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Hostesses (L to R): Nancy Van Etten and Trish Fullerton Photo courtesy Dianna Furlan
After several months’ hiatus due to COVID concerns, San Saba Garden Club held its first regular meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, January 5th, in the Mill Pond Clubhouse. Extra health precautions, including social distancing, were taken to guard the wellbeing of attendees.
Allison Watkins, Tom Green County AgriLife Horticulturist and coordinator for the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Association, was guest speaker. She gave a fascinating and informative slide presentation on Moonlit Gardens, encouraging us to plant nightblooming white flowers as they are excellent light reflectors. Ms. Watkins also noted that fragrance can be a lovely accompaniment to an evening under the stars and recommended several suitable plants and bushes that grow well in Central Texas. Finally, she dis cussed the role lighting can play in creating just the right ambiance for outdoor entertaining. The audience gave her an enthusiastic round of applause, and Co-President Mona McMahan presented her with a token of the Club’s appreciation.
Longtime member and former Club President, Gail Bruner, gave this month’s Five-Minute Flash with valuable advice on when and how to prune in preparation for spring gardens. She also reminded members that plants like coffee, too. Both leftover coffee in the pot and coffee grinds help keep indoor and outdoor plants “happy.”
Hostesses for January were Nancy Van Etten, chair; Trish Fullerton; and Karen Sloan (filling in for Jacqueline Carlson who was on vacation). In keeping with a Tea Party theme, an assortment of flavored teas was served as well as coffee and filtered water. The table showpiece was Trish Fullerton’s beautiful two-layer white cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream icing, which Trish had decorated with fresh pastel roses, daisies, and oriental lilies. The hostesses also served chicken salad and pimiento cheese finger sandwiches, frosted tea cakes, lemon and raspberry meringue tarts, and assorted nuts.
The next meeting of the SSGC is scheduled for February 2nd in the Mill Pond Clubhouse at 2:00 p.m. Kathy Baxter, former owner of the Petal Peddler flower shop in Lampasas, will demonstrate spring flower arranging and provide members with some insider tips on how to make a picture perfect centerpiece. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Club or becoming a member is warmly invited to attend this meeting.