Minutes for Redfield Home and Garden Club Meeting
September 20, 2011


Welcome and thank you to host: A big thank you to Cathy Ryan for inviting us into her beautiful home.


Officer’s Reports

o    Presidents: Kim Gravely and Catherin Martin

  • The Christ Child – Mimi Duke’s letter thanking the Home and Garden Club for the donation from the 2009 auction.  See below for the letter and also a link to the garden the Home and Garden club made possible. 
  • Dates of meetings during the year – 3rd Tuesday of the month, see below
  • Calling Post – We decided to use all remaining calls and not renew.
  • Website and Email for communication – We will be posting all our meetings and meeting minutes on the website.  There will no longer be any paper communication.  Melanie Clark will make a sign for the front of the neighborhood announcing it. 

o    First Vice President – Erin Byrd: Erin could not make the meeting, Kim gave update.

  • Gardening/Landscaping.  Decided to earmark money for now for plantings in the spring or whenever it may be built for the new clubhouse.
  • Holiday decorations –Erin to look into new decorations.  If anyone has any suggestions they should talk to or email Erin. 
  •  Home Tour?  If we have the auction we will have the Home Tour in the spring of 2013.  If we do not find anyone to host the auction, we will do the auction December of 2012 and the Home Tour in the spring of 2012.    

o    Second VP – Lisa Gill:

  • Auction.  Last year it was voted to go every other year.  We are looking for a volunteer to host this December 2nd.  We will be giving the host $250 for cleaning and other items to be spent at the discretion of the host. 
  • If you are interested in hosting the auction, please contact Lisa.  If we do not have a location to host by October 10th, then we will cancel the action for this year.  Please email all charity suggestions to Kim Gravely.  Catherine and Kim will narrow down the selection to three.  The representatives who nominate the charities will present in the October meeting where H&G members will vote on what charity to support.

o    Treasurer – Jenny Shulman

  • Dues: This year, all dues paid by October 1st will be $20 and thereafter $25.  Please make checks out to Redfield Home and Garden Club and deliver along with your contact information to Jenny at 5460 Redbark Way. 

o    Programs - Robin Cochran: Martha announced for Robin since Robin could not attend the meeting.  Watch for more to come.      

o    Hospitality - Martha Keim: Sign up list for future meetings.  There are still openings.  please contact Martha if you would like to co-hostess.

o    Luminaries – Robin Isaf and Janna Benston – no update at this time.

o    Yard of the Month - Lauren Black and Brooke Taylor.  They will have ready for October.

o    Publicity/Website – Vicky James – no update at this time

o    Inspiration – Cary Kresl – Read a nice story about “golden windows” and how we all live in wonderful homes with houses full of love.

o    Horticulture – Ashley Mast – Ashley did a fantastic job on indoor plants.  See below for Ashley’s presentation and excellent tips.   

o    Sunshine – Paige Meier and Becky Springer.  Please forward any Sunshine issues to either Paige or Becky.

Meetings Schedule: 3rd Tuesday or the month 

·         September: 9/20 – Ryan House

·         October: 10/18

·         November: 11/15 

·         December: Auction? Friday 12/2

·         January: 1/17

·         February: 2/21

·         March: 3/20

·         April: 4/17 End of the year dinner/banquet. 

Mimi’s letter

Hi Kim, 

As Garden Club is set to resume, I just wanted to make sure that the garden club members know how much the donation that was made to The Christ Child Society of Atlanta has affected our chapter. 

We have used the funds to keep up with our established outreaches, but more importantly have been able to create "Elizabeth's Garden" at the Elaine Clark Center.  When I presented CCSA to the Garden Club as a possible recipient of the Auction proceeds, the garden was an "idea" that we hoped to make happen sometime in the future.  Since the auction, we have established the organic sensory garden, with handicap accessibility, in honor of our Past President, Elizabeth Huffner.  Elizabeth passed away two years ago from brain cancer.   

You can view pictures of the garden on our website www.christchildatlanta.org.  Go to the photo album and click on anything regarding garden, E bed, and cooking classes.  The E bed was created by an Eagle Scout to allow students in wheel chairs accessibility to the bed.  We are currently in the process of having the pathways cemented for easier mobility.  This is our second season planting and harvesting, and going into the classrooms to teach "simple" cooking classes to the children using produce and herbs from the garden.  A plaque is located on the E bed thanking the Redfield Home and Garden Club and other donors. 

So...Thank You! for helping us make the garden a reality!  It means so much to us and to the Elaine Clark Center.  Come by and see the garden any time....

Mimi Dukes

Horticulture Update

Walk through your home with fresh eyes.  Houseplants are a way to make things look fresh and are such a small investment.   If they look ragged and tired – start over!  If they are boring - liven them up with a new container and additional plants for more interest.

Mix your leaf styles as well as sizes and colors.  Make sure they require the same light and moisture.  More is more – use several different plants per container or you may highlight a single specimen plant in an interesting way.

Use different mosses to bring a finished look to your design.

Think out of the box and experiment with different containers.  Old hat boxes, picnic baskets, soup tureen, child’s sand bucket, etc.  Get plastic tray liners from local florist.

For black thumbs:  Try pothos, sansevieria, schefflera and peace lilies

Houseplants improve the air quality by removing toxins and provide mental and physical health benefits. 

Good Resources:

Grammy B’s- great for ideas and unusual plant material (on Hammond Dr. near Lowes)       They have container examples on their website as well.  Open M-S, 10-5

Pikes has a good selection of colors and sizes and you can always try Lowes and Home Depot for cheap fillers

Hastings and Boxwoods are two other great resources for ideas and material.