Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens

GRAND OPENING A HUGE SUCESS

2010-03-06T23:38:00.008-05:00

PORT ST LUCIE BOTANICAL GARDENS open with a big splash. Some 800 plus visitors attended the festivities that began with an 11:00 ceremony at the front entrance to the Nature Center. The on site crowd was presented with the colors by the Treasure Coast High Schools US Air Force ROTC which ran the National and State flags up the pole for the very first time. The rest of the ceremony was presented by guest speakers which gave a background on the project, acknowledged the Friends, contractors and then Mayor Christensen presenting the keys to Councilman Chris Cooper who serves as the President of the Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens.

Visitors had an opportunity to see the property for the very first time and see the potential for weddings, private party's and special events. Food and entertainment, along with a plant sale, were provided by the Friends and several sponsors. The new gift shop, the Botannica, was open and stocked for visitors to make purchases. They also had an opportunity to stroll the gardens and sit and listen to a live country band, Thunder Road, that played on the Marsh Amphitheater. The stage is a circular platform in the lake. Directly behind the band was the lakes large water fountain. A second fountain, donated by a local business, will be installed in the near future. "Water quality is very important to this project to promote a healthy lake and it is one of the many focal points of the Botanical Gardens property" said Cooper.

The Friends operate the Nature Center and maintain the property under a lease agreement with the city. Councilman Chris Cooper said, "the Gardens are an asset to the city of Port St Lucie, an enhancement that businesses and residents look for when relocating to a new community."

Hours of operation for the Gardens are 9 to 5 daily and closed on Mondays for maintenance. For more information on rentals and visiting the Gardens please contact the Friends at 772-337-1959.

GRAND OPENING PHOTOS, MARCH, 6, 2010

2010-03-06T20:17:00.018-05:00

Councilwoman Bartz, Mayor Christensen, Vice Mayor Kelly and Councilman Christopher Cooper cut the vine to open the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens

Plant sales from Pinders Nursery, Grand Opening 2010

Grand Opening crowd enjoying the Country Western Band Thunder Road

Visitors enjoying a bite to eat from Dominick's Catering at the Grand Opening, 2010

Setting up the Marsh Stage for the Grand Opening, 2010

Preparing for the Grand Opening Ceremony, 2010

Setting up the Nature Center for the group Treasure Coast Guitar Duo, 2010

Botannica Gift shop staff ready for business, 2010

Volunteers being briefed for the Grand Opening event, 2010

GARDENS GROUNDBREAKING, Wednesday, March 4, 2009

2009-03-06T13:43:00.025-05:00

Wednesday March 4, 2009 marked the groundbreaking for the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens. Under mostly sunny skies some 100 plus people gathered for the turning of the shovels with the council, city manger and the contractor for the project. The day was marked with opening remarks from Brad Keen of the cities Parks and Recreation Department, followed by Mayor Christensen's remarks and finished up by thoughts from Christopher Cooper, City Councilman and President of the Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens. The event, with parks staff and Friends staff, hosted the one hour event with questions and answers, music, drinks and snacks. Following the event guests and members walked the property and enjoyed the river views and future botanical gardens site.

We hope that you will continue to be involved in the project and are scheduled to have an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony March 6, 2010. Please check the web site occasionally for updated photos on the progress of the construction. Photos of the groundbreaking can be viewed larger by clicking on the photo under "Groundbreaking Photos" on the right column. Click on construction photos to enlargen those as well.

City of Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

2008-12-30T15:46:00.060-05:00

The Gardens

The City of Port St Lucie has opened a beautiful new botanical garden on 19.71 acres of property on the west side of Westmoreland Blvd., just south of Port St Lucie Blvd. The property was acquired through a joint effort of the City of Port St Lucie, St Lucie County and the Florida Trust for Public Lands. The site has a pond, paved public paths, beautiful gardens, a special place for weddings, public parking, maintenance building and a nature center. Just south of the property is a proposed boat launch, public park and restaurant site that, along with the gardens, will sit on the banks of the north fork of the St Lucie River. The 12.87 acres south of the boat launch/park/restaurant site will be maintained as undisturbed Florida wetlands, subject only to the removal of exotics and maintenance of a walking trail. The gardens grand opening was March 6, 2010.

Who We Are

The Gardens is be operated by the Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens (“Friends of the Gardens”), a non-profit organization that was founded to help support the daily operations of the gardens. The Friends of the Gardens provide an on site presence to answer questions and give tours. Also, the organization operates the nature center, gift shop and help with the daily maintenance of the gardens. We hope that you will become involved in the gardens and/or become a member of the Friends of the Gardens.

The Gardens is open daily from 9 to 5 and closed on Mondays. The Friends will host weddings, art shows and other special seasonal events, such as Easter, Christmas, and Mother’s Day. Small office parties, family gatherings and corporate events will also be hosted at reasonable rates.

Meetings

Friends of the Gardens meet the second Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Gardens Nature Center. We encourage other nature and outdoor organizations to join the Friends of the Gardens, which will provide them with the opportunity to use the center for their meetings and educational seminars.

*Note, there is no meeting scheduled for the months of July and August.

Become a Member

Your tax deductible contribution is always appreciated, and the Friends of the Gardens accepts corporate donations, which entitles the contributing organization to attend an annual appreciation party. Individuals who contribute to the gardens automatically become members of the Friends of the Gardens. Individual memberships cost $25 per year and family memberships are $50 per year. Please contact the Friends of the Gardens for corporate membership rates and for information concerning naming rights.