Scholarship Awards April 2026
Congratulations Class of 2026
At our Annual Meeting on April 16, 2026, the Club awarded three $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Jensen Beach High School, along with a $1,500 continuing scholarship to a previous recipient. This represents the largest scholarship award to local students in the Club’s history.
Erin Gimbal will attend Berry College to pursue a double major in Environmental Science and Pre-Law, with plans to become an environmental attorney. A leader in the Earth Savers Club and a counselor at the Environmental Studies Center, she has been involved in shoreline restoration efforts alongside the Garden Club and ORCA and is passionate about addressing environmental challenges facing the Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and the Everglades.
Henry Baker will attend the University of Florida to study Environmental Engineering. As President of the Earth Savers Club and a counselor at the Environmental Studies Center, he has led projects including mangrove planting, beach cleanups, and environmental design work, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation.
Izzy Fenniman will attend the University of Florida to pursue a career in marine biology. Through her work with River Kids and the Florida Oceanographic Center, she has led outreach efforts and environmental initiatives focused on marine conservation and water quality, and is dedicated to protecting coastal ecosystems.
Sarah Ladd, a previous scholarship recipient, continues to excel at the University of South Florida, where she is majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Science and Policy. She is on track to graduate early in 2028 and remains focused on advancing her studies in environmental science and applying her education to long-term environmental solutions.
Congratulations Erin, Henry, Izzy and Sarah!
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
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. With support from MCOS members and guidance from our own orchid expert Georgia Fowler , club volunteers helped install the orchids in oak and palm trees along the eastern portion of the boulevard. JBGC also committed to watering the orchids during their two-month acclimation period and will assist with ongoing care to monitor their survival. The addition of non-native orchids was funded by $300 donations from both JBGC and MCOS, providing an eye-catching splash of color as requested by the Chamber of Commerce and Martin County staff. Please review a summary of the project prepared by MCOS below. Next time you are strolling through downtown Jensen, look up! Martin County Orchid Society (MCOS) Native Orchid Restoration Program Jensen Beach Boulevard Beautification Project Background on the native orchid project After five years of participating in others’ native orchid restoration projects dealing with a single species, MCOS formed the Native Orchid Restoration Committee in 2021, with Carly Batts as committee chair. The committee was charged with proposing, obtaining Board of Directors approval and conducting at least two native orchid restoration projects per year. Projects approved so far include: 2022 - Bridge Road and Martin Highway capsule harvest and seedling grow-out 2023 - Indian Riverside Park and Twin Rivers Park 2024 - St. Lucie Shores STA and Hawk’s Hammock Park 2025 - Jensen Beach Boulevard Beautification and Possum Long Nature Center Reason for the urban approach The greatest threats to native orchids are loss of habitat and poaching. The Million Orchid Project, led by Dr. Jason Downing, showed that both threats could be eliminated by urbanizing native orchids—and as such, Miami Dade County now has hundreds of orchids in its most prominent downtown areas, including the Design District, South Beach, and Brickell. This brilliant conservation strategy was relayed by Dr. Downing to Carly Batts & Nick Nickerson at McKee Botanical’s Million Orchid Presentation in the early Summer of 2024. Jensen Beach’s own downtown has beautiful sprawling Live Oak trees, perfect for orchids to attach and flower in. Furthermore, Jensen Beach as a community is collectively made up of extremely active citizens who appreciate nature and various forms of neighborhood beautification. An enormous outpouring of well wishes and pride was received by MCOS/JBGC and MC Public Works Department over the installation of these 95 orchids from the community - which has created just as we had hoped - a grassroots watch party for this special group of plants. Numbers and types of orchids we planted 95 orchids (65 Florida natives of four species plus 30 Dendrobium hybrids) were installed in 15 oak trees and two cabbage palm trees. The four native species included the Florida Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tampensis) in bloom, the Rigid Epidendrum (Epidendrum rigidum), the Night Fragrant Epidendrum (Epidendrum nocturnum) and the Cow Horn Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum). Because of moderate shade in the oak trees, the sun-loving and most endangered Florida native cow horn orchids were attached only to two cabbage palms. Number of volunteers that participated and organizations represented Twenty volunteers of Martin County Orchid Society, Jensen Beach Garden Club, Florida Native Plant Society and Martin County Public Works Department organizations participated in the four hour planting event on June 9, 2025. Planned care and follow up and any other future projects planned All MCOS Native Orchid Restoration Projects require five years of follow-up monitoring to determine and document survival and, occasionally add supplemental orchids to initial plantings. In the case of the Jensen Beach Beautification project that is directly in the public eye, the Jensen Beach Garden Club