Estero Island Garden Club visits Lovers Key

On May 4, 2021, members of the Estero Island Garden Club had a private viewing of the new Welcome and Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park in Bonita Springs, Florida. Lovers Key is a 712-acre Florida State Park located on Lover's Key and three other barrier islands—Black Island, Inner and Long Key. Lovers Key State Park has it all: 

--swimming in the Gulf of Mexico along the 2 ½ miles of sugar-sand beaches; 

--bicycling or hiking on the 5 miles of wooded trails; 

--kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding in the 2 ½ mile estuary; 

--fishing from the bridges inside the park or from the shoreline of the beach; 

--reserving a campsite for an overnight or extended stay; 

--getting married in a picturesque setting of natural beauty.

Welcome Center

From the outside, the Welcome Center is drop-dead gorgeous. It is very sleek and modern, but the delicate pillars, meant to represent mangroves,  belie the capacity of the center to withstand the winds of a category 5 hurricane. The center was ten years plus in the developmental stages.  Throughout inception to realization, the driving force of the park has always been stewardship of our natural resources

Welcome Center

Welcome Center

Underneath the building are an outdoor classroom, a picnic area and gardens.

Outdoor classroom, where members of our group assembled before the tour

Bonnie in the outdoor classroom

Our docent for the Garden Club visit was volunteer Louise Kowitch, Education Coordinator for Friends of Lovers Key. The official opening of the Welcome Center is May 15, but our club was given the opportunity for a sneak peek beforehand.

Garden with botanical plant names displayed beside each plant

Garden with trellises for climbing plants

Our group observing the garden

Carol and Ethel on the garden path

Ethel and wooden tortoise sculpture

Alligator at the foot of the up ramp to the Welcome Center

Alligator sculpture in front of the graceful pillars

The up ramp continues around three tall pillars

The up ramp continues with the parking lot in the background

The up ramp rounds the corner

 

Louise welcomes our members to become Friends of Lovers Key, which is the organization responsible for supporting and preserving the park, as well as for bringing the Welcome Center to fruition. 

There are also programs offered at the center which promote environmental education and stewardship. During the summer,  Lovers Key offers day camps exploring Florida’s coastal ecology for youngsters ages 6-17. 

Members of our group in the community room

The interior of the Welcome Center has a community room, restrooms and an interactive education room, containing exhibits showcasing the park’s flora and fauna. 

Paula and Bernadette in front of artwork

Crocodile partially submerged

Katie, Ethel and Margaret in the community room

Interactive map of the state park in the education room

Ginny in front of a future exhibit

Beach critters display

Shell display

Bobbi and Sienna

Gift shop artwork

Egret photo in gift shop

Gift shop pictures of sea life

Wooden sculpture in the gift shop

Panoramic view from a corner of the education room

For more information on program offerings or to become a volunteer,  visit: www.friendsofloverskey.org

 

High Tea at Diamondhead

Estero Island Garden Club celebrated its 60-year anniversary with a Tea Party at Costé Island Cuisine at Diamondhead on Fort Myers Beach. In keeping with a more formal look for High Tea,  members accessorized their outfits with a fun hat or fascinator.

Cindy, Laurie, Cheryl & Carol

Cindy was a co-chair of this event, Laurie was the guest speaker, Cheryl was the other co-chair of the luncheon, and Carol is the Co-president of the Garden Club.

Garden Club favors: an engraved mug/flower pot, gardening gloves & a moisture-rich cleansing bar, named aptly-enough, “Rainkissed Leaves.”

Donna Bliven is holding Laurie Nienhause’s book, “And Then It Was Teatime.”

Prior to lunch, the group was entertained by a look back at the history of the club. Member Donna Bliven assembled a video of events and pictures concerning the Garden Club through the years 1959 to 2019. 

Bobbi, Kimberly and Patti checked members in for the video

Ann, with new members Judy & Karen, before the video, “Estero Island Garden Club through the years 1959-2019.”

Pam, Carol, Madeline & Judy await the video.

Katie & Marianne before the video

Diane & Ann waiting for the video

Members watching the video and reminiscing about the people and events highlighted in the video

During the video

Members watching the video

Members watching the video

The highlight of the luncheon was a presentation by author, playwright and public speaker, Laurie Nienhause. Laurie enlightened her audience with information about “tea,”  a subject which she is passionate about. Her book, "And Then it was Teatime," contains over 150 excerpts from literature referring  to tea-drinking. She also brought her collection of teapots, used to pour us her favorite tea, and also tea cups and saucers from which to drink this special tea. Whether it was the tea or the cups, tea never tasted so good. 

Tables set up with “tea” memorabilia, with a beautiful view of palm trees and white-sand beach in the background

Another view of the tables & beach

Tea memorabilia

Tea memorabilia

Tea memorabilia

Tea pots from Laurie’s collection

Cheryl & Laurie with tea pots

Rebecca & Cheryl getting ready to serve tea to members

Tea pots

Quotes about “tea”

On each table, Laurie had prepared a quote concerning tea, and there are an amazing number of quotes dedicated to its qualities.  Members took turns reading aloud the informational and entertaining quotes about tea. For example, “Tea is liquid wisdom,” or "A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Or, "I know I'm not everybody's cup of tea. I'm just me."

Marianne reads a quote about tea.

Laura reads a “tea” quote.

Margaret reads a “tea” quote.

Story teller Laurie relates historical facts about tea.

Laurie reads a passage from literature about tea.

Laurie reads several passages from literature about tea

Table One: New member Mariann, Louise, Ann, Karen, Jeanne & Co-President Bonnie 

Notice the tea cups members are holding: each one is from Laurie’s collection!!!

Table Two: Guest Jessica,  Christine, Marianne & Pam

Table Three: Judy, Margaret, Carol, Bernie & Laura

Table Four: Madeline, Patti, Bobbi, Randa, Katie & Judy

Table Five: Ethel, Paula, Diane & Rebecca

Table Six: Becky, Cindy, Maria, Ginny, Donna & Carol

Finally, this luncheon was an opportunity to memorialize Lois Gressman, who died this past year. She was the epitome of talent and graciousness, and we miss her dearly.

Many thanks for a job well done!!!

Cheryl and Cindy, Co-chairs of the Tea Party