Ladies from HGC enjoying lunch at Mr. Ed's after the road trip to American Aquatic Gardens in N.O. From left front: Brenda Daussat, Karen Granier, Leah Sadden, Marta Lichtl, Linda Broussard, Jewel Jamal, Linda Ross, Karen Nelson, Margaret Hawkins, Juanita Pearson, Lee Collins, Linda Ryan, Sue Parrill and Jennifer Allen.
Once again Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming everywhere and our gloved hands are just itching to get into that dirt! Everything is green again, not that old dull brown of the winter! But on the flip side.....do you have allergies? or allergic to bug bites? are there aphids on your newly planted bush that probably came from the nursery with those nasty things already there to infect your healthy plants? All of these are the "Bah Humbug" of the Spring!
But even with all of that, the green leaves and blooms of the warmer weather are a God-send to gardeners! And that is what we ladies are, a product of "The Hammond Garden Club"! It felt so good to be able to plant those first little pink, red and yellow portulaca lining the edge of the scalloped grey bricks that enclose the pure white ever-blooming azalea, the fluffy blue and pink hydrangeas, the lavender little lilies that popped up from last year, and newly planted in two footed pots, hot pink geraniums with the tiny little leaves of the trailing yellow jenny that are beginning to cascade down the front of the pot.
The deep red, double, knockout roses that are so many years old, the trunks are two inches across and covered with curly grey and white lichen; all dance across the whole garden in between all the smaller plants with fronds from several different kinds of ferns pushing their pointed heads up through everything. Next week all the tiny buds will be beautifully in full bloom. What a gorgeous color pallet God has graced me with to gaze upon every morning!
I know.....that's enough about my garden but seeing that as I open my front door every morning just makes me feel happy and no matter what is going on in the world I feel like I will be able to handle it today!
Well April has become our road trip month which means no real meeting except at the Dillard's parking lot to get as many ladies in a car as will fit with enough room left over to carry back any purchases we have made. This year we planned our road trip to New Orleans to American Aquatic Gardens where you can find not only the common geraniums, ferns, etc. but some plants you've never seen or heard of before. They also have a wonderful pond with all kinds of lily pads with bluish lavender blooms the color of which is almost ethereal!
.....and then there is the gift shop! Oh my goodness.....I can't begin to describe the articles for sale. If I hadn't already spent all I was going to on plants I would have gotten one of the ruffled pink flamingo umbrellas! Problem is whenever I buy a nice one I either leave it somewhere or someone thinks they should be the owner.....I keep the ones that have advertising on them much longer!
After leaving there we went to another nursery called Harold's. Again if I hadn't already spent my allotment.....there was this really odd plant called a Pitcher Plant. It had oblong bulbulous, beige and veined thingys (?) hanging that when turned upside down it poured out water...therein the reason for the name Pitcher Plant! It wasn't particularly pretty but what a conversation piece!
By this time our tummies were calling for Mr. Ed's Restaurant and off we were again hoping our plants wouldn't die of suffocation while we were devouring the comestibles inside. The scent of scrumptious fried seafood outside was almost more than we could bear. We were seated almost immediately and all of us were scanning the menu.....so much to choose from, everything sounded sooo good, and when it was served it was more than anyone could have asked for.....in size and taste!
Some of us took home to go boxes.....but also ordered dessert!
What a day of fun and camaraderie with a wonderful bunch of friends, great food and fabulous plantings for our new Spring gardens.
Let us not forget the business that is upon us very soon! Yes we have won Cleanest City on the district level but on
May 4....."The Judges Are Coming, The Judges Are Coming" and this time it's for the Big One.....Cleanest City in the State! They will be here at 12:10 pm and leave at 2:10 pm.
They will be coming from Abita Springs and leaving to Baton Rouge. That means they will also see the interstates going and coming.....it's not the route but I'm sure will still make an impression on their judgement. I understand we have some pretty stiff competition. So if you are out and about and have the chance to stop if you see some trash, please help us to win "11" (eleven) times in a row the State Cleanest City Award!
We would love to have a big attendance by the ladies of the Hammond Garden Club, in their new blue shirts. Please come and be a part of the big win!
In order to achieve this award the city of Hammond has to be spic and span clean. The trustees will be out there every day so please do your part and come to the Keep Hammond Beautiful Cleanup The City on Saturday April 29 from 8 to 10 am in front of City Hall on Charles Street. If you can't pick up trash you can help give out pickup sticks, gloves and bags or help those that can pick up to sign up for their area to be cleaned.
