The Holden Beach Beautification Club held the end of year Social on May 11, at The View Restaurant.  The social is the grand finale for a year of plantings, projects, landscaping and festivals. It is also the time new officers are inducted for the coming year and new chairmen of committees are announced.

Special guests were Mayor Alan Holden, Town Manager David Hewett, Town Clerk Heather Finnell and Parks and Rec Director Christy Ferguson.  The Town is a big supporter of HBBC during the year and we are so grateful for their help.

President Gayle Todd welcomed everyone and explained to those attending that the front of the program depicting our theme for the year, “To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow”, could be colored and entered into a contest for best “adult coloring” which would be judged at the end of the meeting. Members and guests colored throughout the meeting and social. FUN!  After a short speech by Gayle about the successful year for HBBC, Diana Hadesty blessed the food.

Awards were announced. Garden Club of North Carolina awarded HBBC first place in the state for landscaping design for the Padgett Garden Extension.  Sharon Butler gave out new members sponsor gifts, Gayle awarded the Trowel Award to Carolyn Metrakos and the Club Member of the Year Award, voted on by all the members, went to Donna Blume.

Gayle thanked the officers and committee chairs with a gift from her.  The Club presented Gayle with an engraved garden stone for her work as President.

Gayle then installed the new officers: Gina Martin, President, Fran Pompeii, 1st VP, Diana Hadesty 2nd VP, Lillian West, 3rd VP, Linda Rast, Secretary, and Donna Aycock, Treasurer.

Gina Martin expressed her thanks for support for the coming year and announced the chairmen for committees:  Becky Willis, Landscaping, Cecelia Weston, Art, Judy Brock, Awards,  Marlene Hahn, Sunshine/Devotion,  Pam Burris, YOM,  Pat Schwaiger, Plant Sale, and Seasonal Decorations to be announced.

Three prizes were given to best colored program, 1st place Becky Greene, 2nd place, Ann Landis and third place, Linda Rast.

Robin Weir, AIFD,the owner of Southport’s newest Flower Shop, Wild by Nature was our speaker for the April Meeting.  Robin gave a great demonstration on using cut flowers, air plants, and greenery to create stunning arrangements and focal points for the home.

Robin relocated from Connecticut two years ago and finally feels like she‘s home. She has been in the floral business for 20 years. Her career experiences have included design/manager for several retail stores in Connecticut, an international event company in Orlando, Fl. and the supply manager of a New England floral wholesaler.

In 2005 and 2007, she won the “Connecticut Floral Design of the Year” and went to the nationals to represent her state. In 2007, she was inducted into the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers.

Ms. Weir has served on the AIFD board of directors and from 2011-2013, she was a featured designer for AIFD at the Philadelphia flower Show.

Hostess: Marcie Callen (Chairman), Jane Ivey, Fran Pompeii, Linda Rast, Lane Wood

April Hostesses Marci Callen (chair), Linda Rast, Fran Pompeii, and Jane Ivey.

The Landscape Committee wrapped up the spring planting for the beds around Town Hall yesterday.  New Guinea Impatients, snapdragons, and other annuals were added for summer color.  Padgett Garden, at the foot of the bridge, is also complete and summer planting for the other gardens will be finished soon as well.

Hundreds of plants were added to the gardens on the island this spring thanks to the Landscaping Committee and other club members.  Expenses for planting the gardens are covered by donations and fundraisers such as the spring plant sale, festival booths and the Garden Tour.

The annual Holden Beach Beautification Club Plant Sale ends tomorrow!  

Saturday is your last chance to pick up some gorgeous plants from area nurseries and others grown by club members including many unique and hard to find varieties.  Our knowledgeable gardeners can tell you exactly where and how to plant your finds and how to keep them healthy and beautiful.

Come by the EOC Building on Sabbath Home Rd. (behind the Food Lion shopping center) from 9am -3pm Saturday.

All proceeds from the Plant Sale go towards landscaping materials for the gardens on the island.  Hope to see you there!

