"ROSES ON PARADE"
Evergreen Garden Club shines at Merritt Estate

(photos top left clockwise) Margaret Martin took home the Award of Design Excellence with her Horses and Family design. This was the top award for the show, Margaret also was awarded a Designers Choice award. Virginia Wallace to a First Place Award for her design, Virginia was also co-chairman of the show. Jean Laird with her design, Woodland Choice, received the only other Designer's Choice Award for the show. Sally Beane with her entry, Field of Dreams, took First Place. "Keeping America Gree" with a green kitchen corner for all seasons-Springpussy willows, Summer-anthurium, Autumn lotus pods and Winter-green roses was the entry for Helen Padgett who took a Second Place Award for her design. Judy Geddie, in her first flower show ever, took a First Place Award. Gladys Crouch took a First Place Award for her design of Castor Bean Pods, Pepper Berries and Red Roses. The host of the flower show, Susie Merritt (left) stands with Barbara Johnson, a first time flower show participant who took Third Place for her pink roses. Sharon Ragle, president of the club received the Horticulture Excellence Award with her Pony Tail plant.

The Evergreen Garden Club held their "Roses On Parade" flower show at the beautiful country estate of A.P. and Susie Merritt of Kilgore.

The show consisted of a Design Division and a Horticulture Division with extravegant entries displayed throughout the massive estate.

In both divisions awards were as follows: Margaret Martin won the top award, Award of Design Excellence, a Designer's Choice Award in the Design Division and a first and second place in the Horticultural Division. Jean Laird won the only other Designer's Choice Award in the Design Division as well as six First Place Award, one Third Place Award and an Honorable Mention in the Horticultural Division. Bobbie Wylie took the Educational Award, a Third Place Award in the Design Division and two First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division. Virginia Wallace won the Sweepstakes Award, eight First Place Awards and one Second Place Award in the Horticultural Divison and a First Place Award in the Design Division. Sharon Ragle won the Horticulture Excellence Award and four First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a Third Place in the Design Division. Justin Stanley received an Award of Merit, four First, one Second and two Third Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and an Honorable Mention in the Design Division. Diane Jones received the Growers Choice 

Award and seven First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a Second Place Award in the Design Division. Billie Oliphant received one First and one Second in the Horticultural Division and a Third Place in the Design Division. Dot Watson recieved three First and two Second Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a Honorable Mention in the Design Divison. Judy Geddie received two First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a First Place Award in the Design Division. Kay Liston received three First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division. Gladys Crouch received five First Place, one Second Place and two Third Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a First Place Award in the Design Division. Mary Aikman received two First Place Awards in the Horticultural Divison and a Second Place Award in the Design Division. Ouida Smylie received two First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a Second Place Award in the Design Division. Kay McKinley received two First Place Awards in the Horticultural Division and a Third Place Award in the Design Division. Sally Beane received a First Place Award in the Design Division. Helen Padgett received a Second Place Award in the Design Division. Nita Beale received a Second Place Award in the Design Division. Barbara Johnson received a Third Place Award in the Design Division. Dee Turner received a Third Place Award in the Design Division. Jeannie Stark received an Honorable Mention in the Design Division. Gladys Large received an Honorable Mention in the Design Division and Cherisa York received an Honorable Mention in the Design Division.

Beale said each member received an area by the luck of the draw two months before the show where their design would be displayed and had to design around that space and at least one rose had to be included in the design.