Crestview Garden Club - Crestview, Florida

Crestview Garden Club - Crestview, Florida We are a garden club based in Crestview, FL with a focus on educating through community partnerships. All experience levels welcome. Come join us!

We meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 10AM at the Okaloosa Extension Office.

Today was the presentation by Larry Williams on What’s wrong with your vegetable garden. This was a really informative p...
06/18/2026

Today was the presentation by Larry Williams on What’s wrong with your vegetable garden. This was a really informative presentation and we learned a lot. Thank you Larry for taking the time out to help us learn to be better gardeners.

This weeks seed information is on the Chocolate Daisy. They grow into beautiful flowers with a chocolate like fragrance....
06/16/2026

This weeks seed information is on the Chocolate Daisy. They grow into beautiful flowers with a chocolate like fragrance. We do have these seeds in the Crestview Garden Club seed library and can be checked out at the Crestview Library.

Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) is a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance perennial native to the southwestern US and Mexico. They are known as the "chocolate flower" for its sweet chocolate-like scent especially in the morning. It features yellow daisy-like flowers with reddish undersides that open in the morning and close in the afternoon. They attract pollinators and beneficial insects. The plant is easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil and its flowers can be used as a food seasoning.

Key Characteristics

Appearance:

Yellow daisy-like flowers with red-veined undersides; leaves are lobed resembling a lyre.

Scent:

Sweet, chocolate-like fragrance which is strongest in the morning.

Bloom Time:

Spring through summer, often bloom year-round in warm climates.

Size:

Grows 1-3 feet tall and wide.

Hardiness Zones:

USDA Zones 4-11.

Growing Conditions

Light:

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil:

Adaptable to various soils (clay, loam, sand) but requires good drainage.

Water:

Drought tolerant once established and prefers occasional moisture.

Care and Maintenance

Planting:

Sow seeds directly outdoors after the last frost or start indoors 6-8 weeks prior.

Maintenance:

Low maintenance; cut back foliage to the base in late winter/early spring to encourage new growth.

Propagation:

Spreads readily from seeds or collect seed heads to plant in new areas.

Uses and Benefits

Pollinators:

Excellent nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Culinary:

Flowers can be used as a food seasoning and the stamens are edible.

Ornamental:

Great for wildflower gardens, meadows, and containers. These are also deer resistant.

Today the Crestview Garden Club met up at Craig and Kim’s farm for a tour. This farm has something for everyone. We saw ...
06/11/2026

Today the Crestview Garden Club met up at Craig and Kim’s farm for a tour. This farm has something for everyone. We saw blackberries, blueberries, the big green house full of plants, a big garden area of beautiful flowers, olive trees, tomatoes, a big Koi pond, a big tree fort situated around a big oak tree that Kim had planted years ago and numerous other trees and plants. We were then instructed to go pick blackberries and blueberries. These were sweet and tasty. This was an amazing tour and experience. This farm is very beautiful and productive. This was a very nice field trip.

This weeks seed information is on Roselle Hibiscus. These seeds grow into very pretty flowers. They grow very quickly an...
06/09/2026

This weeks seed information is on Roselle Hibiscus. These seeds grow into very pretty flowers. They grow very quickly and love the heat. These seeds are in the Crestview Garden Club seed library and can be found at the Crestview Library.

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a tropical plant known for its edible, tart, cranberry-like red calyces, which are used to make beverages (like hibiscus tea, agua de jamaica, or zobo), jams, and sauces. Also called red sorrel or Florida cranberry, it's a fast-growing plant with vibrant flowers and stems, thriving in warm climates and full sun, and is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. The leaves and flowers are also edible, and the plant has a history of traditional medicinal uses for conditions like high blood pressure.

Key Characteristics

Appearance:

Features showy, pale-yellow flowers with deep-red centers, and bright red stems and leaf veins.
Flavor: The fleshy, crimson calyces have a tart, zesty flavor, similar to cranberries.

Growth:

Grows quickly in warm weather, loves heat, and is intolerant of frost.

Uses:

Primarily grown for its calyces, but leaves and flowers are also edible.

Flavor:

The fleshy, crimson calyces have a tart, zesty flavor, similar to cranberries.

Culinary Uses

Drinks:

Steeped to make a popular, refreshing tea or juice.

Preserves:

Used in jams, jellies, and syrups.

Savory Dishes:

Can be used in sauces and chutneys.

Growing Conditions

Sun:

Full sun is essential.

Soil:

Prefers fertile, well-draining soil but is adaptable.

Water:

Requires regular watering but is somewhat drought-tolerant once established; avoid waterlogging.

Spacing:

Give plants 3-6 feet of space to grow large and produce

Pictures from tonight’s town meeting. Proclamation of Garden Week.
06/08/2026

Pictures from tonight’s town meeting. Proclamation of Garden Week.

06/08/2026

Tonight was the Proclamation of Garden Week in Crestview. Represents of the Crestview Garden Club received this honor tonight from Mayor JD Whitten. Enclosed is the video from this event. Will post a few pictures to go with this also.

06/08/2026

🌿 Crestview Garden Club Meeting Reminder 🌿

Just a reminder that our June Garden Club meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11th at 9:30 AM.

This month's meeting is a field trip to a private residence, so event details will not be posted on Facebook.

If you have attended one of our meetings in the past and provided us with your email address, please refer to your email for complete meeting details and directions. Guests are welcome, but advance contact is required for location details.

If you have not received the information and need assistance, please email us at [email protected].

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Today the Crestview Garden club installed plants and flowers at the Flower Basket Florist in Crestview. After we tilled ...
06/08/2026

Today the Crestview Garden club installed plants and flowers at the Flower Basket Florist in Crestview. After we tilled the area up we installed all the plants and flowers, installed the drip lines, added a layer of cardboard to help with weeds, and then added garden mulch. This was a very big project and it came out wonderful. These plants and flowers will look beautiful for a very long time. A big thank you for all the folks that showed up to support this project. Included are some photos.

Address

Crestview, FL
32539

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