Members of the Washington Garden Club recently held their Christmas party and December meeting at The Willow restaurant with an opening roll call to relate a favorite Christmas memory.
Responses ranged from Lazarus’s Christmas window displays in downtown Columbus and doll collections from the Shillito’s Department stores, to memories of Christmas services with an abundance of burning candles held in the churches of Germany. While members recounted their fond memories, Jo Ann noted that the club marked its 68th anniversary on Nov. 28, having been organized in 1947.
The club honored Nancy Jo Esper as a longtime member (15 years) of the Washington Garden Club and as a former member (22 years) of the disbanded Posy Garden Club. (Actually, she is the sole remaining living member of the Posy Garden Club!) Nancy Jo’s service record includes being past president of the Posy Garden Club, past regional director (Region 16) of OAGC (Ohio Association of Garden Clubs), and current regional OAGC Horticulture chairwoman. With this last title comes the responsibility of having a horticulture exhibit at the State Convention each year. Truly an assignment she loves! It was also noted that the current region 16 OAGC director is Linda Morgan and that she is charged with advising the region 16 clubs on many issues ranging from club activities and responsibilities to club membership.
President Jo Ann Brady presented immediate past president Elsie Prater with a Christmas cactus in appreciation of Elsie’s previous years of service. This lead into the meeting’s horticulture program, the Christmas cactus. Jo Ann pointed out that “not all succulents are cacti, BUT all cacti are succulents.” Examples of common cacti and succulents were listed and the OAGC flower show scorecard for judging cacti and succulents was discussed. A “fact sheet” regarding the care of the Christmas cactus was given out and discussed.
Following the shortened business meeting, the club participated in a gift exchange with Linda surprising everyone with a jar of her bread and butter pickles and Nancy Jo presenting everyone with a bag of potpourri and a candle. Tom Esper offered a prayer of gratitude for and blessings of the Season prior to the club’s Christmas dinner. Members then ordered entrees of their choice from the menu and enjoyed their afternoon of fellowship.
Those in attendance included Elsie Prater, Lee Reno, Ruth Eakins, Helga Kent, Linda Morgan, Jo Ann Brady, Tom Esper, Nancy Jo Esper and David Persinger.
