Magnolia Garden Club presents monthly awards

The Magnolia Garden Club recently chose the Garden of the Month and Civic Pride awards for the month of April. The recipient of the Garden of the Month was S.J. “Joe” Guillotte. He is 93 years old and tends his own flower garden plus a huge vegetable garden and citrus orchard behind his home. Large pine trees dot the front lawn and the curving driveway is lined with azaleas, magnolias, spiraea, and white oleander plants. Red amaryllis, red knock out roses and sago palms are found near the house. Liriope plants provide an edging along the drive. A bird bath is featured in the center of this front bed.
The Red Lady Boutique and Garden owned by Jessica Perrodin, formerly named The Best Flowers and Gifts, is the recipient of the Civic Pride Award. The formal grand opening of the changed business was held Friday, May 1, at noon. Plantar boxes surrounding the front entrance of the new business showcase agapanthus and asparagus ferns. The featured show place is the patio at the side of the building. At vantage points, large palms are in pots anchored by trailing ivy. Pots filled with white daisies and some pots with red impatiens place color in several locations. Window boxes on the store wall are filled with two colors of coleus, aspidistra and garden ornaments in the shape of colorful flowers and mushrooms near a windchime hanging in the tree. Two kinds of banana trees in pots placed near the rear of the patio will catch the southern breezes of wind. Two seating areas near the garden fountain provide a restful place to visit with friends after shopping.