HAWLEY, PA — November was a very special month for all the members of the Country Gardeners’ Club because they celebrated their 30th anniversary.   Nobody would have expected that this club, which was born in 1993 in the kitchen of one of the founding members, would have had such a long and vital run.

An anniversary cake and the regular snacks were enjoyed at the start of the meeting and then guest speaker Lynn Hlubik demonstrated how to prepare flower arrangements for the holidays.

“What I like about the fall is that you can find a lot of material in your back yard and on vacant land,” said Hlubik, reminding the members that if you go to vacant land take sparingly so plants will grow back the next season.  She has been a TCG member for many years, a professional florist and flower designer by training and loves to share her knowledge not only with the club members but with other institutions like the Hawley Public Library where she did workshops organized by the Friends of the Library.

Hydrangeas are her favorite flower for the dry flower arrangements that were made for a season full of holidays and celebrations. With hydrangeas, you do not need a lot of other materials.  However, she pointed out that to ensure the hydrangeas will bloom again next year, do not cut them too far down on the stems. 

She also advised the members concerning lilies: “Remove the stamens or they will dirty your tablecloth, counter and even your clothing.”  Do not forget to cover the center of the pot with moss, be ready to go hunting for material, and have fun doing your dry flower arrangements.

In December, TCG closed the 2023 season with the annual Christmas party, and its members will hibernate till spring when, like the gardens, they will gather again in April.