Club Members Paint Decorative Pots

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on September 12, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at The Purple Papaya.  Pat Hornady and Dorothy Crawford served as hostesses.

     For the program, Faye Dueitt and Donna Salter assisted members in painting a terra cotta pot.

     After the program there was a business meeting and then members enjoyed refreshments of Praline Pecan Cheesecake, pound cake, coffee, and lemonade.  Fourteen members attended and one guest.

   

Patsy Wadlington won this "pot man" as a door prize.

The finished product

July Gallery of Flower Pots On the Square

Trip to Crenshaw Daylily Farm

     The Monroeville Garden Club traveled to the Crenshaw Daylily Farm in Bay Minette for their meeting on May 9th.  Prior to leaving, members were given garden hats which had been painted with floral designs by Pat Hornady and Bev Colquett to wear as they toured the garden.
     Upon arrival, Dianne Boatwright, owner of the farm, talked with members about the care of daylilies.  When potting the lilies, she mixes 13-13-13 with the dirt.  In the fall, all the lilies are cut back and top-dressed with Osmocote or 8-8-8.  Mrs. Boatwright has more than 20,000 plants to choose from on the farm.  Some plants are registered with the price depending on the variety but there are also many others with prices starting at $5.00
     After shopping for daylilies, members enjoyed a picnic lunch of chicken salad, fruit salad, and a variety of cookies.  Hostesses were Dana Shinholster, Carolyn Holley, and Patsy Wadlington.

Hat favors painted by Pat Hornady and Bev Colquett which were given
to each member who went on the trip

Pat Hornady and Dana Shinholster talk with Dianne Boatwright, Daylily Farm Owner

Pat Hornady and Evelyn Bond  stop shopping for a quick picture.

Dana Shinholster standing in front of some of the 20,000 plants available to buy.

Voncile Stringer talking with Dianne Boatwright.

This is the small group that went on the trip.  I thought we were taking a 

picture to use in the newspaper but after seeing all these funny hat arrangements,

I decided to save our dignity and forego the picture in the paper.  We really needed a 

stylist to help with the hat placement.

Pat Hornady and Dora Pelham taking a break before lunch.

Dana setting up the picnic lunch of chicken salad, fruit salad and cookies.

Installation of New Officers

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on April 11, at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Voncile Stringer.  LeNette Knapp served as co-hostess.
     Since the final meeting of the year will be a field trip, this meeting was used to cover several items of business as well as the installation of new officers.
     Dora Pelham conducted the installation ceremony.  New officers are President, Gail Touchton; Vice President, Dana Shinholster; Secretary, Audrey Griffin; and Treasurer, Nancy Ziebach.
     Following the business session, members had a "plant swap" and enjoyed a social time with refreshments.  Seventeen members attended.

(Left to Right) President- Gail Touchton; Treasurer- Nancy Ziebach; Secretary-
Audrey Griffin and Vice President- Dana Shinholster

Voncile looks over plants that were brought to swap.

LeNette shows Voncile which plant she would like to choose.

Garden Club Travels to Baldwin County

     On March 14, 2013, the Monroeville Garden Club traveled to Baldwin County for their meeting.  The first stop was the Antique Rose Trail in Foley.  Hundreds of roses are planted around a public walking trail through the heart of Foley following the path of the old railroad line.  The roses have signage that identifies each plant species and the year it was propagated.
     It was a little early yet so the roses were just beginning to bloom but in a couple of weeks, the trail should be spectacular!  The trail is beautifully done with attractive paving, benches, and arbors throughout.
     Our next stop was lunch at The Gift Horse Restaurant in Foley where we enjoyed a wonderful buffet complete with several dessert choices.  After lunch we browsed at the Gift Horse Antique Shop next door.
     Our final stop was at Fran's on 59 which is "8.5 acres of waterfalls, gardens, and pottery".  Fran's has a "totally unique mix of natural stone, antiques, fountains, pottery, and landscaping materials".  Check out her webpage at franson59.com.
     Eight members and two guests went on the trip.

