Garden Club cultivates cheer

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Members of the Lakewood Ranch Garden Club put their eye for natural beauty to use, after their regular meeting Dec. 10, as they sifted through ribbon, silk flowers, ornaments and other decorations to use on 15 floral arrangements intended to bring holiday cheer to homebound seniors.

“We deliver (the arrangements) to Meals on Wheels (PLUS for distribution),” said Sheryl Perkins, club vice president and programs coordinator. “We don’t know who gets them.”

The ladies, who typically spend their meetings hearing from guest speakers and going on field trips, stuffed coffee mugs and similar items with floral foam, before inserting leaves, flowers, ribbons and other decorations. Although some were veterans of making flower arrangements, others learned as they went, getting help from the more practiced members.

It’s the second year the group has made arrangements for seniors in need, Perkins said.

“I think it’s one of the best things we do,” member Lucrecia Lackey said of the event. “Meals on Wheels is dear to me. There are so many shut-ins who don’t see people or don’t have anything festive in their house (for the holidays). We provide a little holiday cheer for them.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].