The Junior Group of the Dallas Garden Club’s seventy-first annual Flower Show and High Tea, "Southern Living," was held April 6th, 2017, at the home of Mrs. Michael W. Seay, and was chaired by Mrs. Benjamin P. Gates.
The purpose of a Standard Flower Show as outlined by National Garden Clubs Inc. (NGC) is to educate club members and the viewing public, to stimulate interest in horticulture and floral design, to provide an outlet for creative expression, and to convey to the community the objectives of NGC.
This year’s Flower Show Chairman Joanne Gates and Club President Allison Vanderwoude, along with the Flower Show committee, worked very hard to prepare the annual event. Committee members included Kathryn Beach, Mallory Broaddus, Molly Carson, Meredith Clark, Annie Cochran, Victoria Cullum, Shannon Feeney, Liz Helfrich, Garnett Holmes, Kaleta Johnson, Hallie Lewis, Carlen Long, Pleasant McCulloch, Tara McGraw, Jennifer Pankratz, Angela Penfold, Caroline Quisenberry, Missy Saalfield, Cheryl Schoellkopf, Melanie Schoenvogel, Nancy Scripps, Murphey Sears, Betsie Sears, Stephanie Stone, Gina Underwood, and Anne Williams, along with several volunteers and judges who helped out the day of the Flower Show.
Nearly 200 women attended this event, where club members showcased their talents by submitting flower arrangements and horticulture specimen entries in various categories. In addition to touring the Seays’ lovely home, guests enjoyed stunning flower arrangements, entertainment by the European Jazz Ensemble, and refreshments, including a signature almond tea, prepared by 108 Catering.
The Southern-inspired flower arrangements were fashioned after cities, events, and establishments in the South, including Charleston, New Orleans, The Peabody Hotel, Pebble Hill Plantation, Blackberry Farm, The Kentucky Derby, The Grand Ole Opry, Mardi Graw, and The Tyler Rose Festival, to name a few.
The Junior Group of the Dallas Garden Club was federated in 1946 and holds membership in National Garden Clubs, Inc. South Central Region, Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. District X, North Dallas Garden Forum and Dallas Council of Garden Clubs. In addition to regular meetings and workshops, other activities include a cocktail party honoring new members; a children’s Halloween party; poinsettia and caladium bulb sales; a philanthropy project; a Christmas Coffee; and the annual Flower Show and Tea, which is held each spring.