Annual Dinner and First Silent Auction a Huge Success

Blackstone Valley Gardeners recently held their annual potluck dinner with a new addition...a silent auction that featured items donated by members that were bid on by members. Many of the items highlighted the wonderful talents of our members including a beautiful hydrangea wreath made by Mary Fedorczuk, hand painted note cards by Ann Hanscom, a lovely art piece made with wax by Charee MacDonald, a teapot flower arrangement by Barbara Griffiths, Marion Desmond's sought after homemade Italian cookies, and much more. There were baskets filled with goodies made by members and services donated by trades people such as the pruning services of Ed Palmer that was a very popular item. It was a lively event chaired by Jackie Bean who promoted it with her unique and upbeat sense of humor...and after all was said and done the club coffers were enhanced by almost $1000. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a variety of delicious dishes made by members including Brenda Rosborough's ever popular oriental salad, Val Kara's strawberry spinach salad, Maria' Masmanian's arroz con pollo, and yummy desserts including Penny Nelson's kahlua cake, Kathleen Mcdonald's strawberry trifle, and Barbara Noyes' chocolate caramel nut bars (she sent them along even though she wasn't able to attend).
The beautiful arrangements on each table were made by members who participated in two flower design workshops hosted by Ann Hanscom: Troy Smith, Val Kara, Ginny DeHaan, Midge Wyman, Linda Hamm, Cissy Henderson, and Ly Marokhovsky. The theme was 'Cuisine' so among the containers there was a muffin pan, a teapot, a bundt pan, and a small frying pan, all filled with lovely spring arrangements of lilacs, roses, carnations, asters, and ivy. As a special treat, these were raffled off to members at the end of the evening.
Please enjoy these pictures of the event and have a wonderful spring and summer in your gardens