Deep South Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc

"WHAT A BLAST !"

"Botannical Blast" was a BLAST - with festivities that ranged from delightful to dazzling. Attendees from the six states of the Deep South Region of the National Garden Club, Inc. came together in Huntsville, Alabama in March for a fun-filled Convention and Flower Show.

Within a stone's throw of the Huntsville Space Center, the group gathered for a full schedule of workshops, exhibits, vendor displays, awards presentations, speakers, floral designs and conviviality. Under the leadership of Mary Summerville, the Deep South Regional director, the 49th Annual Convention was a time for everyone to learn, laugh and create new friendships while connecting with friends from around the Deep South region. The Deep South Region is made up of six states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The theme for Mary's administration was "Today's Youth - Tomorrow's Future" and her Unified Regional Project was "Dollars for Scholars". The Garden Club of Alabama, with Margaret Reynolds as President, served as Convention Host. Congratulations for a "job well done" go to Convention Chairman, Betty Spradley, and her Co-Chairman, Carlene Elrod.

Upon arriving, visitors were amazed to see the huge Saturn V rocket on display at the nearby Space Center, along with other artifacts on display that denote the illustrious history of the Space Center and the space program in Huntsville. The rocket was used during the Apollo Lunar Landing program of the 1960's and 1970's and remains the largest, most powerful rocket ever built. At over 363 feet tall, the Saturn V generated over 7,500 pounds of thrust at liftoff. The Saturn V rocket was conceived and designed by a team of scientists and engineers at the George C. Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, under the direction of the famed Dr. Wernher von Braun. The rocket is an awesome sight The team under Dr. Braun's direction, was also responsible for launching the Free World's first scientific satellite, Explorer I.

Charming designs and lovely horticulture formed a dazzling display as members visited the Petite Advanced-Standard Flower Show, entitled "Southern Hospitality" - a highlight of the Convention. Entrants from all over the Deep South competed for ribbons and top awards. Special thanks go to Gina Jogan and Tina Tuttle of Florida for spearheading the Flower

Show, from conception to completion. Be sure to visit the Hort - Design Page and see the winner's photos.

Educational Exhibits were presented by various Chairmen to showcase the activities and projects encompassed by their areas of interest. A butterfly quiz was fun and a "big hit" as everyone got into the competitive spirit. The projects that are ongoing around the region are amazing and it is "neat" to see the good works that are being done for our youth, conservation, civic development, historic preservation, environmental and landscape studies and much, much more.

A motivational talk entitled, "Down the Garden Path of Life" got the Convention off to a rollicking start. Dr. Ralph Langley, Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Huntsville, regaled the group with humor and wisdom - all done with a twinkle in his eye and tongue firmly planted in his cheek. Everyone is still laughing and remembering his humor and warmth.

The business meeting is an important part of any convention, and the reports of officers, state presidents and chairmen offered highlights of the previous year's activities. A dignified and moving Memorial Service, led by Melanie Gousset, DSR Chaplain, offered remembrances of deceased members from each state, named individually and lovingly.

A wild and wacky gourd grower and enthusiast, Glenn Burkhalter, entertained the group at luncheon with the topic, "The Wonderful World of Gourds." We didn't know there was so much to learn about gourds! He made it lots of fun through an unforgettable presentation. The table centerpieces were arrangements created in hollowed-out gourds - delightful !

In the afternoon, a group gathered to tour the Huntsville Botanical Garden, while another group attended a Workshop at the hotel on "Cleaning up your Cities and Recycling" - both activities were enjoyed by those who participated and provided opportunities to learn more about subjects dear to Garden Club members.

An early evening reception honored outgoing DS Regional Director, Mary Summerville, and incoming Director, Mary Sue Colvin of Mississippi. The Huntsville youth Orchestra, "Strings of Pearls" lent a gracious note of elegance to the Awards Banquet that evening. We were dazzled and delighted by a display of fabulous floor designs, created by a trio of talented Alabama designers, Peggy Benefield, Marjorie Holderer and Cathy Filippo.

The Convention ended with the Awards presentation, a time when Presidents of the six states have the opportunity to garner the kudos and awards earned during the previous year by the various committee chairmen in each state. Big smiles were all around as hard work was rewarded and appreciated.

