Locals show off their green thumbs
(Summer Beeks/Leader)<br>More than 25 different varieties of flowers were exhibited at the Mission View Garden Club's annual flower display Aug. 12. The flower on the right is a Tiger Lily.
Brightly colored flowers of all shapes and sizes filled the Charlo Senior Citizens center last Thursday during the Mission View Garden Club's annual August flower display.
Tables overflowed with roses, gladiolas, begonias, lilies, geraniums, pansies, sunflowers, snapdragons, dahlias, domesticated clarkia and more in unique arrangements.
The flowers' sweet fragrance permeated the center as enthusiasts mingled, sharing their gardening successes and follies.
"I think it went beautifully," said Mission View Garden Club's president Hope Stockstad, "We had some people who were not members this year, but who live in the local community, bring flowers. That was a very nice treat."
Stockstad believes more than 25 types of flowers were on display. One of the flowers, the domesticated clarkia, was new to the show this year.
"There was such a great variety … The weather has been pretty good for flowers this year (And) every year they (members) say the same thing - that they don't have anything in their yards," she laughed.
The 57-year-old Mission View Garden Club has four new members this year, one of whom signed up the day of the flower display.
Nearly all of those 57 years the club has been a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of America (FGCA).
The club, which meets the second Thursday of every month in members' homes, is open to all interested Mission Valley residents. Speakers address the club on a variety of issues, not strictly about flowers but all relating to nature, Stockstad explained.
This year, the Mission View Garden Club was chosen by the Federated Garden Club of Missoula to receive a Blue Star Highway Memorial Plaque.
The Blue Star Highway Memorial system was created in 1945 by the National Council of State Garden Clubs (now FGCA) as a tribute to veterans who served in World War II. The program was later expanded to be a tribute to all people who had, were or would serve in the armed forces. Large Blue Star Highway Memorial markers are placed at various locations on thousands of miles of highway across the country.
The plaque Mission View Garden Club received will be placed near the highway on private grounds at the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana.
"They have graciously allowed us private land to put this on," Stockstad said. "We are hoping it will be put up this fall."