Duval County Extension
Our relationship with the Master Gardener VolunteersMaster Gardener and club member, Mary Howe, suggested that the Club invite the Duval County Extension Office to use the garden club’s grounds as a demonstration garden. In the fall of 1988, this joint venture began and continues today.
The gardens are made up of two sections.
Section One is the Demonstration Garden. Included are the Crosby perennial bed, ginger bed, succulent bed, ornamental grass bed, vegetable bed, potager beds – North and South, bromeliad bed, the Howe butterfly bed, camellia bed, pineapple and rose beds. A cutting garden has been reworked into a collage space for 4 talented gardeners to play with texture and color. A repurpose bed is also featured.
Section Two referred to as the Taylor Native Garden was developed in 1992 when Dr. Dekle Taylor, a retired Mandarin physician and avid horticulturist, donated native plants to the club. His plants, along with plants purchased by grant money from the Florida Native Plant Association, were used to complete the Native Garden.
The demonstration and native gardens
give the Duval County Master Gardeners
the opportunity for hands-on learning.
Working weekly to maintain the gardens, they learn which plants grow well here and how best to propagate and care for them. They are then able to pass that knowledge and expertise along to the community.
The entire Mandarin Garden Club property is lovingly cared for by members and MGV combined. In fact, most of the MGV are members.
Visiting
Our gardens are open to the public from dawn to dusk except during times when the property is rented. During these times signs are posted at the entrance designating a private event.
Volunteering
We gather every Wednesday morning, between 8 – 12 noon. New folks sign in with Mary Forester and are assigned based on interest.
Get Connected
If you are interested in volunteering with our Sprouts program – home schooled children who come to the club every other Monday – please call Janine Smith.
Designations
The gardens have achieved the following designations:
- Backyard Wildlife Habitat-National Wildlife Federation
- Certified Butterfly Garden-North American Butterfly Association
- Certified Wildlife Habitat-National Wildlife Federation
- UF/IFAS Extension’s Demonstration Garden for Duval County
- UF/IFAS-Florida Friendly Landscape – Silver Level