Mobile Festival of Flowers

     On March 10, 2016, the Monroeville Garden Club traveled to Mobile to attend the Festival of Flowers.  Those who made the trip were Laura Bodiford, Dana Shinholster, Bev Colquett, former garden club member, Louise Barnes, Patsy Wadlington, and Carolyn Hutcherson.

 

Program On Flower Arranging

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on Thursday, February 12, 2016, at 1:00 pm at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Nancy Ziebach was the hostess.

     Mark Carleton presented a program on the mechanics of flower arranging.  He brought a number of containers and demonstrated the way to properly condition and attach floral foam before beginning an arrangement.

 Mr. Carleton favors the English garden design style of flower arranging.  This design uses loosely structured mass arrangements of mixed garden flowers.   Constance Spry (1886-1960) who was a floral designer and teacher probably had the greatest influence on the English garden design as we know it today.  Ms. Spry used flowers and foliage that were not usually associated  with flower arranging and combined wild and cultivated flowers in the same arrangements.  Mr. Carleton brought many types of greenery commonly found in the yard that could be used in arrangements following this design style.

 Following the program, members enjoyed refreshments of Chocolate Pound Cake with Whipped Cream and Strawberries, Miniature Cheesecakes, Toasted Pecans, Pretzel Candy Bites, Coffee and Punch.

  Attending the meeting were Laura Bodiford, Evelyn Bond, Sara Bradley, Judi Burns, Bev Colquett, Margaret Groves, Brenda Gardner, Dana Shinholster, Ree Smith, Nancy Ziebach, and a guest, Joann Shumack.

  The club will attend the Flower Festival in Mobile for the March meeting.

January Club Meeting

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on Thursday, January 14th, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Patsy Wadlington.  Carolyn Hutcherson was the co-hostess.

     Since no regular meeting was held in December, this meeting was used to go over several business items.  The Christmas luncheon was discussed and members made suggestions on how the event might be improved next year.

     Bev Colquett reported that purple and yellow violas and pansies would be added to the pots around the square in keeping with the Mardi Gras events being sponsored by the city.  Also, Drift Roses will be purchased this month to be planted in beds around the courthouse.

     A number of fund raising ideas were proposed but members voted against any new projects at this time.

     After the business session, members shared their favorite gardening books and magazines and also told of gardening websites that they found helpful.  Refreshments served included Smoked Gouda Cheese and Crackers, Cream Cheese Rollups with Okra and Green Onions, Orange Marmalade Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese with Crackers, Mixed Nuts, Lemon Tea Biscuits, a vegetable tray and dip, Almond Bits,  fresh fruit and dip, Coffee and Spiced Cider.

     The following members attended:  Laura Bodiford, Elba Bonham, Sara Bradley, Bev Colquett, Dotsy Compton, Audrey Griffin, Margaret Groves, Pam Hindman, Carolyn Hutcherson, Dana Shinholster, Ree Smith, Patsy Wadlington, Nancy Ziebach, and Evelyn Bond.

     The next meeting will be on February 11, 2016, at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Mark Carleton will present a program on flower arranging.

(L to R)  Our hostess, Patsy Wadlington and co-hostess, Carolyn Hutcherson.

For our program, we shared our favorite gardening books, magazines, and websites.

GLAZED LEMON TEA BISCUITS

1  1/2 cups butter, softened

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

1  1/2 cups sour cream

3 Tbs. lemon juice

2 Tbs. grated lemon peel

4  1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

GLAZE - 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:  In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar.  Cut in butter until crumbly; set aside

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy  Beat in eggs.  Beat in the sour cream, lemon juice, and peel.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture just until moistened.  Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups two thirds full.  Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.  GLAZE:  Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over muffins.  Serve warm.  Makes 48 small muffins.

Garden Club Holds Annual Christmas Luncheon

     The Monroeville Garden Club held their annual Christmas luncheon at Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club on Thursday, December 10, 2015.  The doors opened at 11:00 a.m. and guests were treated to appetizers of cheese straws, olive rollups, spinach dip with chips, mixed nuts, Mock Poinsettia Punch, and coffee.  Guests enjoyed visiting and looking at the different table decorations that had been set up by garden club members.

