FLEMING ISLAND – The Garden Club closed out the 2023-24 year with two big events: The Butterfly Release at the Fleming Island Library and Art in the Garden, co-hosted with The Art Guild of Orange Park at Club Continental with its end of the year luncheon to award its annual scholarship.

That was followed a few days later, and several members attended our Spring District Meeting.

The annual Butterfly Release was well-attended, and children released 212 monarch butterflies. Club members and high school volunteers had various activities, both fun and educational, for children to learn about the butterfly life cycle and hands-on horticulture.

We had a large plant sale with plants grown by club members and generous support from Pat’s Nursery.

The Garden Club met Hannah Matyi and her parents at the meeting. She was this year’s recipient of the Garden Club of Fleming Island Scholarship. She graduated from Fleming Island High on May 24 and will major in Biology at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

 The Spring District IV meeting was held at Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka and was hosted by three garden clubs. The focus was “Garden Clubs are the guardians of our natural world,” and the theme was Water Health and Conservation. Guest speaker Dr. Joshua Papacek from St. Johns River Water Management District gave an interesting speech about harmful algal blooms throughout Florida’s river systems.

The Club Continental Art in the Garden event included refreshments, garden-themed artwork on the wall or decorating the garden, many supplies to satisfy any gardener or nature lover, and a raffle and silent auction.

The Fleming Island Garden Club meetings will reconvene at the Fleming Island Library Meeting room on 1895 Town Center Blvd. on Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. Meetings are free and open to the public.