Seedling Garden Club enjoys floral program

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The Seedling Garden held its monthly meeting on Monday, April 13, 2023 at the Swainsboro Methodist Church fellowship hall. President, Diana Malone, called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone at 5:00p.m. Ann Peebles, Chaplain, opened the meeting with a beautiful inspiration title, "God Gave Me a Garden." In the Spring as new life unfurls all around us and we see the budding of trees and flowers blooming, we realize God did give us a garden and only He can make it so beautiful.

Kay Peacock introduced Jim Roberts of Southern Traditions Florist who presented the program for the meeting. Jim has been in the floral business for over 30 years, owning his own florist Southern Traditions for over 22 years. Graduate of University of Georgia. He worked as a volunteer decorator to the White House in 2019 and then was ask to serve on the executive design team of the White House in 2020. He was on the 2019 HGTV special of the White House Christmas, has been on Fox 5 Atlanta, WSAV of Savannah, WJBF of Augusta. In 2022 Jim was asked to help decorate the Blair House for Christmas. Jim has traveled the United States working as a free-lance floral designer with a company based out of Chicago, working on projects of every size, from weddings, movie premieres, political gathering, etc. His passion is designing florals to enhance and create events that are memorable and unique. Taking visions and bringing them to life. He does this very well in everything he does. A little side note, the building Jim's florist is in was once a tractor supply business which was owned and operated by his Grandfather, John Roberts. Jim's program was centered around the color of yellow with a beautiful tablespace using a lemon and lime theme. Yellow tulips, a lemon wreath, lemon plaques and a candle wrapped in bold black stripped ribbon. Jim stated, "the color yellow is bright and makes you smile." During the presentation Jim showed how to use different things in clear containers to hide stems of fresh flowers used, explained that some fresh flowers do not do well in oasis and the shorter the stems the longer the flowers will stay fresh because they do not have to take in so much water. Everyone enjoyed watching Jim do his magic as he designed three different designs, explaining as he went way, he was doing things in certain ways. The club was very thankful for such a talented designer (from small town Swainsboro) to come share his knowledge and love of designing.

After the enjoyable program, president Malone presided over the business session of the meeting. Kay Peacock, treasurer, gave the treasurer's report, which was approved as presented. Due to the absence of secretary, minutes of the last meeting was not read. Yonna Bailey, yard of the month chairman, reported that Durwood Johnson was awarded the April "Yard of the Month." The club voted not to enter a float in the Pine Tree Festival. Kim Hooks reported on the Youth Garden Club that Seedling is sponsoring. She showed National Garden Clubs, Inc. books that was ordered to be used in educating the children in gardening.

Using an Easter theme, hostesses served the 21 members and 1 guest, chicken salad sandwiches, toasted walnuts, fruit and an array of cookies and punch. The table was covered in pastel colored cloth with a large Bunny Rabbit overlooking the goodies. Hostesses for the meeting was Lucile Braswell, Imogene Buckley and Linda Dekle.

The meeting adjourned with Kay Peacock winning the raffle. Winning the hostess's gifts was Ann Peebles, Jane Durden, Jill Briercheck, Maria Willingham and Kim Lamb. These were cute little carrot center pieces. Members left with the feeling "Spring has Sprung" with it comes a feeling of reawakening and renewal.

The Seedling Garden Club is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc, Deep South Garden Clubs, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. and Oleander District.