Historic Punta Gorda Garden Seeking Community Support

For years, the Woman's Club Garden at 118 Sullivan Street in Punta Gorda has served as a tranquil sanctuary for residents and visitors alike. This lush tropical oasis, complete with comfortable benches nestled among beautiful plantings, has provided a peaceful retreat from daily life thanks to the dedicated maintenance efforts of the Punta Gorda Garden Club.

Despite weathering devastating blows from Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, the resilient Garden Club worked to nurture what survived and plant new specimens each time. However, the garden now faces a different enemy entirely—tenting and fumigation due to termites.

Termite Treatment Succeeds Where Hurricanes Failed

The historic Woman's Club building recently required fumigation for termites, resulting in damage to surrounding vegetation. According to Beth Magnin of the Punta Gorda Historical Society, which owns the Woman's Club, the sight was heartbreaking.

"The garden has always been a special place," Magnin explained. "It was devastating to see half the garden disappear after the tenting process."

While garden volunteers managed to save some smaller plants by carefully transplanting them into containers, the majority of mature shrubs and trees—including several rare and unique specimens—were either severely damaged or destroyed. The building's entire perimeter now sits barren, showing only dirt and remaining stumps.

Recovery Efforts Face Financial Challenges

Mary Yeomans, president of the Punta Gorda Garden Club, highlighted the stark difference between this situation and previous hurricane recovery efforts. 

"After each hurricane in the past, we worked diligently to clear debris and replace damaged plants using cuttings propagated by our members or donations, particularly for our Succulent Garden area," Yeomans noted. "However, this restoration project is simply too extensive, with costs exceeding our current capabilities."

The Garden Club plans to pursue grant funding, but grant applications require demonstrated community support to be competitive. Without sufficient donations and grant assistance, the complete garden restoration could take several years to accomplish.

Additional Fundraising Obstacles

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Punta Gorda Garden Club understands hurricane impacts all too well. Their primary fundraising event, the popular Holly Days Home Tour, has been cancelled twice in the past four years due to storm damage affecting historic downtown homes. These cancellations have significantly reduced the funds available for community garden projects and plant replacement at the five gardens under their care.

How the Community Can Help

The Garden Club has established multiple convenient donation options for the Woman's Club Quiet Garden restoration project. Community members can contribute through:

• QR code donations available on the Garden Club's website and Facebook page (and below)

• Mailed checks to: Punta Gorda Garden Club, P.O. Box 511167, Punta Gorda, FL 33951-1167

All contributions are tax-deductible and will directly support the garden's restoration efforts.

"With community collaboration and financial support, we can successfully restore this beloved garden," Yeomans emphasized. "I encourage all community members to consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us accomplish this important goal."

The Woman's Club Quiet Garden represents more than just landscaping—it embodies the community's commitment to preserving beautiful, accessible spaces for everyone to enjoy. Your support can help ensure this historic oasis continues to provide peace and beauty for future generations.

And the restoration work begins:

Many thanks to D's Trees for fitting the Woman's Club in and removing the dead stumps and roots from the Woman's Club Garden!!

Brick Border installed and new Hibiscus planted in front of the Woman’s Club.  

Thanks to Powell’s Nursery for the beautiful hibiscus and other plants in memory of Carl Powell who was a hibiscus hybridizer.  You can see these beautiful flowers in the front garden of The Woman’s Club.