(L to R)  Nancy Ziebach, Dora Pelham, Jean Booker, Paula Booker, LeNette

Knapp, and Gail Touchton.

Dora Pelham and one of the roses that was in full bloom.

Entrance to the rose trail with Old Blush across the top just beginning

 to bloom.

Lucy Calloway and one of the many beautiful flower beds in Foley.

Lunch at The Gift Horse.

More beautiful flower beds in Foley.  We learned that the city has a
horticulturist who oversees the plantings there.

Fran's has a wide assortment of pottery and several on the property were

set up as fountains.

Beautiful Koi pond at Fran's

Attractive use of mondo grass.  In the background on the table are individual
pots of mondo which Fran gave to each of us to try out in our own yard.

(L to R) Gail Touchton, Dora Pelham, Lucy Calloway, Bev Colquett, Nancy
Ziebach, Pat Hornady, LeNette Knapp, Paula Booker, (guest), Jean Booker and
Joyce Houston, (guest).

Gulf Shores Garden Club Event

     On February 6th, Pat Hornady, Dora Pelham, Patsy Wadlington and I traveled to Gulf Shores for the "Gulf Shores Garden Club's 22nd Annual Flower Seminar" held at the Erie Meyer Civic Center.

     Felder Rushing was the guest speaker.  According to the bio provided on the webpage of the Gulf Shores Garden Club, Felder is host of "The Gestalt Gardener Radio Show", author and co-author of 17 popular garden books and has had many  magazine articles published in various garden magazines.

     Although Mr. Rushing is a horticulturalist, he talked about forgetting "gardening rules" and approaching gardening in a more relaxed manner.  For instance, he recommended choosing easy  plants that can thrive in our hot and dry climate and thus avoiding having a tombstone epitaph that reads "He Moved Hoses".  Mr. Rushing is a colorful character who uses humor to present common sense gardening advice.  His most recent book is "Slow Gardening - A No Stress Philosophy For All Senses and Seasons".  You can learn more about Mr. Rushing on his website:  felderrushing.net

Felder Rushing (image from Gulf Shores Garden Club
webpage)

Lunch was served in a flowerpot...Chicken Salad Croissant, chips, and cookies.

Sandwich was garnished with a flower tomato.  A fresh carnation was "planted" in the

pot and a package of wildflower seeds was attached to the stem.

Some pots had these gummy worms in the bottom which meant you won a door prize.

Patsy with her door prize.

Felder Rushing's truck.  In the back is a garden which he points to as evidence that

anyone can have a garden anywhere.

February Meeting Features Garden Craft

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on Thursday, February 14th at 1:00 p.m. at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Nancy Ziebach was hostess with Jean Booker as co-hostess.

     Following the business session, Pat Hornady led the group in painting a garden ornament which was a butterfly made using a  (re-claimed) spindle as the body and wings cut from metal flashing.

     After the craft activity, members enjoyed Red Velvet Cake,  heart shaped sandwiches of chicken salad , pimento salad, lemonade and coffee.  Seventeen members attended.

Hostesses Jean Booker and Nancy Ziebach

Pat Hornady's Butterfly

Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake Recipe

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cocoa

1 cup buttermilk

2 oz. red food coloring

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 lb. butter

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tbs. vinegar

Preheat oven to 350.  Beat eggs, add sugar.  Mix cocoa and food coloring.  Add butter and egg mixture; mix well.  Sift together flour and salt.  Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk.  Blend in vanilla.  In small bowl, combine soda and vinegar and add to mixture.  Pour into three 9 inch round greased and floured pans.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Frosting

1    8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1    stick butter

1    16 oz. box powdered sugar

1     tsp vanilla

1/2  cup chopped pecans

Combine all ingredients except nuts and beat until fluffy.  Fold in nuts.  Frost cake.