One of Creative Cascades’ beautiful water features.

Josh Rickards and part of his slideshow of past projects.

At the October meeting of the Holden Beach Beautification Club Josh Rickards, owner of Creative Cascades in Wilmington showed members how to add a water feature to their yard that also harvests and stores rainwater.  Josh shared a slideshow of some of his beautiful creations with the group.

A small feature for a home garden can be made for $300 to $500 and a large commercial one can cost $25,000 or more. He also talked about better methods of capturing rainwater which can be used not only for the fountain but for other household water needs. He uses this type of underground method when designing and building the water features. This makes the water features both beautiful and environmentally friendly. 

The Club is getting ready for Festival By the Sea.  The Art Committee has created some gorgeous pieces to sell and club members are needed to man the booth during the weekend.

Hostesses for the meeting were Carol Ann Lohman, Jane Decker, Alice Polo, Pam Burris and Judy Brock.

Get out your gloves!  It is time to plant fall flowers.  Over 100 flats of flowers have been ordered and will be added to Padgett Garden, Town Hall, Pocket Park and the Butterfly Garden in the next few weeks. Contact Becky Greene if you are available to help plant or pick up flowers.  Residents and visitors should get ready for beautiful fall color all around the Island!

Upcoming activities include Boo at the Beach, the Thanksgiving Luncheon and the December Field Trip to Brookgreen Garden’s Night of a Thousand Candles.

Be sure to stop by the Holden Beach Beautification Club’s booth at Festival By the Sea this weekend, October 24-25.

Our famous calendars are in and you can pick one up!  Each year Beautification Club members collect their most beautiful photos of the Holden Beach area for the annual calendar.  The very best are selected for the calendar which is professionally produced in limited quantities each fall.  The calendars are collectible, and are also popular holiday gifts.

In addition, check out our booth for some wonderful artwork from the talented HBBC ladies.  All artwork is handmade locally.  There will be Pallet Art, Wooden Cut-outs, concrete plaques and a return of the very popular garden Lady Bugs!

Best of all, all proceeds from our booth go to fund the club and our mission to beautify the public garden areas of Holden Beach.

Set of three concrete, shell-shaped plaques

Set of four concrete garden ladybugs

Painted, wooden seahorse wall art. Our booth will feature many different shapes, not just seahorses.

Handmade, painted wood pallet art

The Holden Beach Beautification Club celebrated 25 years at the September Meeting. President Gayle Todd welcomed special guests including Mayor Alan Holden, Town Manager David Hewett, GCNC District 11 Director Gloria Degnan and past HBBC presidents and members of the club.

Town Manager David Hewett read a resolution adopted by the town commissioners recognizing the club’s 25^th anniversary and its service to the community. HBBC works with the town on the design and maintenance of the public gardens and areas on the island.

Past presidents shared their memories of the earlier days of the club and some brought memorabilia to add to the club’s history.

President Todd recognized our Golden Gardeners and past presidents with a yellow rose. Golden Gardeners are members who have been a member for 15 or more years. The hostesses provided a lavish buffet including a cake celebrating 25 years.

The next meeting of the club will be October 14. If you are not a member and live or own property on the island, consider joining us! Email HBBC for more information.

Mayor Holden and Town Manager David Hewitt present President Gail Todd with the proclamation.

HBBC 25th Anniversary Celebration!

Marlene Hahn and Peggy Schiavone are long-time HBBC members.

Past HBBC Presidents

New members and their sponsors.

Past President Sandy Miller

Past President Sheila Young

Past President Marlene Hahn

Past President Peggy Schiavone

Mayor Alan Holden

Hostesses from L to R are: Lillian West, Connie Jo Boyte, Donna Blume, Jean Smithson and Joyce Lanning

Golden Gardners Jane Ivey, Marlene Hahn, Peggy Schiavone and Sandy Miller

Summer may be winding down, but there is still a lot fun happening on the island!  

