Submitted by: Lynn Liebenrood, Secretary
The November meeting of the Magnolia Garden Club was hosted by Laura Thomas at her lovely home. Debbie Manning created a stunning fall cornucopia arrangement as the centerpiece for the dining room table. The ladies enjoyed lemon pound cake infused with blue berries, cheese wafers, fruit, and pickled okra, served with coffee or tea.
The business meeting was called to order by Vice President Amanda Morrell. Patty Griffey, Treasurer, presented a balanced budget of $3384.24. The garden club also brought in $350 at the Latta Harvest Festival. She also reminded members that a fee is due for membership. Amanda then recognized three birthdays this month. Belva Greene and Debbie Manning on November 6 and Callen Outen on November 12.
Lynn Liebenrood, Secretary, then presented the Life Membership Award to Nancy Brigman.
Amanda reminded that the December meeting would be on Wednesday, December 12 at the Abingdon Manor for a holiday dinner (Dutch treat). Please let Patty Griffey know one week ahead of time if you cannot attend. Also, bring a garden gift exchange (around $10.00) to the holiday dinner.
Amanda then provided members with activities on Saturday, December 1. A Christmas Happening will host vendors, tree lot to buy a Christmas tree, decorated Edwards House, Vidalia School, Latta Post Office, and Dillon County Museum. Refreshments will be at the Edwards House and then at 5:30 p.m. a Christmas tree will be lit. Latta Elementary art students are making ornaments for the tree and the Latta Elementary music students will be singing at the Vidalia School. The Polar Express movie will be shown at 6:00 pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to greet parents and children. Businesses downtown will have Open House from 9:00-5:00 that day. This is just a few of things happening on December 1.
Program Chairman Laura Thomas introduced the infamous Mike Thomas and his knowledge and passion for honeybees. Mike has been a bee hobbyist for around eight years and has approximately thirty hives. He began with a brief history dated back to the temples in Egypt where they found jugs of honey and how honeybees even back then inspired artists and poets. Mike talked about that there are two females (queen and workers) per hive and drones, which are the males. The drones are kicked out of the hive in the winter and will not survive. The fertile queen lays around 1500 eggs a day in the hive. He also informed us that with chemical spraying and parasites, the hives must now be treated. Other information presented on honeybees was pollination, being stung by bees, crystalized honey, and the different shades of honey. Members then asked a variety of questions.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Time To: Remove the spent flowers and foliage of perennials after they are damaged by frost.