Ahhh.....Spring is here! (or almost...except for any errant frost that may happen)! The blooming azaleas and Japanese magnolias have been gorgeous, just wish they could be around longer especially when the Cleanest City judges will be here in early April.
President Carolyn Schwebel opened our March meeting with our usual (never gets old) Pledge of Alligeance and called on Linda Ryan to lead us in a prayer with special petitions asked for garden club members Glenda Bice, Phyllis diBenedetto's son and Susan Allen. Immediately following Linda introduced our speaker for the day Diane Saye from the Ikebana Society.
What a wealth of information we learned from her about the very disciplined culture of the Japanese and what beautiful creations she made with minimal but gorgeous flowers and vessels, (some that were antiques), in which she so delicately arranged them. There was a definite reason why each flower was placed in the vase and where it was placed. I don't know if I am disciplined myself enough to follow rules when making an arrangement but maybe I will try!
Carolyn then called on Juanita Pearson who was taking the Treasurer Phyllis diBenedetto's place for a report on the state of our finances and Joy Peterson for the Garden of the Month winners. Joy reported that the winner for February was Larry Hoyle and Linda Mendoza at 15556 Hackberry Court, (not reported in February since we attended the Joint Area Garden Club's meeting). The March winner was Ceclia Palumbo at 1 Fairway Court. If you get the chance ride by and see what some people can accomplish even in the dreary winter months when most yards are in shades of putrid brown!
Next report was from Jewel Jamal for the Link Award which went in January to Super King Seafood and February winner went to the new Dairy Queen. Congratulations winners for keeping your businesses with landscaping that is so pleasing to the eyes when riding through Hammond!
Glenda Nelson then gave a report on the Keep Hammond Beautiful Meet at the African Heritage Museum. "The turnout was phenomenal" she said. "It was so great seeing all those that worked behind the tables giving out supplies, those that came in numbers to pick up trash and we also had several from our garden club. Thanks to all who participated and hopefully will continue to attend every month". She also announced that there was a meeting March 14 at 10:00 AM at the City Council building.
Carolyn then made some extra announcements, first that we have been invited to the Covington Garden Club Flower Show on April 6 to be held at the Christ Episcopal Parish House. They are also holding a Style Show on April 20, venue to be announced. The Madisonville Garden Club is also holding a flower show "History In Bloom" on April 26 at the Fairview State Park in the Otis House from 1 to 3PM. If any additional information is needed please call the respective garden clubs.
In addition to all the flower and style shows our Hammond Garden Club on April 12 is making a road trip to the American Aquatic Gardens in New Orleans! As is customary we will meet at the Dillard's parking lot at 8:30 AM.....and as is customary also we will meet at a soon to be designated restaurant, naturally to dine to our heart's (and stomach's) content!
We don't have a definite date yet but be apprised of the fact that the Cleanest City judges will be here in the beginning of April so get out there and pick up every tiniest piece of trash you can find.....we want this to be our 11th year win!!!
There have been some busy bees preparing the table decorations for the big Deep South Garden Club Convention to be held at Harrah's in New Orleans on March 27 and 28. The ladies that are the Flower Show Council Judges were given the title of "Naturally Norleans" for the centerpieces and our "artiste in residence" Linda Ryan suggested making floats from shoe boxes! To work they went with titles like Barkus,(with animals), Cream of the Crop (depicting the French Market), with pumpkins, pecans, fruits and veggies, Krew of Flamingos, one that has tall columns (from paper towel holders) and a top depicting the kings float in Rex, etc, etc. I can just hear the oohs and ahhs as members walk into the room! There is also an arrangement for each president and Linda is doing Mississippi.....somehow depicting the Gulf Coast with a palmetto cut in the shape of a sail, with the very obvious light house which stands right on the highway to the coast! If I only had half the inventiveness that she has I would be so happy! Hope all attending enjoy!!!
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!
I know by the time you see this column St. Partick's Day will have passed but I still want to leave you with this beautiful Irish Blessing!
May God grant you always.....
