The next meeting of the PV Garden club will be on February 16th at 2 PM at the International Friendship Club (upstairs at the corner of Libertad and Miramar, behind the HSBC Bank). The meeting is open to the public, free admission.

The PV Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month at different locations. Guest speakers present topics pertinent to gardening in the tropics. The mission of the PV Garden Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, and beautifying and protecting our local environment through civic planting projects and educational and horticultural programs.

In partnership with the city, the PV Garden Club is filling and maintaining planters around town as one of its many projects. The club sells sponsorship of these planters, which are filled with a single primavera tree surrounded by colorful bougainvillea plants with Corona de Cristo (Crown of Thorns) and other flowering plants. Custom designed tiles, painted at Mundo de Azuelos “World of Tiles”, featuring the sponsor’s names and often a philosophy or memorial, are affixed to each planter. Many of these can be seen along Basillio Badillo and several other streets in town. Most tiles are in English but if you look closely there are some in Spanish, French and German, reflecting the truly international flavor that is Puerto Vallarta. Eventually the foliage and yellow blooms of the primavera trees will provide shade, and the brilliant bougainvillea blossoms will cascade over the streets.

Membership to the PV Garden Club is available at the meeting, and soon the club will announce a number of benefits associated with membership.

Purpose: To assure that the Garden Club sponsored planters are maintained, watered, free of garbage and weeds. Periodically the bougainvillea vines will be pruned and trained to the metal pole.

• A professional gardener will be paid by the garden club. His duties will be overseen by this committee.
• Painting of the planters will be done as needed under the supervision of a club officer.
• Club members will be provided an identity card on a lanyard to display for anyone questioning the work being done.
• Work on this committee can be accomplished at the time of a committee member’s own choosing. It is recommended that an email be sent to the President to report any deficiencies in the planter maintenance.

Publicity, Website and Communication Committee

Purpose: To keep the club and its mission and purpose in the public eye. To heighten awareness of the club for both residents and visitors. To provide updated and timely information for members and interested potential members on the website and in other venues.

• This committee will assemble news articles, photographs and updates to send to the club webmaster.
• Contact will be made with PV Mirror and Tribune editors, to request periodic articles featuring the club, and the committee will provide relevant material for the papers.
• The club brochure will be updated and distributed in relevant forums.
• A table and materials will be set up at the Saturday Farmer’s market with small plants for sale to benefit the club. Membership will be actively solicited and sponsorship of planters will be sold at these events. It is important that those representing the garden club be fully informed regarding the club’s mission, short and long term objectives and be comfortable in presenting the club in an enthusiastic, positive and inclusive manner.

Fundraising Committee

Purpose: To raise funds to support the mission of the club and its short and long term goals. To sell sponsorship of planters throughout Puerto Vallarta. To assure the success of the bougainvillea festival.

• The committee will actively visit local businesses to seek sponsorship.
• Committee members are encouraged to talk to their neighbors, friends and condo boards and neighborhood associations to promote the merit of sponsorship.

Informational Brochure Committee

Purpose: To gather information and research topics of interest to club members on the growing conditions for various plants in the tropics. To address personal questions about successful gardening for balconies and local gardens.

• Committee members will meet periodically to discuss gardening issues of general interest to local residents. Questions that occur to passionate gardeners in residence will be explored. Assignments will be taken by committee members to research a particular topic and produce comprehensive information on that topic. Example might be “shade plants,” “planting for fragrance,” “how to deal with salt spray,” etc.
• Brochures or one page sheets will be produced by the committee in both English and Spanish.
• Distribution will be made at monthly meetings to encourage attendance and heighten interest in membership.

The public is invited to attend our meetings. There is no charge. If there is a vote at the business portion of the meeting, then only members may vote. Membership is still only 200 pesos.

• January 19 – Luc Vleeracker – “Exotic Fruits you can Grow” (Luc is a local grower of exotic fruit). At the IFC at 2 pm.
• February 16 – Dr. Leslie Korn – “Medicinal Plants of Mexico” (based on her book). 2 pm at the IFC.
• March 15 – Dan Grippo – “Mexican Native Plants” at the Paradise Community Center, 2 pm.

After a long, hot summer hiatus, the Puerto Vallarta Garden Club will meet on Thursday, October 20 at 11 a.m. at Rivera Cuale. The club has been revamped to eliminate all of the business and boring blah, blah, blah that we inflicted on everyone over the first year.

The new club: Short ( and we mean less than 30 minutes ) business meeting

Garden Presentation:

Yes, we are actually going to be a Garden Club. This month T J Hartung will speak about “Orchids in the Garden and Home.”

We will also have a Q & A or Show and Tell. Plants that are diseased can be brought in for inspection. THEY MUST BE SEALED IN PLASTIC!

This month there will also be a brief recap of ALL the club’s accomplishments of our first year of service.

We hope you will join us.

In 2010, a number of Puerto Vallarta residents banded together to beautify their city. Concerned by the impact of recent negative media hype on the tourism industry and the lack of landscaping by the municipality, they chose to plant the seeds of change through gardening city parks and green spaces. The mission of the club is to beautify and protect the environment through civic planting projects and educational and horticultural programs for the enjoyment of Puerto Vallarta residents and our visitors. The firm belief is that gardens are a powerful tourism generator that can drive new tourist traffic to an area.

