Shown are Cultura Garden Club members Patricia Cox, Susie Malone, Wendy DuBois, Diane Wilson, Ann Marie Bucholtz, Cheri McCain, Debbie Nale, Debbie Beason, Stephanie Johnson, Judy Baker, Carrie Jo Hovater, Debra Spillers. CONTRIBUTED/SUSIE HOVATER MALONE
The Cultura Garden Club hosted the Garden Clubs of Alabama District 1 meeting at North Highlands Church of Christ. The theme of the meeting was “Roots and Renewal: Finding Beauty in the Fall.” Decorations featured beautiful fall table covers, live flowers and take-home favors.
The club greeted 85 members from District 1 including special guest Brent Wheeler, president of the Garden Clubs of Alabama, and Koren Merrill, state first vice president. The District 1 Garden Clubs attending were Willowbrook, Forever Green Mountain, Rural Acres, Red Bay, Lakeside, Town and Country, Redstone, Trowlers, Rivermont, Wayside, Blossomwood, Florence, Madison, Rainsville and Greensboro.
Kathryn Wiggins, District 1 director, called the meeting to order. Jeff Johnson, North Highlands Church of Christ, gave the invocation followed by Jane Johnson leading members in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Probate Judge Judge Barry Moore welcomed all attendees to Franklin County and highlighted some of the beautiful fall scenery and businesses available in our county. He asked that the members of the Franklin County Garden Clubs — Cultura, Rural Acres, and Red Bay — to stand. He recognized each garden club for its many years of service beautifying their communities.
Tracie Clark, Franklin County commissioner for District 4 and District 1 vice director, presented the Response. Cheri McCain, president of Cultura Garden Club, introduced guest speaker Carla Waldrep.
Waldrep serves as the librarian at the Haleyville Public Library in Winston County and is a member of the Haleyville Historical Society. She is well known in the Haleyville community as a local historian, herbalist, and storyteller who brings history to life through her captivating performances.
As a living history performer, Carla portrays “The Life and Legends of Aunt Jenny Brooks” — a remarkable woman who lived in the Black Warrior Mountains during the Civil War in the area we now know as Bankhead National Forest.
Carla Waldrep speaks as part of the Alabama District 1 meeting for the Garden Clubs of Alabama.
Waldrep enjoys presenting programs that inspire great interest in her extensive knowledge of local plants and herbs, which were used by healers in the traditions and healing wisdom of many years ago. Her title, “Plants Your Ancestors Used for Healing Could Be Growing in Your Yard Today,” highlighted common plants such as sage, pine, and garlic.
She stated that sage is known as the “herb of wisdom” due to its historical and traditional association with wisdom, longevity, high cholesterol, and memory enhancement. Sage is used in cooking as flavoring fatty meats, sausages, and stuffings. Sage contains antioxidants and antibacterial properties that can improve blood circulation to the scape and promote hair growth.
Pine is good for health due to its rich content of antioxidants and vitamins. Historically, various parts of the pine tree have been used for medicinal purposes, such as boosting the immune system, improving respiratory health, cold symptoms, and providing anti-inflammatory effects.
The benefits of garlic include boosting the immune system, supporting heart health, and having anti-inflammatory properties. However, it’s important to consume it in moderation because of its high sodium content, which can cause bloating and water retention. It may also trigger digestive discomfort in some individuals.
Brent Wheeler, Garden Club of Alabama president, encouraged club members to embrace the opportunity of gardening and design with a spirit of curiosity, resilience, and collaboration. She challenged everyone to engage with their community, school, and strive to make a positive impact on those around you to continue to grow as a garden club.
“Our clubs do so many projects, but award applications are not submitted for your efforts,” she said.
Wheeler encouraged clubs to send in their reports for judging and flood GCA, Nationals and Deep South with Alabama’s entries.
Karen Merrill, first vice president of GCA, announced the third annual Flower Power Fundraiser offering beautiful Amaryllis and Paperwhites is open to all garden clubs. These bulbs have consistently produced amazing blooms and can even be planted outdoors after their initial indoor blooming.
Merrill is hosting a contest for clubs with the highest per capita sales. Additionally, a photo contest for individual members will be announced after the holidays.
Attendees enjoyed a delicious luncheon which was catered by Bonnet Café.
The business segment included roll call of clubs, approval of minutes, treasurer’s report, council and federation reports, club presidents’ reports, and amendments to District 1 bylaws approval.
Deep South Life members, former state presidents, former district directors, National Life members; and state lifetime members were recognized.
Various awards were presented. Cultura Garden Club received the Clara Nale Gentle Attendance Award. Mrs. Gentle of Russellville was an avid gardener and Lifetime member of the Garden Clubs of Alabama, Deep South Garden Club, and National Garden Clubs, Inc. An engraved plaque, abasket of goodies, and fall arrangement were presented to Cultura Garden Club.
The meeting closed with the reading of the Garden Club of Alabama Collect and presentation of several door prizes to attendees.
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