The Garden Club of Los Altos held its final meeting of 2020 via Zoom Oct. 27.
The last meeting of the year is usually a special luncheon honoring new members and and featuring a local florist presenting floral arrangements of the season. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, however, the group adapted its traditional agenda to an online format.
Attendees were encouraged in advance to make themselves a cup of tea, and as the names of new members were read aloud, attendees raised their cups together in salute.
Garden Club president Nancy Shardell offered a tribute to outgoing president Jean Gillette. The club presented Gillette with a custom eucalyptus leaf, plated in gold and made into a brooch. She was also given a teacup salute.
Master gardener Liz Calhoon delivered a short presentation on the care and propagation of succulents, which have proven to be popular in drought-tolerant gardens around Los Altos. She pointed out that some succulents are summer growers and some are winter growers, and it is important for the success of propagation to know which is which. She posted a chart of the different sorts on the Garden Club’s group bulletin board following the meeting.
Featured speaker at the meeting was Katsuko Thielke, a floral artist who brought a creative twist to traditional ikebana design by using unusual containers, accessories and floral combinations. A brief Q&A session managed through Zoom’s Chat function followed the video presentation.
Although this was its last official meeting of the year, the club has scheduled a virtual social using Zoom’s breakout rooms 2 p.m. Tuesday.
For more information on the social and membership, email [email protected] or visit thegardencluboflosaltos.org.
