Pine Island Garden Club

Events

2024-25 Meetings

Coordinator: Tessa Buechler

~2025~

NOTE! if you see flowers around the word ‘Meeting Notes’ – it IS clickable and will take you to the notes from that meeting.

Thursday, January 16, 2025 :: Member & Board Meeting
– Speakers: Kathy Weinberger & Caroll Garland
– Topic: Monarch Butterfly
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺


Thursday, February 20, 2025 :: Member Meeting
-Member Speaker: Kristina McInerny // Topic: Website & Facebook Overview
-Member Speaker: Nancy Hook // Topic: Panama Rose plant
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺


Saturday, February 22, 2025 :: Gala [see gallery of photos]

Thursday, March 20, 2025 :: Member Meeting
– Speaker: Mike Mills, Wildlife Biologist
– Topic: Pine Island Sound Bat Population
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺
Mike grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and got his B.S. in Wildlife Biology at Southeast Missouri State University and a Master’s in Conservation Biology at the University of South Florida. Mike oversees the wildlife field work in SCCF’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Department. He started the Sanibel Island Bat Project in November 2023 and continues to monitor bat populations on Sanibel today.

This talk will show the ongoing work SCCF is conducting on the bat populations of Pine Island Sound. Using acoustic monitoring devices, bat echolocation calls are recorded, and each species is able to be identified from its unique call. Come learn about each species that inhabits these islands and the research being done on them.

Thursday, Apr 17, 2025 :: Member Meeting

– Speaker: Daniel Piper, Owner of Purely Green
– Topic: Environmentally Safe Cleaners & Pesticides
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺

Thursday, May 15, 2025 :: Member & Board Meeting

– Speaker: Carlie Cooper, FruitScapes, LLC, Bokeelia, FL
– Website: https://fruitscapesllc.com/
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺
Being a member of the Rare Fruit Council, FruitScapes Nursery LLC. offers dozens of varieties of mangos and a large collection of rare tropical fruits not found anywhere else.

Thursday, Sept 18, 2025 :: Member Meeting

– Speaker: Bonnie Potter, President, Pine Island Food Pantry
– Website: https://www.leecountymcdfl.gov/
🌺 Meeting Notes 🌺

Jenifer gave a most interesting and informational presentation describing the various intricacies of the work done by Mosquito Control. One of the many interesting facts that Jenifer stated was that Pine Island is the leading mosquito producer in the world. Check website for more information.

Thursday, Oct 16, 2025 :: Member Meeting

– Speaker: Jenifer McBride, Communications Director of Lee County Mosquito Control
– Website: https://www.pineislandfoodpantry.org/

🎅🏽 Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 :: Annual Holiday Luncheon @ Misto Bar & Grill
(Full Flyer)

Please – Pay $32 with Cash or Check at the October or November club meeting OR – mail check (made out to Pine Island Garden Club) to
Bonnie Kellen, 4111 Galt Island Avenue, Saint James City FL 33956

~2024~

Thursday, September 19, 2024 :: Member & Board Meeting
Thursday, October 17, 2024 :: Member Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2024 :: Member Meeting
Thursday, December 12, 2024
– Where: Christmas Lunch at Misto’s

Field Trips

Coordinator: Tessa Buechler
Helper: Kathleen Hecksher

December 3, 2024

  • Sarasota Jungle Gardens Tour
  • Guided Tour of Gardens and Animal Show
  • Lunch on the Property

January 28, 2025

  • Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium Tour, East Ft. Myers
  • Guided Nature Walk, Butterfly Area, Aviary and Planetarium tours
  • Lunch to be schedules

April 2, 2025

  • Everglades Wonder Gardens Tour, Bonita Springs
  • Guided Tour of Gardens and animals
  • Lunch at Shangri-La Restaurant, part of Shangri-La Gardens and Spa

Past Events

Field Trips

  • VIP Tour of Selby Gardens, Sarasota, FL
  • Sundance Orchids & Bromiliads, Ft Myers, FL

Fun Events

  • Beacon Bites Plant Therapy
  • Garden GALA “Art in the Park”
  • Monthly Speakers

Garden Cleanup

  • Bokeelia Post Office
  • Elementary School Butterfly Garden
  • Phillips Park
  • Pine Island Museum
  • St. James City Civic Association (SJCCA)