Bloom & Grow Garden Society celebrates 17 years

The Bloom & Grow Garden Society recognized its 17-year anniversary with a luncheon last month at the Country Club of Orlando and a fashion show by Dillard’s at West Oaks Mall.

During the luncheon, Jackie Brown Colberg, a past president, installed the 2014-15 officers, and Gretchen Boyd presented orchids to each. The new officers are: Jimmie Atwill, president; Nancy Connors, first vice president; Leigh Ann Dyal, second vice president; Debbie Bruce, treasurer; Julie Teal, recording secretary; and Diane Johnson, corresponding secretary.

The outgoing officers for 2012-13 were recognized and presented with flowers, as well: Ann Blastic, president; Connors, first vice president; Dyal, second vice president; Bruce, treasurer; Betty Anne Griffin, recording secretary; and Johnson, corresponding secretary.

In its 17 years, the club of 130 members has donated many hours to the West Orange and South Lake communities. Each year, the major fundraiser is the Spring Fever in the Garden festival, a plant, garden, art and horticultural event in downtown Winter Garden. 

The 2015 Spring Fever is planned for April 11-12. For details, visit springfeveringarden.com.

Among the many charities the club supports are Habitat for Humanity, Oakland Nature Preserve, Nehrling Gardens, Wekiva Youth Camp and Matthew’s Hope. 

It also presents horticultural scholarships to students and maintains its own Path of Life at Chapin Station along the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden.