PUMPKINS...WITCHES...AND MEETINGS
It's been a month of meetings, laced with decorative pumpkins and scary witches and ghouls! All of which were at the Hammond Garden Club's October meeting at Melanie Stein's house. It's our go to meeting place for Halloween since Melanie loves to decorate for her favorite holiday! All brought sack lunches and enjoyed a wonderful day in the open air on her deck with the ghosts and goblins!
There was the usual opening with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance and our President Carolyn Schwebel immediately introduced our guest speaker Sam Dileo, attorney and husband of Sylvia, a club member.
He and a group of people from South East Louisiana Military Organization are having what they have called "A PATRIOT'S BALL" dedicated to our fallen heroes and all in the military. It will be at the Event Center at 1904 Nashville Ave. on November 11, 2017, 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Dinner and dancing with entertainment by the Victory Bells from the WWII Museum in New Orleans and music by the Reggie Sanders Trio. Sam didn't have the information at the time of this meeting but as I am typing this column I understand that the tickets (200) are sold out!
Sounds like it will be a spectacular evening, one of the few things that we get to dress in semi-formal wear, something rarely seen these days and I can't wait!
Before Mr. Dileo graciously accepted to be a guest speaker it was decided to get a group of our members that are on the Wildflower Committee to each pick a wildflower and give a talk about it.
It began with Deborah Garafalo that talked about irises and even had an information board with pictures of different irises. Paulette Hebert spoke about the Golden Rod, Cathryn Rossie told about Ageratum, Pat Benton about the Sunflower and Margaret Hawkins who is the chairperson for that committee told us about the Buttercup. Each had a live sample of their flower and the whole presentation was simply light, fun and informative about the flowers that some call weeds...but we prefer to say they are God's creations that all make our days a little bit brighter.
Carolyn then called on Karen Granier, Secretary for the reading of the minutes and Phyllis diBenedetto, Treasurer for her report. Next was Garden of the Month given by Joy Peterson that went to Sam and Josie Viola at 42131 North Elmwood Park Loop and Jewel Jamal said the Link Award was given to Zaxby's on Morrison Blvd.
After the regular committees had given their reports Carolyn got and gave out information for our hosting the Oct. 24 District Meeting, results of which are later in this column.
She then gave us the information about Course 10 of the LGCF Gardening School which will be held at the Research Center on Nov. 7. Registration opens at 8:30 am, they will be serving coffee and we are requested to bring a few desserts which Pat Graves will donate brownies and Juanita Pearson donuts.
Carolyn then asked for any announcements, new or old. Glenda Nelson asked for volunteers for Keep Hammond Beautiful that would be held at Clark Park, Oct. 21, 8 to 10 am all equipment provided.
Pat Graves told us about an event being held by Tangi Animal Friends at Michabelle's on Nov. 12 from Noon to 3:30 pm. Tickets are $60.00 and may be purchased in advance by calling Pat at (985)277-3300.
All reports given, all speakers finished, door prizes awarded the meeting was closed and the brown bags started un-crunching to retrieve our delicious lunches and have lots of camaraderie amongst friends!
Fast forward to our hosting the LGCF District VI meeting at Michabelle's on Oct. 24, oops make that the 23rd when a group of us met at Glenda Nelson's garage with Phyllis Mire as our "Master Decorator" and us as her mentors we began making the table decorations under her tutelage!
We sure laughed a lot but we sure made some beautiful arrangements! They included pine cone ginger, rust and yellow chrysanthemums, asparagus fern, nandina branches, golden rain tree blooms, buck-eye nuts, berries, greenery and on top, in the middle perched about an 8" pumpkin! They came out beautiful if I do say so myself and it was told to us by many attending the event!
The room was all in white tablecloths including the chairs with a silver cummerbund bow tied around the back. Little white lights glistened everywhere, just a gossamer feeling for such a lovely event!
Each garden club donated a prize worth over $50 to be raffled, there were some really nice items. Pictures, wine baskets, Christmas and Fall wreaths, one prettier than the next.
Nancy Delahaye, District VI Director opened the meeting, reports were given and Mayor Pete Panepinto welcomed the ladies to our beautiful city as did our President Carolyn Schwebel.
There was a nomination for District VI Director-Elect that was accepted by our president Carolyn Schwebel, quite an honor for her and for our club.
Next was the guest speaker Whitney Wallace from the LSU Ag Center which I introduced...what a busy lady! She belongs to so many organizations and does so many things I don't know how she had time to speak at our meeting! It was a very informative speech and she passed out many folders and brochures to all attending.
A delicious lunch was prepared by Michabelle of baked and sliced chicken breast in a wonderful sauce, with au gratin potatoes, mixed veggies, mixed green salad and decadent chocolate layered cake.
When lunch was over the winners of the raffled items were announced, benediction was said and the meeting was adjourned.
Soon the ladies began leaving picking up a small bag with either pansies, violas or snapdragons inside, a little token given to each for attending the meeting. It was a beautiful day, a wonderful event that we hosted and thank the good Lord we don't have to do it again for 19 more years!
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 America!
by Linda Broussard she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
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