April Garden Tour in Eliska

      On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the Monroeville Garden Club traveled to the garden of Charlotte Lambert in Eliska for the April meeting.

     Although the featured attraction was to be roses, Mother Nature did not cooperate and many of the roses had not yet bloomed.  However, the expansive property had many other beautiful plants and points of interest so members were not disappointed.

     Charlotte gave club members a lesson on deadheading roses and encouraged everyone to help with that in the Katherine Lee Rose Garden to encourage more blooms.  Also, this would give her more time to devote to spraying in the garden on her work days rather than also having to deadhead.

     Following the tour, members went inside to have lunch.  Pat Hendrix served as co-host with Charlotte.  The menu included Ham Slider Sandwiches, Chips, Cheese Biscuits, Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies, Blonde Brownies, Citrus Punch, and Tea.

     Two new items of business were discussed after lunch.  Dawn Brewton had requested that our club handle flower arrangements for the Farm to Table event planned for Thursday, June 16.  The following members agreed to help with this project:  Jeanne, Charlotte, Patsy, Ann, Pat and Bev.  The other item of business was a request by the Veterans that the club help with maintaining the roses in Veteran's Park.  Jean and Jeanne agreed to help with this project.  The Veterans said they would furnish any materials needed to take care of the roses.

     As members departed, Charlotte gave each one a pair of clippers and a strong word of encouragement to deadhead the roses!

All About Irises

      The March meeting of the Monroeville Garden Club was held March 10, 2022, at 1:30 at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.

      Elba Bonham was hostess for the meeting and was assisted by Holly Tennimon.  A delicious menu including Chicken Salad sandwiches, toasted pecans, Shamrock cookies and punch was provided.

     Charlotte Hamm, Master Gardener from Baldwin County presented the program, "Not Your Grandmother's Irises".  A slide show presentation highlighted many of the new hybrid varieties of iris in addition to old favorites.  Ms. Hamm noted that most varieties need to be divided every five years.  The stem supporting the old bloom should be broken off and discarded.  The remainder of the rhizome can be divided and planted for new blooms.  Ms. Hamm said that when planting, the top of the rhizome should be at the level of the top of the soil with the roots being tucked under the soil for best results.  Soil tests were recommended if the irises are not blooming as expected.  Ms. Hamm cautioned members about the Yellow Flag Iris as it is known to be highly invasive.  Following the presentation, Ms. Hamm was available for member's questions.

     Those in attendance included:  Dianne Bond, guest Scarlet Strom, Patsy Wadlington, Charlotte Lambert, Evelyn Bond, Jean Singleton, Sharon Brewton, Judi Burns, Pat Hendrix,  Elba Bonham, Holly Tennimon and Jeanne Sewell.

Creating a Sensory Garden

       The Monroeville Garden Club met on February 10, 2022, at 1:30 pm at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.  Nancy Ziebach was hostess and Sarah Countryman was co-hostess.

     Hannah Dykes, Regional Extension Agent for Home Grounds presented a program on creating a sensory garden.  A sensory garden uses plants and other design elements to provide experiences for seeing, smelling, hearing, touching and tasting.  Sensory gardens can serve many functions. They're used for teaching, socializing, and therapy.  Sensory gardens encourage interaction with plants so interpretive signs and access to the plants are important.  A handout gave details on each element as well as plant suggestions.

     Mrs. Dykes stressed the importance of having a soil test done as the first step in any gardening project.  Soil test kits are available through the extension office.

     Following the program, members were treated to refreshments with a Valentine theme.  They were served cupcakes, mint brownie bites, toasted pecans, heart shaped cheese straws, and coffee.

     The following members attended:  Dianne Bond, Elba Bonham, Sharon Brewton, Bev Colquett, Sarah Countryman, Pat Hendrix, Charlotte Lambert, Sammye Long, Ann Pridgen Jeanne Sewell, Jean Singleton, Ree Smith, Holly Tennimon, Patsy Wadlington, and Nancy Ziebach.

