so much cheaper than therapy!" 

We all get that, right? Thank you Laura for a terrific day in your cute little hideaway!

PART 3 - A GARDEN TRANSFORMATION -

JAN'S JOURNEY

Jan Jovingo, our dedicated treasurer, played a key role in organizing the garden tours. Her passion for gardening has grown tremendously since she first joined the club, and she recently had the opportunity to showcase her own beautiful backyard transformation. Here’s her story:

“We moved to Jensen 3.5 years ago. Our backyard was a blank canvas. We had a nice view of a preserve and water with a fountain, but otherwise, it was just plain and boring. I attended the first Expo at IRP, where I learned about the club. I joined shortly after and became part of the Gardeners Committee. While I had no gardening experience, I could get on my knees and pull weeds!

I have learned so much from the other members, and they have helped me realize that I could do something to beautify my backyard. We planted a couple of palm trees, but I needed help designing something that would make the space truly beautiful. We had a plan created and hired someone to install it. It looked lovely, but some of the plants struggled in our full-sun yard.

This year, we made some changes—removing plants that weren’t thriving and replacing them with sun-loving impatiens, a variety of salvias, tibouchina bushes, and Texas sage. The vibrant colors have brightened the yard, and I love seeing it every day. We also added lighting so we could enjoy the view at night.

Thanks to the advice of JBGC members and the insightful presentations at our meetings, I have grown much more confident in my gardening skills. I really enjoyed showing off my hard work during the recent JBGC garden tours, and I look forward to continuing to tend my garden—maybe even expanding it soon!”

What an inspiration Jan, thank you so much for a fun and educational tour!