“November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night come early,
And dawn come late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And the earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
— Elizabeth Coatsworth
ELKINS — The November meeting of the Emma Scott Garden Club (ESGC) was a time of sitting back and enjoying the beauty of the gardening labors of many members/gardeners from the club.
Most gardeners have been working to “put their gardens to bed” even though the extended warm weather had been enticing plants to grow and bloom longer than usual. Vice President Summer Kirk Swanson and member Cameron Kirk put together a power point presentation from gardening pictures submitted by members.
The vibrant colors of flowers and the lush green of plants helps one remember why gardeners toil in the ground each spring. The work, itself, is therapeutic and superb exercise for the mind and body. Then there is the final product which can be glorious to behold.
Even failures lend themselves for new experimentation and repeated trials to get that perfect end result. For example, using an above ground swimming pool shell to protect the vegetable garden from predators is ingenious.
The beauty and the bounty is something from which the gardener, the neighborhood and the community can seek solace, pride and joy. As the earth rests, the avid gardener is already planning for next year.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
– Audrey Hepburn
Hostesses for the evening were Debra Barsy and Debbie Phares, who provided a smorgasbord of appetizers.
The ESGC 75th Christmas Party will be on Dec. 9 at the Elks Lodge. A fully catered dinner menu will be served. A gift exchange will occur for those interested and those attending are encouraged to wear a crazy Santa Hat for a contest.
Donations of cookies and fruit will be accepted for the students at Elkins Mountain Schools who provide volunteer services throughout the community.
