News

Garden Club Joins the Celtic Festival

The Florida Keys Celtic Festival was held at Marathon Community Park on January 10 & 11. And this year the Marathon Garden Club hosted a tent!
Volunteers visited with guests about our organization, our history and about the events we hold to fund high school scholarships.

Volunteers shared printed (and via email) information about our meetings and programs, the plant nursery and courtyard gardens including the butterfly garden and orchid wall, our Gift Shop, and how the clubhouse and courtyard are available for rental for private events.
We told visitors about volunteer opportunities such as the Holiday Bazaar held in November, the January Jamboree and Rummage Sale was the week after the Celtic Festival, and our House and Garden Tour to be held on March 7.

The tent was hosted by Kristen Brenner, Patty Molnar, Ann Vieth, Debbie Burmeister, Debra Wonderlin, Phyllis Schewe, Clair Lanzar, and Susan Williamson. Stan Martinkosky and Margaret Tremblay set up the tent, table, and tie downs. Thanks to all who participated!

Submitted by Vicki Iverson Stead

From left: Patty Molnar, Debbie Burmeister, Vicki Iverson Stead, and Debra Wonderlin

When Margaret and Steve Baumann of Key Colony Beach upgraded their outdoor space, they saved two dozen round and four large rectangular concrete steppingstones from the landfill. Instead, they made a generous donation to the Marathon Garden Club!

Judy Shaw, Carl Miller, and Stan Martinkosky knew just where to repurpose these gifts. The steppingstones fit perfectly in the labyrinth created within the club’s cedar plank orchid wall. Having a level, solid surface makes it easier to enjoy all the specimens tucked in under trees in the court yard near the butterfly garden.

To enjoy the plants and new steppingstones, the club’s plant nursery is open every Thursday while our garden groomers are busy maintaining the grounds. Stop by and enjoy our gardens, visit our plant nursery, and visit with our experts about your gardening questions or concerns.

The winner of the 50/50 Raffle was Marathon local and first time indoor vendor, Elizabeth (Libby) Elliott! She said she was “flabbergasted” to learn she had won! Jay was happy too because he was the one that bought the ticket!

We’re grateful that the ominous forecast was incorrect and afforded us a beautiful day for a Bazaar! But not nearly as grateful as I am for the numerous volunteers that came together to make the day a success! Every vendor was very happy being with us, and most are prepared to return in January.
We ran out of Kristen Brenner’s delicious chili ~ which is a good thing! And the bake sale was its usual success as well. A small but very busy nursery staff had a good sales day too. And our absolutely stunning raffle baskets had especially successful sales!

AND the surprise of the day ~ a visit from FFGC District XII Director Anita Grossman and friend Barabara Growald. They travelled from Miami Beach specifically to attend our Bazaar to let us know we truly are part of the “Tropical XII”. Anita said “I could see the time and effort you put into the event. The variety of vendors and prices were terrific!” Well done everyone ~ what an honor!

District XII Director Anita Grossman
Vicki Iverson Stead
Barbara Growald

It is with great sadness that we note the sudden passing of long-time garden club member Julie Joyce. We will all remember her smiling face and her willingness to donate one of her beautiful paintings for our House Tour raffle.

Julie was a long-time member and past President of the Florida Keys Watercolor Society and often exhibited her work at the Marathon Community Theatre.

Julie was active in the Marathon Yacht Club and the San Pablo Women’s Group.

Julie is survived by her husband Bob Rehbock.

There will be a Celebration of Life Mass on Tuesday, November 11 at 10:00am at San Pablo Catholic Church.

It was Julie’s wish that donations be made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Photo credit: Keys Weekly

Dear Garden Club Members,

By now you are all aware that Nancy Miller passed away suddenly last Friday. 

Nancy (and Carl) have been the backbone of Marathon Garden Club ever since I joined in 2005.  It will be hard to imagine MGC without our Matriarch Nancy!

Nancy was President of our Club for 4 years, our FFGC District Director, a NCG accredited Flower Show Judge, active in the Marathon Power Squadron, member of Marathon Yacht Club and an absolutely wonderful, kind and gentle person.

In our lives we strive to make a difference and hopefully leave this world a better place.  Nancy did just that; she made a difference in all our lives and left our garden club a much better place with a legacy that will live on.

We will all miss her and her wonderful smile.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Carl who continues to be the Patriarch of Marathon Garden Club!

Please send your cards and wishes to Carl:

305 Sombrero Blvd

Marathon, FL 33050

Sincerely,

Rosemary Thomas,

President MGC

The Garden Club thanked our outgoing President Scarlett Duffy on Saturday April 17th at our luncheon for the instillation of new board members at the Marathon Yacht Club. A plaque in her honor was placed on our new fountain, which was donated by Scarlett. Pictured below are Scarlett, Linnea Cunningham and Susie Curry. Not pictured, but present is Jackie Sparber.

National Garden Week June 6-12 2021.

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys annually honors volunteers (UNSUNG HEROES) in our community for their tireless work and dedication to non-profit organizations. The Board has nominated our exceptional member Linnea Cunningham for this most deserving honor. The following contributions were provided in Linnea’s nomination:

• Has shared her Master Gardener skills by developing and maintaining a nursery which has provided plants for Habitat for Humanity Homes, the St. Columba Butterfly Garden, the Switlik Elementary School Student Garden and numerous other community groups. Linnea also shares her vast knowledge of plants by presenting numerous workshops and lectures for the Club and community.
• Has served on the Marathon City Beautification Board and Co-Chairs the White Heron Award for civic environmental programs.
• Has guided the Marathon Garden Club by holding numerous offices and committee roles. Always there to volunteer!

The Crane Point Museum, run by Charlotte Quinn (on right), received the Marathon Garden Club Monarch Sanctuary Certification on 1/21/2021. Suzy Curry of the Marathon Garden Club Butterfly Committee presented the award.