Treasure Coast Hospice

Master Gardener Gives Us ButterfliesBack in 2005, Treasure Coast Hospice CEO Lou Benson approached Jean Foley, a Stuart master gardener and member of the Garden Club of Stuart, to design a “butterfly garden” on the path between the Mayes Center for Hope and the Martin County hospice houses.

Jean and other garden club members took up the project and transformed the area into a beautiful work of living art.

Different flowers attract different types of butterflies, Jean explained, and some foliages are needed to give the butterflies refuge from predators. But the most important ingredient needed to maintain these beautiful butterfly gardens are volunteers.

This year-round project and the butterfly garden between the William and Helen Thomas Counseling Center and the St. Lucie Hospice House both are in great need of dedicated gardeners and volunteers who would like to learn to be gardeners.

Around 9 a.m. most Saturdays, you will find Jean in the Stuart garden doing things like “deadheading” weeding and trimming back. She will gladly explain all these terms – and how to do them, too.

You don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy the flowers, the butterflies and the serenity of the gardens. People walk by these gardens every day and admire the splendid fragrances and colors there. Come join us and make a difference.

If you are interested in helping, in Martin County call Cathi at 772-403-4540 or  in St. Lucie County call Jan at 772-807-6430, and they will get you started.