The Kingwood Garden Club was buzzing with activity as ladies in garden hats walked a path lined with thick, spring-green ribbon and pink, potted periwinkles to entered the Kingwood Country Club pavilion. The annual May Garden Club luncheon served as the induction ceremony for incoming officers who will serve in 2007-2008.

The new officers are returning president Nancy Giffhorn; first vice president Bette Hale; second vice president Allison Dale; third vice president Buff Crouch; secretary Cheryl Dunsenbery and treasurer Cindy Finley. The theme for the coming year will be wildflowers and each officer was given a wildflower gift to start the new year.

“This is an active club,” said Giffhorn. “We have approximately 95 members and about 75 percent are active.”

Last year, the club showed total assets of $73,945.61, which allowed them to serve the community through Arbor Day activities, the beautification of Elm Grove Elementary and beautification of the Kingwood post office. Club members were also very pleased with the work on the two-day event, GardenScapes. GardenScapes involved a tour of homes and plant sale. Through these projects, the Garden Club donated $10,811. An additional $8,150 from their budget was donated to scholarships funds.

Although the group preferred not to itemize scholarship awards, Willodene Graves, Rhu Henderson, Andrea Ryan and Timothy Fotinos were recognized at the meeting for receiving scholarships.

Graves is now a master gardener.

“I appreciate the support I received from the Garden Club,” said Graves. “I was surprised to hear that scholarships were available. I made great friends had a great time as I studied. I also volunteer at Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Garden and would recommend it to everyone.”

Graves said that she took the classes for herself, but she found that since she became a master gardener, she frequently receives calls from friends who rely on her expertise.

A second scholarship was awarded to Timothy Fotinos, a graduate student at Texas State University. Fotinos is majoring in plant ecology and biodiversity and conservation.

Andrea Ryan, a student at Texas A&M, is studying engineering with an environmental concentration and was also awarded a scholarship. The final award was given to Rhu Henderson, whose mother, Kate Henderson, spoke for her. Henderson is a student at Stephen F. Austin who is studying urban forestry.

Students applying for the scholarship were required to fill out an applications and they were required to be upper level college students who were studying horticulture or environmental areas.

Photo 1: Master gardener Willodene Graves received one of the three scholarships given through the Kingwood Garden Club in 2006-2007. Tables at the Garden Club luncheon were decorated my various members. This table setting utilized a red, white and blue theme.

Photo 2: The air was filled with the fragrance of fresh flowers at the annual Kingwood Garden Club luncheon. Tables were decorated by club members and included elaborate floral centerpieces and bouquets at many of the place settings. The luncheon acknowledged scholarship winners and inducted new officers.

Photo 3: The new leadership for the 2007-2008 Kingwood Garden Club are, from left to Right, third vice president Buff Crouch, second vice president Allison Dale, first vice president Bette Hale, president Nancy Giffhorn, secretary Cheryl Dusenbery and treasurer Cindy Finley. The new officers were inducted at Kingwood Country Club on May 1. Photos by Kathy Parks.