Submitted by Amanda Allen Huggins, Secretary
The October meeting of the Magnolia Garden Club was hosted by Belva Greene on October 9th. Dollie Morrell created a beautiful arrangement of clover, marigolds and Mexican sage. The ladies enjoyed chicken salad with crackers, chocolate, coffee and tea.
Program Chairman Lynn Liebenrood introduced guest speaker David Harper, the Executive Director of the Pee Dee Land Trust. This non-profit Trust serves 9 local counties, and Mr. Harper related the work they do to “gardening on a regional scale”. They allow landowners to personally determine how land will be used by future generations by setting limits on future use of the property.
The organization has 4 staff members who are all willing to meet with families to discuss alternatives available for their land. The PDLT currently has around 500 members and can offer advice on tax incentives, credits and deductions.
They also work with landowners to obtain grants from the SC Conservation Bank that can be used towards activities such as stream bank restoration. He noted that Dickie Sherman and Douglas Lynn currently represent Dillon County on the board. Lynn Liebenrood presented Mr. Harper with a gift of local honey and thanked him for the informative program.
The business meeting was called to order by President Casey Pitts with a prayer called “Preserve Our Beautiful Land”. The September meeting minutes were read and approved, and the treasurer gave a report of the club’s current balance. Members were reminded and encouraged to participate in the bake sale for the Town’s Harvest Festival. No new nominations for trees were noted for the Historic Trees for Historic Places project. Arbor Day (December 5) is approaching, and the ladies discussed ideas about planting a tree in memory or honor of someone and where that could happen around Town. Plans will be confirmed in November. The club developed a list of people in the community to remember at Christmas time with an arrangement or other small gift.  The ladies were reminded of Town Clean-Up Day on October 11 at 9 am. The trees in the Belva Finklea Garden were pruned professionally so the club members will simply need to help with pine straw. The fountain in the garden may also need some attention. President Pitts will be cleaning and decorating the Niche before October 18th. Johnnie Luehrs presented the club with a $1200 check from the RALI Initiative to be used for the Legacy Tree Trail. This is a wonderful start to our fundraising campaign for the implementation of the trail. The spring project that involves offering photography packages at Abingdon Manor was discussed but no final dates determined. The club wished a Happy Birthday to Vicky Simerly and Tina Henry, and the meeting was adjourned.