The Glad Garden Club has been experiencing a rebirth, resurgence, renewal, revitalization and restoration of members, organization and skill sets. New members have added new life to our beloved organization. The warmest of welcomes to new members Donna Gaddy, Dawn Arnette, Margaret Sweet, Sherrie Burke, LeaAnn Williams, Gail Johnson, LeaAnn Williams and Amber Albritton. We anticipate a banner year with all these new enthusiastic ladies. They are quite a lively group with tons of new ideas. New Yearbooks were handed out to all members present in anticipation of a productive future.
Glad Garden Club had our February monthly meeting at the at the fabulous Sudie A. Fulford Learning Center and had the honor of Pam Alexander, our beloved "Orchid Lady", present everything we needed to know about the care of orchids including specific watering needs, replanting, and pruning. It is always a delight to have Pam bring her orchids and her knowledge as she even has a dedicated room in her house to these beautiful specimens of mother nature. The Club even had the opportunity to purchase orchids from Pam after her extensive presentation. Margaret Sweet was our host and presented an early blooming forsythia plant and a beautiful white Camellia bloom for our horticulture items. President, JoAnn Trammell was the lucky winner of a gift basket made by Hoopee Homestead. The generous basket was filled with items from the farm. Afterwards members adjourned to Peking Chinese restaurant for lunch.
Glad Garden Club held its March meeting at the magnificent Hoopee Homestead Farm Stand, which is located at 776 Ohoopee Bend, Soperton, just off of Holton Chapel Road not far from Covena/Palm Beach or Nunez via Hwy 297. Members were greeted by member Donna Braddy Gaddy owner and proprietor of the Homestead Farm with Southern Pecan Bites and delightful Beard Vet Blueberry Coffee. Donna told us how her Farm Stand dream came about. She talked about some of the items she carries in her roadside honor system cabin like honey, jams, pickled items, homemade seasonings, fresh eggs when the chickens are in a good mood and even duck eggs. There are sourdough starter kits, handmade and vintage items. She and her husband, Jim, also raise pigs and sell pork cuts. Following the visit to the farm stand, members were treated to a tour of Donna's mini orchard of peach, plum, cherry, fig and pear trees as well as muscadine vines. Members then ventured out to visit with the farm animals
including Welsh Harlequin ducks, more chickens and some Longhorns. Member Gail Johnson even displayed her skills as the cow whisperer and managed to get a kiss from a precious little cow. Donna has worked very hard to make her vision a dream come true and inspired members to try their hand at organic gardening and processing. After a tour of the grounds, members returned to the farm stand itself to purchase lots of homemade goodies. It was truly a day of fun, fellowship, inspiration and appreciation for all the hard work that goes into homesteading and small farm life. After all this appetite producing touring, members gathered at newly opened D's Diner in Swainsboro. A grand time was had by all.
The next meeting of the Glad Garden Club will be at the Sudie A. Fulford Learning Center on Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m. If you love to play in the dirt and even if you don't like to get your hands dirty there are plenty of things to participate in. Lots of fun and interesting programs. Glad Garden Club: Where Green Thumbs and Glad Hearts Meet.
Glad Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., and the Oleander District.
