Friendships in blooms at show
Lands End Garden Club president Marilyn Clark didn’t mince words when she described her feelings at the club closing down at the weekend.
‘‘I bawled,’’ she said.
The garden club announced earlier this year it would finish up, and it would be the last time it would host its annual flower show in Bluff on February 9 and 10, in conjunction with the Southland Dahlia Circle.
Members of the club, which has been going for 20 plus years, decided to call it a day when they struggled to find office bearers.
Clark said members were all older now and struggled with certain things like setting up tables for the show.
For her, the garden club had been a network of friendships and a way to give back to the community.
‘‘We’ve donated to a lot of Bluff groups,’’ she said.
The members are committed to staying in touch and swapping to social catch-ups once a month.
Founding member of the club Yvonne White said yesterday afternoon had been quite emotional as speeches were read out.
The first meeting of the club was held at White’s house, and like Clark, she said, the club had brought years of friendships.
However, members were getting older and well into their 70s and it was not practical to continue.
At the show, White came second in a section with one of her Irish gladioli.