Garden honoring the Blue Star Memorial for our 250th Anniversary
This project was a joint effort between the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc. (PGGC) and Keep Charlotte Beautiful, Inc. (KCB) in honor of America 250. Both groups applied for grants to enhance the Blue Star Memorials and give them the beautiful space that they deserve. The groups have secured funding from Keep America Beautiful ($500) and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. ($1000) to support the two locations.
This project is in Veteran's Park near the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida. There were 10 hard working individuals who showed up to make it a success. Groups represented were the PGGC, Punta Gorda Girlfriends, Save Charlotte Harbor, and KCB. Weeds were removed, 31 plants and mulch installed. The project was completed in one hour! This was an amazing group of volunteers! Thanks goes out to each of them for coming out!
A huge thank you goes to the PGGC members who created the plan, secured the permissions from the City of Punta Gorda, secured funding, and who are always open to partnering with KCB. Also thank you to both Keep America Beautiful and the National Garden Clubs for seeing the value in these projects and providing the funding to make it happen!
Wreath's to Honor Veterans at Christmas
The Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Church honored our veterans by placing a wreath with a flag denoting each branch of service.
Wreaths Across America then added 100 wreaths so the entire expanse is adorned.
Veteran's Park Gardens
Punta Gorda has the good fortune to be the home of The Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida, located in Veterans Park, 200 Harbor Walk Drive at the entrance to Laishley Park. Honoring our Veterans is rewarding to all who help maintain this commemorative park for our community.
The destruction caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022 included the landscaping and gardens surrounding the Vietnam Wall. Retired Major General Dick Carr, President of the Veterans Wall of Southwest Florida, asked Betsy Spagnolo, a Veterans Park volunteer and President of TEAM Punta Gorda, to spearhead volunteer efforts to bring the gardens back to their beautifully manicured condition. A team effort was accomplished by volunteers from the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Vietnam Veterans of America and TEAM Punta Gorda. The volunteers worked tirelessly on two separate days to clean and re-plant the gardens near the Donor Plaza and East and West ends of the wall. A huge thank you goes to all that worked so hard to make the gardens pristine.
A fitting tribute to the brave men and women who gave their lives to keep us all safe.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
Park garden after root ball from hurricane Ian was removed.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
Volunteers plan to landscaped the gardens.
City of Punta Gorda helps to remove a large root ball and brick pillar in the garden of the park.
Volunteers plan to landscaped the gardens.