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you,
Laughter to cheer you,
Faithful friends near you,
And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you!
by Linda Broussard she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
President Carolyn Schwebel opened our March meeting with our usual (never gets old) Pledge of Alligeance and called on Linda Ryan to lead us in a prayer with special petitions asked for garden club members Glenda Bice, Phyllis diBenedetto's son and Susan Allen. Immediately following Linda introduced our speaker for the day Diane Saye from the Ikebana Society.
What a wealth of information we learned from her about the very disciplined culture of the Japanese and what beautiful creations she made with minimal but gorgeous flowers and vessels, (some that were antiques), in which she so delicately arranged them. There was a definite reason why each flower was placed in the vase and where it was placed. I don't know if I am disciplined myself enough to follow rules when making an arrangement but maybe I will try!
Carolyn then called on Juanita Pearson who was taking the Treasurer Phyllis diBenedetto's place for a report on the state of our finances and Joy Peterson for the Garden of the Month winners. Joy reported that the winner for February was Larry Hoyle and Linda Mendoza at 15556 Hackberry Court, (not reported in February since we attended the Joint Area Garden Club's meeting). The March winner was Ceclia Palumbo at 1 Fairway Court. If you get the chance ride by and see what some people can accomplish even in the dreary winter months when most yards are in shades of putrid brown!
Next report was from Jewel Jamal for the Link Award which went in January to Super King Seafood and February winner went to the new Dairy Queen. Congratulations winners for keeping your businesses with landscaping that is so pleasing to the eyes when riding through Hammond!
Glenda Nelson then gave a report on the Keep Hammond Beautiful Meet at the African Heritage Museum. "The turnout was phenomenal" she said. "It was so great seeing all those that worked behind the tables giving out supplies, those that came in numbers to pick up trash and we also had several from our garden club. Thanks to all who participated and hopefully will continue to attend every month". She also announced that there was a meeting March 14 at 10:00 AM at the City Council building.
Carolyn then made some extra announcements, first that we have been invited to the Covington Garden Club Flower Show on April 6 to be held at the Christ Episcopal Parish House. They are also holding a Style Show on April 20, venue to be announced. The Madisonville Garden Club is also holding a flower show "History In Bloom" on April 26 at the Fairview State Park in the Otis House from 1 to 3PM. If any additional information is needed please call the respective garden clubs.
In addition to all the flower and style shows our Hammond Garden Club on April 12 is making a road trip to the American Aquatic Gardens in New Orleans! As is customary we will meet at the Dillard's parking lot at 8:30 AM.....and as is customary also we will meet at a soon to be designated restaurant, naturally to dine to our heart's (and stomach's) content!
We don't have a definite date yet but be apprised of the fact that the Cleanest City judges will be here in the beginning of April so get out there and pick up every tiniest piece of trash you can find.....we want this to be our 11th year win!!!
There have been some busy bees preparing the table decorations for the big Deep South Garden Club Convention to be held at Harrah's in New Orleans on March 27 and 28. The ladies that are the Flower Show Council Judges were given the title of "Naturally Norleans" for the centerpieces and our "artiste in residence" Linda Ryan suggested making floats from shoe boxes! To work they went with titles like Barkus,(with animals), Cream of the Crop (depicting the French Market), with pumpkins, pecans, fruits and veggies, Krew of Flamingos, one that has tall columns (from paper towel holders) and a top depicting the kings float in Rex, etc, etc. I can just hear the oohs and ahhs as members walk into the room! There is also an arrangement for each president and Linda is doing Mississippi.....somehow depicting the Gulf Coast with a palmetto cut in the shape of a sail, with the very obvious light house which stands right on the highway to the coast! If I only had half the inventiveness that she has I would be so happy! Hope all attending enjoy!!!
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!
I know by the time you see this column St. Partick's Day will have passed but I still want to leave you with this beautiful Irish Blessing!
May God grant you always.....
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you,
Laughter to cheer you,
Faithful friends near you,
And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you!
by Linda Broussard she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club