Joint Tangipahoa Garden Club Meeting - Oak Knoll Country Club - February 7, 2024
Second Line Video
Photos by Karen Nelson, Hammond Garden Club
Photos by Vicky Fannaly, LGCF Inc. Webmaster and Sandy Grimm, President - Belle Oaks
May 2022
"Hats On Installation Luncheon" enjoyed by the members of the Hammond Garden Club at the Oak Knoll Country Club - Once again it’s time for new officers to take the helm at The Hammond Garden Club for the coming year of 2022/23. At our May meeting we held the installation given by our own Linda Ryan. She preformed a new concoction of installing officers using APPLES as her go to format of execution. Each officer was given a particular kind of apple; Fuji, Pink Lady, Delicious, Granny Smith, etc. She explained each kind of apple and the reason it was given to each officer because of its meaning or color. In other words the Treasurer was given a Granny Smith because of its green color…..the color of money! Mine for Publicity Officer was an Envy apple. Linda said that’s because I report all the things to the Daily Star our club is always doing making the other clubs envious of ours! And it went on and on until each officer had been given their apple and the explanation of it. I have been to and been in, many installations of officers for the Hammond Garden Club as well as other organizations and each has had its own format for this procedure. But I haven’t, and I’ll bet most of you haven’t, had an installation that used APPLES as its main way to install officers for their club or organization! And I’ll bet you haven’t had as many laughs or as much fun as we did doing it either! Before the installation the meeting was opened by our President Sue Parrill by asking our stand in Chaplain Shirley Pellichino to offer the opening prayer and asked the members to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. She then asked Pat Graves for her report on Garden of the Month to which she replied that the May award had been given to Melanie Helm on Country Club Drive. Pat said she had a gorgeous yard and gardens that had flowers in it that even she didn’t know the names of. Melanie Helm is the newest member of our garden club. Sue then called on Shirley Pellichino Committee Chairperson for Books and Library. She reported that she has given the book “Containers In The Garden” by Claus Dolby to the Hammond Branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Public Library and they were very appreciative of the gift. Next there was a report from Glenda Nelson Committee Chairperson for Cleanest City and Civic Development. Glenda reported that on April 23 there had been a big commencement of Keep Hammond Beautiful and Love The Boot at the City of Hammond Council Chamber to pick up trash. There had been a tremendous turnout and a great number of trash bags had been picked up. She also reported on the Hazardous Waste Pickup on Saturday May 7 where over 250 cars had come through Zemurray Park bringing all kinds of hazardous waste, tires and electronics that thankfully won’t be found along the highway and thrown in landfills illegally. She mentioned that she would love to see more members to volunteer for this day. She said, “We write down what they are bringing to make sure it isn’t illegal, nor more than five tires. We have fun while doing it, and they treat us to snacks and lunch while we’re there.” And I can add that I can’t tell you how many times we are told “Thank you so much for doing this.” The people really want to do what is right. Linda Ryan and Carolyn Todd gave us a quick rundown about the Convention in Baton Rouge this past month and gave many accolades to Sue our president for being a great speaker on behalf of the Hammond Garden Club. There was also a request from the garden club in Lafayette to bring your old but gently use shoes that can be shipped overseas to those that have none. Lee Collins said she had read a book “A Long Walk To Water” about a group of people that had one pair of shoes that they swapped around as they make this very long trek to get water and it reminded her of this when they asked for old shoes. Pat Graves gave a wonderful dissertation about how the Northshore Arts Foundation-Arts In Bloom turned out which was utterly fantastic she reported. It started with the Patron Party on Friday night which they were expecting about 100 people and ended up with about 200. All of the other cultural things scheduled were also well attended. The Art and Flower market, Flower Arranging competition, the Professional Flower Displays were awesome, etc, etc! Many people were asking how they could be involved next time, many came back two and three times, some asked if it couldn’t be done every month, some are willing to contribute to be a sponsor next year. And speaking of next year the dates have already been set for April 28 and 29. So we are saying it was a huge success many thanks to Pat Graves and Linda Ryan. Phew!! So much has been done and accomplished in the past two months…I mean NINE months! Lookout 2022/23! The new slate of officers have their work cut out for them! Meeting over…time for lunch! Lunch so tastefully prepared for us by Mary Monteleone and her staff at the Oak Knoll Country Club. They really do a fantastic job. I don’t know what everyone else had but my Red Beans and Rice, Fried Fish and Hush Puppies and Caesar Salad was some of the best I’ve eaten anywhere! This is the last column till August when we have the President’s Tea. Take care of your gardens while we’re on vacation and we’ll see you soon! The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. and the Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God Bless America and God Bless The City Of Hammond. Linda Broussard lives in Hammond, America!
Lineup of new officers for the Hammond Garden Club for 2022/2023 year from left: Outgoing President-Sue Parrill, Incoming President Jennifer Allen, President-Elect-Pat Graves, Vice President-Karen Nelson, Secretary-Karen Granier, Treasurer-Phyllis diBenedetto, Historian-Deborah Garafola, seated Parliamentarian-Peggy Dunn, Publicity-Linda Broussard. Missing from picture is Chaplain-Mary Thornhill.
State and National Life Member Linda Ryan installing officers for the coming year for the Hammond Garden Club from left is Ryan, Outgoing President Sue Parrill and Incoming President Jennifer Allen.
April 2022
Gnarly Barley Brewing Company, 1709 Corbin Rd., Hammond, was presented with the April Link Award by Hammond Garden Club Owners Carl and Zac Carmonta have landscaped the business property on both sides of Corbin Rd. with barrels of roses, crepe myrtles, camelias and muhly grass and have added graphic art on the building. Pictured are Lee Collins and Linda Ross of Hammond Garden Club, owner Zac Caramonta and Hammond Garden Club Member Mona Crapanzano
January 2022
Arbor Day with the Hammond Garden Club at Courtney Christian School
On a very cold day in January five members of the Hammond Garden Club, shovel and three trees in hand, made their way to Courtney Christian School on Robin Hood Drive to celebrate Arbor Day with the children from Mrs. Howell’s second grade class. They were met by Mrs. Sue Courtney that is Head of School and Principal Dr. Kayla Lamonte.
The garden club brought two Bald Cypress trees and a Willow Oak donated by Horticulturist Allen Owings from Bracey’s Nursery. Before they ventured outside Mrs. Howell educated her students about Arbor Day so they wouldn’t have to stay out of doors on such a wintry day. The trees will be planted in another section of the campus during a more desirable day.>
Pictured l to r. Mrs. Sue Courtney, Head of School; McCayla Helms, HGC member; Dr. Kayla Lamonte, Principal; Kathleen Bohlinger, HGC Chairperson for Arbor Day; Fran Steib and Dona Calcote, HGC members, Gail Bornholdt HGC member missing from picture. In the background is Mrs. Howell’s 2nd grade class.