As always, HBBC will have a booth at Days at the Docks on April 23-24 and will be selling the beautiful creations the Art Committee has crafted along with garden gloves and other goodies.  Mark your calendar and plan to stop by the booth!  And remember, proceeds from sales go towards efforts to beautify our island!

Framed shells.

Member Marci Callen and her artwork.

Art Committee members show off some of the framed shell artwork.

Framed Shells.

At the March meeting of the Holden Beach Beautification Club members and guests enjoyed a fascinating demonstration of the art of Ikebana or Japanese floral arranging.  Nancy Gettys, of Weaverville and Holden Beach has been studying Ikebana for 10 years. She currently holds the rank of Junior Master in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. Nancy has done various demonstrations and exhibitions. Some are The Southern Highland Guild Fair, The North Carolina Arboretum, The Folk Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway and several garden clubs and nurseries and retirement homes.  Nancy demonstrated several forms of arrangement and the theory behind the floral designs.   The simple lines of the arrangements create gorgeous displays.

Hostesses for the meeting presented a beautiful table of springtime treats.  Thanks to Peggy Allen (chairman), Joyce Montgomery, Carol Colclough, Pat Harrington, and Pat Schwaiger.

Plan to Kick Off the Spring Gardening Season with the HBBC Plant Sale!

The Holden Beach Beautification Club is having their 5^th annual plant sale on Friday, April 22^nd and Saturday, April 23^rd from 9:00 to 3:00. The sale will take place at the Emergency Operating Center (EOC Building) on Sabbath Home Road, near the Holden Beach Food Lion. There will be a great variety of landscaping plants, perennials and annuals, as well as gardening gloves available for purchase. All proceeds go towards the continual landscaping of Holden Beach, as well as, the entrance to the bridge on the mainland side. For more information, contact Diana Hadesty at 301-922-9366. Cash and Checks only.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia).  This NC native plant thrives at the beach.

Gardening at the beach is a challenge!  The NC Extension Master Gardeners in Dare County have created a great video on how to garden successfully on the Outer Banks.  Since gardeners on Holden Beach face many of the same challenges of poor, sandy soil, salt,  wind, heat and drought most of the video is applicable to our area as well.

The video explains the different zones on the islands, plant selection, watering tips, how to protect plants and planting dates.

Click here to go to the video and see if you can learn something to make your garden more successful!

President Gayle Todd and Second Vice President Carolyn Metrakos with Steve Mercer of Coastal Transplants.

The February meeting focused on our beach front.  Steve Mercer of Coastal Transplants gave a fascinating talk on the techniques he is using to protect and build the dunes on Holden Beach.  He plants a combination of Sea Oats, Bitter Panicum and American Beach Grass.  Each plant has a purpose and they work together to hold sand in place and trap sand when it blows.  Spartina, Seashore Elder and Sea Rocket are also common along our beach and lend a hand in building and stabilizing our dunes.

Hostesses Dolly Mitchell (Chairman), Sandy Miller, Marlene Hahn, Ros Stokes and Carol Lehr provided a beautiful assortment of snacks with a Valentine’s Day theme.

February Hostesses Dolly Mitchell (Chairman), Sandy Miller, Marlene Hahn, Ros Stokes and Carol Lehr (not pictured)

One of the most popular meetings on the HBBC calendar is coming up soon.  The Club’s annual White Elephant Auction will happen January 13 at 1:00pm.  Get your pen ready to bid on great items in the silent auction then make sure your auction paddle is ready to get your bids in during the live auction!  Members, guests, friends and the general public are welcome to attend – and the best part is that all the proceeds go to help HBBC beautify Holden Beach!

Over 200 items will be available at the Silent Auction and the live auction including wine, scented candles, baked good, antiques, silver, gardening gear, decor, and many other items.  HBBC Members (and anyone else who would like to donate) should bring their items to the Chapel on Tuesday, January 12 from 10-3.  If you would like to donate an item but can’t make the drop off time contact Gayle at 910-846-3007 to arrange pick up.  

So look through your Christmas gifts and closets for items that need repurposing and donate them to a great cause.  Then plan to come to the White Elephant Auction and bring a friend so you can both take home a great deal!  See you January 13!