News & Announcements | The Garden Club at Palm Coast | "Come grow with us"

Volunteers Needed For Upcoming School Holiday Shops

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Chris Austin

Local elementary schools are getting ready for their annual Holiday Shops, and this is a special call to Garden Club at Palm Coast members who enjoy giving their time. Schools need volunteers to help students choose gifts for their friends and families. The shifts are lively, cheerful, and a wonderful way to brighten a child’s day while supporting important school programs.

All volunteers must be 18 or older, cleared through Flagler County Schools, and check in at the front office upon arrival. Badge details, including the required background check and associated cost, are available at the link provided for each school.

Wadsworth Elementary School
Tuesday, December 2 through Friday, December 5, 2025
Volunteers will assist scholars as they shop for gifts. Being comfortable adding whole dollar amounts in your head is helpful. The Holiday Shop takes place in the Atlas Room. Support from volunteers helps fund field trips and end-of-year incentives.
REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER
Learn more about volunteer badges:
https://www.flaglerschools.com/connect-with-us/volunteering
Belle Terre Elementary School
Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12, 2025
Volunteers will help VPK through 5th grade students select gifts at the PTO Holiday Shop.
REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER
Learn more about volunteer badges:
https://www.flaglerschools.com/connect-with-us/volunteering

Rymfire Elementary School
Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12, 2025
Volunteers will assist students with choosing and wrapping gifts, helping create a positive, festive experience.
REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER
Learn more about volunteer badges:
https://www.flaglerschools.com/connect-with-us/volunteering

Our community partners rely on the generosity of volunteers to keep these programs running. If you would like to support their work throughout the year, charitable contributions can be made at the link below.
MAKE DONATIONS HERE

For more details about the organization, volunteer needs, trainings, or special events, visit flaglervolunteer.org or contact Suzy at suzy@flaglervolunteer.org.

These holiday shops bring so much joy to local students, and even a small shift of your time makes a meaningful difference.

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December 2025 Selection of the Month

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Chris Austin

The Trainors, formerly from Massachusetts, have been living in Palm Coast since 2002. Gary is a Tooling Design Engineer and works in Ormond. Karen is an animal behaviorist and has rescued a deaf one-eyed cat, teaching him “Tommy Jack Sparrow” cat sign language!

They were selected for their curb appeal and diversity of plants in their front yard. In the left corner, they have a large Australian umbrella tree that can grow up to 50 feet. They had no idea when they brought it down from Massachusetts in a small pot.

They were going for the fire look when they planted their front garden with colorful mums, trumpet roses, poinsettias, and various crotons—evening primrose, vincas, Hawaiian Ti, schefflera, firecracker, and sanchezia plants.

There are columns at both ends, and the entrance one has beautiful climbing red Mandeville’s. Behind this garden is their favorite place to sit outside and enjoy their bounty. Karen has two blueberry bushes, two pineapples, rosemary, English thyme, parsley, basil, oregano, and kiwi started from seed.

On the right side, there is a beautiful, large plumbago in full bloom, two pink crape myrtles, orange hibiscus, and several prickly pear cacti.

We were very fortunate to be able to see their gardens, as we just had two nights and days of very cold weather. Thank you, Karen, for covering them in time for the cold blast!

Submitted by Nancy Iandoli
Selection of the Month Committee

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COAD Meeting – Strengthening Flagler’s Preparedness

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Chris Austin

Community Organizations Active in Disaster, or COAD, is a collaboration of local organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who work together to strengthen Flagler County’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. The next COAD meeting is approaching, and all groups with a role in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, or mitigation are encouraged to participate.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, November 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, located at 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 3, in Bunnell.

Those unable to attend in person can join the virtual session through Microsoft Teams using the details provided below.
• Meeting ID: 267 094 658 447 57
• Passcode: 48fH6CL7

Kelly Steffens, Flagler County Emergency Management Specialist, will give a presentation on mitigation. Each organization will also have the opportunity to introduce itself, share its current capacities, highlight community projects, and discuss the needs or challenges it is facing.

Everyone is welcome, whether attending in person or joining online. This meeting is supported in part by an American Red Cross long-term recovery grant in partnership with Flagler Cares.

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Adopt A Child/Family: Get On Santa’s Nice List

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Chris Austin

The Garden Club at Palm Coast is spreading holiday cheer in a big way this season. Our annual Adopt A Child/Family initiative is underway, and this year we have the opportunity to brighten the holidays for 33 local foster families, including 87 children in need of a little extra magic. That’s 50 boys and 37 girls, with family sizes ranging from a single child to energetic households of eight.

We’re aiming to give every child a cozy pair of pajamas and a new book to unwrap this Christmas. These simple gifts bring warmth, comfort, and imagination to kids who may otherwise go without during the holiday season.

If you’d like to help make the holidays brighter, now is the time to jump in. Whether you adopt a single child or an entire family, your kindness will make a real difference.

To learn more or to adopt today, please contact Kenetha at 201-916-4492 or kenetha@hotmail.com.

Let’s work together to make sure every child feels the joy of the season.

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Arrangers’ Guild Meeting & Class – October 16, 2025

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Chris Austin

The Arrangers’ Guild meeting for Class 2 was called to order at 9:19 a.m. by Janet Roberts, Director.

Announcements:
For our next meeting, Sharon Smith and Kathleen Fuss will bring food and snacks.
We still needed someone to make the raffle arrangement for the Garden Club meeting on November 10.

Arbor Day:
Marie Farbozzi will be out of town for the City Arbor Day to be held on the first Saturday in May, at Town Center. Kathleen Fuss generously volunteered to do it again this year. Thank you, Kathleen.

The following Friday, May 8th, will be our Garden Club tree planting ceremony. A tree will be planted and a memorial plaque made to honor those members who passed away during the year: Connie March, Bob Griffin, Richard Frazier, and Maureen O’Hara.
Carey Clark volunteered to send invitations to the family members. Thank you, Carey.

This month’s class instructor was Penny Decker. She taught us Class 2: Traditional Line Mass and Designs.
She brought the class materials needed for their arrangement: 3 branches of Palmetto, 3 stems each of mums and crotons. After her several demonstrations, it was time for the class to create their designs and receive critiques. Everyone did an outstanding job, especially the beginners!

We will not have an Instructor for the November meeting; however, we will have a short meeting and then make our own holiday arrangements. Bring your palmetto branches that Sharon Smith donated at the last meeting and your own decorations you wish to use.

Our December Class 3 will be instructed by Margaret Kirkpatrick on Crescent Designs, using lemons, oranges, or small apples.

January’s meeting and Class 3 will focus on Table Arrangements and Exhibition Tables.
Bring your place setting and an upside-down flowerpot and glue the saucer on the top. Paint your flowerpot to coordinate with the colors used in your table arrangement.