Hello My Friends,

We have a busy few months coming up so get your 2024 calendars ready!

Wednesday, January 17, will be our first meeting of 2024. Our program will focus on “Flower Trends of Today” featuring Russ Barley, our favorite Mayor of Freeport, demonstrating new floral trends! Russ is the owner of Emerald Coast Flowers and Gifts in Freeport.

Friday, January 19, we will celebrate Arbor Day at Legion Park in Miramar Beach. This is a program FFGC is running statewide. All the garden clubs will be planting a tree at the same time. We will be dedicating a mighty Live Oak tree to Donna Johns. For those of you who don’t know her, she is a mother, grandmother, a retired Special Ops Agent in the United States Air Force, a 2 time cancer survivor and recently became the District 4 Commissioner for Walton County.

Channel 7 will be covering our event. Thank you Stephanie Phillips for arranging this coverage. We hope all of you will participate in this event! Festivities begin at 10 AM! Try to arrive at 9:45, parking is limited.

Wednesday, February 21, February’s meeting is all about setting your table. So ladies get your team together, get those creative juices flowing and show us your skills. That’s right. This will be a friendly competition with prizes. More information will be at the January meeting. Please be ready to sign up and pick your table size. Table size will be available first come, first serve. All tables will be set with white linens.

Landscape Award Nominations: Calling on all GTGC members to submit your favorite landscapes around Walton county…your neighbors and friends deserve to be recognized. We have 6 categories:

1. Large Landscape (lot size 1/2 acre or more)
2. Small Landscape (lot 1/2 acre or less)
3. DIY Landscape (Not Professionally maintained or planted)
4. Native Landscape (Native Azaleas, Coontie, Saw Palmetto, Live Oaks, Florida Anise)
5. Yard of Merit (a GTGC Member Nomination)
6. Commercial Landscape (Resort, Shopping Area, Church, Community complex, Park…)

Please submit your nominations by to Sheryl Rutkowski, Chairperson by March 1, 2024

Wednesday, April 10 – 12, is the FFGC 100th Anniversary in Jacksonville, FL! Please plan to attend one, two, or all three days to enjoy the Flower Show or visit with Laura Dowling. GTGC would like to plan a group gathering at the hotel so let Carroll Walsh know if you plan to attend soon. Car pooling is recommended.
Registration deadline is March 11, 2024.

We love and appreciate every one of you and look forward to seeing you on January 17!

We Never Walk Alone,
Lori