The Town has offered HBBC the opportunity to sell tickets for the 50/50 raffle at the August 30 Summer Concert featuring Sea Cruz.  HBBC gets to keep a portion of the proceeds.  Funds raised will be used to enable HBBC to continue our work on the island.  So come enjoy a great band and support a great cause!  Concerts start at 6:30pm.  Hope to see you there!

Valued HBBC member Gary Weathersbee passed away May 4, 2015.  We have placed a memory stone in the Padgett Garden in his honor.  Gary shared his love of gardening with all of us and we will remember his many contributions to HBBC.   We send love to his wife, and HBBC member, Pat.

Holden Beach Bridge Project, designed by NCDOT and HBBC, rendering by Greg Shue.

The Brunswick County Commissioners have approved the Holden Beach Bridge Project!  This project, which will landscape the north (mainland) side of the bridge, was also approved by the Town of Holden Beach Commissioners at their June meeting.

The project was designed by NCDOT and HBBC and will include 18,000 plants.  The NCDOT is expected to begin construction in November.

The three flower beds will be maintained by HBBC and the Holden Beach commissioners have approved the maintenance of the other new landscaping.  Starting this fall look for beautiful plantings on both ends of the bridge!

Each year Beautification Club members collect their most beautiful photos of the Holden Beach area for the annual calendar.  The very best are selected for the calendar which is professionally produced in limited quantities each fall.  The calendars are collectible, and are also popular holiday gifts.

For the first time, we are taking orders in advance to make sure we have enough and to allow those who do not live in the area a chance to purchase one.  Calendars cost $15 plus an additional $5 for shipping.  We will ship calendars  to anywhere in the US.

The best part is that the proceeds are used to run the Club, whose mission is to beautify our island.

You may order a calendar by sending a check for $15 plus $5 shipping and this form to Treasurer Donna Aycock, 125 Durham St., Holden Beach, NC  28462.

You may also order a calendar using PayPal by clicking here:

The Town has offered HBBC the opportunity to sell tickets for the 50/50 raffle at the June 28 Summer Concert featuring Rick Strickland Band.  HBBC gets to keep a portion of the proceeds.  Funds raised will be used to enable HBBC to continue our work on the island.  So come enjoy a great band and support a great cause!

If you can’t make the concert on the 28th, plan to join us August 30 for Sea Cruz, where we will also run the 50/50!  You can view the full concert schedule here.

HBBC Members enjoyed a fantastic meal and the beautiful setting at The View at Brick Landing for the end of year social. The new officers for 2015-2016 were installed by out-going President Carol Ann Lohman.  Incoming Officers are President Gayle Todd, 1st Vice President Donna Aycock, 2nd Vice President Carolyn Metrakos, 3rd Vice President Lillian West, Secretary Sharon Butler, and Treasurer Gina Martin.

Awards were presented by the outgoing officers.  The Golden Trowel Award, selected by the President, was given to Dianna Hadesty and Fran Pompeii.   Club Members of the Year, selected by the members, were Donna Aycock and Dianna Hadesty.  New Member Sponsors, Donna Aycock, Carol Lehr, Gina Martin and Cecelia Weston were recognized.

The Club will take a break for the summer and resume meetings in September.  Hope to see you then!

Incoming Officers 2015-2016: President Gayle Todd, 1st Vice President Donna Aycock, 3rd Vice President Lillian West, Secretary Sharon Butler, Treasurer Gina Martin. (Not pictured: 2nd Vice President Carolyn Metrakos)

At the May meeting, members were treated to Allen Ayling’s video presentation of the sea life he has encountered while diving all over the world. Mr. Ayling has completed over 1500 dives in oceans across the globe and documents his trips with underwater video.  He shared video of sea life ranging from 15′ manta rays to tiny half inch seahorses.  Members were reminded to get their RSVP in for the May Social to Donna Aycock by May 20th.  The Plant Sale and Days at the Docks booth were great successes raising in excess of $2400.  Watch your email, Spring planting of the gardens is coming soon!

May Hostesses Judy Brock, Pam Burris and Peggy Allen