Purchase Area Master Gardener Association

(PAMGA)

We have a number of projects that we work on throughout the year.  There are varied activities so members can choose those that best fit their interests and skills.

       Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc. State Convention

Several PAMGA members also belong to the Garden Club of Kentucky via the Purchase Area Master Gardener Garden Club.  Every five years, the Audubon District hosts the annual state convention of the Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc.  In April, 2005, PAMGA members were responsible for various aspects of the state convention including a day of pre-convention workshops.  (The addition of pre-convention workshops was a new twist for 2005).  Master Gardener Elaine Oehlschlaeger, who is also President of the Potting Shed Garden Club, chaired the convention.  Here's a photo collection of some of the convention highlights.

Master Gardeners Diane Carmain, Carol Ullerich and Carolyn Roof put together a pre-convention workshop titled, "Preparing for a Garden Show."  The concept was to walk potential flower show entrants through the process of reading a show schedule, interpreting it and developing a design that would be worthy of a ribbon.  Diane and Carol created a series of designs based on the schedule for the June, 2005 McCracken County Fair Flower Show.  Carolyn Roof, with her back to the camera below, shared basic design principles with the class and then used the designs to explain what to do and a few pitfalls to avoid.  Here, Master Gardeners Sally Wilkins (one of the organizers of the Fair Flower Show) and Shirley Edwards give close inspection to designs evoking the movies "Waterworld" and "The Aviator."

As a one-two punch, following the "Preparing for a Flower Show" session, there was a hands-on workshop in which participants created a design of their own choosing using a store-bought bouquet of flowers and either a glass or black container.  All supplies were provided for the session which was limited to 15 participants.  The session drew interest from several passers by who stopped in for a peek, a hint or two and a chat.  At right, Diane Carmain creates a line design using equisetum, spider mums and pine.

The opening night banquet of the convention paid tribute to the Flower Show Judge's Council which is celebrating its 50th year.  Upon entering the dining room, attendees saw a bevy of exquisite floral arrangements in various stages of completion.  The featured speaker was flower show judge and designer Jo Krallman of Arkansas.  She created a "birthday design" just for the event.  At left is a montage of the designs Krallman described and completed during her after-dinner talk.

Purchase Area Master Gardener Association, 2705 Olivet Church Road, Paducah, Ky 42001 270/554-9520  FAX 270/554-8283  www.pamga.org