Jamie Smith of Fall Creek Flowers was the guest speaker at the Flower Lovers Garden Club.
Photo Provided
The Flower Lovers Garden Club meeting was called to order by President Karen Cook at 1 p.m. Aug. 6 in Whitlock Hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Refreshments were served by hostesses; Denise Ducharme, Belinda Grimble, Marty Heinhold and Sharri Patton. The hostesses provided a delicious lunch that included fresh vegetables and yummy sweet treats. Table decorations were bouquets of zinnias and black-eyed Susans grown by Terry Trinkle and Denise Ducharme. The coin jar was passed and roll call taken. Thirty-two members were in attendance and two guests, Ruth Pelkey and Debbie Cruea. A new member, Karen Patton and a returning member, Paula Furr, were also in attendance.
President Cook opened the meeting by thanking the hostesses and reminding everyone that next month there will be a field trip to Tree Frog Gardens, near Danville. This will occur on September third. Lunch will be at Franks located at 33 S. Washington, Danville, Indiana. Members should meet at the old Big Lots at 10:15 a.m. with departure at 10:30 a.m. Hostesses for September include; Teresa Huxhold, Myrna Slinker, Jan Stout and Jan Carpenter.
Terri Trinkle thanked everyone for keeping their downtown flower pots looking great! She said Mayor Barton complimented the club on beautifying the city.
Karen invited Denise Ducharme to update the group on the financial results of the Garden Tour. Denise said there is one bill still outstanding but after that is paid the profit will be about what was earned for the 2023 garden tour. It was a successful tour!
Linda Crispin read a card from Wayne and Becky Nelson. The Nelson’s were on the tour last month. They thanked Linda for being their liaison and supporting them with suggestions and assistance. They appreciated the opportunity to be on the tour.
President Cook introduced the speaker, Jamie Smith of Fall Creek Farm Flowers in rural Montgomery County located at 4898 W. Fall Creek Valley Road. Fall Creek’s mission is growing, sourcing and designing fresh cut flowers and they have been in business since 2005. Jamie explained that she has worked in the flower business for over thirty years and has been a part of the local Farmer’s Market for twenty-one years. During the month of May, Fall Creek is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Currently they are open Wednesdays and Fridays.
Jamie brought a huge selection of flowers and focused her presentation on the process of drying flowers. Flowers she has found to be the easiest to dry include; straw flowers, gomphrena, scabiosa, lavender, statice, celosia, coxcomb, queen Ann’s lace (needs to be pressed), eucalyptus, limelight hydrangea, tansy, yarrow, corn flower (also known as bachelor buttons), calendula, zinnias (in a food hydrator). Jamie recommended drying either by hanging the flowers or laying them out on paper. The area needs to be without much light and low moisture. Queen Ann’s Lace she found is best if it is pressed and not dried in a traditional way. Several catalogs that she recommended were: Johnny’s, Select Seeds, Harris Seeds, Geoseeds, and Parke County Produce. Jamie recommended the first four for seeds and Parke County for everything else needed to organize a garden, from rubber mulch to inserts for plant trays.
Jamie also gives classes in flower arranging with tea and this is offered as an open class or can be reserved as a private group. In addition the business offers fresh flowers for all occasions; weddings, funerals, or just because. The flowers are locally grown and picked fresh. Flowers can also be self picked for do it yourselfers. At the location, you will also find a cottage country store that offers handcrafted items like goat milk soap, lotions, lip balm, honey, eggs, produce, fresh and loose flowers, wool and wool products and loose leaf teas. Inquiries can be made at fallcreekfarmflowers.com or 765-401-6628.
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