Julie Ballard and Martha Wilson hosted the May meeting of the All Seasons Garden Club on Tuesday at Ballard’s country home.
As the members arrived, they were greeted by Hank, the Ballards’ dog, and were able to take in the spring gardens and the chicken coop with Julie’s eight “girls,” one being 7 or 8 years old.
Members were then invited into the home for a meal served by the hostesses. Afterwards, the members chose painted tin vases to decorate with ribbon and faux flowers to make nice May Day arrangements to keep or share with a special someone. Italian crème cake and strawberry cake were then served as a dessert with coffee, at which time door prizes were awarded to Nita Bridges and Darlene Groseclose.
President Jean Barkman conducted the business meeting. Several members had information on one of the members, Jeanette Chastain, who is seriously ill and hospitalized. A card was passed around for everyone to post their encouragements for her. Also, a sympathy card was signed by the members for Chastain, as she recently lost her mother, Marlene Schuerman.
Treasurer Rita Wischmeier gave a treasurer’s report and informed the members of a memorial she gave on behalf of the club for Schuerman.
Becky Hackman let the group know she had recently turned in three names of people with cancer to HOPE Medora Goes Pink and reported that to date, that organization has sent out $193,200 in food and gas cards to cancer patients. They also thanked the club group for supporting them. Hackman told about their fundraisers in August and October and encouraged the group to attend one or both.
Barkman mentioned Peggy Broshears’ upcoming birthday on May 19 and that the flower of the month is lily of the valley.
Shirley Lewis reported her efforts to obtain a candidate for the Jackson County Fair queen contest to represent the club, but she has been unable to find one.
Bridges announced to the group that Hackman will be a participant in the Kentucky Oaks parade of survivors on May 6 at Churchill Downs, and Hackman told the group how she was selected and thanked everyone in the group who voted for her to be chosen. There will be 148 breast and ovarian cancer survivors who will participate in the parade of pink, which represents the breast and ovarian cancer ribbons. She encouraged everyone to watch the parade.
June’s meeting will be hosted by Charlotte Foster and Shirley Lewis at Foster’s home, and the topic will be tea.
Brenda Turner asked the group for ideas for a topic for the August meeting. It was suggested that Bobby Eldridge of Brownstown Greenhouse, who is a worker at the annual Rose Bowl parade in California, is available to speak about his experiences at the annual event and suggested him to attend one of the club’s meetings.
Linda Kamman told the group about Madison in Bloom on June 11, 12, 18 and 19 and invited the group to purchase tickets and go as a group. Anyone interested in going is to purchase their tickets for the June 18 tour and go as a garden club group.
The rest of the evening was spent visiting.