The club’s first project was a makeover of the grounds at the Los Mangos Library. Trees were pruned, bougainvilleas were planted and the entrance path was lined with Spathiphyllum (Peace Lilies). Sidewalk planters became the next target for activity and the planters are being filled with flowering trees and bougainvilleas. Many of these can be seen along Calle Basilio Badillo and in the Mercado Area. Check them out yourself to see how these planters are already flourishing and then just imagine how they will look after their first rainy season.

The PV Garden Club is still actively seeking sponsors for these planters. Many families and local businesses have already helped and are pleased with elegant 30×30 cm (12 x12 inch) hand painted tiles that adorn the planters in tribute of their sponsorship.

The next dream of the PV Garden Club is to launch an annual “Puerto Vallarta Bougainvillea Festival” that will make our city known as “The City of Bougainvilleas.” Bougainvilleas thrive in Puerto Vallarta, resist pests, establish themselves quickly, bloom almost continuously, and represent a positive image of Mexico. This makes them a perfect selection for showcasing in a floral festival, the likes of which have been a success for scores of other tourist destination cities throughout the world. Many of these festivals, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. are proven economic stimulators that bring in millions of dollars a year to their hosts. It is certainly time for Puerto Vallarta to adopt this model and bring new tourists to our city.

For information on membership or to sponsor a planter, please visit the PV Garden Club website: www.puertovallartagc.org or call Carlos Mendoza at 322-223-6182.

So pull up your sleeves, dig in, and contribute to a better, greener and more economically sound Puerto Vallarta.

The Garden Club will meet at Rivera Cuale at 11 am on Thursday, June 16.

Ask for unit location at outside entrance guard office.
Street parking usually available.
Directions supplied upon request.
Membership dues: 200 pesos per year.

AGENDA

Call to order by Gary R. Beck

Secretary’s report…David

Treasurer’s report…Gerry
Reading the club’s Mission and Vision statements…David

Unfnished Business

• Planters in the mercado area on Encino and Augustin
  Rodriguez for 3000 pesos. The tiles would be smaller.
  Size…David.
• Garbage receptacles on Basilio Badillo…Bob

New Business

• Planters report…sponsorship, condition, upkeep and
  Saving planter box locations until fall…all; vote
• Non-members at meetings…all
• Acopio seeking funds…David

Other new business

The meeting was called to order by Bob Price.

The club’s Mission and Vision statements were read by Secretary David Rohde.

Gerry Jacobs gave the Treasurer’s report. It was motioned, seconded and passed.

David Rohde read the minutes from the last meeting. It was motioned, seconded and passed.

David Rohde read the minutes of the board meeting of the previous week.

Planters: Planter in the mercado area on Encino and Augustin Rodriguez streets were discussed as to pricing. It was decided to sell sponsorships for 3000 pesos. he tiles that would appear on the planter would be smaller. Size of tile to be researched by David Rohde. This was motioned, seconded and passed. Merchant and patrinado participation was also discussed.

Garbage receptacles: There is a lack of garbage receptacles on Basilio Badillo. There is a supply of them at Servicios Publicos off of Francisco Villa. Bob will check with the city and see if there is a possibility of obtaining some. Jack and Suzanne Kirkpatrick
volunteered matching donations for a Basilio Badillo business group to also contribute to the installation. They will match donations from businesses up to $1000 US for this cause.

Tiles: two more tiles were sold and the copy for each tile was given to David Rohde to order tiles.

The meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by David Rohde, Secretary

The meeting was called to order by president Gary Beck. The board members present were Gary Beck, Robert Price, Gerry Jacobs, Jack & Suzanne Kirkpatrick and David Rohde.

Gerry Jacobs gave the Treasurer’s report.

The first order of business: Brochures.

• Bob discussed a revised edition of the Garden Club brochure under consideration. Comments and amendments were made. It was decided to do a large printing of the brochure in English and a small printing in Spanish. The minimum size of order will be checked.

The next order of business: Membership

• Planter sponsorship to include membership to be voted on in general members meeting. The suggestion that guests not be charged dues was also discussed and will be voted upon by general membership.

Last order of business: Planter maintenance.

• It was mentioned that maintenance has not been consistent. Effort will be made to stimulate participation of merchants on Encino and Agustin Rodriguez in the watering and care of planters.

The meeting was adjourned. The next members’ meeting will be on Thursday, the 19th of May at Rivera Cuale at 11:00 a.m..

– David Rohde, secretary

Thursday, May 19, 2011
11 am at Rivera Cuale (ask at front desk for room location.)

Minutes for the meeting of April 21 – David
Treasurer’s report – Gerry

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Postcards: – David
• PEACE-Rio Cuale Cleanup 5/22 9:30am – Nicole
• Planter Boxes – Bob Price and any others
• Tiles – David, tile coordinator, report
• A. C. – Bob
• Q & A – A question and answer site still has only 16 members.
• Facebook Page: – Gary Facebook PVGC page: www.facebook.com/garyrbeck/posts/10150236627967292?notif_t=feed_comment#!/home.php?sk=group_190572744303593&ap=1 on website
• Benches – Bob Cost would be approximately 1800 pesos and could be marketed for 5000 pesos.
• Club Brochure – T. J. and Bob brochure, number to print.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Fundraising:
• ‘Postcards’ sales – David
• Planter Box sponsors – all
• Benches sponsors – all
• Bingo at Blake’s Bar – Gerry busy
• Membership dues – changes?
• Meet Flora Mexicana - book loaned from Gary Waller for reprinting and sale
• Other