Too much of a good thing

Rain was welcomed by the O¯ ruru Garden Club members, especially hostess Val Folkard, before they gathered in Taipa¯ for this month’s meeting, but apparently gardeners can have too much of a good thing, and everyone was pleased to see the sun shining again before they got under way.

Vice-president Pat Lendich took the chair in place of Margaret Foster, who was recovering from a drama-filled holiday featuring cancelled flights, disappearing luggage, taking a taxi to her destination and catching a cold.

The decorative competition, an Easter arrangement with Easter eggs and flowers, produced a variety of baskets and bowls, while birthday girl Yvonne Anderson received a dish and tea towel.

Roll Call was an exchange of Easter eggs.

Auctioneer Yvonne Anderson and little elf Pat Lendich had most of the members bartering for the jams and plants, including some impressive hibiscus, on offer, while Pat won the competition by coming up with more correct answers in a plant quiz. Her reward was a pair of secateurs.

Lyn McDonald won the raffle, taking home a large pot of marigolds.

Afternoon tea featured some rum and raisin scones made by Lyn Hill, a cherry and walnut marshmallow slice made by Rosalie Hills, and other culinary delights.

Rosalie Hills and Pat Lendich won the lucky cup and lucky mug, both receiving plants for their gardens.

Well refreshed, members then enjoyed a stroll around John and Val’s very neat gardens.

“Last time we met at their home they had not long moved in, so it was interesting to see just how much work had been put into their property to make it look so colourful and tidy,” Pat said.

Meanwhile next month’s agenda will include the 61st AGM, which will follow the monthly meeting and a shared lunch. The Arrandale Cup, for most points over the preceding year, and the Norma Midgley Cup for most decorative competition points, will also be presented.

The decorative competition will be a Mother’s Day spray or corsage, with a white flower, roll call an exchange of gifts suitable for Mother’s Day.

It will also be time for members to pay their subs and to contribute a gift to the birthday box.