A hoop-skirted "Southern Belle" invited all to attend next year's Convention, to be held in Natchez, Mississippi. The event will be entitled "Living and Growing on the Mississippi" and we learned more about that lovely area, replete with history and the incomparable beauty of the "Old South" with its lush gardens and gracious homes. We can't wait and will begin now to practise our Southern accents and saying with fervor, "Bless Your Hearts." We want to get it down perfectly.

The Annual Convention for the Deep South Region is simply not-to-be-missed. This group truly understands the meaning of "Southern Hospitality". The warmth and fellowship, the fun and enthusiasm... these were much in evidence and left us with a pleasant glow. During the coming year we will think often of the great time we had in Huntsville. Along with the fun, we were reminded anew of the good we do in our communities, and what a force for good Garden Clubbers are in the world

we live in. And, land sakes, we sure had fun. As one member put it, "We may talk slow in the South, but we party fast !" And that's the truth! All in all, it was QUITE A BLAST !

See you in Natchez !!

Jan Sillik

View Photos from the Convention taken by Dot Mapes and Carol Keefe

On the last night,Convention Chairman, Betty Spradley narrated a history of space and members presented designs featuring each milestone. Here is her commentary and photos for you to view.

SPACE HISTORY AND DESIGN

As we come to the end of our convention tonight, I hope you have enjoyed your stay in the Rocket City. As we close, I want to give a quick review of space history and draw some analogies between elements valuable to it and valuable to us as gardeners. I think you will see important connections and view them in creations by some of our fellow gardeners.

The history of space flight began in the imagination and reason of man from the first moment that he or she looked upon the heavens and dreamed of exploring them. From the fictional account of Daedalus and Icarus flying close to the sun on wings of wax to the early scientific pioneers like Archimedes, Galileo, and Newton we see mankind aspiring to understand and to participate in the canopy above. By the twentieth century , the Wright brothers followed by Werner Von Braun and leading Russian scientists turned aspiration into inspiration and finally into realization.

The realization came on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 1. Sputnik, about the size of a beach ball, weighed only 183.9 pounds and took about 98 minutes to orbit the earth. This launch marked the start of the space age and the U. S. /Soviet space race. With it came new political, military, technological, and scientific developments.

Immediately after Sputnik 1, the U. S. Defense department responded to the political furor about the Russian satellite by approving funding for a U.S. satellite project. Werner von Braun and his Redstone Arsenal Team began work on the Explorer project. On January 31, 1958, the United States successfully launched Explorer 1 carrying a small scientific payload. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created in July 1958, when Congress passed the “Space Act.”

The tide was changing and Americans were gaining in the race for space. By 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the goal to send men to the moon by the end of the decade. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong reached that goal by taking “one small step” and calling it “one giant leap for mankind.” The achievement of this goal just increased aspirations for more exploration. Apollo 11 was one of 6 missions to land on the moon.

These missions were followed by the shuttle program that ran from April 1981 until now. In fact, a mission landed today. There was Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor. There were successes, failures, even tragedies with this program, but IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME AS MAN, WHO ONCE ONLY LOOKED AT THE STARS FLEW IN THE SPACES BETWEEN THEM. Flight was followed by the desire for a station in space. From this the International Space Station was born.

Today, space exploration has become part of our established life. We expect to hear of its ongoing projects, goals, and achievements. Currently, NASA is at work on Ares 1, the essential core of a safe reliable, cost-effective space transportation system to carry crews back to the moon, on to Mars, and out of the solar system. Ares hopefully will be able to deliver resources to the Space Station or will park them in orbit for retrieval by spacecraft bound to the moon or other destinations.

Plans for the future include crew transportation to the International Space Station by 2014 and the first lunar excursion involving Ares by 2020.

