Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - In 2010, a number of Puerto Vallarta residents banded together to beautify our city. Concerned by the impact of recent negative media hype on the tourism industry and the lack of landscaping by the municipality, they chose to plant the seeds of change through gardening city parks and green spaces.

The mission of the PV Garden Club is to beautify and protect the environment through civic planting projects and educational and horticultural programs for the enjoyment of Puerto Vallarta residents and our visitors. The firm belief is that gardens are a powerful tourism generator that can drive new tourist traffic to an area.

The club's first project was a makeover of the grounds at the Los Mangos Library. Trees were pruned, bougainvilleas were planted and the entrance path was lined with Spathiphyllum (Peace Lilies.) To learn more, see Volunteers 'Dug in' to Los Mangos Project.

Sidewalk planters became the next target for activity and the planters are being filled with flowering trees and bougainvilleas. Many of these can be seen along Calle Basilio Badillo and in the Mercado Area. Check them out yourself to see how these planters are already flourishing and then just imagine how they will look after their first rainy season.

The PV Garden Club is still actively seeking sponsors for these planters. Many families and local businesses have already helped and are pleased with elegant 30x30 cm (12x12 inch) hand painted tiles that adorn the planters in tribute of their sponsorship.

The next dream of the PV Garden Club is to launch an annual "Puerto Vallarta Bougainvillea Festival" that will make our city known as "The City of Bougainvilleas."

Bougainvilleas thrive in Puerto Vallarta, resist pests, establish themselves quickly, bloom almost continuously, and represent a positive image of Mexico. This makes them a perfect selection for showcasing in a floral festival, the likes of which have been a success for scores of other tourist destination cities throughout the world.

Many of these festivals, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. are proven economic stimulators that bring in millions of dollars a year to their hosts. It is certainly time for Puerto Vallarta to adopt this model and bring new tourists to our city.

For information on membership or to sponsor a planter, please visit the PV Garden Club website or call Carlos Mendoza at (322) 223-6182. So pull up your sleeves, dig in, and contribute to a better, greener and more economically sound Puerto Vallarta.

The Garden Club’s Call to Action Brochure (download or print the PDF HERE)