Beautiful Bark Boxes

This month we had the opportunity to be shown some Mother Nature art by our very own Nancy Shurling.

At her home we were treated to a natural delight when she created one of her unique mossy bark planters.

These rustic, woodland flower containers or planter boxes are lovely as centerpieces on a table or as a garden accent anywhere you want to bring the outdoors in.

They can be exotic with dramatic blooms or cool with fronds of fern.

Nancy and her daughter collaborate on these and make most of the boxes to order.  So, if you did not have an opportunity to purchase one at the meeting, call Nancy for more information.

Be sure to check out the links ~ Member News, Announcements, and Cultural Events for updates on birthdays, our next meeting, and other good stuff happening around town this Spring.

Happy Gardening

Massee Lane Gardens

In February on a beautiful winter day, we visited the American Camellia Society at Massee Lane Gardens in Fort Valley, Georgia.

We strolled through the some of the ten acres of the garden which began as a private garden in the 1930s.  Since 1968 Massee Lane Garden has served as the headquarters of the American Camellia Society.

Our tour guide educated us on just a few of the thousands of beautiful varieties of camellias.

An open pecan orchard neighbors the gardens.

This camellia {below} is a variety called, Mermaid...named for the shape of its leaf.

The Japanese Tea Garden features an authentic tea house pavilion and a koi pond...

...which we carefully walked over on the stepping stones which were old mill wheels.

Happy fish.

We meandered along brick pathways and through arbors in the dappled sunlight.

All the while taking in the breathtaking winter beauty of these blossoms...

...including unusual varieties of camellias in yellow and deep crimson, which were blooming among delicate coral azaleas and pink quince.

The gardens are open every day except Monday and open to the public.  For more information you may click on the link to the right on the the side bar or visit their web site at www.AmericanCamellias.org.

Happy frog.

Be sure to check out the links ~ Member News, Announcements, and Cultural Events for updates on birthdays, our next meeting, other good stuff happening around town between now and April.

Happy Gardening

Masterworks ~ Uncovered

Happy New Year lovely ladies.

Our last garden club meeting was a wonderful Wesleyan experience.  Lisa Sloben was our guest speaker and shared with us Wesleyan's "Masterworks ~ Uncovered."

While we could get up close and personal with each restored painting in the gallery, we also had the opportunity to see photographs of the process of restoration of the works.

Another Wesleyan gallery we visited was home to some beautiful vintage millinery and portraiture.

{Does anyone in the garden club remember the store this hat box is from?}

Gorgeous floral millinery in silk and velvet adorns this straw and tulle pill box hat.

A violet bouquet in silk, organza, and velvet tops this beauty.

Butter cream poppies surround this demure straw cloche.

Darling portraits of little girls...

and stylish men surrounded the millinery.

{Who new that emerald green would be the colour of the year in 2013.}

Ladies "who do lunch" above...

and below.

And we ended our morning with a delicious lunch served to us in the original dining room at Wesleyan.

It was a wonderful program.  Thank you!

~ ~ ~

Be sure to check out the links ~ Member News, Announcements, and Cultural Events for updates on our next meeting and other good stuff happening around town.

Happy Gardening