Mayor Piazza welcomed two special guests representing National Garden Clubs, Inc. to Abbeville with Honorary Cajun Certificates and Abbeville pins. Pictured with Mayor Piazza receiving this honor are NGC Environmental School Deep South Region Accrediting Chairman Jim Rouch and National Garden Clubs, Inc. Second Vice-President Donna Rouch from Omaha, Nebraska.
Mayor Piazza welcomed special guest Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. President Roxanna Champagne with a Certificate of Recognition and an Abbeville pin. President Champagne is an NGC Gardening School Master Consultant and member of Lafayette Garden Club.
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza welcomed the attendants of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Gardening School on September 1, 2021, at the Vermilion Parish Ag Center in Abbeville. Thirty members attended the school sponsored by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Lafayette Garden Club, and Abbeville Garden Club. Preparations for the school were coordinated by LGCF Gardening School Chairman Anita Petitjean.
Abbeville hosts National Garden Club, Gardening School
National Garden Clubs, Inc. Gardening School Series 11, Course 2 was held on Sept. 1-2 at the Vermilion Parish LSU AgCenter in Abbeville.
The school was sponsored by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Lafayette Garden Club and Abbeville Garden Club.
Preparations for the school were coordinated by LGCF Gardening School Chairman Anita Petitjean.
NGC created the Gardening School program to assist its members in achieving the goal - “all gardeners can be accomplished horticulturists”.
The NGC Gardening School Courses are designed to provide educational information to those especially interested in gardening, horticulture, and related subjects.
The school consists of a series of four courses, scheduled usually for two days of instruction, followed by a general examination.
Courses cover all aspects of growing, from understanding soil structure to pruning techniques, plant identification, etc. Topics include basic botany, soils, growing annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, fruits and vegetables, lawns, pests and diseases of plants, plant classification and selected subjects of local interest.
Thirty LGCF members attended the school, including 12 Abbeville Garden Club members and 10 Lafayette Garden Club members. Also attending were National Garden Clubs, Inc. Second Vice-President Donna Rouch, National Garden Clubs, Inc. Environmental School Deep South Region Accrediting Chairman Jim Rouch, LGCF President Roxanna Champagne and LGCF President Elect Patricia Ortalano.
On Sept. 2, the class also included 30 members of the Lafayette Parish Master Gardener In Training Class.
The Gardening School and the Master Gardener Program partnered to share speakers who met the educational needs of both groups.
LGCF Gardening Consultants Council President Babette Werner expressed her appreciation to Gardening School Chairman Anita Petitjean for making the preparations for the school, to the Abbeville Garden Club whose members went above and beyond to facilitate this school, and to LSU AgCenter Agent Dan Devenport who secured speakers and served as communications director for everyone involved.
Appreciation was also expressed to the Vermilion Parish LSU Ag Center Staff for their assistance facilitating the school.
Abbeville Garden Club and Lafayette Garden Club are members of National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., District III.
Gardening School courses are open to everyone, regardless of National Garden Club, Inc. membership.