Grand Harbor Audubon
Annual Meeting and Garden Party
Boy, did this season sure fly by. On April 25th we celebrated our last event, the Annual Meeting and Garden Party for the 2024/2025 season.
Our event was well attended by over 100 guests. We first met at the Club House for opening remarks and a summary of this season's accomplishments by our President Lyn Groves. A membership report, treasurer's report, 2025/2026 tentative program schedule, a thank you to the outgoing board and advisory council members, and election of board members ensued.
Lyn announced the Volunteer of the Year, Jeanine Nestor. Well-deserved and thank you Jeanine! Lyn also presented an informative discussion on a native plant that is present in our own garden, the beautiful Sunshine Mimosa. We were then invited to head to the gardens for a tour, wine and other refreshments.
Perfect weather, a nice breeze and great folks made this a wonderful evening. Also, a heart-felt thank you for all the hard-working Club Staff we can't do without (not just this event). Lastly, I personally cannot send thanks enough to all those who work so hard all season to make our garden a joy to visit. There are too many to include. Never forget, this is hard, albeit rewarding work!
Kathy Phillips
Photos courtesy of Bob Joy
Volunteer of the Year
Celia Montgomery had the honor of awarding the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award to Jeanine Nestor for her steadfast leadership, tireless efforts, expansive knowledge and multiple talents. Click on the photograph to view a copy of the award certificate listing Jeanine's multitude of contributions to Grand Harbor Audubon.
May 2025
Bird of the Month
Henslow's Sparrow
Click on the Henslow's Sparrow to read an article by Carolyn Preston
Sunshine Mimosa
During the annual meeting, Lyn Groves treated the audience to a fascinating and educational talk about a unique native plant in our butterfly garden, the Sunshine Mimosa. Particularity interesting you will learn about the two types of plant movement, tropic movement and nastic movement. Click on the photo of the Sunshine Mimosa below to read the talk.
Did you Know?
The Mockingbird is the state bird for five states including Florida. There have been seven attempts by Florida lawmakers to dethrone it over a 25-year span. State Rep. Jim Mooney hopes the eighth time is the charm. He filed legislation for the 2025 legislative session to make the American flamingo the official state bird and the Florida Scrub-jay the official state songbird. The Florida Scrub-jay is the only bird found exclusively in Florida. Plus the Florida Scrub-jay is much better looking!
Carolyn Preston
Florida Scrub-jay
Mockingbird
Seen in Grand Harbor
Click on any photo to enlarge
Please email info@grandharboraudubon.org to share pictures of birds, plants and wildlife that you capture in Grand Harbor. We look forward to receiving your photos!
Thank you to all that submitted the beautiful pictures.
Did you Know?
The Killdeer will fake injury, using what’s has been termed a “broken-wing display” to lure intruders away from its nest. Recently, after slowly approaching a female sitting on her eggs the male quickly displayed the described broken-wing behavior, as shown below. The male Killdeer also made loud sharp dee calls to sound the alarm. I was most certainly warned!
Alex Diedrick
Male killdeer puts on an act to distract perceived intruder away from female sitting on eggs
One Year Anniversary of
GHA Landscaping Bed on River 18
The native landscaping garden continues to flourish and is being enjoyed by so many who pass by. Some of the photos prior to and during the space transformation can be found on our Special Projects Page.
Grand Harbor Audubon
Butterfly & Native
Nature Gardens
There is a place in Grand Harbor where birds and butterflies abound. The Nature Gardens are adjacent to the aqua driving range. The area is alive with insects, birds, butterflies and some crawling creatures in a thriving natural scene. Native plants and trees host the butterflies and moth caterpillars needed to feed baby birds. The use of native plants to support wildlife as exotics do not.
Take a walk on the wild side and visit our Nature Gardens
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.
Please come join us in the Garden at the next worker bee for a morning of beautification and friendship!
Celia Montgomery
The next Worker Bee will be held on Monday, June 2nd. Drop in anytime between 9-11 am. Garden tools are available, just show up. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Tribute Pavers
Our program of selling tribute pavers in the Audubon Gardens has been warmly received by the Grand Harbor community. To date, more than 60 pavers have been engraved to thank friends, honor loved ones and celebrate milestone events. All proceeds are dedicated to improving and maintaining the gardens.
We will be continuing our paver program in the Fall. Order forms can be picked up at the concierge desk at the Club or downloaded from our website for submission at our Welcome Back Event in October 2025 or to drop off at the concierge desk.
Click below the PDF to open
More ... Seen in Grand Harbor Through the Years
