Sea Lavender Garden Club
Our Mission
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Encourage interest in all phases of home gardening.
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Promote better horticultural practices, civic beauty, and the conservation of natural resources.
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Develop a community spirit of town beautification.​
We nourish our friendships as we cultivate our gardens.
The next Manasquan Garden Tour
will be held in the summer of 2027.
The Manasquan Sea Lavender Garden Tour includes visits to beautiful private gardens in Manasquan. These local gardens have been lovingly created and tended by their home owners.
Local artists and musicians will be featured at various gardens.
Tickets will be sold on Eventbrite and can be purchased at several local stores in Manasquan.​
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2025 Scholarship News
by Michele Babakian
The Sea Lavender Garden Club is pleased to announce that we awarded four $1,800 scholarships this year. Each of the recipients is a 2025 Manasquan High School graduate. Besides being in good academic standing, the scholarship application asks for an essay of 1-2 pages describing a project that would have a positive impact on the environment for their community. Included in the essay should be details of feasibility, implementation, and sustainability. Michele Babakian, chair of the Scholarship committee said that the committee recommended four applicants for scholarships this year. The funds for the scholarships come from the proceeds of the annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale held in May.
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Angelina George a Manasquan resident will be studying biology at Cornell University in hopes of attending medical school. Some of her activities included: The Gardening Club and Environmental Club, the Cross Country team as well as being captain of the track and field team. Angelina’s essay addressed the drought we experienced last summer and she recommended a multi-phase ecological restoration which includes educating the Manasquan Community. Some of her ideas include introducing duckweed and cattails to our reservoir, encouraging rock lawns or planting fine fescue and tall fescue lawn.
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Dylan Clancey from Brielle will be enrolling at San Diego University where she will be studying Environmental Engineering. Her essay addressed an anti-erosion project known as ‘living shoreline’. This would be a natural barrier supporting local ecosystems such as oyster reef and salt marsh plantings. Dylan was an active member of the Environmental Club and the Gardening Club as well as participating in track and field and cross country.
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Donovan Brown from Manasquan will be enrolling in Middlebury College in Vermont where he will be studying Computer Science. He is a musician and a member of the Jazz Band and Marching Band at Manasquan High School. Donovan is also the founder the Jazz/Funk Band. Donovan has volunteered at the Sea Lavender Garden Club Mother’s Day Plant and Bake Sale fundraisers. He noticed that watering the town’s gardens can be difficult. His essay recommended the collection of rain water at the gardens and then expanding this plan to the community.
Erika Yasenchak a Manasquan resident will be attending SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry majoring in Conservation Biology with a hope of going into Entomology.
Her essay would encourage native plants to more residents of Manasquan by creating a “My Little Library” for seeds. Her inspiration came from volunteering maintenance of the flower beds in the meditation garden by the Manasquan Library as a member of the Girl Scouts. Erika is a violinist of the NJ Symphonic Youth Orchestra. She also participated in the Garden Club, Art Club and cross country team.
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The garden club congratulates each of these students and wishes them success in their chosen field of study.
The Mother's Day Plant Sale
was a huge success!
Read the Coast Star article:
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MANASQUAN — The Sea Lavender Garden Club held its annual Mother’s Day plant and bake sale on May 11 at Curtis Park, drawing a crowd of eager shoppers with its display of baked goods and hundreds of plants.
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Karen Ryan, one of the event chairs, who spoke with Star News Group at the event alongside Susan Shanley and Lou Ann Mopsik, commented that in her 15 years running the sale, it was the nicest weather they have had.
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The club had about 600 plants for sale, including 300 hanging baskets as well as potted planters of various sizes and, of course, the garden club’s namesake plant, lavender. Ryan said that many of the plants sold out early in the morning, soon after the sale began.
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The arrangements and flower choices were part of a planning process that began as early as January, Ryan said, in addition to the logistics of the event. Once the flowers had been delivered and unloaded, the arrangements constructed, setup for the sale itself had to take place the night prior.
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Proceeds from the sale will help fund scholarships for graduating Manasquan High School seniors.
Sea Lavender Garden Club
in the News...
Resources
Create a Jersey-Friendly Yard
JerseyYards.org was developed by the Barnegat Bay Partnership with a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Click on the images to learn more.
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation, protection, and study of the native flora of New Jersey. Click to learn more.
2025 Garden Tour
The next Manasquan Garden Tour will be held in the summer of 2027.
Our Gardens
Our members maintain public gardens
throughout Manasquan.
The map below shows where they are located.
How many have you seen?
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Dig In and Get Involved!
We encourage you to join us!
If you are interested in becoming a member,
please join us at our next meeting,
held on the third Tuesday of the month.
Feel free to contact us via email or phone.
908.963.8909
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Grow with Our Scholarships
Each year, the Sea Lavender Garden Club offers a minimum of two scholarships to a graduating senior of good standing from Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, or Spring Lake Heights. Although students intending to pursue any college major, trade school, or specialized training are encouraged to apply, preference will be given to students of academic achievement who plan to study majors in the Biological and Environmental Sciences, Landscape and Horticultural fields, or related subjects. Funding for the scholarships will come from the proceeds of the 2025 Mother’s Day Plant Sale. In the last three years, the club has awarded a minimum of $8,000 in scholarships to deserving students. Last year, the club awarded $9,000.
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The student application package must include the following items:
- Resume including the following information:
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Home address, home and cell phone number, and email address
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Educational/career goals
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Extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work)
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Work experience
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Community service
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Student transcript with grade point average
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Intended use of funds (e.g. college, trade school, or specialty training)
- Essay: 1-2 pages describing a project that would have a positive impact on the environment of your community. Include in your essay details of feasibility, implementation, and sustainability.
- Two letters of recommendation from adults who have worked with you in an academic, extracurricular, athletic or community-based volunteer setting (teacher, club advisor, volunteer supervisor).
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- Copy of institution acceptance letter, if received.
Please email application to: SLGCScholarships@gmail.com.
Support Our Neighbors, the Garden Club of Spring Lake
