Gatlinburg Garden Club hosts Victorian Christmas luncheon

By Bea Terry

In a nostalgic setting reminiscent of yesteryear, members and guests of the Gatlinburg Garden Club were entertained at the club's annual Christmas luncheon on Thursday, December 13th, at the Mills Conference Center. In keeping with the theme for this year's event, "A Victorian Christmas," tables were splendidly decorated with linens in shades of pink to mauve and with centerpieces created by garden club members using native greenery and cranberry colored candles. Patrice Outlaw, floral designer for Food City, assisted the members in creating the arrangements. Patrice will present a class on Flower Arranging at the club's first meeting of the new year on Jan. 3, 2013.

After a welcome from Garden Club President, Marty Fairbanks, and invocation by the Reverend Alta Raper, while holiday music filled the air, luncheon attendees enjoyed a menu that might have been served in days of yore, featuring roasted breast of turkey, Southern cornbread dressing with savory turkey gravy, green beans with country ham, cranberry relish, freshly baked breads and the chef's choice of pumpkin bread for dessert.

Sarah and Joshua Claude, both local students who have performed with the Knoxville Youth Orchestra, serenaded luncheon guests with well-known holiday tunes and classics from the turn of the century. John Celestin and Peggy Smith also entertained with Christmas music during the luncheon.

Gatlinburg Falls Resort won the Landscape Design Excellence Award at the Gatlinburg Garden Club's annual Christmas luncheon. Pictured are (from left) Vicki and Brother Zank of Custom Craftsman Signs, Miranda Lewis and Daniel Ford of Gatlinburg Falls and Gatlinburg Garden Club president Marty Fairbanks.

During the event, Gatlinburg Falls Resort was presented with the club's annual Landscape Design Excellence Award. Representing the resort, Daniel Ford and Miranda Lewis accepted the award from Kevin Tierney, Lorelei Productions and club president, Marty Fairbanks. In addition to the recognition by the garden club, the resort was presented a custom made sign to place on the resort grounds. The large wooden sign was designed and created by Zank of Custom Craftsman Signs who, with his wife Vicky, attended the festive holiday event.

Juanita King, Operations Manager of the Gatlinburg Branch of Sevier County Bank, was presented an appreciation plaque for her many hours of work and dedication to the garden club.

The award presentation included the viewing of a video by Lorelei Productions, of the recipient's resort grounds, which features numerous areas of native plantings and a spectacular, made-made, mountain stream and waterfalls. Gatlinburg Falls is located on Dudley Creek Road.

Juanita King, Operations Manager of the Gatlinburg Branch of Sevier County Bank, was presented an appreciation plaque by Bill Hale, garden club member and Master of Ceremonies for the luncheon, for her many hours of work and dedication to the garden club. King serves on a number of the club's committees. She is also treasurer of the club.

At the close of the program, members and guests were treated to drawings for a number of door prizes given by local businesses. The following merchants donated door prizes: The Rose Pedelar, Dinwoodie Metal Sculptors, Christmas Eve Gift, In The Wild, Silver Paradise, Nancie L. Bush Gallery, Black Oak Gallery, A. Jann Peitso Art, Sevier County Bank, The Candle Cottage, Cracker Barrel of Pigeon Forge, Food City of Gatlinburg, The Tomb, D-Lite Candles, Another Me Clothier, Smokey Mountain Winery, The Art of Intrigue Gallery, Brookside Resort, Charles Williams Food Services, So Very Cherry, and Village Candles.

Before leaving, guests had the opportunity to purchase many of the Victorian holiday decorations from the luncheon tables and the Christmas tree which was decorated with hand-made ornaments. Also for sale were items which benefitted the Lucinda Ogle Historic Log Cabin Restoration Fund, a long-range project sponsored by the garden club.

Published December 20, 2012