     At 12:00 p.m. a luncheon plate of chicken salad, fresh fruit, and a muffin was served.  During the lunch, a program on decorating for Christmas was given by Richard Stembridge of Bulkhead Interiors.  Mr. Stembridge demonstrated how to make a Christmas bow, how to use a bow to decorate a chair back and then he made a large centerpiece using fresh greenery.  He added "bling" to the arrangement to give it a more formal look.  At the end of the presentation, a drawing was held for the arrangement and Heather Gaston was the winner.

     The next garden club meeting will be January 14, 2016,  at the home of Patsy Wadlington.  Members should bring their favorite gardening books and/or gardening websites to share with other members.

   

Garden Club Learns About Native Plants

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on November 12, 2015, at 1:00 pm at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Dana Shinholster was hostess and Brenda Gardner was co-hostess.

     Mrs. Judy Stout, a Master Gardner from Mobile, presented a program on native plants.  A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular area.  Native plants are adapted to the climate, diseases, and pests of the area so they require less care and attention than exotic plants brought in from other areas.  Mrs. Stout had a slide presentation showing trees, shrubs, and vines that are native to our area.

     After the program, a business session was held.  The club voted to allocate funds to buy plants for four flowerbeds which are located at the front and back entrances of the courthouse.  Also, they will buy four hanging baskets for the gazebo located by the rose garden.

     Final details for the Christmas luncheon were discussed and then the meeting adjourned for a social time.  Refreshments included cream cheese and pepper jelly sandwiches,  Chickpea Salad, Baked Brie Bites, Oatmeal Cake, cookies decorated like fall leaves, and orange sherbet punch.

     Members who attended the meeting were Laura Bodiford, Evelyn Bond, Sara Bradley, Judi Burns, Lynn Byrd, Bev Colquett, Dotsy Compton, Brenda Gardner, Audrey Griffin, Margaret Groves, Carolyn Hutcherson, Dana Shinholster, Ree Smith, Vonceil Stringer, Gail Touchton, Patsy Wadlington, and Nancy Ziebach.

     On December 10th, the club will host a fund-raising luncheon at Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club.  A program on  decorating for Christmas will be presented by Richard Brown Stembridge, a Birmingham decorator.

(L to R)  Brenda Gardner and Dana Shinholster were hostesses for the meeting.

Judy Stout, Master Gardener from Mobile, who presented the program.

Members brought bulbs to exchange.

Beautification Award Presented by Monroeville Rotary Club

     If you have ridden down the bypass lately,  you have likely noticed an area where the  landscape has been improved with the addition of new flowerbeds and a neatly manicured lawn.  Each time I rode by , I took notice and was curious as to who was responsible for this lovely area.  The mystery was recently solved when the  Monroeville Rotary Club presented their first annual Beautification Award to James and Millie Salter.  They were given a plaque and a check for $250.00 and a sign denoting the award to be placed in their yard.

  The club graciously invited me, as a representative of the Monroeville Garden Club,  to attend the presentation ceremony and I had the opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Salter.  The property had belonged to Mr. Salter's parents and after their death, he acquired it and began the improvements.  Mr. and Mrs. Salter currently live in Mobile and right now just visit periodically which presented a challenge during the dry summer months to keep their landscape looking good.  Mr. Salter retired from the US Postal Service and eventually, he and Mrs. Salter have plans to move here permanently.

   The Salters not only have worked to improve their property but also keep the public sidewalk that adjoins it neatly edged.  They are truly an asset to the community and an inspiration to us all to do whatever we can to make our city the best it can be.

 

President, Marshall Black, present award to Mr. and Mrs. Salter.

Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Salter with the sign that would be placed in the yard (and the spelling

was corrected later!)

New Arbor Installed in Rose Garden

One of our major projects this year was to replace the arbor which had broken.  The previous arbor was purchased from a commercial outlet and this one was made by a local welder (at a cost of almost $500.00), so we expect this one to be around for many years.