The next meeting of the Gertrude Windsor Garden Club will be a Community Event held in the Azalea Room at the Rose Garden Center on November 20th at 10:00 a.m. We are excited to feature Laura-Ashley Overdyke, Executive Director of the Caddo Lake Institute. We hope you can join us and invite your friends and neighbors to attend as well. Additionally, we have invited other Garden Clubs to participate in this event.

When:  November 20, 2025
Time:   10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Tyler Rose Garden Center, Azalea Room

Caddo Lake is Texas’s only naturally formed lake and is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance. It is rich in biodiversity, history, and opportunities for adventure. You will learn about what makes Caddo Lake so unique and the landscape-level conservation efforts that have made significant progress in the area. Alongside its rare plants and animals, Caddo Lake is home to the state’s second state park, making it a fantastic destination for visitors.

However, with these blessings come challenges. There are threats to the long-term viability of Caddo Lake. East Texas, including Lake Palestine and the Tyler area, is part of the larger Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s future water supply sources. The plants and wildlife of Caddo, along with its rich history and burgeoning tourism industry, depend on receiving the right amount of water at the right time for their long-term survival. Caddo Lake is a true gem of East Texas, and water management is a critical issue throughout Texas.

These important topics will be discussed as we hear from Laura-Ashley Overdyke, the Executive Director of the Caddo Lake Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific conservation.

We look forward to seeing you on November 20th!