NW Florida Garden Clubs to meet at the Beach

The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) will hold their District I Fall Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 3 hosted by the Green Thumb Garden Club of Santa Rosa Beach.

Four counties of Northwest Florida garden clubs in District 1 will participate in the fall conference. Garden club members belonging to the federation from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties will gather at Christ the King Episcopal Church to greet the visiting state officers. Cinny O'Donnell of Pensacola, FFGC President, will elaborate on the organization's theme, "Focus on Florida."

Registration and continental breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. with the business meeting at 9:15 a.m. Local Master Floral Designers, Russ Barley and Tim Ard of Emerald Coast Flowers and Gifts will demonstrate "Fall in Florida = Funky Floral Design." A hearty lunch will be served. Ideas for club projects and programs will be shared before attendees return to their home turf. According to the meeting chairman, Marianne Burbach, the cost for the day's activities is $15 and reservations should be made with Sharon Hazleton at 850- 622-5658 or sharetron@mchsi.com.

Anyone interested in joining a garden club or forming one in his or her neighborhood should contact the FFGC District I Director, Barbara Young at 850- 622-0192 or bayoubarbara@aol.com. The web site is www.ffgc.org. FFGC District I will be hosting the state convention, "Coastal Capers" on Pensacola Beach in April 2008.