On Friday, May 9th, 2025, the Garden Club at Palm Coast held the Annual Club Arbor Day Ceremony in Linear Park at Palm Coast in cooperation with the City of Palm Coast. This involves a remembrance of club members having passed away in the past year and the planting of a memorial tree.
The GCPC members being remembered were Jeanne O’Donnell and Sue Bara, who passed in 2024, resp. in January and July. Sue has been President of the Club, as well as performing multiple other roles. Jeanne was active in the Arrangers Guild.
Invocation Pastor Hobbs
The ceremony took place behind the Picnic Pavilion and was opened with a Welcome Statement by Denise Garcia, Garden Club President.
Pastor Larry Hobbs of the Flagler County Baptist Church, shared a word of remembrance about both club members and spoke the invocation. The Pastor is the leader of the church which Sue Bara attended,
Jane Howells
Linda Hensler
Denise Garcia
Jane Howells (2 year Director), Linda Hensler (Director Arrangers’ Guild) and Denise Garcia (President) shared memories of Sue and Jeanne.
Part of the audience
Family members and friends of the deceased were present.
Carol Mini, City of Palm Coast
Carol Mini, the City of Palm Coast Urban Forester, described the tree that was chosen for this occasion: the American Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus, a native of the Eastern USA.
This year’s tree is planted along St Joe Walkway, just across the bridge behind the Picnic Pavilion.
The American Fringe Tree
We then walked to the site of this Memorial Tree, where the plaque with the names of Jeanne and Sue was placed in front of the tree. Reverend Hobbs then blessed the tree to serve as a lasting memory of the two GCPC members. That concluded the ceremony.
American Fringe Tree in full bloom
Memorial Ceremony Attendees
Participants were then invited for light refreshments in the Picnic Pavilion.
The ceremony was organized by Marie Fabozzi, Garden Club Arbor Day Chairperson.
The most recent memorial tree along with some previously planted trees can be viewed at Linear Park, located at 31 Greenway Ct, Palm Coast, FL 32137. This is situated in between the two one-directional Palm Coast Parkway roadways, off Colbert Lane. A larger collection of Memorial trees is situated in Central Park, South of City Hall.
Article by Marinus Grootenboer, interim Webmaster
Photography: Nancy Iandoli, Marinus Grootenboer