Awards top Bayou Vista Garden Club April meeting

“Zapped” was the theme of the program presented at the Bayou Vista Garden Club April meeting.
President Donna Bucci announced the Louisiana Garden Club Federation awards presented to Bayou Vista Garden Club at the recent Louisiana Garden Club Federation convention. Bayou Vista was one of six garden clubs in the state recognized for fulfilling all the accomplishments for the four non-competitive awards: Garden Club Achievement, gold seal with ribbon; Horticulture Honor Roll, gold seal; Special Conservation Award and Arbor Day Award.
In competitive awards the club received Yearbook, honorable mention; Jo N. Evans Roadside Improvement, first place and $25; Valerie Barnum Civic Development Award, first place and $25; and Yearbook, second place, small clubs.
Attending the convention held March 26 to 28 was Bucci and Jo Ann Ryan. The vent was hosted by District 6 members at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Baton Rouge.
They also visited the Imahara’s Botanical Gardens in St. Francisville. Walter Imahara, a third generation Japanese gardener, led the tour and showed examples of texture, form, line and pattern in landscape design.
During the meeting, member Janice Verret presented a program that demonstrated preserving flowers and foliage using the microwave. The process was determined by the objective of either preserving the natural form or pressing. Pam Breaux assisted in the presentation. Projects crafted by Verret and Breaux were displayed and included floral arrangements on driftwood and in various containers, picture-frame mat, bookmarker, headband, decorative dispenser, candles and an Easter bonnet. Each member received a handout on the program.
Jean Chauvin, horticulture chairman, discussed the horticulture exhibit of Belleza Gaura, also known as Butterfly Gaura. Chauvin said the perennial features spikes of pink flowers from early summer to early fall and reaches a height of 18 inches with a spread of 12 inches. A selection of a native North American species, Belleza Gaura is attractive to butterflies and is tolerant of heat, drought and humidity.
The feral hog problem in Louisiana was the focus of Wildlife Conservation Chairman Nancy Marcel. She said that the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries is concerned about the increasing number of hogs which is estimated at 700,000. Feral hogs destroy levees, destroy crops, damage habitat for other game animals and are plagued by a multitude of diseases that can affect humans, commercial swine operations and wildlife. House Bill 353, which would allow year-round day or night hunting of hogs on private property, is currently under consideration, she said.
Environmental Awareness Chairman Kim Alcina displayed upcycling crafts which used rain boots, a variety of cake molds and Bundt pans as planters. Some of the molds were adapted for hanging planters.
Hostesses were Verdie Laws, Verret, Breaux and Jeannie Lawrence. The design, “Easter Sunrise,” was created by Verret utilizing flowers preserved using the microwave and included yellow roses, mock orange blossoms, iris leaves and moss attached to driftwood.
Donna Richard won the door prize. The May meeting will be held at the home of Jean and Darryl Chauvin in Patterson.