Magnolia Garden Club holds monthly meeting at Arboretum

The Magnolia Garden Club of Ville Platte held its October meeting at the Arboretum on Monday, October 14. President Hazel Fontenot conducted the meeting, and Kim Hollier, staff member of the Arboretum, was the guest speaker. Hollier spoke about Louisiana wildflowers and gave a preview of other Arboretum programs.
The Arboretum covers 600 acres of Chicot State Park and has several walking and hiking trails for different fitness levels. The Paw-Paw’s Trail sounds like it is for senior citizens or those with walking difficulties. It is the least difficult and gets its name from the Paw-Paw tree. The Arboretum is a nature center teaching about native plants and animals. Programs are given on Saturdays to school, scout and other groups.
Hollier showed several books on wildflowers, colored pictures were displayed and she discussed the cultivation of wildflowers. A prairie wildflower garden is located in front of the Professor J.D. Lafleur Center. Many different kinds of wildflowers bloom throughout the year.
On Wednesday, October 16, six club members attended the District VII meeting of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, which was held in Opelousas at the Indian Hills Country Club. Members attending were Theresa Attales, Genevieve Ardoin, Joyce Coreil, Emma Jane Fontenot, Hazel Fontenot and Lynn Landreneau. Five members received the Circle of Roses Award during the event. These members are avid gardeners who have shared time and talent with the club to make the community, state and nation a better place to live while promoting the objectives of the state and national clubs. Several of the honorees have been garden club members for more than 40 years. Members of the Magnolia Garden Club receiving this honor were Genevieve Ardoin, Joyce Coreil, Emma Jane Fontenot, Elsie Manuel and Lynn Landreneau.
The Magnolia Garden Club’s fall project is the landscaping of the U.S. Post Office. Plans were finalized and the landscaping will be done soon by Randel Graser of Landscape Creations Inc.
After the meeting, members present enjoyed refreshments provided by hostess Elaine LaTour.