NOVEMBER 2021 GARDENETTE NEWSLETTER
Gardenettes are members of District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., National Garden Clubs Inc.
MEETING: Plans for the November meeting are to meet at the Strawberry Board Building on the west side where the covered patio is located. Following the meeting, Marilyn has arranged for us to eat Dutch treat at Jeannie’s Restaurant on Highway 190 in Hammond. As you know it is up to the hostess to choose whether she wants to bring food or arrange a restaurant lunch. Hostesses for November are Ellen Pusey, Margaret Hardin and Marilyn Wright. Guest speaker is Mary Elliott McCormack who has a native plant nursery on S. Range Road. Her specialty is ferns, and she has been invited to bring plants for sale.
MERRY CHRISMAS! Carol Borgstede set up November 30 as decorating day at North Oaks hospital for the two trees – the one in the main lobby and the emergency room lobby – that we do each year. Hope you can attend, this is a festive start to the yuletide holiday. We can get coffee somewhere afterward or lunch.
WAYS AND MEANS: Each club is responsible for a nice item to be bid on by silent auction at the annual District VI Fall Meeting. This is our offering “A TASTE OF PONCHATOULA – A book of verse beneath the bough, A jug of sparkling pink Moscato, The sweet taste of chocolates – Thrown in are a decorative hummingbird feeder and a festive Cyclamen signifying love and empathy. Courtesy Gardenettes, Ponchatoula LA.” Basket items were donated to the club – the final bidding price on it was $50.
MERRY CHRISMAS! Carol Borgstede set up November 30 as decorating day at North Oaks hospital for the two trees – the one in the main lobby and the emergency room lobby – that we do each year. Hope you can attend, this is a festive start to the yuletide holiday. We can get coffee somewhere afterward or lunch.
WAYS AND MEANS: Each club is responsible for a nice item to be bid on by silent auction at the annual District VI Fall Meeting. This is our offering “A TASTE OF PONCHATOULA – A book of verse beneath the bough, A jug of sparkling pink Moscato, The sweet taste of chocolates – Thrown in are a decorative hummingbird feeder and a festive Cyclamen signifying love and empathy. Courtesy Gardenettes, Ponchatoula LA.” Basket items were donated to the club – the final bidding price on it was $50.
INVITATION: The Baton Rouge Garden Club is holding it’s annual garden show at their center in Baton Rouge November 6-7. It’s a nice event. The Baton Rouge Garden Club Center is 7950 Independence Blvd. From Clara Earl: "Open hours are 1pm to 4 pm. or you might tell them to arrive by 3:30 because we do quit at 4pm. Remember 2 days, Sat. and Sunday."
LETTER: We got a letter from Jim Hodson - I am working with Fast Growing Trees to announce their new educational series on Master Gardening. The organization recognizes the need to create additional awareness of the Master Gardener programs offered in each state as well as to provide similar free, self-paced gardening curriculum to those who might not otherwise engage in a formal Master Gardener program due to the cost and time commitments they require. To that end, the organization has created a great resource for both groups of gardening enthusiasts. I would like to request that you share with your members a link to our Master Gardener Resource home page (https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/pages/master-gardeners) or directly to our free, self-paced Master Gardening Curriculum (https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/pages/master-gardening-course).
ANNUAL DISTRICT FALL MEETING: This was held at Country Club of Louisiana in Baton Rouge Tuesday, October 19. Gardenettes were represented by Vicky Fannaly who also attended the District II Meeting at Imapastata’s in Metairie and the District III Meeting at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette.
LETTER: We got a letter from Jim Hodson - I am working with Fast Growing Trees to announce their new educational series on Master Gardening. The organization recognizes the need to create additional awareness of the Master Gardener programs offered in each state as well as to provide similar free, self-paced gardening curriculum to those who might not otherwise engage in a formal Master Gardener program due to the cost and time commitments they require. To that end, the organization has created a great resource for both groups of gardening enthusiasts. I would like to request that you share with your members a link to our Master Gardener Resource home page (https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/pages/master-gardeners) or directly to our free, self-paced Master Gardening Curriculum (https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/pages/master-gardening-course).
ANNUAL DISTRICT FALL MEETING: This was held at Country Club of Louisiana in Baton Rouge Tuesday, October 19. Gardenettes were represented by Vicky Fannaly who also attended the District II Meeting at Imapastata’s in Metairie and the District III Meeting at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette.
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DONATIONS: We were contacted by the high school to see if we were still giving a $500 scholarship. Since we had no applicants the last time we offered one, and usually only one applicant in past years. We told them we had decided to give money to charity instead. We need to discuss a donation and an amount at the next meeting. We have a member whose daughter was wiped out by the storm whom we might consider helping. Then there is the food bank. There are lots of ways to help.
ARBOR DAY: Susan Pizani has set up Arbor Day for January 21. She has contacted Mayor Bob Zabbia who wants to plant an oak. The time and place will be set up closer to that date. Mark your calendars so you can attend!
