Story by Frank Lewis, PDT staff writer
Eight garden clubs, with 137 members in Scioto County, came together Monday to decorate some 40 Christmas trees throughout the Shawnee Lodge, located on Ohio 125 in Shawnee Forest.
The clubs are a part of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, and started decorating at the lodge in 1990.
“We started out planting around the flag pole in the late 1980s,” said Linda Warfield, a volunteer for the committee. “Then in 1990, they asked us to come inside and do something real pretty for Christmas.”
Warfield said the clubs started decorating two or three Christmas trees the first year, “that was 16 years ago, and now we are up to 40 trees.”
Anna Cardenas, a member of the Green Triangle club, who, along with Sherrill Day, is co-chairwoman of the event, said the trees range in sizes from 18 feet tall down to a foot tall. “This year we're really focusing on ‘natural,' or some people might call it ‘rustic,'” Cardenas said. “We have areas that are very natural to the environment, like the lodge, and then we have trees decorated for things like a gala, like a party.”
She said the clubs each had several trees to decorate, and the clubs decorated other places in addition to the trees.
“We decorate mantles, walls, for example, if you go in the dining room, the ledge is totally decorated with fir trees and snowmen,” Cardenas said. “There's a beautiful 12-foot tree in the dining room, and that is all natural looking, made with everything from pine cones to things made out of sunflower seeds, magnolia leaves, thistle and sweet gum balls.”
She said the highlight of that tree is an actual Indian headdress on the top. Cardenas said that area was decorated by the Double Delight club.
“We string more than 25,000 lights over there every year,” Warfield said. “The eight clubs have 75 volunteers, who are not paid doing the work, but they feed us lunch and we work until the job is done.”
While the clubs did not decorate the ballroom this year, they did decorate the hallway up to the ballroom. “
The clubs made bird houses this year,” Warfield said. “We painted and designed them, you really do need to see the hallway.”
The trees on display are decorated with themes such as teddy bears, snowmen, Santa Claus, angels and then the ones that are more formal with flashy ornaments.
“We have trees made completely out of pine cones, and underneath are grapevines. In the Scioto Room we have trees with dried flowers, such as hydrangeas,” Cardenas said.
The viewing of the trees and decorations is going on now through early January.
“It is absolutely free, and you can come to see them anytime,” she said.
The clubs also are going to have an open house event.
“The open house will be Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we've invited several high school choral groups and churches to perform,” Warfield said.
Refreshments will be served as well.
“We'll have coffee, tea and punch, and cookies for all those in attendance,” Cardenas said. “And the lodge will be having their buffet and dinner at the same time.”
Garden club members will be hostesses and will provide maps. “We have elevators for those who have difficulty climbing stairs,” Cardenas said.
Cardenas said the history of area garden clubs goes back 77 years, beginning in 1929.
“We have clubs that are from 10 to 77 years old, and we are a part of a district, District 10, that includes 14 clubs,” she said.
Cardenas said the trees will be on display through Jan. 7, and the clubs will begin removing decorations on Jan. 8.
“All garden clubs go back out and we put them away, and we have very nice containers, and they are stored by the Shawnee Lodge,” she said.
Both garden club members talked of the reception they received by the Shawnee Lodge.
“They take care of us very well,” Cardenas said.Eight garden clubs, with 137 members in Scioto County, came together Monday to decorate some 40 Christmas trees throughout the Shawnee Lodge, located on Ohio 125 in Shawnee Forest.
The clubs are a part of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, and started decorating at the lodge in 1990.
“We started out planting around the flag pole in the late 1980s,” said Linda Warfield, a volunteer for the committee. “Then in 1990, they asked us to come inside and do something real pretty for Christmas.”
Warfield said the clubs started decorating two or three Christmas trees the first year, “that was 16 years ago, and now we are up to 40 trees.”
Anna Cardenas, a member of the Green Triangle club, who, along with Sherrill Day, is co-chairwoman of the event, said the trees range in sizes from 18 feet tall down to a foot tall. “This year we're really focusing on ‘natural,' or some people might call it ‘rustic,'” Cardenas said. “We have areas that are very natural to the environment, like the lodge, and then we have trees decorated for things like a gala, like a party.”
She said the clubs each had several trees to decorate, and the clubs decorated other places in addition to the trees.
“We decorate mantles, walls, for example, if you go in the dining room, the ledge is totally decorated with fir trees and snowmen,” Cardenas said. “There's a beautiful 12-foot tree in the dining room, and that is all natural looking, made with everything from pine cones to things made out of sunflower seeds, magnolia leaves, thistle and sweet gum balls.”
She said the highlight of that tree is an actual Indian headdress on the top. Cardenas said that area was decorated by the Double Delight club.
“We string more than 25,000 lights over there every year,” Warfield said. “The eight clubs have 75 volunteers, who are not paid doing the work, but they feed us lunch and we work until the job is done.”
While the clubs did not decorate the ballroom this year, they did decorate the hallway up to the ballroom. “
The clubs made bird houses this year,” Warfield said. “We painted and designed them, you really do need to see the hallway.”
The trees on display are decorated with themes such as teddy bears, snowmen, Santa Claus, angels and then the ones that are more formal with flashy ornaments.
“We have trees made completely out of pine cones, and underneath are grapevines. In the Scioto Room we have trees with dried flowers, such as hydrangeas,” Cardenas said.
The viewing of the trees and decorations is going on now through early January.
“It is absolutely free, and you can come to see them anytime,” she said.
The clubs also are going to have an open house event.
“The open house will be Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we've invited several high school choral groups and churches to perform,” Warfield said.
Refreshments will be served as well.
“We'll have coffee, tea and punch, and cookies for all those in attendance,” Cardenas said. “And the lodge will be having their buffet and dinner at the same time.”
Garden club members will be hostesses and will provide maps. “We have elevators for those who have difficulty climbing stairs,” Cardenas said.
Cardenas said the history of area garden clubs goes back 77 years, beginning in 1929.
“We have clubs that are from 10 to 77 years old, and we are a part of a district, District 10, that includes 14 clubs,” she said.
Cardenas said the trees will be on display through Jan. 7, and the clubs will begin removing decorations on Jan. 8.
“All garden clubs go back out and we put them away, and we have very nice containers, and they are stored by the Shawnee Lodge,” she said.
Both garden club members talked of the reception they received by the Shawnee Lodge.
“They take care of us very well,” Cardenas said.
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