hg news-fall 2010
TRANSCRIPT
8/8/2019 HG News-Fall 2010
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Vol. 1 No. 3 • Fall 2010 A Newsletter by the Friends of Hodges Gardens
In this Issue:
• Azaleasalebigsuccess
• HodgesGardensHoriculturist
• AnotefromtheParkManager
• JourneytoBearIsland
• Groupcampconstruction
• PALSprogram2010
• FriendsPassionProject
• Fallscheduleofevents
• Membershipinformation
The August 21 summer azalea sale sponsored by Friends of Hodges
Gardens State Park was a big success and raised more than $2500 to be used
for improvements to the Gardens.
Turnout on the hot Saturday morning was excellent with a lot of early,
serious buyers for the different varieties and sizes of azaleas on hand. Customers
continued to come through out the four-hour sale. Sales were brisk, and members
of the Friends organization along with other volunteers worked steadily to advise
customers about the azalea types and to help load their vehicles with the plants
“Every bit of the proceeds from the sale goes toward the betterment of
Hodges Gardens,” said Friends president John Byrd. “What wasn’t sold will
be planted throughout the gardens.”
A big buyer was Many Mayor Ken Freeman who purchased 75 plants for
fall planting and beautifying the town of Many. Freeman and his wife Mary
Ellen showed near the end of the sale and placed the large order.
When all the sales were tallied, Friends treasurer Edith Palmer advised the
members that they had sold more than $2500 worth of azaleas.
Azalea sale big success
ManyMayorKenFreeman,JohnByrdandEdithPalmerselectazaleasfor
Manybeauticationproject.
continued on page 2JourneytoBearIsland-page5
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The executive board of the organization will meet soon
and determine how best to use the funds at the Gardens.
They are considering restoring Willow Point Fountain and
are in the process of getting prices to determine exactly how
much it will cost to get the large fountain operational again.
The Friends organization was formed in 2008, soon after
the Gardens were re-opened to the public by the Louisiana
Department of State Parks. Results of their work was seenimmediately through their volunteer work and sponsorship
of programs like PALS, a summer favorite of area school
children for the past several years.
Currently the Friends group have their eyes set on next
year’s March Spring Fling, which brings about lots of family
-friendly activities at the Gardens.
The organization also hopes to sponsor an annual Fourth
of July special at the Gardens each year, beginning in 2011.
“We’re working toward a big Fourth of July celebration
next year, said Mary Brocato, vice president of the Friends
organization. We want lots of patriotic music with lots of areawide bands, and the grand nale would be a giant reworks
display over the lake like we used to have at the Gardens so
many years ago.”
The Friends group has already begun to seek sponsors
for the big event. Brocato and others are working to plan a
musical program and several bands have already committed.
Restoring the Willow Point Fountain, the March Spring
Fling, and the Fourth of July Extravaganza all cost lots of
money. Brocato said this is why the azalea sale was so
important.
VolunteerBettyMillerofManyandHoustonworkedwith
twojuniorvolunteersattheazaleafundraiser.
AmajorbuyerattheazaleasalewasAubreyFordwhowasalsoabigtippertojunorvolunteerswhodelivered
theazaleastoFord’svehicle.
The“moneyman”wasjuniorvolunteerKeyghanHalliday,12-years-old,whocountedthemoneyandprovidedarunningtallyofrevenuesfromtheazaleasale.
Azalea sale continued from page 1
n n n n n
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HodgesGardensHorticulturist Tommy Adams
It is easy to overlook Fall’s role in ensuring the survival
of life, both plant and animal, in the garden. Spring is
dramatic in this regard, Fall so much more subtle. Both
are essential.
Most noticeable is the Autumn color of our deciduous
trees and we have some good performers. Our maples are
very closely related to the maples that make such a show in
northern areas. As a general rule, the cooler the weather, the
showier the color. Our leaves die slowly as Fall progresses.
First, the green pigment chlorophyll dies exposing the
underlying yellow and red pigments allowing the trees to
get their house in order for the cold of winter.
We also have trees we can depend on regardless of
the temperature. Sassafras will consistently turn a pleasant
orange. The other good performers are non-natives. The
stately Ginko (Asia) will turn a beautiful clear yellow. Look
for these in the Main Garden. On House Island we have
two Chinese Pistachio trees. These are very closely related
to Sumac so it is no surprise that they turn the same ame
orange-red.
