October meeting of San Saba Garden Club features stepping stone art

San Saba Garden Club (SSGC) held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 5th, at the clubhouse in Mill Pond Park. The historic building was framed with immaculately kept beds of late summer and early fall flowers; a garden cart overflowing with cool green foxtail ferns sat at the entrance.

Inside, members were greeted by Halloween-themed refreshments. Hostesses Sherrie Clarkson (chair), Kailey Miller, Lisa Foil, and Cindy Sloan had prepared delicious pimiento cheese and raisin bread tea sandwiches, “graveyard” cupcakes decorated with RIP ladyfingers, a cauldron of Texas trash, and a bit of nostalgia in the shape of candy corn. Beverages included coffee and bottled water.

October’s program was a hands-on “Happy Garden” art project created by club president Debbie Shahan and supervised by multitalented member Dianna Furlan. Using colored glass marbles, stained-glass shards, and natural pebbles, participants created take-home concrete stepping stones with unique inlaid designs ranging from butterflies and bees to abstract motifs. Special thanks to Jan and Paul Beaver for providing the stained-glass pieces and to Terri Dickey, Debbie Shahan, and Dianna Furlan for donating additional materials.

SSGC is proud to be a member of the National Council of Garden Clubs, Inc., an organization founded in 1929 with branches in nearly every state in the USA. The mission of this 165,000-member group is “to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.” San Saba’s Garden Club, continuously active since 1936, has always taken these objectives seriously and continues its active involvement in a variety of community causes and projects.

The Garden Club welcomes visitors and prospective members to its monthly meetings. You do not need to be a resident of San Saba to qualify. If you’d like to join this lively group or have questions about SSGC, you may contact Membership Committee chair Beth Griess <bgriess53@ gmail.com>.

P.S. Don’t forget the fall decorating contest sponsored by SSGC, with categories for both residences and businesses. Entries must be completed by Friday, November 12th, as judging will take place on November 13th. Winners will be featured in the San Saba News and Star. Prizes are delectable homemade goodies contributed by members of the Garden Club. Your participation in this contest will be a boon to San Saba’s growing reputation as a hill country destination for Texans and out-of-staters alike.