Whitehall Garden Club News: November

As you know, every month, the Whitehall Garden Club (WGC) has a remarkable meeting, starting off with a "meeting at the table of plenty," always full of delectable dishes. The November meeting was no different except for the "gobble gobble" sounds coming from a delighted group of members thankful for the bountiful brunch! The hostesses were Janet Finney and Glenna Waltee, who designed (literally... there was a fresh fruit platter that looked exactly like a turkey) and created the most scrumptious homemade sausage gravy with light and airy biscuits, a whole crock pot full! Oh my! Add to that display of deliciousness aromatic and moist pumpkin bread, carrot cake muffins, and the CUTEST homemade acorn candy bites! The WGC members and guests were busy putting their Pilgrim hats on, thanking Janet and Glenna for a true feast!

President Kathy Ross began the meeting at 10 AM. The room was packed, and we are truly thankful for all the members and guests who attended! President Kathy held nominations and elections for the 2024-25 officers. Installation will be at the December meeting. Signing up for committees was held, and everyone was reminded that the committees meet in January to develop their budget and goals for the year. Glenna Waltee thanked everyone that came and did a fantastic cleanup at the Native Plant/Blue and Gold Star Park. About seven truck-fulls of trimmings, etc., were hauled to the dump. Thank you to all who participated.

In the committee reports, the WGC has decided to sell Christmas trees again. With the "lumberjacks" going out to cut trees, provided by Myles Carpenter from private land on December 1st, watch for the date and place of sales. In the past, the trees sell fast, so be ready! At the end of the committee reports, Kathy turned the meeting over to Ann Palmer, who had brought in carrots pulled from the Dean's garden....obviously not thinned while growing as they were in various shapes, entanglements, and hilarious or suspicious combinations. There was even one large carrot with seven or eight clinging baby carrots. We named that carrot "Family!"

Our guest speaker was member Mary Baughn, a Montana Accredited Flower Show Judge. She showed the club members how to enter Collage or Plaque displays into competitions. Mary assured us that though there are many requirements, the idea is to get the rule book, enter a display or more to the County Fairs, and learn as you go. A collage is abstract dominate, meaning that whichever way you turn your finished collage, there is no focal area. Collage uses a variety of art mediums and supplies in a non-realistic way, i.e. upside down, not related to the next item used in the collage, etc. A collage does not need a theme. Mary reminded us of the importance of depth and using "low relief' in your collage. A plaque is a design organized in a naturalistic manner and composed of plant material and other components attached to a background panel/frame. Thank you, Judge Mary Baughn and your assistant, Ann Palmer, for introducing us to the world of Collage and/or Plaque displays ready for competition. We must be brave!