Organizing convention takes many hands

Welcome back to Part 2 of this five-part series. Last week I told you about the early preparations for the AFGC (Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs) Convention held April 18 and 19.

  Next step was filling all the chairman positions: name badges and tent cards, Barbara Bensel; corsages, Judy Vine; education exhibits, Elizabeth Moody and Sharon Jessup; floral design program, Val Colvin; folders for registration, Sharon Jessup and Willene Calvert; hospitality baskets, Willene Calvert; hotel food and beverage, Georgia Brown; invitational judges council, Mary Lou Milstead; invocation and memorial, Beverly Peterson; program booklet, Barbara Bensel; protocol, Mary Lou Milstead; silent auction, Cindy Carey; registration, Georgia Brown; signs, Millie Parker; photographer, Jim Gardner; quilts, Marilyn Thornbury and Peggy Taylor; the 50/50 drawing, Val Colvin and Willene Calvert.

  Garden clubs had flowers and floral designs decorating our convention area at the Shilo Inn. Invitational designs included the Pacific regional director, Jeanette Pruin by Rhea Heesch, for AFGC president in honor of our state president Fran Harkey by Amy Emary. In honor of western district director Beverly Peterson by Georgia Bolton and Karen Bowen. Speakers design by Val Colvin.

  The exhibits included displays from each of the five Arizona districts showing their native plants and seeds.

  Thanks to Cindy Carey and Marilyn Thornbury the items for the silent auction were beautifully displayed at one end of the meeting room.

  The four garden clubs in the western district shared the convention responsibilities. Pecan Grove Garden Club accepted the opening luncheon on Friday.

  Angie Adams, president of Pecan Grove Garden Club, sent me this report:

  "Pecan Grove Garden Club played a very active role in the recent AFGC state garden club convention. The most significant honor for the club was that high school student Teagan Hasler was named the national winner of the National Garden Club’s Youth Essay Contest. On her way to winning the national prize, she also won the local and regional contests. Pecan Grove sponsored local entries to the contest.

  "Additionally, club members were all over the place helping with almost every activity at the convention. If you participated in the silent auction, you no doubt saw Cindy and Sarah Carey, and Marilyn Thornbury answering questions about the auction items. Marlena Parrott also helped out here.

  "In addition to educational displays from other clubs, Pecan Grove and Yuma Garden Club members Sharon Jessup, Helen Buck, and Elizabeth Moody collaborated on an extensive native plant display, as well as arranging for information from the UA Cooperative Extension.

  "Friday lunch centerpieces were orchestrated by Val Colvin, Willene Calvert, Sharon Jessup and Donna Baker. Informational booklets and badges were designed and produced by Barbara Bensel. Sharon Jessup and Willene Calvert designed and produced the program folders holding convention information.

  "The happy winner of the convention’s 50/50 raffle can send some thanks toward Val Colvin, Willene Calvert and Sharon Jessup, who helped encourage people to buy tickets."

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  On the morning of May 21, Pecan Grove will partner with the Yuma Garden Club, Highway 95 Nursery and Landscaping, and the University of Arizona to present a citrus grafting workshop.

  Dr. Glenn Wright, UA citrus specialist, will teach participants the principles. You’ll get to try your hand at grafting and T-budding, and even take home a tree or two. Maximum participation is 20 people, and the price is $20 per person. Call Angela at 343-8114 if you’d like to reserve a spot.

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   Blackberry time! I recently did a sneak preview at Silvas Farms. The berries were starting to ripen and there are oodles of ’em. I also did a taste test! Delicious! The season should be in full swing and ready for you to pick by the time you read this.

  The blackberry lady, aka Sandy Silvas, can be reached at 446-8706 or call her husband, Lee, at 446-8663.

  They are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Wednesday and Sunday. Check out the Web site: www.silvasfarms.com.

  They expect the season to continue into the first week of June but don’t put it off. Remember they are kid-friendly and they like to see families come for the experience. They also suggest that you bring your own containers. Remember they don’t weigh the ones you carry out in your tummy! Oh, don’t tell them I told you that!

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Ellen Gardner, a Master Gardener who writes this column for the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma, can be reached at 343-4020 or at gardner3028@netzero.com. For information about the Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden, look at cals.arizona.edu/yuma/horticulture/moody_garden/index.html, or for information about the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma, visit gardencentral.org/azgardenclub/westerndistrict.