The Seasonal Decorations committee spotted the Easter Bunny outside of Town Hall this week.  Sure signs of Spring!

The annual White Elephant Auction was a huge success!  The event had more items, more participants and raised more funds than ever before. Hundreds of items were auctioned off with a silent auction and a live auction.  Thanks to everyone who donated, attended, or worked on the event!  The funds from the event will go towards the Club’s goal of beautifying Holden Beach!

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It is time for the Annual White Elephant Auction!  We will have hundreds of items to bid on during the Silent Auction beginning at 1:00PM on Wednesday, March 14.  At 2:00PM the fun really starts with the live auction.  Look at some of these prizes!

• A Four-Day Weekend Rental at a Second Row Pet-Friendly home!
• A Four-Day Weekend Rental at an Oceanfront home large enough for the whole gang!
• Professional Cleaning Services – get ready for Spring!
• Oil Changes for your car – you know you’re overdue!
• A gourmet Carrot-Pineapple cake, large enough to share!
• Essential Oil Basket for your health and well-being.
• Wine Basket – enough said…

The best part of this auction is that the proceeds help fund the Holden Beach Beautification Club!  Questions?  Contact Diana Hadesty, 301-922-9366.

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Guest Speaker Charley Winterbauer and Second Vice President Diana Hadesty.

The Holden Beach Beautification Club welcomed Charley Winterbauer to our February meeting.  Mr. Winterbauer, President of the Cape Fear Audubon Society and Co-Chair of the NC Native Plant Society, discussed the synergy of native plants and animals.  It is important to use native plants in the garden to feed and shelter the native birds.  These animals have evolved over thousands of years with the native plant species.  Our native bird species are in decline.  Migratory birds are losing 1% of individuals each year – 50% since 1968.  Non-native plants don’t support the needed caterpillars and other insects that are needed for young birds.  Some non-native plants, such as Nandina, are highly toxic to birds.

During the business meeting officers for 2018-2019 were elected.  Gayle Todd will serve as President, Becky Willis will serve as First Vice President, Cecelia Weston will serve as Second Vice President, Janice Schaffer-Sullivan will serve as Third Vice President, Vicki Myers will serve as Secretary and Donna Aycock will serve as Treasurer.  There were two guests at the meeting and a new member, Kate Felmly.  The White Elephant Auction planned for March 14 was discussed.  Watch for some great items in this year’s auction such as beach home rentals and boat rides!

Hostesses Ann Landis, Judy Brock and Carol Gardener (not pictured).

Kate Felmley is welcomed to the club by Becky Willis.

Everyone loves an auction!  It is time for the 5th Annual HBBC White Elephant Auction, Wednesday, March 14.  The Silent Auction for hundreds of items will begin at 1:00 pm followed by the live auction at 2:00 pm.  There are some great items this year such as:

• Housekeeping Services
• Gift Certificates
• Beach House Rentals
• Boat Cruise
• Other fun and unique items

Everyone is welcome to get in on the fun and bargains!  Come to the Holden Beach Chapel at 1:00 and start making bids on the silent auction items, then get your bid paddle ready for the fun during the live auction at 2:00!  The best part of the event is that all the proceeds go to a great cause:  beautifying Holden Beach!

Want more information?  Contact Diana Hadesty, 301-922-9366

You’re invited to the

Holden Beach Beautification Club’s

5th Annual Auction!

Wednesday, March 14

Silent Auction begins at 1:00pm          Live Auction starts at 2:00pm

Club members, it is time to start gathering your donations for the White Elephant Auction.  The Auction Committee is busy preparing for the sale and needs club members’ help securing items large and small!  In the past, items that have consistently received high bids have been:

• Gift certificates to favorite restaurants
• Event or activity tickets including gardens and museums
• Baked goods (homemade and purchased)
• Bottles of wine
• Other consumable items

So use your creativity and start planning your donation!  Drop off of items will be Tuesday, March 13, 9:00AM – Noon at the Chapel.

Questions?  Contact Auction Chair Diana Hadesty.

Looking for something fun to do while it is still too cold to work in our gardens?  Here is a winter-time roundup of area gardening happenings.

Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association  is hosting a seven-week “Day in the Yard” course beginning in early February.  It is offered in Calabash, Leland, Oak Island and Southport.  The cost is $85 and includes the publication Gardening by the Month in Coastal Carolina.

Pender County Master Gardeners are offering a course called “Leave Your Lilacs Behind!  Gardening Tips for Southern Transplants” on Tuesday, February 20.  The event is free.

Tidewater Camellia Club is hosting the 68^th Annual Tidewater Camellia Club Winter Show and Camellia Sale on Saturday, February 24 in Wilmington. Free!

New Hanover Garden Club and Harbor Island Garden Club  are co-hosting a Small Standard & Specialty Horticulture Flower Show March 9-10 in Wilmington.  Free!

Ikebana International Chapter 212 is sponsoring the Annual Ikebana Exhibition March 30-31 in Wilmington.  Free!

Cape Fear Garden Club – Azalea Garden Tour will be April 13-15. This is the 65th annual tour and part of the Azalea Festival.  Tickets are $25.

For more information on these events click here.

The Holden Beach Beautification Club welcomed Jill Peleuses from Wild Bird and Garden, who discussed the native birds in our yards and how to attract more birds.  Birds need water, food, and shelter.  Water this time of year is critical to help them clean and fluff their down to stay warm.   When we have the extremely cold temperatures that we have been experiencing the birds appreciate suet and extra seed.  Jill explained that birds may use birdhouses for shelter right now, but will be out at first light.

Bluebirds are native to our area, don’t migrate, and only range two to three miles.  They will be nesting in March-April and love shelled sunflower seeds and live mealworms.  We also have summer and winter hummingbirds here.  Mourning doves mate for life, but winter 400 miles apart.  Jill showed slides and also discussed cardinals, painted buntings, woodpeckers, house finches, tufted titmouses, chickadees, Carolina wrens, and nuthatches.

During the business meeting, 1st Vice President Beverly Compton reported that she will be chairing the nominating committee.  Anyone interested in serving on the committee or as an officer next year should contact her.  The auction was discussed.  Members suggested serving a meal and asking the whole membership about when they thought the auction should be.  The Art Committee will be meeting soon to plan the items for Days at the Docks.

Hostesses for the meeting were Dolly Mitchell (chair), Becky Willis, Linda Rast and Ros Stokes.

Our next meeting is February 14, at 1:00.

Hostesses Dolly Mitchell (chair), Linda Rast, Becky Willis, and Ros Stokes (not pictured).

The Beautification Club welcomed Sam Marshall, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent for State Extension in Brunswick County for an informative presentation on the natural history of North Carolina.  Sam shared fascinating facts about our state.  North Carolina is 1,700,000,000 years old and the Appalachian mountains are over a billion years old.  At one point they were the tallest in the world.  The Appalachians are a hot spot for biodiversity.  There is a high number of rare and endangered plants and animals.

Another spot in the state with high biodiversity is the Brunswick County area.  There are 60 to 70 ecotypes in the immediate area which are home to an astounding variety of plants and animals.  Our area has the highest concentration of Venus Flytraps in the world.  The eastern population of Painted Buntings only nest on barrier islands and move less than a mile.  We live in a very unique and special area.

After Sam’s presentation, the group heard from the Long Range Planning Committee regarding renovating Padgett Garden.  A vote was taken to endorse the renovation and the committee was congratulated on a job well done.  Click here to get all the details on the Padget Garden.   It was announced that the auction will be Saturday, March 10 from 3-7 PM at the Chapel.  Start planning your donation!

December Hostesses Cecelia Weston, Janice Schaffer Sullivan, and Gayle Todd (chair). Not pictured: Becky Willis.

Hostesses for the meeting were Gayle Todd, (Chair), and Cecelia Weston; Becky Willis and Janice Schaffer Sullivan pitched in for members out of town.

Chocolate!

Festive decor for the serving area.

Lovely tablescapes.

Cheese and crackers and to accompany the sweets!

Delicious choices for everyone.

Festive decor!

Key Lime Cake was a favorite!