A Renaissance Woman
Every now and then a community is unexpectedly blessed with the arrival of a Renaissance Woman. Grand Harbor met ours when Dr. John and Debbie Lindsey arrived in 2014, and immediately became involved in the life of our community. John plunged into his work at the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, while Debbie began to search for places to share her many talents. And “many” is an understatement!
A proud Navy wife, Debbie herself had been an Army Xray Technician. But in addition to that skill, she was an accomplished artist, a gourmet cook, a certified Bee Keeper, an intrepid traveler, a golfer, an avid reader, a devoted gardener, the proud Mother of Ian and Carly, a Grandmother extraordinaire to Evelyn and Olivia, and a friend to all she met. She was first to volunteer to create table arrangements, help chair an Art Show, or organize a charity event.
When Grand Harbor Audubon hoped she might share her energies, she responded by assuming the task of reimaging the Audubon Gardens. Debbie created a masterpiece, complete with a paver path for increased accessibility, hundreds of new plantings, a lovely arbor, a butterfly habitat, educational signage, and irrigation (courtesy of John). More importantly, her enthusiasm for this lovely little oasis engendered a large following of her “Worker Bees” who recognized the importance of what she was creating within our community and continue to carry out her vision now that she has left us for her Heavenly home. We deeply miss our Renaissance Woman, but we feel Debbie’s presence each time we enter the special place she created for us.
By Chris Thurlow
Grand Harbor Audubon
2024 Volunteer of the Year Award
Rose Virgin, in lieu of John Lindsey, had the honor of awarding the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award to Lyn Groves for her talent, time, and commitment to Landscape responsibilities. She is head of the Native Garden, worked on the paver project, has been instrumental in planting many trees, and ensures that only native plants are represented.
Thank you Lyn for all of your hard work!
Landscaping Bed on River 18
GHA ‘Special Project’
We’d like to share with you our newest Native Plant area and quite sure you may have seen it already! As the Green Committee Chair I realized how very hard our Golf Maintenance staff was working especially these last 3 years as BOTH golf courses were re-done. And I’m sure all of you golfers understand the ‘priority’ of things – namely Greens, Fairways, Tees, Bunkers, Rough. The ‘landscaping beds’ must come last. That’s when I asked Josh and our Audubon Board as well as our GM Michael if we, GHA, could have that bed – sorely in need of attention and in such a visible location – cart path, road side, side walk, golf course! And with special thanks to my most capable partner Lyn Groves, who is Chair of our Native Plant Garden, and the full support of the Audubon Board as well as Josh Breda and his staff the overgrown ugly bed became a ‘beauty’ and will only get better! Golf maintenance did most of the work in the beginning – clearing out the overgrown invasives, etc. as well as moving rocks I had been ‘saving’ for just such a project! Lyn and I could not have done this without JJ Frank and his crew from Creative Landscaping! He often put up with our craziness as we changed our minds and guided all the way! And then there was Marcus who power washed and acid cleaned our beautiful rocks!
There were actually two Bottle Brush trees located there but one was diseased and had to be removed. GHCA supported us as well and had the over-hanging Oaks trimmed to open up our bed to let more sunshine in and allow the Bottle Brush to grow. Overall, a project completed by many!
Everyone asks what we planted there so I will list them here: 15 Dune Sunflower; 40 Red-tipped Cocoplum; 21 Wild Coffee; 6 Coontie; 6 Blue Porterweed; 5 Sea Purslane; 3 Grayleaf Teabush; 20 Walter’s Viburnem. Lyn is in the process of making small signs near each for identification.
Of utmost importance was the support of Golf Maintenance again and Royce Towner, the Supervisor of the River Course, as he has adjusted the sprinklers to water our bed daily until the plants are established. And yet to do is the cart path/side walk which we have permission from both the Community and the Club to widen and open up that T turn making it a Y turn. As well, a sign identifying this as an Audubon Native Plant bed has been ordered. I’m trying desperately to reach FPL and hoping that we can ‘wrap’ those large green electrical boxes as they are doing throughout the county!
None of this would have been possible with the financial support from our members. And as we know, everything comes with a cost and we are just under our budget of $6000. The ‘special projects’ fund is alive and we hope to continue adding beauty to our already beautiful Grand Harbor and educating ALL of us about the important use of Native Plants! (BTW – weeders always needed!)
Thank you, Deb Fletcher
Bird of the Month
May 2024
Wilson’s Snipe
Click on the photo to learn about Wilson's Snipe
Seen in Grand Harbor
2022 - Present
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUBMITTED
THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!
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The Nature Gardens are located to the left of the Aqua Range behind the Main Clubhouse. Wander through the gardens and explore the beautiful flora and butterflies!
In order to maintain the gardens, monthly "worker bees" are held during the season where volunteers show up at their own convenience to pitch in with planting, weeding, mulching, trimming, etc., whatever is needed at the time. Gardening tools are available.
Tribute Pavers
The sale of tribute pavers in the transformed Grand Harbor Audubon gardens was announced at the Annual Meeting held on April 24, 2024 in the Grand Harbor clubhouse. If you are interested in purchasing a paver please click the printable PDF for details.
Seen in Grand Harbor
Through the Years
