President’s Annual Report

Our garden club has been very busy to say the least! All sorts of projects came together to make the year productive, educational, and fun.

I look forward to supporting club activities, trips, community restoration events, conservation, gardening and the creative arts.

We were able to fulfill an initiative started by Cathy Pettway to "Light Up the Trees” in Temple Park at Christmas when the town provided the park with electricity. Cathy and members donated hundreds of strings of white lights and we hope to continue this tradition on an annual basis.

Jane's gazebo was painted its original color. Mary Leland Hutchinson was in charge and able to secure the funding for this project.

The ad-hoc committee formed under President Sharel Hooper completed the planning and implementation of mostly green and white native plants at he the north end Temple Park, now called Gay's Corner. The committee chose a memorial stone sofa modeled after one in the Chanticleer Gardens in Pennsylvania as a fitting tribute to Gay Fowler. The Frank Fowler family hopes it will be enjoyed by the mountain walkers for many years to come.

Sarah and I traveled to Monroe, Louisiana for the Presidents' Council in September. We were inspired by the speakers and the workshops on many topics. We learned about all the GCA committees and what they do. It was helpful for us to learn how they can assist us.

The first program and meeting was an afternoon outing at Leslie Stout's brow-side pavilion. TIP TOP TOMATO TIME was the topic as

Leslie guided us as to how she cares for the hundreds of delicious heirlooms that she grows. After the meeting we had cocktails with tomato themed appetizers. Leslie gave everyone a tomato goodie bag to go home with.

The October meeting was with the speaker, Harvey Cotton, from the Huntsville Botanical Garden. He gave a wonderful talk with slides and showed beginners and experienced gardeners alike how to create gorgeous gardens with the easiest, colorful low water plants the South has to offer. He sold his book, Easy Gardens of the South, which is also on Amazon.

Kelly Atkinson and Shelly Henson planned a trip to Abington, VA to take a bicycle trip on the Virginia Creeper Trail. We carpooled and spent the night at the Martha Washington Hotel and had a fabulous dinner at The Tavern (1779 established). The next day we rode 17 miles along the White River trout stream while soaking in all the beautiful scenery.

A floral design workshop with Erin Leonard, owner of the Jolie Jardin Flower Farm and Shop was our meeting for November. She taught us the ins and outs of dried flower arrangements and wreaths.

Ways and Means worked tirelessly most of the fall organizing 7th annual holiday greenery sale. It was extremely organized and the pick- up at the LMS skating rink was a smooth operation. The new members gathered to help with the distribution of the greenery to members’ cars. Thank you Carlyn Voges, Dawn Pettway, and Ginger Dutton. The greenery sale provides much of our allocation budget.

Greyson Brown and the Christmas party committee put on a lovely and fun Christmas buffet with spouses at the Lookout Mountain Club. Festive Christmas music filled the air.

We picked back up in February with Dwayne Estes, the executive director of Southern Grasslands Initiative, as our speaker. He spoke to us about prairie remnants, biodiversity collapse, and restorable grasslands, making it very relevant to our area. At the annual meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, he was awarded an honorary membership in the GCA.

In March, Scott Smith, Jimmy the Cricket Tours, gave us the history of the Belmont Mansion and gardens once owned by Adelicia Acklen. She was known as the Lady of Belmont who became the wealthiest woman in Tennessee and a plantation owner in her own right after the death of her first of her first husband.

Cathy Pettway and I traveled to Washing on, DC for the NAL Conference. We heard 14 speakers on all sorts of "climate" topics and new farming methods. We did get to see the cherry trees in full bloom. It was a stunning sight! Those NAL girls are serious about saving the planet.

April was an open meeting at the Fairyland Club. Our speaker was Elizabeth Heiskall, author of What Can I Bring? The Southern Living Party Cookbook and Come on Over. She is a regular food contributor for the Today Show. The Debutante Farmer is her well-deserved nickname.

The Garden Club of Nashville hosted the Zone IX Annual Meeting April 14-16. The Nashville girls did a fabulous job with “Strings and Springs” as the theme. Many of our members submitted horticulture. Several won ribbons, and Carol Brown won Best in Show for her show-stopper 35-year-old azalea Carol Brown also participated in the photography division and won 1st place in that category. Natalie Huffaker hauled in 2nd place in floral design. We have so many talented members.

Zone meetings provide a forum within each zone where club presidents and delegates, zone reps, and GCA leaders share objectives, develop leadership skills, and learn about GCA resources.

There were two "affiliate only" gatherings hosted by Margaret Ann Bentley and Janice Williams. One was at the Lookout Mountain Club in the fall, and the spring gathering was at Janice Williams' home.

A huge feather in our cap was winning the Hull Award, a national
award given out by GCA. Bena Devaney, chair of scholarships, proposed Chloe Dente, a teacher and mentor to youth within the Crabtree Farms organization. We are thrilled such a deserving person was selected among the class of most-worthy Hull Award recipients. Chloe was awarded $1,000.00 for imparting to children a love and concern for the natural environment.

Our spring luncheon was well-attended and hosted by Angie Sutherland at her lovely home. The committee planned a delicious lunch, and Sharel Hooper recognized our award winners. Various "years of service" were recognized and the six new members were introduced. Beautiful centerpieces graced the tables, and it was a lovely party.

The 2024 Annual Meeting, hosted by Zone II in Hartford, Connecticut inspired and energized 568 participants, and Sarah and I were amongst them. The Awards Committee hosted an opportunity to meet the GCA's honorary members.

Zone dinners in the historic Wadsworth Atheneum provided the opportunity for guests to mingle and network with other zone presidents and vice presidents. "Beyond the Green" shed light from river to shoreline on the big blue marble, EARTH.

It has been a great honor and privilege to have served as your President this past year. I look forward to next year being with all you amazing girls! We have an outstanding group of women who volunteer their time and talents for the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain. Thanks to you1 we can truly call ourselves a "force of nature" and connecting with nature is essential to all of us.

Warmest wishes

Kim Strang

President 2023-2025

The Garden Club of America Awards

GCLM LEVEL AWARDS

Mrs. Alan Easterly (Lee) - 2024 Botanical Arts Creativity Award

Mrs. Robert Huffaker (Natalie) - 2024 Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Award

Mrs. John W. Beard (Carol) - 2024 Best in Show - Horticulture

Mrs. Charles C. Adams (Molly) - 2024 Best in Show - Horticulture