ASPIRATION , EXPLORATION , INSPIRATION , CREATIVITY, DESIGN

These are what initiated and provided the inertia for realizing the dreams of men and women to search the stars. They are the same components that successful gardeners apply to produce the botanical blast we have been involved with this weekend. We came together because we have aspirations for our personal gardening, for our community gardens, and for the influence for good we can have. We are interested in exploring new ideas and expanding old ones; we want to create beauty and sustain our earth, to expand and preserve. We want to be inspired by the creativity of others and share from our own orbit. When all the energy of the elements of creativity and design are activated and interact , the potential for botanical blast is tremendous.

In Huntsville, our botanical garden is an example of this kind of potential. When it was first proposed it presented a challenge. Today, 20 years later It is a World of beauty and is still growing.

As it shuttled along, to borrow some familiar space terminology, the discovery was that it was a worthwhile and beautiful endeavor. We sponsors major events each season, and host thousands of visitors each year. It is a major part of Huntsville’s botanical blast from the first bloom on the ancient dogwood, to the fall foliage surrounding Scarecrow trail, to the last twinkle in the Galaxy of Lights each December.

In our city, there are many garden clubs. In our state and in our region many more garderners. Tonight, we have three gardeners, two from Huntsville clubs and one from Henegar who will demonstrate the culmination of their inspiration, creativity, and design from the past, present and the future . I hope their floral modules will give you pleasure and propel you into future possibilities.

Staging of these designs was by Mimi Pot and each designer was ask to provide an interpution of their design. Design 1 was provided by Peggy Bennefield of Hengar, Alabama and this is her view of her flower arrangement.

Botanical Blast – Past (1950-60’s)

Designer: Peggy Benefield, Council 7, NCFSJ

Space travel is still a distant dream and ‘Flash Gordon’, hero of the silver screen, is the nearest thing we have to relate to the possibilities of actual space travel. The prototypes have been tested and the Saturn Missile sits on the launch pad, ready to blast into space as the world pauses in breathless anticipation.

Just as the space program has charged forward with amazing changes, The National Council of Garden Clubs has embraced the future with bold designs that capture the imagination in new and challenging ways. Tonight, we look back to the past with a design that might have been the ‘norm’ for a time when the nation was embarking on a grand and exciting adventure.

The designer has used a ceramic container placed on a base… Try to see this as the launch pad. The streamlined form of the Saturn Missile, poised to journey into the unknown, is symbolized by white gladioli. The ‘Botanical Blast’ is comprised of various flowers common to design at the time…peach gladioli, yellow fuji mums and carnations, with gypsophila depicting the smoke from the ascending missile. Thus, we have the ‘Botanical Blast from the Past’.

Botanical Blast – 1970s to Now
Designer: Marjorie Holder of Huntsville, Alabama.

Manned orbits, moon visits, shuttle missions, space station, Hubble telescope, and exploratory satellites develop sustain international partnerships. Space tourists, astronauts and cosmonauts share outer-space living quarters. Land rovers range about reporting on Mars. This era’s workhorse, the shuttle is now retiring and new vehicles are not yet flying away in space.

Meanwhile, National Garden Club Creative Floral Designs increase the emphasis on creativity, imagination, and originality. No longer bound by traditional rules, styles, and patterns, designers leap to explore the relationship between form and space. Make no mistake; the Principles of Design remain the guiding points of quality and aesthetics. However designers pursue unique ideas, eclectic concepts, and multiple focal points.

This design is composed of three important places in our journeys. It reveals earth; our home, our launching site, our comfort. The moon, our constant companion and site of our first off world visits. Lastly, Mars whose surface confirms, reveals, and surprises our assumptions. Altogether we explore.

Botanical Blast – Future

Designer: Cathy Filippo of Huntsville, Alabama.

This creative design, done in black on black with red Gerber Daisies, Split Leaf Philodendron and Curly Metallic Silver Ting Ting represents 'Botanical Blast - the Future of Space'. The green split leaf philodendron at the bottom of the design depicts earth. The 'spaceship' with the Gerber Daisies portrays our journey to reach Mars. The red flowers suspended at the top of the design represent the planet Mars. How about meeting on Mars for the Deep South Convention in a few years?

A recent newspaper article said, “Huntsville is where earth meets space.” Certainly these arrangements give truth to that statement. Here creativity and design are at work in our space engineers and in our talented gardeners. Both dream, design, create. And both, in the end, have a blast!