Carroll Garden Club met at the Ag Center/Extension classroom in November because the Union Bridge Community Center is still undergoing renovation. We had a good turnout including guests from Silver Fancy attending and welcomed our newest member Judy Wilhoit, brought in by Diane Brown who read her introduction letter to the club.
Brenda designed a Horn O’Plenty centerpiece and brought in many forms of gourds for table decor.
Fall bounty
Our hostesses were Sue Christensen, Brenda Powell and Vicki Myers who provided a fall themed luncheon built around varied salads (Pea with Egg, Southwestern Corn with Black Beans, Kale salad, Waldorf and Pasta salad), two kinds of quiches and desserts (Pumpkin cake, ginger cookies and Autumn Crumble) as well as mulled cider, tea and coffee services.
Our speaker for November was Jalna Brown, former owner of Dutterer Flower Shop, currently with Petals, Flowers and Gifts. She grew up in the floral business, so creativity was nurtured from an early age. She came to show us how one could create tablescapes using collections of decorative tablewares and knicknacks which we might have on hand, dressed with flowers and greenery to reflect the season.
Here are “before and after” pictures of displays she had partially set up:
Autumn used pumpkins/gourds of different sizes and she built a topiary using lilies and raffia. Note the extra touches at bases of each item.
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- Pumpkin with high oasis
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- The completed autumnal table
Next was a table scape using a blue-grey glass (mason jars) with fairies/elven figurines. She added clippings of ferns and shrubs.
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- Grasses and skinny cattails
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- Addition of cuttings
Next was a theme using cranberry or garnet glass, which could be spring (or Valentine’s Day) on a mirror. She used white lilies cut shorter, pink Alstromeria and some cuttings of gray-green leaves. She has candles in cut glass and what looks to be glass chandelier type pendants laid on the mirror for extra effect.
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- Cranberry glass
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- Alstromeria and lilies
Her final tableau was for Christmas using bright red glass wares and a green vase on a mirror to start. She used the matching colors of Nandina and its berry clusters to pick up the theme with plants. Fern clippings and small Christmas ornaments completed the table along with battery operated candles in the goblets for uplighting.
After our November business meeting, the club adjourned with plans to meet for a Christmas gift exchange game in December, to be held at the same classroom location in the CC Extension Building.
