The second meeting of the club's new year met on Monday, October 9, at the First Methodist Church Social Hall. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Nancy Lisenby. Seventeen members and one visitor were welcomed. Mary Ellen Smith was welcomed as a new member and Dess Smith was welcomed as a subscribing member. The club is always ready to welcome new members.
Ann Peebles, Chaplain, opened the meeting with an inspiration titled, "God's Transforming Grace." The inspiration used a simple flower bulb as an example. We as gardeners’ plant what looks like an ugly bulb, it grows, produces and turns into a beautiful flower. Using something as simple as a bulb, we plant to show how God's grace does transform ugly into beauty. Imogene Buckley, Secretary, called the roll and read the minutes from the last meeting. These were approved as read. She also asked members to review the member list for correctness and presented revisions to constitution. These revisions will be voted on at the next meeting. Kay Peacock, treasurer, presented the treasurer's report. This was approved as presented. Yard of the Month Chairperson Yonna Bailey announced that "Yard of the Month" for October was awarded to Dawn and Richard Arnette. The club welcomes any nominations from the public for this award.
Old Business: Members were reminded of the Oleander District meeting in Jesup on October 12. Amber Albritton is providing the club with a basket to be auctioned off at the Oleander District meeting. Yonna Bailey collected Tabs to be carried.
New Business: Kay Peacock agreed to be Flower Show Chairperson and Kim Hooks agreed to be our Pine Tree Festival Chairperson for this year. At the request of Kim Hooks, the club voted to help her school children prepare floral arrangements on October 19, at the school. Title of this special session is "Pepper Palooza". Designs will be done in peppers. Seedling Garden Club is a sponsor of this youth garden club. The club voted to adopt the area around the Emanuel County Nursing Home as a new project. Containers and surrounding areas will be changed with each season of the year. Hopefully this will add some cheer to the residents and staff of the nursing home. Martha Cobb gave a short review of the upcoming flower show to be held in April, and reminded everyone of the next month meeting which will be our annual auction.
President Lisenby introduced the speaker for the meeting. Savannah Tanner of Emanuel County Extension Office presented a very educational program on Organic Strategies for the Garden and Home Landscape. Tanner is a graduate of ABAC and has been with the Extension Office for seven years. She stated the biggest question she gets is how to rid stickers from the lawn. Tanner stressed that the most important thing to do for your yards is to get a soil sample, with the best time being in January. She also stressed not to over fertilize plants - broadcast evenly and water in fertilizer. Do not use feed and kill on beds. Club members were given a yearly planning calendar to use for times to plant certain plants. The club enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot from it. As the saying goes, “never too old to learn”, and this is so true for Garden Club ladies trying to raise beautiful flowers and veggies. Along with Tanner's presentation, club member Paula Karrh gave a very educational horticulture moment. This included October gardening tips which we all appreciated, along with her hand out of things to plant now.
Hostesses for the meeting were Jill Briercheck and Jane Durden. The Social Hall was transformed into a Fall Wonderland. A large pumpkin welcome sign greeted everyone at the door and the refreshment table was very inviting, holding potted mums and pumpkins surrounded with Fall leaves. Members enjoyed the chicken salad croissants, a variety of cookies, nuts and bottled water.
The meeting was adjourned after the drawing for the door prizes. Winners were Kay Peacock and Martha Cobb. As members departed, they were given Halloween treat bags by the hostesses, and didn't even have to go Trick or Treating. All this made for a special Fall meeting.
The Seedling Garden Club invites anyone that loves to learn and have fun at the same time and wants to "Inspire To Grow Through Beautification, Preservation Conservation, Education", to come join our club as we learn, have fun, take field trips and help with projects that help beautify our city and county.
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 III.
