Sheri Stone, current flower show chairman, is shown with Kathryn Butler, who served as the first flower show chair 50 years ago. Fifty years ago, Kathryn Butler served as the first flower show chairman for the L-M Garden and Civic Club in Lometa, and she has served as a mentor to all flower show participants in both design and horticulture divisions since the first show.

Sherri Stone orchestrated a memorable flower show and evening meal for the 22 members and three guests present for this year’s special anniversary celebration.

Show judge, Hazel McCoy, began her critique of the horticulture division entries by acknowledging that displays are improving each year.

This year’s top honors in horticulture went to Tico Hicks with her sweepstakes award. She took 19 blue ribbons for specimens entered in the horticulture division.

Award of merit ribbons for horticulture went to Sammie Leggett for a cutting of yellow columbine, and Lewvon Hicks for specimens of blackbird spurge and lavender iris.

Tico Hicks earned a Sweepstakes Award. Marcia Chown took two awards of merit with her red honeysuckle and sour orange cuttings.

Mrs. Chown also won top honors in the design division earning both best in show and a first-place blue ribbon in Class II. Her three-color design combined both vegetables and foliage to express the theme “Gone with the Wind -- Mammy.”

Other Class II winners included a second-place for Jonell McMahan; third place to Sue Sheppard; and fourth place to Delores Tower- Linton. She also won a first-place ribbon for combining roses and foliage for an interpretation of the Class III theme, “Shakespeare Comes to Lometa -- Romeo and Juliet.”

Other Class III winners included Sabrina McKenzie, second place; Mrs. Hicks, third place; and a fourth-place showing for Mrs. Leggett.

Delores Tower-Linton displays her "Romeo and Juliet" arrangement. Pat McGarry earned a first-place ribbon in Class IV of the design division with a combination of flowers including English ivy, Dutch iris, Asiatic lily and more to represent the combination of cultures and countries that comprise “The United States,” the Class IV theme. Other Class IV winners included Hannah Kendrick, second place; third place, Susan Stone; and fourth place, Mrs. McKenzie.

Class I theme, “Flowers of Spring,” was used in the club’s first flower show five decaades ago.

Mrs. McGarry took a first place in Class I with a wicker container filled with a myriad of fresh spring flowers surrounding a dried branch of red-bud blossoms.

Mrs. Kendrick took second place; third place went to Susan Stone; and Mrs. McKenzie placed fourth.
Marcia Chown shows off her "Mammy" arrangement.
Pat McGarry's "The United States" arrangement was honored.
Marcia Chown earned two Awards of Merit.
Lewvon Hicks received two Awards of Merit.
Pat McGarry shows her "Flowers of Spring" arrangement.
Sammie Leggett earned an Award of Merit.