Hammond Garden Club hosts joint meeting of Tangi area garden clubs
No one knows how to host a celebration like the members of the Hammond Garden Club!
For the Joint Meeting of Area Garden Clubs, the large ballroom of Oak Knoll Country Club with its gossamer lighted ceilings was themed to Mardi Gras, including tables decorated with New Orleans centerpieces – packages of Camellia red beans, a bottle of Tabasco and Tony’s seasoning – and Mardi Gras decorations. We really did “let the good times roll!”
Our invitations to Belle Oaks, Gardenettes and Stem and Stamen garden clubs said that costumes weren’t demanded, but you certainly would have more fun wearing one!
And there were many costumes.
All the guests from the Stem and Stamen Garden Club were dressed alike, with black pants and tops, colorful hats decorated with bunches of flowers and Miss America-style sashes that said “Krewe of Blooms.”
There was a “pig” whose daughter thought she shouldn’t leave the house like that, a sorcerer, a cowgirl, a jester, a scarecrow, a ‘50s poodle skirt and a ballerina in a tutu!
Many were in purple, green and gold in wonderful configurations; I’m not quite sure what those costumes represented besides “we’re just here to have a good time!” And from all the feedback we received, we’re pretty sure everyone did!
Our President Jennifer Allen welcomed everyone. As always she led the wonderful sound of all saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and our Chaplain Mary Thornhill opened the celebration with a prayer.
Normally at these meetings there are many things sitting on tables for all to bid on, but we didn’t want to do anything the same. So, Linda Ryan, our in-house artiste, fashioned three big floats, one which contained anything to do with flowers, gift cards from florists all over town and landscaping.
In the second float was anything to do with beauty – a day at the spa, hairdos, facials and luxurious creams for your face and body. The third float was a mass of gift cards from various and sundry restaurants with gourmet specialties to savor into the next month.
All these sumptuous offerings were from Pat Graves’ rewarding endeavors to procure the donations!
At this time the aroma of our New Orleans Mardi Gras luncheon wafted into the main ballroom and called out that it was ready to be devoured. A spectacular meal put on by Mary Monteleone and her staff led us to believe we were down in the French Quarter.
Red beans and rice, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, fried okra, green beans, black-eyed peas, King Cake and a salad presented in a pirogue that had everything you could possibly want from greens to eggs, broccoli, carrots, beets, pickles and olives, and many different kinds of dressings. It was a meal fit for a king!
Lunch and dessert complete, Jennifer introduced our speaker, Dr. Sam Hyde Jr. Who else would you get to speak for a New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration than the king of the same?
He spoke about the beginnings of Mardi Gras from all over the world. According to historians, it dates back thousands of years to boisterous pagan celebrations before Christianity arrived and turned it into traditions that became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and sacrifice between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
The French later dubbed the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday “Mardi Gras” which translates to “Fat Tuesday.” Dr. Hyde is a wealth of information on anything about New Orleans and the perfect speaker to have had for just such an occasion as this.
Another guest speaker at the party was our District VI Director Donna Moran who presented Gardenettes member Margaret Bailey with the Circle of Roses Award.
Float raffle winners received the 50-50 cash and the door prizes, which were eight King cakes, the winners of which were very “sugary” happy.
After all prizes had been awarded, our Chaplain Mary Thornhill regaled us with the benediction for the day.
Jennifer then called on Linda Broussard to give thanks to some special people. All the wonderful Mardi Gras music we had all through the party was thanks to Richard Graves. Pat Graves and Linda Ryan were thanked for their dream and artistic ability of having the filled floats. Karen Nelson designed the beautiful programs, and Juanita Pearson and Phyllis DiBenedetto donated the king cakes. Thanks to all the members who made this day an elevated moment of extraordinary pleasure.
Our Queen for the Day Linda Ross led our second line, inviting guests to participate with their umbrellas and napkins. And that they did; not too many were left in their seats!
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. and the Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., 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 the City of Hammond.
by Linda Broussard
She is a member of the Hammond Garden