On Tuesday, Oct. 9, 18 members of the Lake Bloomer’s Garden Club and three guests enjoyed a delicious luncheon hosted by the Carnation Team, assisted by the Snowdrop Team. The weather was magnificent.
October is the first meeting of the season and time for our Bountiful Harvest Auction. Members donated plants, preserves, crafts and re-gifted items for the annual auction with funds raised going to subsidize hall rental, speaker’s costs, and summer tours.
After refreshments and a short business meeting, lead by president Pauline Balmer, Carla Boe took over as auctioneer for the Carnation Team. She had the members in stitches as she goaded people into purchasing various future gifts for grandkids, friends, neighbours or themselves. Alliteration ran rampant as she described a preserve as being full of “puny pitted plums” stating how valuable the product was and how much work it took to pit plums and make a beautiful clear jelly out of them.
The Bountiful Harvest Auction was deemed a success as funds were collected by Penny Repesse, refreshments finished, tables cleared and dishes done by 3:20 p.m.
The Lake Bloomer’s Garden Club, established in 1996, holds meetings from October to May and garden tours from June to September. The purpose of the club is to encourage interest in, and the discussion of, information and knowledge about gardening in this region. It is also to promote community interest in gardening and the beautification of the Cowichan Lake area. Our gatherings are a positive atmosphere for new community members to socialize and meet people with common interests. Guests are always welcome.
Please note that for November and December 2012 we have changed meeting days to the first Tuesday of the month. Meetings are held at 1 p.m. at the Catholic Church on Fern Road in Lake Cowichan and once in a while we will have an evening meeting if the guest speaker cannot attend in the daytime.
The November meeting will be our Annual General Meeting. We also hope to have a DVD presentation on Genetically Modified Food along with door prizes and a 50/50 draw.
We will have a Christmas luncheon in December. The host team cooks the turkeys, potatoes, gravy and stuffing and purchases the door prizes paid for by the club. Partners and spouses are welcome and all members are asked to bring a potluck item to share. Each member or couple is also encouraged to bring a donation of $5 with the winning ticket holder deciding which local charity will receive the funds. Everyone enjoys our annual Christmas Carol sing-a-long led by Joan Henn on the keyboard.
—submitted by Carolyne Austin