The Cultura Garden Club members enjoyed a cookout on Cedar Creek Lake at the lake house of Patricia and Don Cox. Two guests – Shirley Miller and Donna Lowery – were welcomed.

This meeting was the highlight of the year and a great time to relax, socialize and discuss accomplishments achieved through our volunteerism in the community.

Some of these accomplishments included keeping main street downtown decorated throughout the seasons such as spring and summer with hanging baskets and potted plants; fall decorations; Christmas decorations/Christmas tree; and pansies for the winter months.

Other projects included sponsoring Every Light a Prayer for Peace, supporting the production of the Roxy’s Christmas Spectacular; donating toys for children at Christmas; observing Arbor Day and Earth Day; promoting anti-litter and stressing recycling; giving scholarships; holding two successful fundraisers; increasing membership; and endorsing downtown redevelopment through the Main Street Organization project.

Reports were given by the program chairwoman. Horticulture chairwoman Brenda Oliver updated members on the planting of plants for the hanging baskets and pots.

Shannon Wilson assured the garden club that the street department employees will continue to water the plants each morning. We are most appreciative for their support.

On extremely hot days and weekends, the club women will assist in keeping the plants watered.

Each member was given a summer watering schedule for hanging plants, pots and the Christmas tree planted by the club at the Byars-Batchelor Building.

During the summer the garden club members enjoy visiting gardens and bird trails. To assist in planning, brochures published by the Alabama Tourism Department on the Alabama Garden Trail and Bird Trails located in Huntsville and Madison County were given to club members for their information.     

Officers for the 2022-2024 were installed. Debbie Beason did a unique installation ceremony using herbs to depict the characteristic for each position. Debbie Nale was installed as president; Cheri McCain, first vice president; myself, second vice president; Sherry James, secretary; Patricia Cox, treasurer; Brenda Oliver, parliamentarian; and Debra Spillers, historian.

The meeting closed with the reading of the Garden Club of Alabama Collect led by Debbie Nale.