Monday, February 20, 2012

February Garden of the Month





Hello ladies,

February 2012 GOM winners are as follows:

GOM at 78 Tern...Mary and Robert Lupo
Secret Garden at 59 Gull...Terri and Charles Thensted
LPJ at 22 Stilt...Marie Guidry

Please see attached pictures and descriptions by Cindy Chauvin.

The Garden of the Month for February 2012 is 78 Tern St. This is the home
of Mary and Robert Lupo. On the street side, the sidewalk bed has beautiful
purple Irises blooming. The home's large planters are overflowing with
purple and white pansies. If you look closer, you will find a meticulously
kept, colorful yard behind the fence. The pathway side the home is flanked
by two large planters, filled to the brim with color.

The Le Petit Jardin of the month is the home of Marie Guidry at 22 Stilt.
The front of the home has wall to wall brick planters which hold many
vivacious colors. At first sight, it already looks as if spring has
arrived.

The Secret Garden of the month is 59 Gull, the home of Terry and Charlie
Thensted. The meandering cobble stone pathway will lead you to its private
beauty. Ferns are placed throughout the grassy landscape, bringing texture
and height. Palms are used to close in the pebbled patio. Color is used
throughout in the carefully placed planters along the back of the home.
What a lovely, quiet place.

Best,
Jolanta

Monday, January 16, 2012

Meeting updates for 2012

Dear ladies,

This is just a quick reminder regarding the next three months.

January 2012 -- no meeting. Arbor Day planting will be scheduled to follow the removal of diseased palms on Spanish Fort Blvd.

February 3, 2012 -- Home of Alice Lowry, head hostess Sallie Walker.

March 1, 2012 THURSDAY -- evening meeting at 6:30 pm, home of Virginia Panno, head hostess Laura Carman.
(This is the correct date as opposed to what's listed in GC yearbook)

Looking forward to seeing you,

Jolanta

December Garden of the Month






Dear ladies,

Our Garden of the Month winners this month are the following:

Garden of the Month: 20 Snipe, Susan Garcia and Robert Massart
Colorful and intriguing all round and with camellias in bloom. Robert designed the side garden with an Asian flair; the water garden is a favorite visiting spot of a certain large white egret looking for a drink.

Le Petit Jardin: 18 Crane (Street side), Fran and Gib Gibbons

Secret Garden: 27 Swan, Courtney and Mark Wightman.

With the holidays just around the corner, we'll have a perfect opportunity to walk down the lanes and admire the winning gardens.

Cheers to you all,
Jolanta

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Still more photos from December!





Lots of December photos





Party pics from December





November Meeting Update!






Hey ladies,

What a great meeting! What great attendance!
I'm sure you'll agree that Bob Becker's presentation was quite riveting. Mini golf courses, splash fountain and water park, bike path alongside Marconi, a new bridge over the interstate with a jogging lane... WOW! Kudos to Bob for turning City Park into a fabulous resource for our neighborhood and the whole city.

A big thank you to Joel Myers for letting us meet at her beautiful home, and to hostesses -- Jackie Shreves, head, Jennifer Warden, Suzanne Tyler, Babs Mollere and Margarita Harvey for preparing absolutely delicious lunch. (Recipes will be sent in a separate email.) Also, thank you, Charlene Baudier, for making the lovely LSU inspired flower arrangement.

The two new GC members present at the meeting were:
Delia Perez from 98 Wren Street, deliamperez@gmail.com
Alanna Wanek from 9 Jay Street, awanek@cox.net
We're glad they could join us!

Best,
Jolanta

November pics!





Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Holiday Party Infomation

Hello ladies,

Our annual HOLIDAY PARTY will be held at Yvonne McCulla's home, 66 Flamingo Street, on December 2 at 11am.

The event is complimentary for members.
If you wish to bring a friend, please prepay $10 to Susan McArdle, our treasurer, by Monday, November 28.
Also, if you know for sure you will NOT be attending, please send regrets to me, Jolanta Tipler, at this email address.
It is very helpful for the hostesses to know in advance how many will be attending, so your response by 11/28/2011 will be much appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you,
Jolanta

November - recipes

Please see the recipes from our November 2011 Garden Club meeting.

