Clermont Garden Club Hosted the 18th Garden Walk “A Tour of Private Home Gardens”

By Grace Rabano and the Clermont Garden Club

Driving through the Clermont/Minneola area, you would never know what horticultural magic lies in the gardens surrounding homeowners’ houses. The Garden Walk, hosted by the Clermont Garden Club, allows garden enthusiasts and plant lovers to get a glimpse of that hidden magic.

On a beautiful Saturday morning on April 15, 2023 starting at 9 am, the Clermont Garden Club hosted the 18th Garden Walk. The Garden Walk is an opportunity for locals to tour private residential gardens in and around Clermont and Minneola. The Garden Walk started at the clubhouse at 849 West Ave, Clermont. There, participants purchased tickets/got wristbands and obtained programs with addresses and driving directions to the private gardens. While at the clubhouse, participants got a shot at a door prize, and purchased chances to win raffle baskets (many of which were filled with garden-related gifts). Caladium bulbs, sourced from Lake Placid-FL (the caladium capital of the world), were also available for sale this year at the clubhouse. Visitors were also invited to enjoy the club’s beautiful surroundings that include a native plant garden.

Throughout the cooler morning and into the early afternoon, Garden Walk participants drove to varying locations. There they were welcomed by club members and/or the homeowners themselves who proudly gave tours of their private gardens. Club members and homeowners were happy to answer questions or provide gardening suggestions to inquisitive visitors. Some homeowners graciously provided water, baked treats or free plants to their guests. Visitors marveled at meticulously manicured gardens…all of which were filled with colorful flowers, ornamental plants and/or organic vegetables. Visitors were able to view butterfly gardens, fountains, garden sculptures and structures, plus a koi pond with a lakefront view. Many were awed by unique xeriscaping garden designs, which reduce or eliminate the need to irrigate grass. The hard work of each homeowner reflected in the beauty in their gardens, and they were greeted with smiles and awe-inspired approvals by all garden visitors. The tours ended by 2 pm, when participants returned to the clubhouse to see if they won the door prize or a raffle basket.

The 18th Garden Walk fulfilled the club’s mission to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening. The Garden Walk was a success this year thanks to the program chairs, Marilyn Paone and Margaret Piper, and the club’s many other volunteers. The Clermont Garden Club thanks the following sponsors who helped make this year’s Garden Walk so successful:

The Clermont Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Clermont Garden Club members meet every third Wednesday of the month (September through May) at the clubhouse located at 849 West Avenue, Clermont, FL (except when a field trip is scheduled, or December Holiday Luncheon, or May annual meeting).  Social time begins at 9:30 am and the meeting starts at 10:00 am.  New members and guests are warmly welcome.

The club facility is available to rent for meetings, parties, weddings, etc. by contacting the club’s rental chairman at www.ClermontGardenClub.com.