Our next meeting is at the home of Lee Collins on the patio under the shade of the old oak tree and breeze from ceiling fans! It's not mandatory but sure would like for everyone to wear a hat as if we were going to the "Chelsea (or Collins) Flower Show", and gloves if you like! If you haven't paid for our catered luncheon please send your check to Juanita Pearson.
There being no further news to divulge at this time I will leave you with:
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the District VI Garden Club Federation and the Deep South Region of the National Garden Clubs doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God bless America and God bless Hammond, USA!
by Linda Broussard she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
But even with all of that, the green leaves and blooms of the warmer weather are a God-send to gardeners! And that is what we ladies are, a product of "The Hammond Garden Club"! It felt so good to be able to plant those first little pink, red and yellow portulaca lining the edge of the scalloped grey bricks that enclose the pure white ever-blooming azalea, the fluffy blue and pink hydrangeas, the lavender little lilies that popped up from last year, and newly planted in two footed pots, hot pink geraniums with the tiny little leaves of the trailing yellow jenny that are beginning to cascade down the front of the pot.
The deep red, double, knockout roses that are so many years old, the trunks are two inches across and covered with curly grey and white lichen; all dance across the whole garden in between all the smaller plants with fronds from several different kinds of ferns pushing their pointed heads up through everything. Next week all the tiny buds will be beautifully in full bloom. What a gorgeous color pallet God has graced me with to gaze upon every morning!
I know.....that's enough about my garden but seeing that as I open my front door every morning just makes me feel happy and no matter what is going on in the world I feel like I will be able to handle it today!
Well April has become our road trip month which means no real meeting except at the Dillard's parking lot to get as many ladies in a car as will fit with enough room left over to carry back any purchases we have made. This year we planned our road trip to New Orleans to American Aquatic Gardens where you can find not only the common geraniums, ferns, etc. but some plants you've never seen or heard of before. They also have a wonderful pond with all kinds of lily pads with bluish lavender blooms the color of which is almost ethereal!
.....and then there is the gift shop! Oh my goodness.....I can't begin to describe the articles for sale. If I hadn't already spent all I was going to on plants I would have gotten one of the ruffled pink flamingo umbrellas! Problem is whenever I buy a nice one I either leave it somewhere or someone thinks they should be the owner.....I keep the ones that have advertising on them much longer!
After leaving there we went to another nursery called Harold's. Again if I hadn't already spent my allotment.....there was this really odd plant called a Pitcher Plant. It had oblong bulbulous, beige and veined thingys (?) hanging that when turned upside down it poured out water...therein the reason for the name Pitcher Plant! It wasn't particularly pretty but what a conversation piece!
By this time our tummies were calling for Mr. Ed's Restaurant and off we were again hoping our plants wouldn't die of suffocation while we were devouring the comestibles inside. The scent of scrumptious fried seafood outside was almost more than we could bear. We were seated almost immediately and all of us were scanning the menu.....so much to choose from, everything sounded sooo good, and when it was served it was more than anyone could have asked for.....in size and taste!
Some of us took home to go boxes.....but also ordered dessert!
What a day of fun and camaraderie with a wonderful bunch of friends, great food and fabulous plantings for our new Spring gardens.
Let us not forget the business that is upon us very soon! Yes we have won Cleanest City on the district level but on
May 4....."The Judges Are Coming, The Judges Are Coming" and this time it's for the Big One.....Cleanest City in the State! They will be here at 12:10 pm and leave at 2:10 pm.
They will be coming from Abita Springs and leaving to Baton Rouge. That means they will also see the interstates going and coming.....it's not the route but I'm sure will still make an impression on their judgement. I understand we have some pretty stiff competition. So if you are out and about and have the chance to stop if you see some trash, please help us to win "11" (eleven) times in a row the State Cleanest City Award!
We would love to have a big attendance by the ladies of the Hammond Garden Club, in their new blue shirts. Please come and be a part of the big win!
In order to achieve this award the city of Hammond has to be spic and span clean. The trustees will be out there every day so please do your part and come to the Keep Hammond Beautiful Cleanup The City on Saturday April 29 from 8 to 10 am in front of City Hall on Charles Street. If you can't pick up trash you can help give out pickup sticks, gloves and bags or help those that can pick up to sign up for their area to be cleaned.
Our next meeting is at the home of Lee Collins on the patio under the shade of the old oak tree and breeze from ceiling fans! It's not mandatory but sure would like for everyone to wear a hat as if we were going to the "Chelsea (or Collins) Flower Show", and gloves if you like! If you haven't paid for our catered luncheon please send your check to Juanita Pearson.
There being no further news to divulge at this time I will leave you with:
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the District VI Garden Club Federation and the Deep South Region of the National Garden Clubs doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God bless America and God bless Hammond, USA!
by Linda Broussard she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club