Cheese Ball
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese-grated
2 cups chopped green onions (used two bunches)
2 cups chopped pecans
4 heaping TBS. mayonnaise
1 jar Tabasco Pepper Jelly-refrigerated
Mix first four ingredients together and mold into two separate cheese balls. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate. (Can be done the day before) Just before serving top with a jar of pepper jelly. It is always a hit.

Fall Salad-serves 6-8
8 cups torn salad greens (I like to include arugula with the greens)
1 cup thin sliced red apple (used Fuji)
1 cup celery, diagonally sliced thin
½ cup chopped red onion
¼ cup blue cheese crumbled
1 cup toasted pecans-chopped

Dressing:
2/3 cup veggie oil
½ cup vinegar-apple cider or combo w/ rice & raspberry but definitely use fruit vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbs. ground mustard
Salt & Pepper to taste


Chicken Salad w apples & cranberries-serves 4-6
3 cups diced cooked chicken
¼ cup dried cranberries
½ cup diced celery
2-3 TBS finely chopped red onion
½ cup diced apple
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
4-6 TBS mayo
2 TSP lemon juice
1/8 Tsp curry powder (to taste-but probably needs more)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Combine 1st 6 ingredients then mix remainder and add to chicken. Seasonings will need to be adjusted depending on the chicken used. It is always tasty using a roasted chicken.
Serve on bed of lettuce or as a sandwich.

SWEET POTATO SALAD with WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

INGREDIENTS:

4 medium sweet potatoes, roasted until tender but not mushy
(Roast in oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes)

4 slices bacon

2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 medium Red Onion, finely chopped (minced)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

Salt and ground black pepper

1 ½ Tbs. Dijon mustard

2 Tbs. Red Wine Vinegar

4 cups (loosely packed) baby spinach

Yields: 6 servings
PREPARATION:
Roast sweet potatoes ahead of time and let cool. Peel and cut lengthwise in half, then slice into ½ inch half moons. Reheat in oven a few minutes while making dressing.

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan.Add Olive Oil to bacon drippings. (I took out some drippings and replaced the same amount with olive oil. Just left some for flavor). Hear and add onions, some salt and lots of black pepper. Saute for a few minutes, then add garlic and continue to sauté until onions are tender and caramelized.
Remove pan from heat, add mustard and vinegar, whisking vigorously to incorporate the dressing. Pour over warm sweet potatoes and add the fresh spinach, tossing to coat the potatoes and lightly wilt the spinach. Crumble the bacon over everything. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Rachel Ray recipe: changed by Margarita Harvey

Enjoy!
Jolanta

November Garden of the Month






Dear Garden Club members,

November Garden of the Month is 60 N. Lark, garden of Laurie Norman.
This garden is on the circle of N. Lark and the entry is flanked by two lovely urns of Begonia.
The garden colors are vibrant from front to back with Crysanthemum, Petunias and Pansies,
and on both sides of the house are welcoming hanging Potato Ivy.
If you peek along the pathway, you will find many textures, with Knockout Roses, Laura Petaluma, and variegated Liriope outlining the view.

Le Petit Jardin is on the lane side of 63 Spanish Fort, garden of Roy and Kathleen Lassus.
This is a lush, sculptural garden with lovely blooming Azaleas and Camillia, edged with Impatiens of varied colors.
An interesting accent piece is an iron flying pig...adding a local carnival flavor.

Secret Garden is the courtyard side of 6600 Beauregard, garden of Rene and Liz deBoisblanc.
This lush retreat is bricked and meticulously trimmed in ivy, with many palms and exotic plants,
including Elephant Ears and Spiral Ginger...and with the Weeping Youpon in bloom right now, it is a lovely sight to see.

GOM committee
(Ros Wingerter, Vonni Contreary, Liz Leonard, Joel Myers & Cynthia Chauvin)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

October Garden of the Month 2011





Dear garden club members,

The winners of the October Garden of the Month are:

Garden of the Month 49 Oriole, Sue and John Fisk
Le Petit Jardin 66 Flamingo, Yvonne and Jimmy McCulla
Secret Garden 53 Wren, Laura and Allen Carman

Congratulations to winners!
Jolanta

More Great Photos from October's Meeting!