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Community

The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is celebrating our 26th year in the West Orange community. We take our mission statement seriously through our involvement in community service, landscape projects and financial support. Since the club’s inception, we have donated over $600,000 in our community that includes $234,000 for college scholarships. The University of Florida received scholarship monies for students with a focus on horticulture, landscape, forestry or the sustainability of native botanical habitats such as degree programs in Horticultural Science, Forest Resources and Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation or Plant Science. And, Valencia College got scholarship funds for students focused on the Horticultural Science AA degree program or those working to obtain a certificate in Landscape or Horticulture. Our cash grants went to:

 

West Orange Habitat for Humanity for beautification and landscaping of 3 newly built homes in the West Orange community.

 

Nehrling Gardens for the creation of virtual access, virtual education and engagement in the garden through video and photography production. 


Oakland Nature Preserve continuation of the Gopher Tortoise burrow survey, environmental community programs including fields trips, summer camp Science Saturday, Blue Hikes, etc.  The tortoises are listed as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

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Tildenville Elementary School for the learning garden bed replacement, irrigation addition and maintenance of the learning beds.

 

Innovation Montessori for development of an outdoor classroom focused on pollinators.

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Matthew's Hope for development of preschool garden and outdoor classroom focused on garden to take and journaling. 

 
We want to thank all of you in our community who have supported us throughout the years. By attending Spring Fever in the Garden each year, you help. By being a sponsor at Spring Fever, you help. By purchasing a plant at one of our sales, you help. By buying a brick from the Path of Life, you help. Our success depends on community involvement and, you have given that to us over the years. We hope to serve our community for many years to come.

You can help support our mission

Here is where we have made a difference to overall quality of life in our area:

Community Service & Landscape Projects

  • Co-sponsored with the City of Winter Garden the annual Spring Fever in the Garden festival. Proceeds fund scholarships and community activities.

  • Created and established the Path of Life, a meditation/memorial garden at Chapin Station on the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden.

  • Planted 1000 Trees for 1000 Years in one day at Tucker Ranch, a 209 acre Recreational Park and Nature Preserve in Winter Garden.

  • Created and identified heritage and specimen trees throughout Winter Garden. Collected history and stories about the trees. Developed a Heritage Tree Walking Tour and map for the public to enjoy by scanning the labels for history and other information. Entered the Winter Garden trees in a national date base for posterity.

  • Spearheaded the landscaping and renovation of a corner of the inner courtyard at Health Central Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Winter Garden for residents and guests at the facility.

  • Created and installed a sensory garden for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, West Orange campus in Winter Garden.

  • Gave away 335 pink trumpet trees to Winter Garden residents so that in early spring  Winter Garden will be a blaze with pink flowers for many years to come.

  • Designed and installed landscape at the Christian Service Center, Ocoee.

  • Landscaped Mathews Hope transitional homes and assisted with their vegetable garden.

  • Landscaped for Home at Last program for wounded military families in West Orange county.

  • Landscaped the gazebo in Oakland Town Square.

  • Landscaped the Palm Park Gazebo in Windermere.

  • Landscaped the entryway at the Winter Garden Art Association.

  • Maintain and plant the Butterfly and Pollinators Garden along the West Orange Trail.

  • New landscaping, bench and trellis with queen’s wreath vine for entrance to Health Central Park Nursing & Rehab Facility, Winter Garden. Also, renovation and new planting  of the inner courtyard at the facility for residents and guests.

Financial Support

  • Award cash scholarships each year to students in horticultural and environmental studies at the University of Florida and Valencia College. 

  • Funds were given to Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, Florida for their horticulture program.

  • Contribute to Oakland Nature Preserve to continure the Gopher Tortoise burrow survey, environmental community programs including fields trips, summer camp Science Saturday, Blue Hikes, etc.  The tortoises are listed as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

  • Contribute to downtown Winter Garden beautification efforts

  • Contribute to future environmental/educational kiosks at Tucker Ranch.

  • Contribute to Nehrling Garden for the creation of virtual access, virtual education and engagement in the garden through video and photography production.

  • Contributed to Matthew's Hope for development of a preschool garden and outdoor classroom focused on garden to table and journaling. 

  • Contributed to Tildenville Elementary School for learning garden bed replacement, irrigation addition, and maintenance of learning beds. 

  • Contributed to West Orange Habitat for Humanity for landscaping and beautification of newly built homes. 

  • Contributed to Innovation Montessori for development of a outdoor classroom focused on pollinators. 

  • Support of youth education programs that stress the strong agricultural history at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundations. Benefits over 3000 students.

  • Supported Orlando Health School Garden Project for elementary schools in Winter Garden.

  • Sponsored annual scholarships at the Wekiva Summer Environmental Camp.

You can help support our mission

Bloom & Grow Garden Society is a designated 501(c)(3); Registration#:CH23240. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. 1-800-435-7352 

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