After a year of isolation and “butterbeaning” only in our imaginations, Wesson’s Youth Garden Club (The Butterbeans) kicked off summer with an exciting, action-packed day of learning and garden goodness. The Wesson Garden Club hosted the Butterbeans on June 17 at the Old Wesson School.

WGC Vice President Denise Jackson kicked off the morning with all things Bromeliads, specifically air plants. The leaves are spiky, no need for soil, and can be grown in a variety of locations. A hardy plant requiring little attention, the Butterbeans planted their Bromeliads in their choice of a cow bone, cedar round, or sea shell.

The Garden Club of Mississippi’s Youth Coordinator, Allison Ashmore led the Butterbean’s next activity. Creating nature banners by gluing, painting, drawing silhouettes of  the beauty found in nature. The activity allowed the Butterbeans to be expressive within their own creative mind.

During lunch, WGC member Robin Furr led the group’s story time. “Nowhere Hair” by Sue Gladner and “Backyard Birding for Kids” by Fran Lee were then presented to the Wesson Public Library on behalf of the Wesson Garden Club.

Mississippi State University Extension Service 4H Coordinator, Melissa Morgan supplied each butterbean with a clay pot, paint of all colors, and the liberty to get crafty! Instead of watching paint dry, Melissa engaged the Butterbeans with healthy snacking. She brought strawberry plants to demonstrate how strawberries grow and then made strawberry smoothies for the Butterbeans to enjoy.

To wrap up the afternoon, each junior gardener planted flowers in their pots to take home.

Planting seeds within the children of our community is one mission of the Wesson Garden Club.

Wesson club members also recently attended a spring workshop at the Country Club of Jackson, hosted by The Garden Club of Jackson for the Natchez Trace District.  In attendance on behalf of Wesson Garden Club were Denise Jackson, Debbie Hoaglin, Jennifer Peets, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith and Dixie Thornton.

The ladies of Wesson Garden Club enjoyed a delicious luncheon and attended several informative presentations. The Garden Clubs of Mississippi President, Pat Young, and Executive Secretary, Angelia Wade, held workshops for those in attendance. Additionally, workshops were presented by members of The Garden Club of Jackson.