San Saba Garden Club (SSGC) held its January meeting in the Mill Pond Clubhouse with 16 members attending.
2022 marks the club’s 86th birthday. Its age is a tribute to past members who not only kept this organization active through numerous challenges but also contributed substantially to urgent local and national needs over the years.
Hostesses Jacqueline Carlson, Debbie Shahan, and Abby Snyder chose a festive birthday theme with balloons, confetti, a birthday banner, and party paper goods. Hand-embroidered doilies and lunch cloths were spread beneath an array of antique crystal dishes holding a fresh fruit compote, red velvet and vanilla cupcakes, and roasted nuts. Beverages included fruit punch and coffee served with sugar and cream.
In keeping with the birthday celebration, guest speaker Wayne Yarborough shared fascinating and little-known facts about the history of Mill Pond in general and, more specifically, the building where SSGC’s monthly meetings are held. A longtime city employee, Mr. Yarborough is a wealth of information. Among many other interesting facts, club members learned (or were reminded) the building is one of the oldest in San Saba. According to Yarborough, the structure was minutes away from being torn down in 1875 when Katylee May, an early Garden Club member, stood between the wrecking ball and the building in protest. Her actions led to an eventual agreement that the city would lease the building to SSGC for 99 years for $1.00 a year. In exchange, the club agreed to take major responsibility for renovation and maintenance of the building. Although the first SSGC meeting was not held in the Mill Pond structure until 1936, it has since been the permanent location of Garden Club gatherings ever since.
Sherrie Clarkson presented Horticulture Tips for the month. She told members January is an ideal month to mulch in preparation for early spring planting. She also recommended planting onion starts and English peas now as well as checking seed catalogs. Most other vegetables and flowers should be in the ground sometime in March.
Next month’s program is “Cooking with Herbs We Know.” Presenter is Sherrie Clarkson, former owner of “Ye Old Thyme Herb Gardens” in Mason.