In Full Bloom

by Emma Dixon

Rae Martin, a founding member of Sweetwater Oaks Garden Club, has had an affinity for beautiful blossoms since childhood.

“I started flower arranging in kindergarten,” says the Longwood resident, “and I used to love picking flowers on the way home from school.”

This year, Sweetwater Oaks Garden Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Rae has been an integral part of the group the entire time. The organization, based in the Sweetwater Oaks development off Wekiva Springs Road in Longwood, was started in 1974 to “educate the membership and the community relating to horticulture, conservation, environmental issues, and artistic floral design.” 

As Rae describes, it was also about friendship, fellowship, and community.

“We created the club to extend the hand of friendship,” she says. “That’s how we got started. We had no money, so we got together in each others’ homes, bringing covered dishes for lunch, and we socialized and talked about plants. It was great fun.” 

Rae and her husband Robert moved to Sweetwater Oaks in 1973 from Lake Forest, Illinois, with their three children. One of the original homeowners in the Sweetwater Oaks development, Rae quickly saw an opportunity for residents to get together, make friends, and share a love of gardening and environmental issues.

“We had 13 people at our first meeting,” recalls Rae, “and then it just grew and grew. I’ve had 30 people in my house – we’d always welcome new people who had just arrived in the neighborhood. We did very well in getting people to join us.”

They Really Dig It 

Today, the club has grown to monthly meetings of more than 80 people, with the members organizing  garden fairs, plant sales, and fundraising for student scholarships, as well as encouraging a love of gardening in youngsters. 

“We have classes at StarChild Academy where we pass on our love of nature to the next generation of gardeners. Members go once a month to share information and knowledge with the little ones,” says Gail Arena, a member of the club. “Everyone loves helping each other and gathering together to socialize. Our meetings and events are also a great way to meet other adults in the area and make new friends with common interests.” 

The club hosts its annual and very popular Garden Fair the first weekend in March. The family-friendly community event showcases the latest tools, plants, and accessories for residential landscaping. Attendees can watch special horticultural presentations and floral design demonstrations, take part in children’s plant activities, and learn directly from local gardening experts. 

An important part of the club’s mission is to give back to the community in the form of scholarships. Net proceeds from the annual Garden Fair, plant sales, and other fundraisers are used for scholarships for University of Florida students who are working toward degrees in horticulture and environmental studies. Sponsorships are also awarded to students attending garden and youth camps. 

The annual plant sale (the most recent one was in March) is also a popular event, where the plants for sale are grown by the members, themselves. 

“The plant sale takes place at a member’s house,” says Gail. “Everyone shows up the night before to set up, and then helps throughout the day. It’s a club effort and fosters friendships between the members.”

Sowing Seeds of Knowledge

The club organizes speakers on a monthly basis who share their expertise on topics such as landscape design, Florida’s native plants, and the region’s bird population. Club members have also taken field trips to the University of Florida to learn about horticulture and natural habitats.

The members, themselves, also share their expertise, such as this tidbit from Karen Fichthorn: “Blue plumbago! It’s quick and easy to grow, and it attracts Cassius blue butterflies to your garden.” 

Additional community projects include Arbor Day plantings, a junior gardeners program, and the donation of floral arrangements to local hospices. 

“The club was started by new homeowners in the Sweetwater Oaks development, but today’s members live throughout the region,” says Claire Griffis, the current president.  

“Our club also reaches out to our community through classes – we teach classes on Florida shells, insects, birds, container planting, and more,” says Claire, who developed a love of gardening from her grandmothers. “We also have a strong floral design program.” 

While there have been changes in the Sweetwater Oaks community over the years – some residents have moved away and new people have arrived – the club has remained a constant.

“I cannot tell you how proud I am of this group of women,” says Rae. “They stuck with it, and here we are, 50 years later. We joined hands, made friends and never let go.” 

For more information about Sweetwater Oaks Garden Club, visit SWOGC.org.