PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS' MEETING

On Monday,  July 22, 2002 eight clubs were represented at this planning meeting for 2002-2003. With some clubs changing leaders, this was an opportunity for the new leaders to meet with those who have been in the trenches for a year. Also it was an opportunity  for each club to share their ideas which they are hoping to implement in this coming gardening year.

WREATH DECORATING WORKSHOP

  On Sunday, September 15th at 2 P.M., the Fourth District will sponsor a workshop on how to decorate a wreath. The workshop will be held in the main room at the Barnwell in Shreveport. This event is open to all. Here is an opportunity to invite a non-garden club member to a fun function. Bring a wreath. plant materials (dried or silk), accessories, glue gun, glue sticks, wire, wire cutters, etc.

FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL, COURSE ONE

  On October 9-11, 2002 Flower Show School, Course One will be held in Monroe. The Fourth District and the Fourth District Judges' Council have agreed to pay for a bus to transport those interested in attending the school. The costs for those attending will be the tuition for the school ($60.00) and the motel room. If anyone is willing to share a room with me, we could share room expenses. These schools are very informative on horticulture and design. Even if you are not interested in becoming a judge, it will be a great learning experience, both in and outside of the classroom.

FOURTH DISTRICT MEETING

  The Fourth District Meeting will be at 10 A.M., October 24, 2002. The theme is "Life Begins the Day You Start a Garden." The location is the Family Activities Building, Christ United Methodist Church, 1204 Crabapple Drive, Shreveport, LA 71118. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. RSVP to Jim Miller, 2136 Francais Drive, Shreveport, LA 71118-3959 by October 17th.

  Our program for this event will be on Ikebana designs given by Glenver Rowland. Glenver, whose husband is a retired U. S. Navy chaplain, studied Ikebana designs while her husband was stationed in the Orient. She is a fourth grade level teacher in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

  Once again the women at the church have agreed to prepare and serve the luncheon. Also, the tables will be set by the women with their fine china. If you missed last year, you need to make plans to come this year for another spectacular event. Encourage your member ship to invite a friend or two to come with you. They do not have to be a garden club member to attend.

  Each club is to furnish two door prizes and two wreaths. The wreaths will be used for decorations and at the end of the function they will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Also there will be a white elephant table. Please encourage everyone to bring priced items.  

  The favors this year will be unique. Two potters,  Claudia Clay and Kay Martin of the Hosston Garden Study Club, have agreed to make a miniature pottery container for each person attending.

  Each president is to submit the name of an outstanding member who will be recognized at the meeting. Presidents are not eligible for this recognition award. If at all possible, keep this information under wraps so the individual will be surprised.

  Last year we had about 114 people in attendance. Let us surpass that number.

DEADLINE FOR AWARD APPLICA TONS

  All award applications are due on December 1st.   Submit these to proper chairman. If you need information, please feel free to contact me. President's reports are also due on that date. Send one copy to me so I can submit my report to the state officials.

SUMMER BOARD MEETING REPORT

  Rowanne McCollister, Sybil Colicchio, and myself attended the Summer Board Meeting in Baton Rouge on July 29-July 30. Sybil was nominated to fill the unexpired term of Genie Fausto as First Vice President. I have been nominated to the position of First Vice President for the 2003-2005 term. There were many meetings and workshops to keep us abreast of what was happening at the various levels. The highlight was the program on Tablescapes by Peggy Cazes, Past President. If you are online, you can log on to www.louisianagardenclubs.org, for a look.

 

PUBLICIZING YOUR CLUB'S ACTIVITIES

Remember to submit information about your club's activities to the LGCF Newsletter and to Patsy Clement for the state website. The newsletter editor is Sue Deville. Her e-mail is [email protected]. Patsy's e-mail is [email protected].

GARDENING WEBSITES

www.louisianagardenclubs.org - our state federation's site. Organizations and their activities.  Information on native plants, birds, and butterflies. www.louisianalawnandgarden.org  - horticulture information from the state Cooperative Extension Service. Qffers monthly features and news articles.  Tips for gardeners, arranged by month.  Links to other state sites.

www.agctr.lsu.edu  - maintained by L S U's Agriculture Center.   Articles on garden conferences, information on the Agriculture Centers print publications, order forms, Louisiana-specific information. Newsletter of  horticultural hints can be downloaded.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu  - sponsored by, Texas A&M Horticulture program. Sections on wildflowers, ornamentals, East Texas gardening, lists of journals, magazines, and horticultural organizations.  Links to horticultural websites at other universities.

www.gardenweb.com

plant database, directory plant societies and garden clubs, seed and plant ex- changes, a list of online garden forums (on roses, bulbs, cacti, gourds, moss, and lawn mowers, among others).

http://garden-gate.prairienet.org  - information, data- bases, discussion groups, links to shopping. ,Fact sheets on plants. "Sun Room" area is devoted to house plants (African violets, bromeliads, orchids, tropicals .. and others.

www.themastergardenershow.com   -calls itself the most extensive web site dedicated to gardening, landscaping, agriculture and horticulture information. Links to articles on, composting tips, mulching, noxious weeds, pruning, roses, shrubs, trees, vegetables.

www.usda.gov/news/garden.htm -click on gardening, home horticulture, or home and garden tips.

www.bulb.com  -gorgeous photos, information on bulbs.  Links to frequently asked questions, "When to Plant Where You Live," and "Going to Holland" (be there on May 5).  Site is maintained by the U..S. Netherlands Flower and Bulb, information Center. Some commercial sites:

www.waysidegardens.com  -catalog of plants for sale.

www.garden.com    - a site sponsored by Burpee.  

 www.aIlaboutlawns.com  -information on watering, fertilizing, aerating, mowing, planting, thatch, weeds, pests, repair, tools. Very little advertising.  

www.windowbox.com   - information and equipment for those who concentrate on planted plants and small spaces.

THANKS TO SARA BURROUGHS FOR PROVVIDING THESE WEBSITES.

MEMORML FOR GENIE FAUSTO

  The Fourth District lost a valuable member when Genie Faust died ON JULY 4, 2QO2. A memorial has been made in Genie’s name to Project Hope. She served as District Director and was serving as First Vice President of the LGCF

 

CHRISTMAS AT BARNWELL

 

The garden clubs of the Shreveport area will present "Christ in America” at the Barnwell beginning on November 25, 2002.  Staging will take place November 20-22.  Overall chairman for this event is Rivercities Garden Club.

 

HOLIDAY-IN-DIXIE FLOWER SHOW

The first weekend in April is the time for the Holiday- in-Dixie Flower Show. If You have not participated in the past, resolve to do so by entering either horticulture or design or both. This event is open to any member of an accredited, National Garden Club.

SATE CONVENTION The state convention will be in Lafayette April.10-12, 2003. If you want to pass a good time, make certain you attend this convention.

THANKS

Please pass on my appreciation to your club members for their support during my tenure as district director.  I was hesitant to accept this position, but t has been a true joy serving.  One main reason is the help I have received from various individuals.  If we continue to cooperate and support each other in our endeavors, we can continue to do great things.  Remember to pass on your ideas as wel1 as your complaints.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

SEEING YOU’LL

ON OCT 24TH.