At a joint meeting of Bogalusa Garden Guild and Northeast Garden Club held recently at the Bogalusa Senior Center, Susan McNeese, a member of Mt. Hermon Garden Club and an accredited garden club judge, presented a program on floral design. Hostesses were Sydney Hughes and Rosemary Earles from Bogalusa Garden Guild and Cidette Rayburn and Pris Sampson from Northeast Garden Club.

McNeese, a very knowledgeable horticulturist, said that this year’s theme of the Flower House at the Washington Parish Fair is “Flowers on Parade.” In addition, Garden Club exhibitors will be making designs called “Dancing with the Stars,” “Reaching for a Star” and “A Falling Star.” These special designs, she said, will be reflective, underwater and stretch.

To demonstrate the underwater design McNeese used a square glass container placed on a heavy base. She emphasized that a portion of the arrangement, as well as the flower or flowers, must be ulderwater. She suggested that flowers that do well under water are mums, roses, gerber daisies, ginger or bird of paradise. She said to secure the flowers well to prevent floating and to use a bottle of spring water to prevent clouding.

She continued saying that the container for a reflective design needs to reflect light, and suggested using silver, gold or a copper container. In addition, she said, the weight of the greenery must complement the weight of the container, and the flower selected needs to sparkle or give off a starburst effect.

McNeese demonstrated the stretch design by using two black containers of different heights. A needlepoint frog held the line material and flowers for the container. A stretch design requires the containers to be tied together, she said, and deomonstrated by using a large grape vine which had been dried. She used different colored back drops to show her audience how important the selection is, and how the addition of a back drop can make or break an arrangement.

In closing, McNeese reminded members that the District VI meeting will be held at The Castle in Franklinton.

Following the floral presentation, Vice President Lee Mizell presented McNeese a gift from the two clubs.She noted that on Friday, Oct. 1, hostesses will be Washington Parish Garden Club Council: Bogalusa Garden Guild, Franklinton Garden Club, Home and Garden Club, Mt. Hermon Garden Club, Northeast Garden Club and Southeast Garden Clippers.

A brief business meeting followed and Linda Pope, yard judging chairman, announced that the yard of the month for September was Billy and Sue Magee, 1502 Lynwood, first place; Joe and Shirley Saltaformaggio, 1510 Military Road, second place; and Donnie and Donna Crain, 224 Bankston Drive, honorable mention.

Members present were: Mary Anthony, Sharon Ball, Jolene Black, guest Justin Black, Evelyn Blair, Jenene Bracey, Rita Clayton, Earles, Fran Harry, Hughes, Regina Hunt, Bertie Lee, Shirley Lewis, Susan Lewis, Annette Magee, Mizell, Martha Pierce, Linda Pope, Rayburn, Marcy Regan, Alice Rushing, Margaret Ryals, Sampson, Brenda Simon, Patty Sue Stevenson, Ellen Taylor and Nelda Woodward.