The Seedling Garden Club held its last meeting of the year on Monday, May 18, at 5 p.m. at Emanuel County's Farm and Home Museum. Upon arrival, the club was welcomed by George and Missy Elder. George is the president of Emanuel County Historic Society which maintains the farm and home museum.
President Kay Peacock welcomed everyone and presided over the meeting. Paula Karrh opened the meeting with an inspiration thanking God for a blessed garden club year asking for another good year when we start again in September.
Missy Elder gave the club a tour of the Longview Farm. People living here fought and considered themselves patriots for the freedom of the United States. The local farm site is made up of sixteen original farm buildings that has been donated by local families and moved on to the site. These buildings date back to 1860 and make up a true to life farm site. The club enjoyed touring the ‘Coleman Academy’, the one room schoolhouse dating back to 1890 and the ‘Sycamores’, (dog trot style house) dating back to 1860. Due to limited time, the club was unable to tour the other buildings. They are all very interesting and wish we could have visited the black smith/wheel shop, syrup cookhouse, chicken coop, post office and so many more. We plan to make another visit…too much to see in one visit.
The meeting continued inside the Home Museum. One wall that caught our eye was "The Wall of Veterans" arranged by the Class of 1945 that lists local patriots in World War II. In the business session, Secretary Cheryl Goodman gave the secretary's report. After a short amendment, the report was approved as presented. The treasurer’s report given by treasury Wanda Ellis was approved as presented. Yard of the month chairman Yonna Bailey reported the May Yard of the Month was given to Learlie McMillan and the late Bobby McMillan.
Old Business:
Special thanks were given to Nancy Lisenby and her crew that planted flowers and vegetables at Emanuel County Nursing Home, and Margo Riner and Jaycee Spivey for their chairing the decorating of the downtown wagon for the Pine Tree Festival.
New Business:
President Kay Peacock thanked George and Missy Elder for allowing the club to hold their meeting on such a historical location. The club presented the Historical Society with a donation.
Three new members were presented with Garden Club of Georgia membership pins: Margo Riner, Jaycee Spivey and Ivy Terwilliger. The club is so happy to have these active new members.
Eight members were presented with perfect attendance certificates and gift cards: Yonna Bailey, Martha Cobb, Cheryl Goodman, Judy McWhorter, Kay Peacock, Dawn Phillips, Margo Riner and Wanda Scarboro.
Announcements:
Dess Smith invited everyone to attend a special Memorial Day celebration on May 25, 11 a.m. at the Veterans and 1st Responders Memorial Park.
Missy Elder invited everyone to attend a special DAR, SAR reenactment to be held on October 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Emanuel County's Farm and Home Museum.
Martha Cobb, Oleander District Director, invited everyone to attend a dedication ceremony for a Blue Star Memorial Marker to honor former president Jimmy Carter to be held Tuesday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta.
We were reminded of two events coming up when the club begins a new year in September. The club will host the Oleander District Annual Meeting October 21, 2026, and the club will have a Flower Show in April 2027.
The club enjoyed the salads, desserts and lemonade brought by club members. The serving tables were covered with yellow checked clothes, and other tables were covered with burlap clothes with flowers placed in fruit jars adorned with blue and red bandannas and straw hats adorned with patriotic ribbons.
President Kay Peacock thanked everyone for their support this past year. Our Mission Statement for the year was, "Sow Grow Reap", and with all of us working together, "I feel this Mission was met. "
The meeting ended with a fun gift exchange which is a tradition with the club.
While celebrating and remembering America's 250th anniversary, the Seedling Garden Club "traveled back in time" as they toured historic buildings and exhibits on the grounds of the Farm and Home Museum they had a renewed appreciation of the life in Emanuel County. The program and tour not only highlighted our past but also provided the members with a renewed appreciation of how much life has changed from the time Emanuel County was established in 1812 to the present. We are very grateful to have this "best kept secret of our county." We are thankful to be able to have our meeting in such a historic location.
The Seedling Garden Club is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. and Oleander District.
