New club member Carol Rienstra (left) and friend Jenny Dornier check out MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Caleb Gatlin checks out the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Floral design was among the judged categories. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings co-chairs Tammy Crutchfield (left) and Michele Smith pose for a photo in front of Crutchfield’s award-winning photo entry, which was on display at the Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Attendees and members take in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Attendees and members take in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Attendees and members take in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd, including Avie Rienstra (left) and Amy Dornier, on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Avie Rienstra checks out some of the miniature floral dress entries at the MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Floral design was among the judged categories. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
A variety of the 250 home-grown flowers, plants and succulents in the horticulture class were among the pieces on display at MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Attendees and members take in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Designer dress creations were among the creative categories in MOD(ern) Musings, this year’s version of Magnolia Garden Club’s biennial flower show, which drew a crowd on its final day at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Photo made Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise staff
Kim Brent
Creativity was in full bloom at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas this week during a two-day exhibit of the Magnolia Garden Club’s Flower Show.
Dubbed “MOD (ern) Musings,” the juried exhibit included pieces created by the club’s 60-plus members and 22 “junior gardeners,” as well as entries from fellow Garden Club of America chapters regionally and nationally.
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Ribbons for bests in class and show (both with the MGC and GCA) graced the work displayed throughout the exhibit. It was judged entirely by nonlocal Garden Club of America members.
The competition and exhibit have been a steady part of the 1937-founded Magnolia Garden Club since the ‘60s.
Multiple categories gave those with a nose for floral creativity, or horticulturists who pride themselves on being all green thumbs, ample opportunity to showcase their talents.
RELATED: A look back at Magnolia Garden Club’s 2024 Flower Show — Pop 2.0
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There were full length gowns comprised entirely of plant materials replicating classic pieces from some of the world’s greatest designers, like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior.
First-year member Carol Rienstra was among those to tackle the designer challenge, creating an award-winning Dior gown with red roses to match any red carpet-worthy event.
Her daughter Avie didn’t do so bad, either. She home multiple ribbons of her own in the junior gardeners class, which is open to youth in first through seventh grade whose parents are members of the club.
Smaller dress creations, jewelry, abstract works and other pieces created using dried horticultural materials supplied by Magnolia Garden Club were also on display. There were also floral sculptures heavy on the modernist theme, photography and the simple horticultural class — allowing members to show the best and brightest grown in their own back yards.
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There were nearly 250 pieces on display in that category, 90% of which sprung from Southeast Texas soil, according to Flower Show co-chair and Magnolia Garden Club member Tammy Crutchfield.
RELATED: Explore the treasures of Tyrrell Park in Beaumont
It’s a category particularly near and dear to her heart — it being where Crutchfield cut her chops in growing and showing over the last 16 years.
“I was more of a horticulture person, but this year I went outside the box,” she said.
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Crutchfield entered a graphic, black and white photograph taken at the Texas State Fair into a non-floral photography competition. It turned out to be a fortuitous foray into the unknown as Crutchfield brought home another ribbon.
While the awards, creative challenges and stunning creations are the public highlight of the club’s work every other year, it’s what the Magnolia Garden Club does in between events that’s the real star of the show.
“We’re trying to give more to the community and have educational opportunities,” Crutchfield said. “Education is one of the big components of our club, and we really push people to use more native plants and non-invasive species.”
They’re simply building on the deep-rooted footprint Magnolia Garden Club has in the Southeast Texas community.
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The club was a key fundraiser in building Tyrrell Park’s Cattail Marsh and butterfly garden, in addition to work at local gardens, including those at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum and Southeast Texas Nutrition and Services for Seniors.
RELATED: Golden Triangle Rose Society holds workshop at historic McFaddin-Ward House gardens
Crutchfield noted the club hopes to add more to their horticultural resume.
“We’re always looking for more community involvement and opportunities to partner with other organizations (or community gardens),” she said.
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Opportunities to explore those options include the three to four public gatherings held throughout the year, offering various educational and workshop-style events.
Recently, they held a workshop at the R.C. Miller Library focused on Kokedama — a Japanese term meaning “moss ball.” It describes the ancient minimalist art form wherein a root-filled mud ball is encased in moss and string.
Whether you’re looking to join or get horticultural tips from some of the area’s best, Crutchfield encourages all to “come to our meetings and learn about us.”
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The club’s next open meeting will be April 14, with a social at 9:30 a.m. before the 10 a.m. meeting start at the Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens. The meeting will have an educational focus on local conservation and the oyster reefs.
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