St. Nicholas is introduced by current ESGC president Linda Shomo, who is serving her second term as president.

“Happy Holidays”, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” are greetings we hear regularly at this time of year as we gather to celebrate the season. The members of Emma Scott Garden Club (ESGC) also added “Happy Birthday” to their December gathering. Sixty members and guests gathered at the Elks Club on Country Club Road to share in holiday cheer and round out 2024 recognizing the club’s 75th birthday.

The garden club was founded in April 21, 1949 by eleven local women. In 1974, is was named after Mrs. Emma Scott, the second president of the club. The club sponsored many flower shows and performed numerous beautification projects throughout the years. The club continues to be active in the community, tending many public gardens, participating in youth programs to promote the love of gardening, educating club members, and serving as advisor to the community on all things gardening. The organization now includes both male and female members. Throughout these 75 years, the club has been led by 36 women serving as president along with a host of others serving as officers and members. Current ESGC president, Linda Shomo, presided for the evening. Past presidents in attendence were: Katie Kerens (1983-84), Judy Guye (1991-93, 2009-2013), Becky Amorese (1997-99, 2005-07), B.J. McKenzie (2013-2017).

ESGC members’ talents frequently extend beyond outdoor gardens. Most have expertise with indoor themed decorations and tablesscapes which was true for the hosts for the evening, Shakeela Khan and Nayoka Guthrie. Using a variety of materials, some provided by the Elks Club membership, they created festive centerpieces for the birthday cake, beverage, and dining tables. Inviting individual place settings greeted diners and favors of small Santa sleighs containing candy canes and packets of seeds ready for the spring gardener completed the tables’ holiday motif. The caterer for the evening was Derrick Helzer who orchestrated picturesque presentations of his delicious entrees and desserts using multiple tiers and a charcuterie board arrangement. Ms. Khan and Ms. Guthrie coordinated with Stan and Brenda Teets of the Elks Club on all aspects of the decorating of the space. Brenda Teets “decked the hall” with numerous lit wreaths, hanging glimmering snowflakes and white draping. White and red poinsettias were used on the registration table and stage area. They were grown and provided by ESGC member Larry Gouer whose local greenhouse is a wonder to visit. The efforts of all resulted in a colorful, brightly illuminated, magical indoor holiday setting.

Young men from Elkins Mountain Schools were present to assist in serving water, tea and coffee. Gifts of cookies and fresh fruit were later sent with the young lads to share with other students. This has been a yearly project of the ESGC for the school.

No holiday party is complete without a visit from “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” which was followed by a Grinch Gift Exchange coordinated by member, Renee Benz. A gift could be given which could be stolen from its original recipient by anyone feeling the spirit of the Grinch. It is understood that a ceramic Christmas tree made it through many hands until it finally settled with a permanent owner.

Allan Swanson, member, enjoys the evening with his wife, past president Judy Guye, who served two terms as club president and later served a term as president of West Virginia Garden Club, Inc.

Soon the greeting will become “Happy New Year” and lyrics of the Scottish song, Auld Lang Syne will be heard. The lyrics of the song compels us to remember long standing friendships. For this 75th anniversary of ESGC, we will remember those who gave of themselves as volunteers for all the years since the club’s inception and the many friendships that have been formed along the way. We, too, will look forward to the future and the ongoing presence of ESGC in Randolph County.

While outdoor gardens “sleep”, garden club members, too, will rest until the next meeting on March 10, 2025. The program with be “Propagation” during which club member, Adam Kramer, will describe how new plants can be created from old, both naturally and artificially. Sometimes the purpose of propagation is to create more of a specific plant that a gardener may love or to preserve a plant’s characteristics. All this information will be shared at the meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at St. Brendan Church Parish Hall, 181 St. Brendan Way, Elkins.

Member Lucinda Barrick shows the gnome she won but had the option to change up.

Past president Katie Kerns actively participates in the Grinch Gift exchange.