Are you a newcomer to making wreaths or Christmas decorations for the holidays? If so, I’m sorry you missed being at the Hammond Garden Club’s November meeting. Instructor Sharon Sledge, president of the Stem and Stamen Garden Club of Amite and former member of Hammond Garden Club, was the speaker just in time to help out those who may be having a problem decorating their home for Christmas (and other holidays just by taking that Christmas wreath apart and adding black and gold for a Saints party; purple, green and gold for Mardi Gras; or just some lovely spring flowers for a warmer time of year.)
Sledge also showed us how to take old fake flowers smashed in storage and by using a steamer take the wrinkles out. They will look like you just purchased them at Hobby Lobby!
She also used many things from her yard, especially greenery, to make fresh wreaths to which she added wildflowers. She demonstrated how to bunch greenery together to fill in a wreath that is too sparse.
There were so many useful ideas for things going to be thrown away, things purchased for little or nothing at second-hand shops. What looked like a beautiful Bible that was actually an open box perched on what looked like part of an old fence with greenery stuck in around it – beautiful! And what looked like the beautiful Bible could hold electrical wires to light up the decoration. Oh, the ideas!
She suggested always making a list with a design in mind before going shopping. Things you’ll likely need include paddle wire and heavier wire for keeping arrangements together, a pair of pliers, chicken wire, a frame, driftwood and pine cones.
She also demonstrated how to make a beautiful bow and how uneven numbers in arrangements are always better than even. And don’t forget when the holidays are over there is always another season to decorate for.
When her demonstration and the members’ applause was over, our President Pat Graves presented Sledge with a gift card from the club.
Pat then called on Chaplain Jennifer Allen for a prayer before we began our trip to the buffet, thanking God for the meal we were about to enjoy and the beauty of the fall landscape.
After all the goodness of what was prepared before us by Mary Monteleone and her crew had been devoured, Pat called the meeting to order once again for the minutes to be read, then she called on Treasurer Phyllis diBenedetto for her report.
She called on Committee Chair for Garden of the Month Dona Calcote, who turned it over to committee member Jennifer Sharp who reported the winner for November was Mike and Penny Carter of Victoria Drive. She said that their garden still had blooming flowers and a beautiful pond.
Pat then called on Link Award Chairperson Linda Broussard who reported that the award for November was given to First Presbyterian Church on 411 W. Charles St. Linda told about the Memorial Garden where members may bury their cremated remains.
Both the Garden of the Month and the Link Award with photos have columns in The Daily Star.
HGC member Nettie Burchfield reported that the 2025 Reimer’s Community Thanksgiving Service was scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Reimer’s Auditorium. It was to be sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church and Greenfield Baptist Church. The Rev. Jerry Hanible was to be the speaker, and a community gospel choir was scheduled.
Books and Library Committee Chairman Joan Davis thanked board members for the donation of $100 toward new books for the Hammond Branch Library. The new books, in addition to the vegetable seed packets and plants donated, will be presented to the library following the December garden club meeting.
Last, but certainly not least, Pat gave an update on the Hammond Holiday Tour of Homes. It is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. Dec. 14.
Check-in starts at the First Presbyterian Church at 411 W. Charles St., where there will also be a holiday bazaar and art show from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Included in that price is a bus ride, or you may use your own car.
A signup sheet was passed around for members to sit at the homes for shifts beginning 1:45 to 3:45 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. If you sign up for a scheduled time please be there to fulfill your duty.
Homes on this year’s tour include:
Lee and Mona Crapanzano, 808 W. Robert St.
Francis and Josie Mercante, 610 N. Spruce St.
Jeff and Barbara Smith, 709 Sanders Ave.
Alison Smith, 700 Sanders Ave.
James and Lacy Lipfert, 706 E. Charles St.
Mike and Rachel Rogers, 717 E. Charles St.
When the signup sheet had been passed around, Pat said the last thing we had to do was to give out the door prizes – lovely calla lilies and two of the wreaths given as prizes from Sharon Sledge. They went to Nettie Burchfield, Marta Lichtl, Nancy Ellis, Mona Crapanzano, Linda Ryan, Dorothy Mecom, Laura Piper and Phyllis DiBenedetto.
I’d like to close by wishing everyone a blessed and very thankful Thanksgiving, especially since we were kept from the ravishes of a terrible hurricane season. We have been truly blessed!
Linda Broussard lives in Hammond, America.
Comments are closed.