OPINION PAGE: Cultura Garden Club sees busy October
She Says
The Cultura Garden Club’s October activities included a membership drive and a covering the history of our local forests; a field trip; support for Pumpkin Palooza; and the State Garden Club District I meeting.
The membership drive featuring well-known storyteller Carla Waldrep was a success. She shared the real Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnston legend of the Bankhead National Forest.
Debra Spillers shared a handout on information about Alabama’s National Forests. She said she and her husband enjoy outand- back trails including Parker Falls, located near Haleyville, which takes about 45 minutes to complete. Another trail is Caney Creek Falls Trail near Double Springs, which is considered a moderately challenging route that takes about 36 minutes.
The three garden clubs in Franklin County— Cultura Garden Club; Red Bay Garden Club; and Rural Acres Garden Club—enjoyed a field trip to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Tracy Hargett Clark, Red Bay Garden Club President, made the arrangements.
Seventeen members of these clubs enjoyed strolling around the gardens. No matter the season, the Botanical Gardens offer beautiful nature, including the Southern Living Gardens. The BBG offers 67 acres for the public to explore, is open to the public every day of the year and has free admission.
Cultura also participated in the Chamber of Commerce Pumpkin Palooza. Members met at the home of President Cheri McCain and created a beautiful lady scarecrow for the event using a pumpkin, fall greenery, fabric, hay, mums and ribbons–topped off with a beautiful hat.
This community project was part of the fall decorations. As has been done for the last several years, Cultura members continue to decorate downtown with fall streetscapes for four corners, clean out pots and plant pansies.
October came to a close for Cultura with President McCain attending the Alabama State Garden Club District I meeting which was held at Valley Hills Country Club in Huntsville. District President Carolyn Ellinger presided over the meeting. The guest speaker was Lisa Gardner from the Huntsville Tree Commission. The title of her presentation was “The Native Urban Forest and Its Wild Life.”
Various projects were discussed at this meeting, including “Flower Power Holiday Sales” and the “Smokey Bear & Woodsey Owl Poster Contest.”
The main project was the “Every Light a Prayer for Peace” event that will be held December 6 at the State Capitol. The Alabama State Garden Club Members are invited to attend the tea at the Governor’s Mansion and tour the mansion and see its beautiful Christmas decorations from 2:30-4 p.m.
The Army Band will perform on the Capitol steps at 5 p.m. and the Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m.. This will be a fun time, and Cultura Garden Club members are making plans to attend.
Susie Hovater Malone is a member of the Cultura Garden Club.
