Growing Change

How the Naples Garden Club puts the Environment in the Forefront

When you hear garden club, the first thing you think of is flowers, but not so true with Naples Garden Club. Since 1953, the club has brought both an award-winning flower show and a sell-out house & garden tour to our community each year. Floral design and horticulture have been at the heart of the club, but recently this organization has become more engaged in the environment. Club leaders have ignited this commitment in many ways.

EDUCATION  

To make members savvier about what is happening in Florida ecosystems, there has been a focus on our water, our coastlines, and our way of life. To enlighten members, the club has had presentations on topics including microplastics, climate change, and the value of plants in improving local beaches and water.

NETWORKING   

Naples is home to organizations that have environmental expertise to tap into. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School South, nationally renowned for its research, is located within the Naples Botanical Garden. The botanical garden itself champions that the key to healthy ecosystems is plants. It works with area and even international decision makers to encourage the correct plant choices in addressing environmental issues. The local League of Women Voters has been sharing with groups its plastics research.

PROPOSING SMALL CHANGES

When its 250 members make small changes in their behavior, it adds up to a big impact. Carpooling, making green choices in the kitchen, cleaning, health and beauty products are all topics covered at meetings. The slow fashion vs. fast fashion concept has been highlighted. Members are encouraged to embrace “refuse” as the fourth tenet of the recycle, reuse, reduce strategy for waste management.

EXPANDING REACH 

Members now encourage the children in their lives to get off the sidewalk and into nature to help them relate better to the earth. The 1000 attendees of the House & Garden Tour on January 31 all received aluminum water bottles rather than plastic, along with a message about the switch. The club has an endowed fund at FGCU, which annually provides environmental science scholarships. To date, 23 students have been recipients. Naples Garden Club awards grants to local nonprofits to support carefully vetted environmental projects.

Perhaps the most important thing the Naples Garden Club does is cultivate optimism. With so much environmental news that can be discouraging, this garden club offers a reminder that progress is possible – one home and one garden at a time.

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Under the Big Top

Naples Flower Show

& Garden Market

March 13-14

at Naples Botanical Garden