Women of Gulf Shores Garden Club held their annual fundraiser, a garden show with a featured speaker, luncheon and door prizes, in February. While members gather to nurture green interests and their love for rich soil and deep roots, the most beautiful and vibrant growth among them is their determination to help others and promote horticulture.

The Flower Seminar had 298 attendees and the profit from this seminar was $4,200; the most successful in participation and money raised, according to organizers.

According to GSGC Member Mary Wayne Gilmore, “The guest speaker was Mrs. Marie Harrison. Her credentials include National Garden Club Master Flower Show Judge and Horticulture Instructor and Floral Design Instructor through the National Garden Club.”

“Her topic, ‘Reaching for New Heights in Floral Design,’ provided the opportunity to demonstrate ways to use different materials to make arrangements for personal use as well as entries for flower shows. Many of the materials used in the displays were from her yard or from the area in which she lives. Each demonstrated arrangement could be an entry in a judged competition or used personally.”

“After the program, guests were served a light lunch. Following the lunch, the drawing for door prizes is held. This year garden club members donated seventy-seven floral arrangements that served as door prizes for guests. At the monthly club meeting preceding the seminar a club member demonstrates how to construct a floral arrangement and members work on a floral design of their own. This instruction becomes the foundation for the floral design that club member’s use for their donated floral door prize.”

Members work together to use their talents for good. The garden show is held to raise money for a scholarship; one Gulf Shores High senior or graduate is awarded funds to pursue a horticulture-related field. Money from door prizes and other parts of the show help to make these goals a reality.

“When the scholarship began, the amount was $500—as the Flower Seminar and Vignette Raffles experienced greater success, the amount was increased to $1000,” Gilmore offered.

“Horticulture and related fields support the quality of life for all. Development and continuous care of our environment is essential for the quality of life we all enjoy. Garden club members believe that supporting this field of study supports the quality and sustainability of life for everyone.”

But these ladies don’t stop there. After the scholarship is funded, they divvy remaining dollars to other projects.

She explained that, “The balance of the proceeds from the Flower Seminar support projects within the Gulf Shores Community. At the next monthly meeting, members will be presented the following projects for adoptions:

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Camp sponsor and two Zoo Camp scholarships; purchase a bench at the entrance of the Alabama State Park on County Road 2 that is part of the Bike Trail; a Breast Cancer Awareness Garden; a Therapy Garden where plant materials provide nursing-home residents ways to engage at their ability level; and gift cards for new and first-year returning teachers at Gulf Shores Elementary and support of an environmental project at Gulf Shores Middle School.”

“The membership of the Gulf Shores Garden Club believes that it is essential to provide experiences with the environment to everyone, especially children. We want to create and foster a love of nature in children and adults. We believe that it is through hands on experiences that learning takes place. We are committed to sponsor and support our projects that provide these positive learning experiences for our community.”

Gilmore divulged that the Club has many benefits for members and for beautiful Gulf Shores, Ala.

“At the monthly meetings, guest speakers provide informative programs that include all aspects of horticulture,” she said. “We have toured a Bamboo Garden in Pensacola, heard an author who writes Garden Alphabet books, toured Weeks Bay Bog, watched a glass blowing demonstration, experienced a progressive garden tour, toured the Heritage Museum in Elberta, and learned how to develop a floral design.”

“The Gulf Shores Garden Club supports the community through participation in the Coastal Clean Up, maintaining a Butterfly Garden with students at Gulf Shores Elementary School, decorating the foyer entrance at the Erie Meyer Center at Christmas, donating poinsettias at Christmas to participants in the Meals On Wheels program, participation with entries and volunteer staffing for the Baldwin County Fair exhibits, donations for the clients of the William Green Home for Veterans, monetary donations to local groups, and attending garden seminars provided by other area garden clubs, societies, Master Gardener programs, and other gardening organizations. Last year, the Gulf Shores Garden Club helped to establish a garden club for interested participants in Spanish Fort. Through the efforts of our president and vice president, this newest Federated Garden Club is providing another community with gardeners.”

GSGC Member Mindy Jones agreed.

“I enjoy each and every member—everyone has something to share and is so helpful,” she said. “Because our membership has locals as well as snowbirds, I like looking and learning something new at each meeting.”

“I just enjoy the people who are members and what each has to offer to the group.”

Gilmore also enjoys sharing her interests with the eclectic group.

“Because the membership is so diverse and has varying interests, I have the opportunity to gain insight into so many areas of personal interest in gardening,” she explained. “I have learned better ways to plant and maintain a garden, how to make a floral arrangement, how to make garnishes for luncheon plates, gain understanding of plant maintenance, and found workshops and seminars to benefit my areas of interests.”

“I find it amazing and love the opportunity to learn something new about gardening! Every member has an aspect of gardening that they enjoy. Not every member has ‘a garden’ but every member has a love of nature thus participates in gardening. The diversity of gardens is vast. Some gardens are out of doors with a variety of plant materials, flowering and non-flowering. Some garden club members specialize in floral design and floral competitions. Some snowbird members and local members live in condominiums or RVs and are limited in gardening space. The garden clubs supports the various gardens of its membership through the varied programs, plant swaps, ‘Horticulture Moments’ handouts composed by a club member, and information of upcoming programs in our location. Gardening in our zone with our humidity is a challenge. Long established nurseries and local organization plant sales prove to be an excellent source for plant materials that grow and thrive in this area. Many of our members have found plant success through trial and error as well as shared information from long time garden friends. Ferns, gingers, azaleas, daylilies, crepe myrtles, flowering shrubs and various annuals are standards found in members’ gardens. Herbs, vegetables, and fruits are also popular garden plants and are grown in containers or beds. Many members have learned that all plants have a growing season and just because the plant may be found at a store does not mean that it is a plant suited for this zone.”

Both women said that they’ve found a group to nurture long-time interests and a way to help others and promote the hobby they love.

Jones explained that, “My love of gardening started when I was about 4 with my grandmother who lived in Las Vegas. My favorite part was picking, washing, and eating things out of the garden. My Great Uncle had an avocado farm in San Diego and grew avocados, tangelos, grapefruit, lemons and other fruits. I loved running through the orchard and picking anything I wanted to eat. I hope to share my garden with my grandchildren and teach them what I have learned about growing plants, flowers, and trees.”

Gilmore divulged a similar start.

“My love of flowers and digging in the dirt began when I was 4. I loved to help my grandmother water her petunias each evening. The fireflies seemed to dance around the plants as we watered creating a magical, quiet time for us. Later, I found planting and tending my garden a positive therapy from the hectic pace of my job and my role as a mother. Now retired, I find the opportunities to expand my knowledge of gardening mind-stimulating and very rewarding. I love the ‘pass a long plants’ for it connects me to others who have a love of gardening and respect of nature. It is these plants that remind me of those who share this love and connects us with them.”