San Saba Garden Club hard at work

Our year 2024 found some busy, hopeful gardeners on Tuesday, January 9th, at 2 p.m. in the historic old mill building in Mill Pond Park! San Saba Garden Club members donned their aprons and gloves, took plastic containers, filled them with damp potting soil/seed starter mix, tapped it down, then inserted pepper, tomato, and flower seeds. Our program was “Seed Starts for the Spring Planting” presented by Jacqueline Carlson and Gale Ivy who so patiently guided us through the process and gave pertinent seed thriving information along the way. Some said a prayer for successful starting, and then we sent them off with our leaders to be cared for and warmed on heat mats until germination and to also mature in their greenhouses until time to return to members in about two months.

Mona McMahan, hostess chairman, along with Sherie Clarkson and Debbie Shahan served garden scene skewer topped sandwiches, cheesy chicken and veggie soup, goat cheese logs and Brie rounds with fruit and crackers, “Dirt Cake” complete with Gummi worms, mint/cucumber flavored water and coffee. Blue clothed tables were laden with embroidered placemats displaying colorful flowers, miniature watering cans filled with pansies and plant stakes, and treats of spearmint candies.

President Debbie Shahan welcomed all and especially our guest, Chrissy Baker, from Richland Springs.

Birthdays for the month were noted, and the Entertainment Committee was recognized for the wonderful Christmas party they hosted last month. Members recited the Club Collect and Creed, and the financial report was given by Treasurer Marjean Alexander. Then, dues were collected for the next fiscal year.

In club business-the newly purchased SSGC memorial plaque was presented by Mona McMahan with three names displayed: Marci Cooper, Becky Moore, and Lisa Foil, in addition to the year date of their passing. It was recommended that the extra bench we have in the clubhouse be used in Farrel Whitley’s honor. Susan Kissko and Sarah Lott will consider places outside the clubhouse, secured at a site where it can be enjoyed by visitors to the park. Farrel spent many years making our park, our surroundings here at our cherished meeting place beautiful. Dianna Furlan noted that we celebrate our club’s 88th birthday this month and that it will be a short time until that mark is our 90th! She volunteered to head a committee that will be making plans to commemorate the special occasion with news articles months before, provid-ing remembrances and displays throughout the community, and preparing a culminating special birthday event.

Next month, our meeting will be held Tuesday, February 6th, same place, with our program being led by our Texas Garden Club District V Director, Beth Ervin, presenting “Pressing Flowers/Drying Flowers in Silica Gel.” Please come join our group and see what fun we have each month!