One of my favorite things is to speak to garden
clubs. These ladies are a treasure trove for garnering a fine education
on Southern culture, fine entertaining, fabulous cooking, and, of course,
honing one’s gardening prowess. Many of the groups are a part of the
Garden Club of America
which is an amazing organization.
I started speaking to garden clubs when I was at Auburn,
and I attribute my career’s start to my garden club patrons. The ink
was hardly dry on my diploma before my garden club contacts began hiring
me for garden and interior projects – that’s my kind of social networking!
Often, the groups meet in a member’s home. If the group is
larger, then a country club, community center or church becomes the
venue, but I relish the opportunities to speak in someone’s
home.
As a lover of beauty, lovely homes and gardens, and nostalgic
nods to Southern entertaining, these garden club visits are quite a perk. And, being surrounded and doted on by fine ladies is
not bad either!
Primarily, I have spoken to garden clubs in the Deep
South, but also in St. Louis, Missouri such as The Ladue Garden Club -
and groups in Virginia. These Down Home Dixie groups are such a treat for me to visit and
give a lesson on flower arranging, gardening trends, tablescapes and
even cooking. From small towns to Southern cities, these ladies ask
me to speak to
them and teach
them, but
I’m the one learning! I relish in learning how these ladies
(who often are a tad older than my junior) garden, cook and entertain. My latest trip was of no exception!
I have had the pleasure and honor of speaking
to garden clubs in Memphis three separate occasions. First, to the
Memphis Garden Club and most recently
to The Little Garden Club of Memphis. The second time was a combination
of the two groups. This latest trip proved to be a delightful
time of food, flowers, book signings, food, garden lectures, fellowship,
food and some more food. Let me tell you, Memphis doesn’t play around
when it comes to food – this Farmer was extremely well fed and probably
gained some serious poundage on this trip. Memphis is more than ribs
and bbq, ya’ll!
I have to state the old adage that “it sure is a
small world.” Yes, any Southerner worth their grits is going to make
their familial and social connection in other Southern towns, but Memphis
proved to be a delightfully small world!
First connection was
Alpine.
Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, Alabama, proved to be a summer job
to garner a lifetime of connections. Many Memphis boys have camped and worked at Alpine. The host home where I stayed was the home of one of my campers. That’s
Alpine for you - connections! I saw a picture
of the now grown camper and asked my my hostess, “How do you know…as
she exclaimed ‘He’s my son!’” What a time!
Secondly,
Auburn
came into play. Whether it was seeing friends from school, meeting friends’
parents or sharing Auburn memories, Auburn always paves the way in making
the world a bit smaller.
But another amazing connection came into play while
in Memphis – Bainbridge. My Mimi’s hometown is always finding
some way into the conversation and this time proved notwithstanding.
Another one of my hostesses was from Tallahassee, Florida, and her sister
married a boy from Bainbridge –and they are dear friends with my Aunt
Sally there.
That, my friends, is what I love about
the South – we share this tightly knitted culture and form ever-lasting
bonds with one another over great-aunts, fried chicken, silver patterns
and flowers!
From a dinner party of chicken curry surrounded by
friends, to garden and floral arranging lectures, to a luncheon of fried
chicken and amazing peach ice cream with pecan shortbread, to memorable
moments with new and old friends alike – my latest walking in
Memphis truly felt “ten feet over Beale” and I cannot wait
to visit again.
Hope to see ya’ll at Garden Club soon!
