Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine...family surrounding us, delicious turkey and all the trimmings anyone could want and beautiful crisp, cool weather (although my Dad always said "It needs to be cold, cloudy and misty to be perfect Thanksgiving weather"), I however prefer to see some sun for precious pictures of kids able to play outside. How blessed we were to have all of the above, especially family with us!
Before Thanksgiving there was our usual garden club meeting on the second Wednesday, Pledge of Allegiance was said by all and Paulette Hebert, Chaplain led us in prayer. Our guest speaker was Johnny Pecoraro owner of The Hammond Florist on West Thomas Street. What a treat to see him create one of his gorgeous arrangements!
Johnny is a native of Hammond but for a while he worked at the White House as an Interior Designer during the Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations and upon retiring from DC he returned to his native land, opened the floral shop and has been there for the past 12 years.
He has been named Louisiana FTD Designer Of The Year, placed first in all Southern States competition as the most Elegant Designer and came in third in the nation as FTD Designer Of The Year! Johnny says he has many awards but his biggest award is getting up every day, opening up his shop, being an old hometown boy that loves making peoples day beautiful, that's his biggest reward. He loves what he does and it shows in his work. As I said in his introduction "You can pick out his arrangements at any funeral you attend"!
The picture(s) with this column don't do his universe justice unless you could see him do his magic with flower petals sprinkled in the vase before he even begins, opening the huge roses with a twinkling of his fingers, what the height and width should be, what the filler should be! Oh My! What beauty in his creations in twenty minutes! How lucky the ladies of the Hammond Garden Club were on this demo day by Johnny Pecoraro! And speaking of lucky, Sue Parrill won that arrangement!
Johnny had one request from us and that was to never say in the newspaper obit column "In Lieu Of Flowers"! He said there are five florists in the area and it is taking business away from them. He said there is no harm in saying if you want to contribute to a charity of your choice, "I give to charities also and there is nothing wrong with that, he said. Just don't say In Lieu Of Flowers".
Our lunch was served next before the business part of our meeting and what a lunch it was by none other than our favorite...Marilyn's Catering. Scrumptious beef roast in gravy with baked macaroni covered with luscious yellow cheese, sweet little green peas and the most delicious apple crisp, crunchy on top and warm and "cinnamony" inside, best dessert that ever touched your lips.
Our tummies full, Mary Thornhill, President called the meeting to order and said that Karen Granier, Secretary had composed the minutes, sent them to the Executive Board and they were approved. Phyllis diBenedetto, Treasurer gave her report, Carolyn Schwebel reported that the Garden of The Month went to George and Emily Pecquet at 45030 Greenbrier and Jewel Jamal said the Link Award was won by Burger King on University Blvd.
Our usual reports given Mary asked if there was any new news anyone wanted to report on and Linda Ross gave the information about the Nutcracker Tea that would be held at Le Fleur De Lis in Ponchatoula on Sunday, December 2 from 2 to 4 pm.
Mary asked Linda Ryan committee chair for decorating the gazebo in Cate Square Park for a date and time for those that wanted to help. The date decided on was Tuesday, November 20 at 10 am. Bring scissors, paddle wire and cutters please.
Mary announced she had a call from Lisa Lambert that works for the city asking if some of the members of the HGC would like to judge the Christmas trees the children from many different schools in Hammond will decorate that are put up all around Cate Square Park on December 1. Lisa will call with a definite time, probably 10 am. There was a show of hands that will volunteer that day.
Mary then called for old news and Sylvia Dileo gave a report on the Patriot's Ball which she said went beautifully. The decorations were great, as were the Victory Belles. People seemed to love it and they had a terrific time dancing to the varied music of the Pooyai Band.
The last bit of information was that the deadline is December 4 for payment due to Karen Nelson or Phyllis diBenedetto if you will be attending the Christmas party at Michabelles. Head count has to be in and there will be no entrance at the door or after that date. No guests are allowed since there is limited seating.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the 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 Hammond and God bless America!
by Linda Broussard
she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
Before Thanksgiving there was our usual garden club meeting on the second Wednesday, Pledge of Allegiance was said by all and Paulette Hebert, Chaplain led us in prayer. Our guest speaker was Johnny Pecoraro owner of The Hammond Florist on West Thomas Street. What a treat to see him create one of his gorgeous arrangements!
Johnny is a native of Hammond but for a while he worked at the White House as an Interior Designer during the Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations and upon retiring from DC he returned to his native land, opened the floral shop and has been there for the past 12 years.
He has been named Louisiana FTD Designer Of The Year, placed first in all Southern States competition as the most Elegant Designer and came in third in the nation as FTD Designer Of The Year! Johnny says he has many awards but his biggest award is getting up every day, opening up his shop, being an old hometown boy that loves making peoples day beautiful, that's his biggest reward. He loves what he does and it shows in his work. As I said in his introduction "You can pick out his arrangements at any funeral you attend"!
The picture(s) with this column don't do his universe justice unless you could see him do his magic with flower petals sprinkled in the vase before he even begins, opening the huge roses with a twinkling of his fingers, what the height and width should be, what the filler should be! Oh My! What beauty in his creations in twenty minutes! How lucky the ladies of the Hammond Garden Club were on this demo day by Johnny Pecoraro! And speaking of lucky, Sue Parrill won that arrangement!
Johnny had one request from us and that was to never say in the newspaper obit column "In Lieu Of Flowers"! He said there are five florists in the area and it is taking business away from them. He said there is no harm in saying if you want to contribute to a charity of your choice, "I give to charities also and there is nothing wrong with that, he said. Just don't say In Lieu Of Flowers".
Our lunch was served next before the business part of our meeting and what a lunch it was by none other than our favorite...Marilyn's Catering. Scrumptious beef roast in gravy with baked macaroni covered with luscious yellow cheese, sweet little green peas and the most delicious apple crisp, crunchy on top and warm and "cinnamony" inside, best dessert that ever touched your lips.
Our tummies full, Mary Thornhill, President called the meeting to order and said that Karen Granier, Secretary had composed the minutes, sent them to the Executive Board and they were approved. Phyllis diBenedetto, Treasurer gave her report, Carolyn Schwebel reported that the Garden of The Month went to George and Emily Pecquet at 45030 Greenbrier and Jewel Jamal said the Link Award was won by Burger King on University Blvd.
Our usual reports given Mary asked if there was any new news anyone wanted to report on and Linda Ross gave the information about the Nutcracker Tea that would be held at Le Fleur De Lis in Ponchatoula on Sunday, December 2 from 2 to 4 pm.
Mary asked Linda Ryan committee chair for decorating the gazebo in Cate Square Park for a date and time for those that wanted to help. The date decided on was Tuesday, November 20 at 10 am. Bring scissors, paddle wire and cutters please.
Mary announced she had a call from Lisa Lambert that works for the city asking if some of the members of the HGC would like to judge the Christmas trees the children from many different schools in Hammond will decorate that are put up all around Cate Square Park on December 1. Lisa will call with a definite time, probably 10 am. There was a show of hands that will volunteer that day.
Mary then called for old news and Sylvia Dileo gave a report on the Patriot's Ball which she said went beautifully. The decorations were great, as were the Victory Belles. People seemed to love it and they had a terrific time dancing to the varied music of the Pooyai Band.
The last bit of information was that the deadline is December 4 for payment due to Karen Nelson or Phyllis diBenedetto if you will be attending the Christmas party at Michabelles. Head count has to be in and there will be no entrance at the door or after that date. No guests are allowed since there is limited seating.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the 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 Hammond and God bless America!
by Linda Broussard
she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club