Virtual Tour of Voncile Stringer's Garden

     I recently visited Voncile and took these pictures of her beautiful garden.

"Volunteer" Cleome

Voncile has a collection of bird houses throughout her garden.

Trip to Natural Decorations, Inc.

     On Thursday, May 8, 2014, the Monroeville Garden Club traveled to Natural Decorations, Inc. in Brewton, Alabama.  Members who made the trip were Dana Shinholster, Patsy Wadlington, Audrey Griffin, Gail Touchton, Bev Colquett, Evelyn Bond, Jean Booker, Nancy Ziebach and guests, Cathy Boyd and Bebe Jackson.

     For 50 years, NDI has been the "premier provider of the finest floral and botanical reproductions in the world".  Members met with one of the designers who talked about the process of making new floral arrangements.  His work area has "wall to wall" flowers grouped by kind and then by color as well as various containers so that he can easily select materials for new designs.  The silk flower stems used are botanically correct and for the most part are all handmade.  Once a design has been formulated, it can be sent into the plant for duplication.

     Each day workers use orders to pull materials needed for an arrangement  and deliver to a station where another worker follows a design picture to re-create the arrangement.  From there the completed arrangement goes to shipping.

     According to the NDI website, NDI creations "have been used in high end department stores, movie and television studio sets, celebrity homes, and in many other venues such as the Oscars, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, and the White House".

     After touring NDI, members ate lunch at the Brewton Country Club and then stopped by the NDI retail store, "The Cracked Pot" before heading home.

     After a summer break, the garden club will reconvene in September.

Our tour group

NDI designer

The workroom of the designer has one flower of each kind they have to help
him as he decides on materials to use in his design.

Audrey Griffin looks on as a worker puts together an arrangement.

A work cart which is loaded with materials to make the arrangement listed
on the order form.

The designer demonstrates filling a container with foam as a base for an arrangement.

Workers demonstrating the packing process

Bamboo Garden Tour in Pensacola, Florida

      The Monroeville Garden Club traveled to Pensacola, Florida on Thursday, April 10, 2014, to the "Boo For You" Bamboo Garden.  The garden has over 230 varieties of bamboo available for purchase and members toured the garden to see what the plants would look like at maturity.
     Bamboo has a reputation for being invasive so many gardeners shun it, ignoring what it has to offer as an evergreen plant.  There are two main kinds of bamboos:  clumping (non-invasive) and running.  The running bamboo sends out long thin rhizomes that grow horizontally and spread quickly and this is what generally comes to mind when someone mentions bamboo.  Clumping bamboo is non-invasive and their rhizomes expand very slowly each year.
     In addition to bamboo, the nursery also carries bananas, gingers, ornamental grasses, and all sizes of dried bamboo for home projects.
     Following the bamboo garden tour, members ate lunch at Peg Leg Pete's Seafood Restaurant and then traveled to "DUH Home and Garden".  The store carries an eclectic collection of furniture and home accessories and a large selection of plants artfully arranged in the courtyard and around the property.
     Members who went on the trip were Bev Colquett, Patsy Wadlington, Gail Touchton, Dana Shinholster, Pat Hornady, Jean Booker and LeNette Knapp.

Gail Touchton examines some bamboo as the garden owner looks on.

Patsy Wadlington looks at the collection of wind chimes on the porch of the office.

(L to R):  Pat Hornady, Jean Booker, and Gail Touchton look over the garden.

 All photos below were taken at DUH.

"Making a Living Wreath"

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Gail Touchton in Monroeville, Al.  Bev Colquett was co-hostess.

     Dana Shinholster, garden club member, presented a program on "Making a Living Wreath of Succulents".   To make the wreath, sphagnum moss is soaked in water and then secured around a wire form using floral wire.  The succulents are then placed around the wreath and after a week or two will begin to form roots and eventually grow to cover the whole form.  The wreath is spritzed with water periodically to keep moistened.  Members brought succulents to exchange.

     Following the program, members enjoyed refreshments of Chocolate Pecan Meringues, Lemon Melt Aways, Mint Brownies, Ambrosia Cookies, Cherry Cheese Ball with crackers, grapes, tea and coffee.  Twelve members attended the meeting.

Gail Touchton, our hostess.

Dana and the wreath she made.

Eventually the plants will multiply and cover the whole wreath form.

(L TO R)  Margaret Groves, Nancy Ziebach and Dana Shinholster.

   

Backyard Composting

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on February 13, 2014, at 1:00 pm at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Hostesses for the meeting were Nancy Ziebach, Margaret Groves and Judi Burns.

     Mike McQueen, agent with the Auburn Extension Service, gave a power point presentation on composting.  Members learned that by recycling leaves and other yard waste and some kitchen scraps, it is possible to make your own compost.  Information was provided in selecting a location, choosing a container, making and maintaining the compost pile and then harvesting the finished compost.  Several handouts were provided for future reference.

     Following the program, members enjoyed refreshments of Chocolate Chip Cake, Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes, Mushroom Bites, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Lemonade Punch and Coffee.  Twelve members attended.

Program on Raised Bed Gardening

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on January 9, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Nancy Ziebach was hostess and Elba Bonham served as co-hostess.

     Mike McQueen, Agent with the Auburn Extension Service, gave a power point presentation on raised bed gardening.  This is a "form of gardening in which the soil is formed in 3 to 4 feet wide beds enclosed by some type of frame and enriched with compost.  Raised bed gardening is a good alternative  to traditional  in-ground gardening when you have poor soil, drainage problems or physical limitations".

     After a short business session, members were served Cheesecake brownies, Mexican Dip with Chips, Tortilla Spirals, Cinnamon Pecans, apple slices, coffee and punch.  Eleven members attended.

Mike McQueen presented a program on "Raised Bed Gardening".

(L TO R) Elba Bonham and Nancy Ziebach

Christmas Luncheon

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on December 12, 2013 at 12:00 pm for a Christmas luncheon at Grace Fellowship Church.  Voncile Stringer, Dana Shinholster, Carolyn McMillian, and Sara Bradley were hostesses.
     Christmas decorations in the fellowship hall carried out a rustic garden theme.  A large Christmas tree was decorated with birdhouses, bird nests, birds, and garden tools.  Burlap banners stenciled with garden items were hung on the walls.  Buffet tables were decorated with vintage seed packets and fresh pine boughs.  Each dining table featured a small Christmas tree as a centerpiece and small terra cotta pots of succulents at each place setting were given out as favors.
     The buffet lunch featured Smoked Turkey Sandwiches with Cayenne Mayonnaise and Orange Marmalade, Lemon Basmati Rice Salad, Goat Cheese Mousse with Cranberry Relish, crackers, cheese straws, Mint Tea and a large table of assorted desserts.
     Each member brought a "consumable" gift and following the luncheon, they exchanged these by playing "Dirty Santa".  Next members were given a personality profile based on the shape of their lipstick.
     Eighteen members and two guests attended.

(L TO R) Hostessess:  Carolyn McMillian, Sara Bradley, Dana Shinholster, Voncile Stringer