We met at Nolley Methodist Church Palmer Hall on February 6 at 2 p.m.

Present were President Donna Justiss, Beth Zoller, Barbara Murphy, Nelda Tarver, Cynthia Bradford, Audrey Maxwell, Barbara Germany, Jenna Fae Justiss, Jennifer Loe, Sis Welch and Lisa Mc-Cann.

The meeting was called to order by the president, Donna Justiss. Nelda started the meeting with the club prayer. Cynthia read the minutes, Lisa gave the treasurer’s report and Audrey gave the corresponding secretary report.

Barbara Germany had the garden hints which included keeping bird feeders clean and well stocked. She also said that apple and pear trees can be pruned now but you need to wait until mid-March to prune peach trees.

She also said: Hardy trees can be planted in the landscape giving them a chance to become established before the weather temperature is too hot. Take time to consider the location of the trees or plants and visualize the size of the plant so that when it is full grown it will not be too large for the area you selected. Spring, cool season, early vegetable seeds and plants can be started in a greenhouse by late February or early March. Violets and pansies can be planted in containers. Later, when planting tomatoes, twigs can be put around the base of the plant to keep worms away and placing baking soda in the soil will make a sweeter tomato. Lenten roses/hellebores bloom in February through April.

Beth and Barbara Murphy were our hostesses. The tables were decorated with lovely colors of handheld fans and hearts of all shapes and sizes. This is the season for King Cake and the King Cake we were served was delicious.

Lavelle Evans was our program speaker. He had always been interested in learning different mediums of art. For some time, he has been working with clay. One of his first clay works was ancient Abbasid oil lamps. Some clay pieces are made with molds. Lavelle was influenced to work with clay by an art teacher and he has plans to continue learning by attending college art classes.

In the beginning, he learned by going to the library for books. He has made many original pottery items: bowls, dishes, flower bases and containers and cell phone stands. He had dishes in the shape of our state of Louisiana. Glazes can be powdered or liquid and he enjoys experimenting with mixing colors.

We got to see and handle the raw clay. It took some effort and finesse to actually make something. Lavelle prefers and makes “hand-built pottery.” Some potters work with a wheel. The pottery pieces have to be fired in a kiln at very high temperatures, some for 24 hours. Contact information is: Southern Clay Work Pottery by Lavelle Evans. (318) 216-0781. You may email him at taylorsgarden@yahoo. com.

Coming soon, Lavelle will have his pottery in the Finders Keepers Vendor Mall in Trout. Lavelle told us some of the background about getting the Sales Along 84 vendors sale started. It was very successful last year and is expecting more success this year and could extend to 140 miles.

The dates will be Thursday-Saturday after Labor Day, September 5-7.

We appreciate Lavelle telling us about the art of pottery and showing examples of his work.