President Nancy Baldwin called the most recent meeting of the Hillsboro Garden Club to order with members standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of “God Bless America.”
Dena Benner offered a blessing for the food prepared and the well-being of all our members. Thus our annual Pot Luck Dinner began and what a meal it was. The members outdid themselves preparing BBQ ribs, lasagna, veggie trays, deviled eggs, mixed fruit salad, pasta salads, desserts of all kinds from pies to cookies, variety of beverages to name only a few dishes. If this makes your mouth water, perhaps you should consider joining the Garden Club. We are always ready to welcome new members.
Following the meal the business portion of the meeting was called to order. Roll call found 16 present, four absent, and two guests. Plans for the tour of Adena Mansion & Gardens were postponed until September due to the excessive heat and strong storms predicted for this week.
Larry Moore reported on OAGC’s Gardeners Day Out on July 9 to Blennerhassett Island near Parkersburg W.Va. The 2-plus hour trip to West Virginia was followed by a 3-minute paddlewheel ride on the Ohio River to the island. Once there, we were treated to a special luncheon on the grounds of the mansion. A character actress portraying Margaret Blennerhassett, the original owner, gave a thorough history of her family’s life in the late 1700s and how they came to build this beautiful mansion in the midst of the then wilderness. The burning of the mansion in 1811 ended the island’s reign of culture and beauty in that area for quite a while. History shows a few attempts to make it into recreational park, but floods ruined those efforts. Recently purchased by DuPont, about one-third of the island was leased to West Virginia to rebuild the mansion and make it into a historical park. A magnificent mansion is the result and has made it a jewel along the Ohio River once again. It was a lovely trip and one we encourage others to visit.
Flower Show: Carol Gorby announced a short meeting with the three teams working on their Spot Garden class. The August meeting will find us cleaning Floral Hall in preparation for the Highland County Fair Flower Shows. Don’t forget to stop in for a visit.
Mary Smith and Fran Larkin announced final selections to be awarded Landscaping Recognition Awards. Framed certificates will be presented to these winners and info will also be sent to the papers for publication. It was suggested by the committee that next year an article be printed in the paper asking for suggestions from the public …. so keep your eyes open for more info and send those suggestions in.
Submitted by Carol Gorby, secretary, Hillsboro Garden Club.
