The prestigious Circle of Roses honors went to Gardenette Cricket Ayala at the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. District VI Fall Meeting held at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville October 23. Show are District VI Director Vicky Fannaly, Circle of Roses Chairman Kathy Bedenbaugh, Ayala, Gardenette Delegate Margaret Bailey, District VI officers Rachel Lanford, Elisa Tubbs and Ruth Delhomme.
Photo courtesy of Ponchatoula Gardenettes
Ponchatoula Gardenette Cricket Ayala received the Circle of Roses honor from the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc.
This is awarded to members who have served in their garden club at least 15 years and are approaching the age of 80.
Patricia Hammaker Ayala, better known as Cricket, was born in Hammond, La. Cricket grew up in Ponchatoula, La and graduated from Ponchatoula High School. She then attended and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La. After College she moved to Ville Platte to pursue what would be a lifelong career with the Department of Family and Children Services.
By the time Cricket retired from the Department of Family and Children Services she moved to New Orleans. It was there that she met and married the late Luis Ayala. Together they enjoyed a life full of all that New Orleans had to offer in the 70’s and 80’s. As proud members of the Tulane Alumni Association, they were avid supporters of the boys’ basketball team. Cricket quickly became their “Team Mom”. She earned this unofficial title by making small bags of homemade cookies for each player and coach which she gave to them for each game.
Ayala returned to Ponchatoula following Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, she joined the Gardenettes at the invitation of Charlotte Faller, a high school classmate. She has been an asset to our club serving as Parliamentarian and on numerous committees a each year. In particular she has carried out the duties of Garden of the Month and Genesis awards. She and Margaret Bailey have co-chaired the making of the Publicity Pressbook for two years. Their efforts achieved a first and a second place award. She has also helped Bailey design and paint the Gardenettes’ Quilt Trail square.
Ayala helped the group of Gardenettes’ that sponsored the City of St. Gabriel win first place when they wanted to participate in the Cleanest City contest but had no garden club of their own. She enjoys participating in many scheduled activities such as fund raising, plant and rummage sales, field trips, planting trees for Arbor Day, distributing cancer awareness pink ribbons for Make a Difference Day, sewing Bosom Buddy bags, and also decorating the North Oaks Christmas tree. In former years, she helped tend the former Butterfly and Collinswood Museum flower beds.
Her claim to fame however is her homemade brownies and 7-up pound cake. She graciously offers these to the hostess of any of our gatherings. Ayala also serves Ponchatoula as Treasurer of Northshore Quilt Trail and as a member of the Ponchatoula Housing Authority.
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