March in the Park

Mar 9, 2023 By CJ HADDAD 3 min read

Been searching for that perfect addition to your garden, exotic plant or handcrafted art to complete your outdoor decor?

This Saturday, horticulturists can find an abundance of greenery to fawn over and even take home as The Garden Club of Cape Coral presents “March in the Park,” their annual plant and garden art sale. This is the 15th edition of the club’s biggest fundraising event of the year which draws vendors from all across Southwest Florida, and is set to be one of the biggest ever.

“March in the Park is really a major event for us, it’s the largest fundraiser we put on,” said club co-President Ann Block. “We’re hoping for good weather, and admission is free.”

This year’s edition of March in the Park will feature more than 50 vendors — the greatest number in the fundraiser’s history — with more than 1,500 selections. This sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jaycee Park and is to feature plants of all kinds, trees, shrubs, ground cover, native plants, and miniatures, to name a few. Garden art will include glass reflections, stepping stones, metal works, fish faces, and various planters. “Thrifty treasures” will also be available from garden club members. The incredible networking ability of the garden club allows for so many different selections to be available at March in the Park.

“It’s going to really be a big plant event,” Block said. “We’ll have specialty plants — ones you can’t find anywhere else that will be of interest to all horticulturists. We’ll have a table of ‘unusual’ exotic plants and dish gardens, which we’re excited about.”

Master Gardeners will be onsite to have their brains picked, and many of the vendors are extremely knowledgeable about the plants they sell and often are growers themselves. A free kids’ booth, with a face painter, will have activities and take-home projects for all ages. Food trucks, live entertainment and opportunity drawings will be available throughout the day. Admission and parking are free.

“We have Master Gardeners who can answer questions, as well as our members that are very well-versed,” Block said.

The Garden Club of Cape Coral is a non-profit organization and all proceeds go to club objectives which include: the Marty Ward Merit Awards in horticulture for local high school seniors, civic beautification, Habitat for Humanity Projects, local middle and high school garden projects, and to promote civic awareness of environmental and conservation concerns. The Garden Club also maintains the Cape Coral Butterfly Garden, Rose Garden at the Museum of History, and Blue Star Memorial at Eco Park.

“It’s been a mission of ours to give back to the community,” Block said. “It was a goal of our founder, Marty Ward. We also have a member that passed away whose family gave us funding to set up a scholarship in their name as well.”

It’s also about passing along the gift of the green thumb to a younger generation.

“The information is so key,” Block said. “We have so many members that did not grow up here, so we love to share horticulture information, and it’s really important.”

Jaycee Park is at 4125 Southeast 20th Place. For more information, visit gardenclubofcapecoral.com.

To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com