National Garden Week
June 6-12, 2021
Click here for the Proclamation
Installation of 2021-2023 Officers
Remembering Elise Haymans
- Elise’s Butterfly Garden
- PGGC Chaplain and the Haymans Family
An inspiring memorial was held for Elise Haymans was held at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Afterwards folks were invited to the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center for the dedication of a bench purchased by PGGC in her honor. Sarah Corey provided a brief ceremony that included an article written by Elise a long time ago about the landscape maintenance (or lack thereof) at the Punta Gorda Library which drew a few chuckles. Elise was a strong yet gentle woman whose personality was shared by her sons and others through stories told at the meal offered after the dedication. The rain from Tropical Storm Eta was actually timed well to permit all to enjoy this celebration of her life. Thanks to everyone who attended to honor her memory!
Mary Yeomans
PGGC President
May 1, 2019 Installation of 2019-2021 Officers
Our installation luncheon held at the Isles Yacht Club

Gail Edgren installed our new officers: Joyce Stanley, Treasurer; Co-President Carol Houston; President Mary Yeomans; Jan Brady, Corresponding Secretary, Monica Lucey, Director; Vinita Jones, 1st Vice President, Carol Moore, 2nd Vice President; Sarah Corey, Director
- Outgoing President Joyce Stanley, recognized Carolyn Honour and Karen Noonan for their work on submission of the award for restoration of the Elise Hayman’s buttfly/wildlife garden at CHEC. We won two awards, the FFGC Park/City Planting and Deep South award for a civic project using native plants.
- Joyce awards Carol Moore the FFGC Earth Steward award for her work in our public gardens.
- Scholarship chairperson Anne Simpson with one of the six 2019 scholarship winners.
- Jeantte Fowler, Elise Hayman and Marion Wester
- Outgoing President Joyce Stanly with Gail Edgren
Unit 1 NGC Floral Design Classes
Line Design
- Our Member and Master Judge Claudia Chopp with instructor KC Jeronimo
- Bev Robbins works on her design
- Designs get critiqued
Unit 2
Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Designs
- FFGC President Claudia Bates gives instructions.
- FFGC President Claudia Bates
- Gail Edgren and members work on their designs.
- Claudia’s examples
Unit 3
Cresent and Hogarth Designs
- Claudia Bates helps Debbie Engel with her design
- Claudia’s examples
- Example
- Designs ready for critque Nancy Knaus and Vinita Jones
- Gail Edgren and Caroline Wooters
- Elaine LaWell and Sarah Corey
- Mary Yeomans
Unit 4
Functional and Exhibition Tables

National Garden Club Master Flower Show Judge and Flower Show School Instruction, Kathleen Hawryluk, teaches us functional and exhibition tables
Our members made spectaular designs with what they brought
Unit 5
Creative Design
Kathleen’s Examples
Our Member’s Designs
Unit 6
Creative Design-Florida
Rededication of CHEC Butterfly Garden
October 29, 2018 the new wildlife habitat was dedicated at Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, (CHEC) 10941 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda. Part of the new habitat is the Butterfly Garden dedicated to Elise Haymans on October 29, 1990 by the Punta Gorda Garden Club, exactly 28 years ago from the rededication. The garden was in honor of her serving as Florida Federated Garden Club President from 1989 to 1991. Elise spearheaded the creation of the Florida coreopsis wildflower license plate and coreopsis in the new rain garden portion of the original butterfly garden.
The area demonstrates Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM…..designed, installed and maintained according to the nine Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles. As a result, Charlotte Harbor’s water resources are protected and preserved. The garden’s choice of plants reduces environmental impacts by using rain water stored in cistern flowing into a backyard pond and rain garden. Both features attracts a wide range of wildlife including butterflies birds, hummingbirds, pollinator insects and small animals.
PGGC is pleased to financially support this project with funds from the Holly Days Home Tour.
Members Enjoying The Luncheon
Members competed wearing hair adornments made of fresh plant material using the theme bees.
- Anne Simpson wearing the funniest hat
- Outgoing co-president Vinita Jones
- Monica Lucey ~ 2nd V.P
- President Joyce Stanley
- Joyce’s Lovely Hair Piece
- Carol Houston ~ 1 V.P.