By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Yaupon Garden Club members Carolyn Gray, Barbara Eischens, Gail Robertson, Pam Hattemer, Jan Davi, Marie Conley and Donna Smith
Over the weekend, Prattville was a buzz with activities for the community from giant yard sales to concerts to the annual City Fest, but on Friday the 13th, one event that took place was just a bit different than the others.
Held at the old Hancock Bank building, the Yaupon Garden Club held its annual flower show, which strives to enlighten the community with the beauty of nature.
“Having flower shows are a fun way to put into practice what we have learned,” said Pam Hattemer who has been involved with the club for many years. “I have been in the club almost 30 years and as long as I can remember, we have put on flower shows. We try to have a flower show every other year.”
Hattemer, who is also the chairman of the show, said that around City Fest has been a great time for the event.
“People want to come in out of the heat and then we can speak with them one-on-one if they have any questions,” she said, explaining more of what the club does through the flower show. “We learn designs we can use in church, family gatherings and civic functions. There is a horticulture division in which we bring in pieces of our gardens, both flowers and trees. When you look at the tags, the botanical names are given when possible. We learn how to grow and what grows well in our area. There is also an education division and this year, one of the exhibits is on Alabama Invasive species.”
The longtime volunteer said that the Yaupon Garden Club is not just about flower shows, however.
“City beautification is paramount in our activities,” commented Hattemer. “We encourage our members to have beautiful yards around their homes and businesses. We have sold spring bulbs to help with this effort. Children’s clubs in the public schools are presently being done. Some children are so enthralled with plants and gardening that they choose careers in this field. We plant gardens in schools to help the children learn.”
She said the club also offers landscape design services at no cost, have helped with landscaping Habitat for Humanity houses and helping to decorate Buena Vista for the Christmas holidays.
“We donate to several state garden club projects such as World Gardening, Garden of Memory at AU, Helen Keller Fragrance Garden and Dowling Garden,” Hattemer stated. “We help fund seven state scholarships at AU in horticulture, forestry and other related fields. Lastly, we provide nursing home residents with gifts at Christmas and donate to AICC food bank.”
The Yaupon Garden Club was organized in 1938, six years after the state garden club (Garden Club of Alabama) was formed. It was organized during the Great Depression and one of the main focuses was to help families grow their own vegetables.
“Eighty-four years later,” said Hattemer, “our mission has changed slightly but education of our members and the community is very important. We stay alert to what our elected representatives are doing and work to pass legislation to benefit the community. We were very influential in getting the stock law enacted, for example. Today, water rights and sharing water with adjoining states are at the forefront.”
Hattemer added that although there are social aspects to being a member of the Yaupon Garden Club, there’s a whole lot more going on with the group.
“We are a working club, not a social club,” she said.
For more information on the Yaupon Garden Club, go online to www.Gardenclubofalabama.org.
