Spade and Trowel Garden Club’s meeting and Christmas luncheon was held at Coosa Country Club on Dec. 11. Members brought items for the Fig Leaf project for patients at Northwest Regional Hospital as well as items for a silent auction to benefit the club’s treasury. Unsold items were donated to Home Mart to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

The treasury funds are used for contributions to state and local projects such as Rome’s Marshall Forest, Garden Therapy at Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital, Habitat for Humanity landscaping, historic preservation of gardens and sites, historical trail markers, natural disasters, roadside beautification, scholarships for students majoring in horticulture-related fields, Blue Star markers, school grounds improvements, and others.

The group purchased many items, recalled members who were unable to be present and perused the Spade and Trowel Scrapbooks compiled by Mary McKenzie and her daughter Anita Stewart. McKenzie found pictures and articles saved from the 1950’s (when the club was organized) which Stewart prepared and arranged.

Jayne Payne contributed to the improvements made to the Federated Garden Center. Tom Caldwell and Greater Rome Bank jointly contributed funds for the grounds upkeep for another year. Jane Davis has contributed her time and effort to do the member handbook. Caldwell, recording secretary for the Laurel District for four years, passed that duty on to Mary Kate Minge who is a past president of Spade and Trowel. Betty Ellington, long time member writes poems for the handbook that is submitted for an award each year.

Angie Corpening will serve as the club’s president for the next two years when Vivian Toles finishes her term.

Carolyn Walker, president of Rome Federated Garden Clubs, has asked Suzanne Fields of Lavender View to co-chair the educational program for the community that is done every two years, on Jan. 21.