Members of the Franklin County Garden Club have been enjoying many outdoor activities with the most recent being an outing to a greenhouse in Sewanee.

Members met recently for a field-trip meeting to The Rustic Greenhouse, located at 811 Old CCC Road near the Franklin State Forest in Sewanee. Linda Barry hosted the event with members enjoying a tour of this remote and beautiful corner of the county.

Linda and her husband, Matt, have been at the same location for over 30 years and enjoy propagating unique horticulture, participating in shows and working with master-gardener groups in the area.

Club President Lola Eslick reported that the greenhouse property had a natural feel and that members enjoyed the tour as their host pointed out some of her favorite plants in the garden.

“We heard the story of George, the garden sculpture our host describes as a handsome addition and central to her garden now,” Eslick said.

Members truly enjoyed their outing to The Rustic Greenhouse and several walked away with unique plants they’d purchased.

The FCGC takes an active role in the local community to promote programs that educate the public, especially elementary-aged children, and they also take on projects to beautify the area.

The Garden Club’s enterprises include improving the Veterans Monument at the Franklin County Annex that was moved to be adjacent to the Blue Star Marker installed by the Highland Rim Garden Club.

Club members participated in Decherd Elementary School’s Literacy Night on Sept. 28 by reading donated gardening-related books to the students.

About F.C. Garden Club

The Franklin County Garden Club meets regularly on the second Friday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Community Center Room located in the Franklin County Annex Building at 839 Dinah Shore Blvd. in Winchester. The meetings include presentations and workshops with guest speakers.

The nonprofit organization was started in 1929 and currently has around 40 members who pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet Earth and the natural beauty surrounding Franklin County.

Club members are proud to be caretakers of the air, water, forest land and wildlife and continue to receive awards at the state and national level for their participation in many activities.

Club projects include educating students about fire conservation with the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster competition and gardening projects at Clark Memorial School, Broadview and North Lake Elementary as well as garden therapy at New Life and other facilities.

Ongoing projects also include landscape work at Winchester Fire Hall No. 2, the Winchester Square, the Franklin County Board of Education, the Franklin County Public Library and Blue Star Markers.

The Franklin County Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Club which has a mission to provide education, resources, and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design and civic and environmental responsibility.

For more information, please visit the club’s Facebook page or contact G.G. Preble at 931-636-1951.