Containers Get a "Touch" of Christmas

     Last year we added large red mesh bows to the containers around the square but this year most of the shrubs are so large and the decorative cabbage and kale have grown so, there is little room to put  in a bow.   Even though the scale is not exactly right, smaller red bows were added to drape on the side of the pot.

Club Has Program on Garden Containers

     The Monroeville Garden Club met on Thursday, November 13, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Monroeville, Al.  Dotsy Compton was hostess and LeNette Knapp served as co-hostess.

     The program was presented by Casey Teel, owner of Andalusia Garden Center and Landscaping.  He brought a number of different plant containers and talked about what effect the container had on the growing conditions for the plant.  Mr. Teel then took various gardening questions from the members.

     Following the program and business session, members enjoyed refreshments of  Pumpkin Bread, Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches, Lime Dip and Crackers, Spiced Nuts, Tea and Coffee.

     The following members were in attendance:  Laura Bodiford, Evelyn Bond, Jean Booker, Sara Bradley, Judi Burns, Bev Colquett, Dotsy Compton, Dorothy Crawford, Audrey Griffin, Margaret Groves, Pat Hornady, LeNette Knapp, Dana Shinholster, Ree Smith, Vonceil Stringer, Patsy Wadlington, Sharon Porterfield, and Nancy Ziebach.

LeNette Knapp and Dotsy Compton

Casey Teel, Owner of  Andalusia Garden Center and Landscaping

Dorothy Crawford shares a Christmas hanging basket she made.

Fall Planting Around The Square

     Last month we added decorative cabbage and kale to the containers around the square and in front of City Hall.  After Thanksgiving we will add some red bows to give the containers a touch of Christmas.
     We had some of the cabbage and kale left after planting the containers and these , along with some aztec grass, were used in the bed at Johnson Jeweler's and in the one near the old Monroe County Bank Building.

October Garden Club Meeting

 


   The October meeting of the Monroeville Garden Club was held on October 9, 2014, at the home of Laura Bodiford.  Dorothy Crawford served as co-hostess.

     The program was presented by Nicki Bayles who demonstrated how to make a burlap wreath and then use it in several ways.  She owns a home-based business called "My Happy Place" which specializes in custom wreaths and other decorative items.   Information about her shop can be found on Facebook and Etsy.

     During the business session, members discussed details regarding the Christmas luncheon which will be on December 11 at 12:00 pm.  Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased from any garden club member.  June Mays, a garden designer from Birmingham, will present a program on low maintenance planting.

     Reports were given on various  club projects   Fresh straw will be put in the rose garden soon and decorative kale and cabbage added to the large containers around the square.

     The city has budgeted $4000.00 for beautification projects next year and $1500.00 of this amount will be designated to the garden club for purchasing plants and supplies for the square.

     Following the business session, members drew numbers for a plant swap and then enjoyed refreshments of Roast Beef on Baguette Slices with Creamy Horseradish and Arugula, Roast Turkey on Baguette Slices with Pear-Cranberry Conserve, Cheese and Crackers, Hummus and Vegetables, Spinach Dip and Bread, Chocolate Cookies, Mini-Chocolate Cupcakes, Rice Krispie Treats, Apple Orchard Punch, Iced Tea, and Coffee.

     Attending the meeting were Laura Bodiford, Dorothy Crawford, Sarah Bradley, Carolyn Hutcherson, Margaret Groves, LeNette Knapp, Evelyn Bond, Ree Smith, Dotsy Compton, Bev Colquett, Gail Touchton, Dana Shinhoster, Sharon Porterfield, Patsy Wadlington, and Brenda Gardner.

( L to R) Sharon Porterfield, Carolyn Carter, Gail Touchton, and Laura Bodiford.

Nicki Bayles, owner of "My Happy Place" shop and some of her creations.

APPLE ORCHARD PUNCH RECIPE

                                               64 oz. apple juice, chilled

                                               2 cups orange juice

                                               1 container frozen cranberry or cran-raspberry concentrate

                                               1 liter Ginger ale

                                               Apple slices

Using Antiques in the Garden

     Monroeville Garden Club held its first meeting of the club year on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 1:00 pm at the home of Gail Touchton in Monroeville.

     A program on "Using Antiques in the Garden" was given by Vicki Sims.  Vicki is the owner of the  shop, The Red Door , located in Excel.  She brought a number of items which had been re-purposed and used in her garden.  Some  of those items included a large birdcage that was used as a planter and filled with moss and ferns, a chandelier made into a bird feeder, a whimsical "lady" yard stake made from a metal cover, and an old mirror embellished with decals, to name a few.

     Following the program, there was a business session. Members were given their new yearbooks and projects for the year were discussed.  On December 11th at 12:00 pm, the club will sponsor a Christmas Luncheon featuring a guest speaker.  Tickets will be $20.00 each and can be purchased from any garden club member.  On Saturday, April 25th, the club will sponsor a garden tour from 9-2 and tickets will be $10.00.  All funds raised will be used for beautification of the Square.

     Gail Touchton shared a garden hint.  Recently she read of a recipe for a weed killer which she tried and found that it successfully killed weeds within 24 hours.  The recipe calls for 1 gallon of vinegar, 2 cups of epsom salt, and 1/4 cup Dawn Dish Soap. Mix these ingredients and then spray on weeds.

     At the conclusion of the meeting, members enjoyed refreshments of pimento cheese finger sandwiches, brownies, lemon squares, chocolate covered almonds, grapes, coffee and tea.  Members attending were:  Gail Touchton, Bev Colquett, Ree Smith, Patsy Wadlington, Dorothy Crawford, Audrey Griffin, Nancy Ziebach, LeNette Knapp, Laura Bodiford, Dana Shinholster and guest, Carolyn Hutcherson.

Vicki Sims with some "re-purposed" items for the garden.

A whimsical garden stake made by Vicki.

Our hostess, Gail Touchton.

(L to R)  LeNette Knapp, Carolyn Hutcherson, and Patsy Wadlington

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.