Sixteen members of Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island joined the CGC Gadabouts trip to Punta Gorda for the Punta Gorda Garden Club’s Christmas home tour known as Holly Days. This edition of Holly Days marked the return of the event after four years of absence due to Covid and hurricanes. The fundraiser is traditionally held in early December, and tours 4 homes that have been decorated by PGGC in inventive, over-the-top holiday decorations. This year, one home featured pink flamingos! The theme was set in the front yard where three sculptured pink flamingos pranced in ice skates, boots, and flip flops! The flamingo theme continued in the decorations placed throughout the beautiful home.
The PGGC divides into 4 teams, and each team decorates one of the 4 homes located in the charming historic district of Punta Gorda. The PGGC members told us they remove most of the homeowners’ decorative items and paintings and replace them with hand crafted décor fitting the theme chosen for the home by the committee. Each home was festooned with garlands, beautiful greenery, whimsical decorative items and Christmas trees that carried out the theme of the particular home. At two of the homes, handmade crafts from PGGC members and potted plants were for sale, and at the other two homes, beautiful poinsettias were for sale. There was also a silent auction for some of the fantastic and more expensive décor items in the homes. PGGC raises about $30,000 from their tour.
After the tour, the Calusa Garden Club members met for lunch at the Captain’s Table at Fisherman’s Village and enjoyed a lovely waterfront view while they discussed their impressions of the PGGC Holly Days home tour.
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