offered to provide supplemental watering during the two month acclimation period as well as periodic checking for secure attachment and survival of the installed orchids. Approved MCOS future (2025) native orchid restoration projects are described above. Pending projects include Harbor Island on Jupiter Island, Environmental Studies Center in Jensen Beach and the south Fork of the St. Lucie River in Halpatiokee Park. We encourage suggestions of other public and protected private lands for our projects. The MCOS native orchid greenhouse at Big Pine Nursery on Salerno Road was generously provided to the society by the owner since 2016. Unfortunately, the owner sold the property, and we lost the greenhouse in September 2024. The native orchid inventory was transported to Odom’s Orchids in Ft. Pierce where we rent bench space from John and Louise Odom on an in kind basis. Funding for MCOS NOR project was secured from the society’s operating account until 2025. Thanks to Carly Batts and Nick’s innovative funding search and Martin County Staff assistance, we secured a sizeable donation as part of a charitable requirement of the Three Lakes Golf project Planned Unit Development. Consequently, our NORP funding is dedicated only to native orchid restoration and is separate and distinct from the society operating account. Finally, it may be of interest that the orchids planted at the Jensen Beach Beautification project were purchased from Odom’s Orchids at wholesale pricing. The non-native Dendrobium hybrids were added to the natives for this project because the Chamber of Commerce and Martin County Staff believed more color was needed. We cannot use our native orchid funding for non-native orchids. Such funding must come from another source. We thank MCOS and JBGC for their $300 donations to purchase the Dendrobiums. We do not intend to add non-natives to future projects. We especially would like to thank Georgia Fowler for her membership in MCOS and her requesting our participation in the JBGC Plant Expo several years ago. Cooperation between nonprofits leads to multiple community successes – our NORP is but one prime example of that. THANK YOU JBGC!!!
Downtown Jensen Beach Gets a Fresh Burst of Color
Invasive species fueled by state’s growth, global warming
Congratulations Class of 2025
Boy Scout Troup 811 We are so grateful for the help of the Boy Scouts at our Jensen Beach Garden Club 2024 Garden Expo. They worked hard volunteering at the all day event. We are happy to support Boy Scout Troop 811. The Club donated $200 to these amazing young men. Pictured L-R Dana von Rinteln JBGC President and Kevin Johnson, Troop Leader. March 27, 2024.
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.
Spreading Wings: Butterfly Conservation in Jensen Beach The Jensen Beach Garden Club proudly maintains four beautiful gardens in our area, along with the vibrant flower planters that brighten downtown Jensen Beach. These gardens are lovingly tended by our dedicated Garden Committee, co-chaired by Annie Ruffing and Dina D’Angelico-Elms. Every two weeks, rain or shine, committee members roll up their sleeves to plant, prune, and water, ensuring these spaces remain havens for butterflies and other pollinators and provide beautiful landscapes for everyone. Among our projects are two flourishing butterfly gardens—one at Hoke Library and another at Indian Riverside Park—designed to attract, nourish, and protect essential pollinators. Did you know that the Hoke Library Butterfly Garden was certified by the North American Butterfly Association in 2002? This distinction recognizes its role in providing vital resources for butterfly populations worldwide. And this year, we’re taking our conservation efforts to new heights by adding butterfly houses to both gardens! The Buzz on Butterfly Houses A butterfly house creates a safe and nurturing environment, mimicking the natural habitats butterflies need to thrive. These houses help protect against habitat loss by offering a space to rest, mate, and feed—all while supporting education, research, and conservation efforts. To bring this project to life, our club collaborated with a remarkable young leader: Sebastian Gonzalez, a senior at Jensen Beach High School and an aspiring Eagle Scout. Sebastian, no stranger to community service, has been a dedicated partner in our gardening efforts. You may have spotted him lending a hand at our February 25, 2023, Garden Expo or helping spread mulch at Indian Riverside Park. Built by Sebastian and beautifully painted by club members Linda Elliott and Kathryn Lerett, the houses were installed in the garden beds in October 2024. A Passion for the Atala Butterfly For his Eagle Scout project, Sebastian focused on supporting the recovery of the Atala butterfly, a small, brilliantly colored species native to Florida. Once considered extinct in the state, the Atala has made a remarkable comeback thanks to conservation initiatives like ours. Sebastian recommended we add more Coonti plants (Zamia integrifolia) to our gardens—the sole host plant for Atala butterfly larvae. Each house features a dedication placard, symbolizing our shared commitment to protecting butterflies and enhancing biodiversity in Jensen Beach. Sebastian will be studying the activities of our beloved butterflies and will keep us posted on his findings. Celebrate With Us We’re thrilled to see Sebastian’s butterfly houses in action and invite you to join us in celebrating his achievements. His dedication to conservation and our community has made a lasting impact, both on our gardens and the butterflies they support. Look for them during your next visit! Stay tuned for updates on this project and other exciting initiatives from the Jensen Beach Garden Club. Together, we’re growing a greener, more beautiful world—one garden at a time!