The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the program year Sept. 10 in the Russellville First Baptist Church Green Room. Serving as hostesses were Hillary Hall, Hayley Fuller and myself. 

Debbie Beason presented an interesting institute on the Natural Bridge. Located in Winston County, the Natural Bridge is the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. It measures 60 feet high and 148 feet long. 

According to geologists, this sandstone and iron ore bridge formation is more than 200 million years old. Based on historical research, it’s believed Native Americans used the Natural Bridge for shelter. This could be the reason why there’s a mysterious carving of an Indian head near the bridge. 

Natural Bridge is located in the Natural Bridge Park, which has been open to the public since 1954. The Natural Bridge Park features a nature trail, 27 varieties of fern and many different types of hemlock that date all the way back to the Ice Age period. 

Carmalita Coan, floral designer, presented the program on the basic techniques in arranging fresh cut flower centerpieces. She demonstrated each step:

• • First, gather your materials. 
• • Remove any extra leaves to create clean stems. 
• • Measure the flowers against your vase of choice and cut to size. 
• • Fill your vase half full with water mixed with plant food. 
• • Fill a spray bottle with water and spritz the arrangement daily to keep flowers fresh. 

Five members – Patricia Cox, Debra Spillers, Sherry James, Brenda Oliver and Joann Graham – designed their own personal centerpieces.

Club yearbooks were distributed to each member. This administration’s yearbook themes have highlighted the 200 Alabama Bicentennial as well as Franklin County’s and the City of Russellville’s Bicentennial. 

Each month features an “Only in Alabama Site” that may be visited and recorded in the Alabama Bicentennial PastPort Book. 

The Unclaimed Baggage Store in Scottsboro was featured in September. 

Opened in 1970, the Unclaimed Baggage Center has grown to become one of Alabama’s top tourist attractions. The 40,000-square-foot store is organized by departments, which makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.

Cultura Garden Club finished its fundraiser for the fall, which is the Annual Mum Sale. More than 300 mums were sold and will be distributed Sept. 20 following the Russellville High School Homecoming Parade. Proceeds will be used for the downtown fall streetscapes. 

By Susie Malone