The Rocky Mount Garden Club held its annual Awards Day meeting May 26 at the DoubleTree Hotel. The tables were decorated with an array of fresh flowers that were artfully arranged by Laura O’Neal, Carol Beaudin, Mary Ann Crawford, Routh Robinson and Dawn Martin. After the meeting, these arrangements were given as door prizes.

President Brenda Crocker welcomed members, and the invocation was led by Rose Bailey. After a delicious meal, the business meeting began. The budget for the 2011-12 year was read and approved. President Crocker then presented her report of the year’s activities.

The programs for the year were interesting and varied. In September, the program was on Ikebana Flower Arranging. In October, members went to Nash Grove Manor as a part of a Garden Therapy Project. Residents were presented with small floral arrangements; some residents were able to help in making these designs.

In November, the fall meeting place at Lakeside Baptist Church was decorated with flowers from members’ yards. Florence Horton, a club member, presented some great ideas to incorporate in the arrangements of flowers from our own yards. Jane Parnell headed up the group in decorating our meeting place, and she applied for a state award. Members were delighted to learn that the Rocky Mount Garden Club won first place in the state for this project.

Peggy Daughtridge hosted a brunch at her home in December. The hostess provided the food for this lovely affair. In January, the program was led by Laura O’Neal. It was a question and answer session for member participation. It was a great learning experience.

Hal Peck, a Rocky Mount designer and a “local treasure,” presented an interesting program on arranging flowers from our own yards. Recommendations included using a silver tea service for the arrangements.

The March meeting was a planned trip to an arboretum in Raleigh, but because of inclement weather this trip had to be cancelled.

Thanks to Carol Beaudin, the club had a successful yard sale. Raffle tickets were sold at $1 each for the Garden Of Your Dreams. The winner of the raffle was Vivian Warren. Members of the club designed and planted flowers and shrubs in a corner of Warren’s yard. A poster depicting before and after scenes was highlighted during the club’s final meeting.

The club planted flowers and shrubs at N.C. Wesleyan College, and as a result won second place in the state for this project.

At Braswell Park, members have cleaned up the park and planted azaleas. Flowers have been put in Braswell Memorial Library each month, and flowers have been planted at the downtown Senior Center and at the Blue Star Memorial sites. At each meeting, members have been encouraged to participate in a Mini-Flower Show. Georgia Mixon and Margaret Barnes have done a great job in judging these arrangements at each meeting.

The club is proud to have gained 11 new members this year.

The following awards were presented:

Mini-Flower Show to Jane Oliver for Design and to Florence Horton for showing the most flowers.

The Scrapbook Award was presented to Dawn Martin.

The Woman of the Year Award was presented to Priscilla Sykes.

Each year the club alternates in giving a scholarship to a deserving student either at Edgecombe Community College or Nash Community College. This year’s scholarship was presented to Halima Silver at Edgecombe Community College. Silver and her mother were present at the meeting.

After the presentation of awards, the following people were installed as officers for the 2011-13 term:

President Debbie Zavadil.

First Vice President Sandy Ogburn.

Second Vice President Linda Brown.

Third Vice Presidents Sonja Skelton and Jane Parnell.

Secretary Dawn Martin.

Treasurer Mary Ann Crawford.

The meeting was adjourned after the installation of officers.