GREAT NEWS! Two members are returning. Carol Borgstede McGough is now able to return to the club. She will be Christmas Tree Chairman and will co-hostess in April with Vicky Fannaly and Sunday Hanson. Margaret is also available to return. She is working as assistant to Garden of the Month chairman Marilyn Wright and will help Kathy Bruce and Dottie Boudreaux with the December meeting. So glad to see Carol and Margaret return!
QUARTERS FOR WATERS: Our state president Roxanna Champagne wants your loose change. We will collect it at each meeting and send her a check in May. It's a great cause. She said "I have initiated a project called “Quarters for Waters.” As I travel around the state you will see me with a blue jug to collect those quarters, I’ll take dollars also! What is this project all about? NGC has partnered with Global Partners Running Waters, Inc., a nonprofit organization working with the United Nations to increase access to safe water in Latin America. My project for the next two years will be to collect monetary donations from LGCF members for this worthy cause. At the end of my term, all donations will be sent to NGC as a gift from LGCF. More information on Running Waters is posted on the LGCF website under the PROJECTS tab, look for “Quarters for Waters.”
FUN STUFF! At the District II meeting, one of the members gave a display of Botanical Arts – this was using dried and painted floral art on shoes, note pads and other items. It was a fun way to pass the time and create jewelry and other wearable items. The speaker Nancy Click recommended You Tube on Botanical Arts for Flower Shows which would show you how to make your own. The card which shows "104" was made for her mother's birthday. Her mother is a member of the garden club and was in attendance! Way to go!
DONATIONS: We were contacted by the high school to see if we were still giving a $500 scholarship. Since we had no applicants the last time we offered one, and usually only one applicant in past years. We told them we had decided to give money to charity instead. We need to discuss a donation and an amount at the next meeting. We have a member whose daughter was wiped out by the storm whom we might consider helping. Then there is the food bank. There are lots of ways to help.
ARBOR DAY: Susan Pizani has set up Arbor Day for January 21. She has contacted Mayor Bob Zabbia who wants to plant an oak. The time and place will be set up closer to that date. Mark your calendars so you can attend!
GREAT NEWS! Two members are returning. Carol Borgstede McGough is now able to return to the club. She will be Christmas Tree Chairman and will co-hostess in April with Vicky Fannaly and Sunday Hanson. Margaret is also available to return. She is working as assistant to Garden of the Month chairman Marilyn Wright and will help Kathy Bruce and Dottie Boudreaux with the December meeting. So glad to see Carol and Margaret return!
QUARTERS FOR WATERS: Our state president Roxanna Champagne wants your loose change. We will collect it at each meeting and send her a check in May. It's a great cause. She said "I have initiated a project called “Quarters for Waters.” As I travel around the state you will see me with a blue jug to collect those quarters, I’ll take dollars also! What is this project all about? NGC has partnered with Global Partners Running Waters, Inc., a nonprofit organization working with the United Nations to increase access to safe water in Latin America. My project for the next two years will be to collect monetary donations from LGCF members for this worthy cause. At the end of my term, all donations will be sent to NGC as a gift from LGCF. More information on Running Waters is posted on the LGCF website under the PROJECTS tab, look for “Quarters for Waters.”
FUN STUFF! At the District II meeting, one of the members gave a display of Botanical Arts – this was using dried and painted floral art on shoes, note pads and other items. It was a fun way to pass the time and create jewelry and other wearable items. The speaker Nancy Click recommended You Tube on Botanical Arts for Flower Shows which would show you how to make your own. The card which shows "104" was made for her mother's birthday. Her mother is a member of the garden club and was in attendance! Way to go!
LANDSCAPE DESIGN SCHOOL: Audit this or take it to be a consultant. The speakers are great, and it is not too far away. November 16-17 is the date. Cost is $70. REGISTRATION
NGC Gardening School: A Zoom course with national instructors – what a rush! If you are interested in the November 16-19 school, here’s the registration form - Course 3 - REGISTRATION
SAVE THE DATES: The LGCF State Convention with lots of frills and thrills is scheduled April 26-27, 2022 at the Crown Plaza in Baton Rouge. It starts with a very interesting tour and goes from there. The Deep South Convention is coming to the Hilton Airport Inn in Kenner March 8-10, 2023 – it’s Louisiana’s turn to host! Mark your calendars and consider attending.
HISTORIC NOTE: World War II - The members were active in Red Cross work and were proud to include in this activity a membership chairman of the parish production unit, chairman of the local production unit and surgical dressing unit and also assisted in the mobile blood unit. Our members sponsored a drive and collected a barrel of fat and assisted the Boy Scouts in collecting wastepaper.
TOTAL RADICAL DESIGNS: The National Garden Clubs Inc. have a Designer of the Month featured on their webpage each month. Check out what’s happening from the comfort of your favorite chair. Go to gardenclub.org
OPEN HOUSE: Mizell’s Camellia Nursery sent this invitation: