Johnese Turri, left, Joyce Zaugg and Kersti Rock viewing the Horticulture Entries. Turri, NMGC 1st VP, is also a member of Angel Fire Garden Club. Rock and Zaugg, District II Director and Assistant Director, are also members of Los Alamos Garden Club. Courtesy photo

1st Place Floral Design in the American Traditional Line category by Laurie Hixson, member of Floral Design, Summit and Los Alamos Garden Clubs. Courtesy photo

GARDEN CLUB News:

Floral designs and horticulture exhibits abounded Friday, March 14 in the hallway and one room at Cottonwood on the Greens at Los Alamos Golf Course. The Flower Show was hosted by District II of New Mexico Garden Clubs (NMGC) and the public was invited to view the exhibits from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The show was a special event to welcome the District’s newest club, Angel Fire Garden Club. The occasion was the District’s Annual Spring Meeting. District II now has four clubs and nearly 100 members. The other clubs are Los Alamos Garden Club, Summit Garden Club and Floral Designers.

Many garden club members attempted their first ever floral designs or contributed horticulture entries grown in their homes or yards. A big “Thank You!” goes to District II’s Flower Show Chair Laurie Hixson and her subcommittees and chairs consisting of flower show experts and local hardworking garden club members committed to reviving District II’s interest in flower shows.

Thanks also to the experienced floral designers who provided important guidance and encouragement to garden club members who had never entered in a flower show before. And a big “Kudos” to all the local garden club members who took the leap and bravely attempted and entered their designs and horticulture entries! Many ribbons were won and the best part of the show was seeing the creativity and imagination that contributed to a beautiful and diverse set of entries. Much appreciation also to the New Mexico Garden Clubs Flower Show Judges, Debra Sorrell (current NMGC President), Dorothy Duff and Maureen Carson who evaluated the exhibits, provided advice for the future and assigned ribbons. The show was an amazing experience and a great deal of fun!

A special thank you goes to our caterer’s, Pawel and Dorota Listwan of Cottonwood on the Greens. They provided a wonderful breakfast of pastries and fruit for the early arriving judges, followed by a tasty lunch buffet with a pasta and salad bar. The meatballs and grilled chicken toppings were fantastic and the fettuccini was an especial favorite. There were three sauces. My personal favorite was the pesto sauce. They also provided a couple of last minute course corrections for some special dietary requests. This was very much appreciated!

If you are interested in joining a local garden club, please contact either Kersti Rock (outgoing District II Director) at ankaere@gmail.com or Joyce Zaugg (incoming District II Director) at greenleavesjoy@gmail.com. We can describe the unique gardening interests of each club and provide further contact information.

Suzy Andrego, NMGC parliamentarian and member of the Floral Design Club, won the Sweepstakes for the most blue ribbons in Horticulture. Courtesy photo

Debi Harrington, NMGC District I Director and member of District II’s Floral Design Club, with her 1st Place Floral Design in the Reflective Category. Courtesy photo

Summit Garden Club President Alison Grieggs at the lunch buffet. Courtesy photo

Gayle Smart, left, with Flower Show Judges Dorothy Duff, Debra Sorrell (NMGC President) and Maureen Carson. Courtesy photo

Johnese Turri, NMGC 1st Vice President and member of Angel Fire Club, installed the 2025-2027 District II officers: Linda Hoffman (Recording Secretary), Ann Cooke (Treasurer), Debi Harrington (Assistant District Director), Joyce Zaugg (District II Director), Johnese Turri (NMGC 1st Vice President). Courtesy photo

Kersti Rock, left, outgoing District II Director, received a gift of an orchid plant from her board members, presented by Assistant District II Director Joyce Zaugg. Courtesy photo