Hannah Dykes, Regional Extension Agent for Home Grounds

                  

                     (L to R)  Hostess, Nancy Ziebach and co-hostess, Sarah Countryman

Club Learns How to Grow African Violets

      The Monroeville Garden Club met on January 13, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the home of hostess, Dianne Bond.  Laura York was the co-hostess.

     Mr. Jere Trigg, Baldwin County Master Gardener, gave a program on African Violets which included a handout on growing tips.  Mr. Trigg  brought a number of African Violets that he had grown and offered these for sale to members.  One of particular interest was "Jere's Roll Tide" which was a violet with Alabama colors  that he had hybridized .

     Following the program, members were served Shrimp or Chicken Chowder and snowman themed refreshments of snowman cookies, Melted Snowman  (water), Snowman Soup (hot chocolate) and a chocolate bar dressed as a snowman.

     The following members attended:  Evelyn Bond, Ree Smith, Sharon Brewton, Jean Singleton, Ann Pridgen, Jeanne Sewell, Bev Colquett, Carolyn Hutcherson, Nancy Ziebach, Pat Hendrix, Charlotte Lambert, Dianne Bond, and Laura York.

                                                          Recipe for Seafood Chowder

1 qt. half and half

2 cans of mushroom soup

4 cans cream of potato soup

2 cans whole kernel corn (undrained)

1 pkg. green onions

8 oz. cream cheese

1 stick butter

1 tsp red pepper

1 pound of meat

Jere Twigg

Jere Trigg with the violet he hybridized, "Jere's Roll Tide"

(L to R)  Laura York and Dianne Bond

Christmas Luncheon

      The Monroeville Garden Club had a luncheon and ornament exchange on December 16, 2021, at Vanity Fair Golf Club.  Hostesses for the luncheon were Patsy Wadlington and Carolyn Hutcherson.  The tables were decorated with red tablecloths and fresh flower arrangements featuring red roses, pine and other mixed greenery, dried hydrangea blooms and bird ornaments.  As a favor, members were given an ornament painted by Sharon Owens.

     A buffet lunch of Chicken Parmesan over Rice Pilaf, green beans, rolls and a variety of deserts were served.  Following lunch members exchanged Christmas ornaments.

     The following members attended:  Dianne Bond, Evelyn Bond, Sharon Brewton, Judi Burns, Tonja Carter, Bev Colquett, Brenda Gardner, Carolyn Hutcherson, Charlotte Lambert, Sammye Long, Ann Pridgen, Jeanne Sewell, Jean Singleton, Ree Smith, Holly Tennimon, and Patsy Wadlington.  Jean Booker, a former member, was a special guest.

Hostesses:  Patsy Wadlington and Carolyn Hutcherson

                                                   Centerpiece designed by Carolyn Hutcherson

Garden Club Members Show Their Creativity

The Monroeville Garden Club met on November 4, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at the Monroeville Presbyterian Church.

 Mrs. Sherri Scott of the Purple Guinea Studio led the group in painting zinnias on a flower pot. After getting basic instructions on painting the flowers, members then personalized their pot in creative ways.

 Sharon Brewton was hostess for the meeting with Jean Singleton and Brenda Gardner as co-hostesses. Members enjoyed cupcakes, snack mix cups, and fresh fruit during the social time. 

 The following members were in attendance: Bev Colquett, Dianne Bond, Judi Burns, Sharon Brewton, Brenda Gardner, Pat Hendrix, Charlotte Lambert, Sammye Long, Jeanne Sewell, Jean Singleton, Holly Tennimon, and Patsy Wadlington.

Sherri Scott of the Purple Guinea Studio

(Seated L to R)  Dianne Bond, Jeanne Sewell, Jean Singleton, Holly Tennimon

(Back Row L to R) Brenda Gardner, Bev Colquett, Patsy Wadlington, Judi Burns, Pat Hendrix, Charlotte Lambert and Sammye Long

Garden Club Shenanigans

(L to R)  Hostess, Sharon Brewton and Co-Hostesses, Brenda Gardner and Jean Singleton