The Forget-Me-Not and Ben Arthur garden club participated in October Fall Fun Day, which was held on Columbus Day at the Lauderdale County Welcome Center.
With school out for the holiday, children and grandchildren of the center's staff were present. The clubs presented a fall planting demonstration. The youth were informed that the top of the bulb is the flower blooms and the bottom the root, and how to plant them.
Yellow daffodils, hyacinths and pansies were planted in four planters on the porch of the Welcome Center. A firepower nandina shrub is planted in the center of the plants; its leaves turn red in the winter. Yellow hyacinths were planted on one side of the shrub and purple ones on the other side. They will bloom later in spring and will provide more color for tourists to the center to view.
Two rows of yellow daffodils were planted to the back. These grow foliage, then bloom in spring. Pansies were planted on top of bulb that will bloom all winter.
The bulbs were donated by VanZyverden Inc. The garden clubs donated the pansy plants they planted. On Earth Day in April, the clubs planted caladium bulbs and annuals for color.
Fall floral designs and gourds are displayed inside the Welcome Center. Keep America Beautiful volunteers also created a Keep Meridian Clean on Halloween display which included litter bags for young tourists. There also were several exhibits with pumpkins, hay, scarecrows and gourds.
The center's travel consultants greeted and welcomed tourists. Lemonade and cup cakes were served.
• Report submitted by Helen Gough.
