Gulf Hills Garden Club 2016 Arbor Day Commemoration

At 10:00 am on Saturday, April 2, 2016, members of the Gulf Hills Garden Club gathered at the Memorial Garden on Shore Drive in Gulf Hills for our annual Arbor Day commemoration. This year was the 144^th anniversary of the founding of Arbor Day and the 184^th anniversary of the birth of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day.

The atmosphere was just wonderful.  A delightfully cool morning with copious amounts of the most perfect sunshine!  It was just spectacular.

We started off with local Singing sensation Jessie Hill  performing a masterful rendition of the old hymn “In the Garden”. 

Followed by our Gulf Hills Garden Club President Dickie Roberts leading us all in the Gardener’s Prayer:

“Father, from thy hand, we have been given the world as our garden.  Teach us to live day by day that we may at all times show our love for thee by the way we cultivate the Holy garden of life”.

Dickie Roberts offered us introductions and welcome, during which a large bird of prey holding a huge trout like fish, majestically flew low over our group perfectly on cue to what was being said!  It was just a magical National Geographic Moment!

Faye Mosley then offered the Tree Dedication for the two Japanese Magnolias that have been planted on either side of the concrete bench, in gratitude for our active Club members and for those who have gone before us this year, especially Tem Shields’s sister: Jeana Blair Feazell Crevasse.

 Mary Ann Westfall proceeded to give a Prayer for the new trees.

“Lord, our new trees are strangers to us and we to them.  Remind us whenever we may pass by, to make them feel at home by speaking to them with love and a blessing.  May these plants’ cousins in the garden welcome them and help them to recover from the shock of being moved.  As blessings, peace and life were God’s gifts to us through his Son, Jesus.  May those same blessings, flow from this garden which we tend in Your Holy Name. Amen”.

Michael Moses did a poetry reading of Plant a Tree by Lucy Larcom

Jessie Hill then performed the classic song “What a Wonderful World”.

We concluded our morning with a round of thanks to members of the Gulf Hills Garden Club for all their extensive committee work.  Our President presented Maureen Schmidt with a special limited edition print of the Arbor Day Invitation designed by Michael W. Moses for this occasion.

After which excellent lite refreshments were served and enjoyed by all.  

Over all I must state that it was just a totally pleasant and inspirational morning. 

A very special thank you to Maureen Schmidt, Molly Penrod, Beth Margherio, and Faye Mosley.

Gulf Hills Garden Club Houmas House Plantation and Gardens Part 2

Still on the subject of the Houmas House Plantation  and Gardens , from our last post, we would like to thank some of the people that made our day such a great success. First lets thank Jeanette Lindsey, the event chair and event team members, Julie Hebert and Susan Hagan for all their hard work. 
 A special thank you to Molly Penrod and Beth Margherio for the food on the bus and Margaret Noblitt and all the others who helped to make this a true club effort!

Also a tip of the hat and thanks to Sandy Bray for the nice images that she took and kindly allowed us to use for this blog post.

Gulf Hills Garden Club Sponsors Visit to Houmas Plantation and Gardens

The Crown Jewel of Louisiana's River Road

Click to Visit the Houmas House Website

On March 31st, 2016, members of the Gulf  Hills Garden Club, along with members from a few other Gulf Coast Garden Clubs took a delightful day long bus trip to the spectacular Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Louisiana. 

I just do not know where to begin!  The Gardens, managed by head gardener and local artist Craig Black, are just beyond words. They are a highly controlled jungle of  the most perfectly placed plantings that I have ever encountered!  You see one breathtaking view and then pass along to another one that is even more exciting!  These gardens are a visual feast for both the gardener and for the photographer.  

The house is also very exceptional.  It is such a rarity to come across a house like this that has been so well restored and so aptly decorated.  It reaches the apex of what a real Victorian home would have looked like. Such a thrill to see room after room filled with the most beautiful of furnishings and art!

The over all package here is a 19th century world plucked directly out of a dream. We had a fantastic day of it and I do not think anyone was disappointed with the house or the gardens!  

I would like to thank Kevin Kelly for his graciously opening his remarkable property to the public and allowing us the opportunity to view his gardens and collections!

I have to say that I just can not wait to go back for another visit! 

For further information on this great historic home or to arrange a visit please go to their excellent website: http://www.houmashouse.com

Our Hotard Bus Driver Michael

Gulf Hills Garden Club Arbor Day Ceremony

This is an invitation for you to join us for our 2016, Gulf Hills Garden Club Arbor Day Ceremony

 

Click Image to View Your Personal Invitation

Our ceremony will take place at the Gulf Hills Memorial Garden on Shore Drive, in beautiful Gulf Hills on April 2nd, 2016, at 10:00 am. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this event.

GHGC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Engraved Brick Project

On February 28th at 3:00 pm, members and friends of the Gulf Hills Garden Club met at the Memorial Garden in Gulf Hills, Mississippi, for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the much anticipated engraved memorial brick project.  It took a lot of hard work, but the brick project committee did a great job and finished the project for the GHGC, leaving behind a lasting memorial for the residence of Gulf Hills and beyond.  So many people generously purchased engraved bricks that the committee was able to very quickly get enough subscriptions to have the project successfully completed. Lets give all involved a big round of applause and heartfelt congratulations on a project well done!

Gulf Hills Garden Club Meeting Pascagoula River Audubon Center

 The Gulf Hills Garden Club meeting for January was held  at the new Pascagoula River Audubon Center. 

The center is a wonderful and fun nature center where one may visit the exciting outdoor world in all its color and splendor.

Here are a few images that were taken at the GHGC during our January meeting.  These images feature the lovely centerpieces on the tables that were created for the occasion by some of our talented members.

2016 State Convention of the Garden Clubs of MS

Here is the information about the 2016 State Convention of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.
First the Registration Form, followed by the schedule of events.  You may take the completed registration to the Gulf Hills Garden Club, or your local garden club.

Click to View Registration Form

Click to View Schedule