Many of our owering plants come alive with the mild
temperatures of Fall. Tropical water lilies are much more
colorful and the plants, having grown larger, produce more
blooms. The antique roses really respond to the change in
temperature. With just a few days of mild conditions, they
will push out new growth. Fall blooms are something to
look forward to, larger and more intense in color than spring
blooms. Many of the old Dianthus varieties planted in the
Old Fashion last year survived the heat of summer, some
even with an occasional bloom. These should pick up and
do well with Autumn weather conditions. Fall seems to be
the favored season for Marigolds. We will be planting a latecrop soon for color through the Fall.
Fall at Hodges Gardens 2010
PistachioTree
GinkoTree
SassafrasTree
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A
s the we begin to get relief from the
summer heat, it’s hard for me to believe
that another season has come and gone
so fast. Our visitation numbers have
been steadily increasing as we continueto expand our programming. If you haven’t been to
see us lately, you really should drop by and experience
the beauty and peace that the park has to offer. We
get so wrapped up in the “hurry up” fast pace of our
daily lives, that sometimes a break to sit by the lake or
up on Lookout Tower is all it takes to bring priorities
back into focus.We have been busy planning the Fall events for
the park and as I have always said, there is something
here for every soul and passion. Some of the events
we have planned are Flutter Fest Buttery Festival,Fall Trail Ride and St. Jude Benet, Full Moon Garden
Tours, October Fun Run and the very special Art in the
Park Show. Janice Hutton, our Interpretive Ranger,will be presenting several nature programs from Water
Gardening to Caterpillars to Butteries.
This season a new program is being added that
will focus on the Pines of Hodges Gardens. Our
community is rich with history and the timber industry
has played a major role in our area’s economy. Mr.Hodges was in the forefront of this movement and
dedicated an area of the park to researching and
hybridizing pines. For more information on theseand other events, check out the Friends website at
www.hodgesgardens.net.
Volunteer Days kicked off on September 10. We
have really been blessed this past year with volunteersand community service groups helping out with
projects. We have now set aside several Friday and
Saturdays throughout next Spring for Volunteer Days.
From pruning shrubs to trail maintenance to changing
out annuals in the ower beds, there will be something
to do! This will also give us a chance to visit and
enjoy the company of others with common interests
and united in a common goal. We’ll have the grillsred up for lunch so bring your grillin’ food or picnic
lunch and join us for work and fun.
Stay tuned……
Kim KellyHodges Gardens General Manager
A note from the park manager…
HodgesGardensParkManagerKimKellyanda
PALSprogramstudentenjoyedgettingtoknoweachotherduringthe2010PALSprogram.
AnewprogramfocusingonthePinesofHodgesGardensbeginsthisfall.A.J.Hodges,founder
ofthegardens,understoodtheimportanceofthetimberindustryintheareaanddedicatedaportionoftheparktohybridizingandresearching
pineforests.
m m m
m m m
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Journey to Bear IslandStory by Janice Hutton, Interpretative Ranger
A beautiful August morning and we were off on an
adventure, a canoe trip to Bear Island.
There are no bears on Bear Island. Originally it was
Bare Island, the result of the lling of the lake leaving a
barren hump of soil and boulders surrounded by water. Fifty
years later, the island is full of native trees; hickories, laurel
oaks, pines and wax myrtles. Shrubs include native azaleasand vacciniums which are members of the blueberry family.
Thick undergrowth at water’s edge provides great cover for
migrating ducks in winter and cool shade for herons shing
in the heat of summer.
We left the boat dock with Tommy Adams and me in one
canoe and the Hastings family from Houston, TX: Robert,
Laura and son William, in another canoe. William is eight and
was garbed in his best ‘ Indiana Jones’ clothes ready for his
excursion. After a brief canoeing lesson, we were off toward
the Island with a nice breeze on the bow. The water was
crystal clear, exposing the underwater vegetation and stones.We paddled around Flag Island and tied up on Bear Island.
As soon as William exited the canoe and climbed uphill,
he found a small animal skull. “Wow, is this real?” he wanted
to know. We assured him it was a raccoon skull, and he
thought we had placed it there for a “tourist” to nd. Later
he found a small short bone. As each picture was shot, there
was William holding up the bone.
We explored the boulders and checked out the trees the
beavers had cut and removed for their dams. We found deer
scat and evidence of previous hikers. We also observed a
very large Golden Garden spider with a three dimensional
web awaiting her prey.We were impressed by a splendid large Wax Myrtle tree
leaning out over the water and found it very picturesque.
William was impressed by bones!
We will have another Bear Island trip soon and maybe
you will wear your “Indiana Jones” hat.
TheRobertHastingsfamilyofHouston,TX,areeager
explorersastheysetoutearlyforamorningofexploringonBearIsland.
IndianaJoneslook-a-likeWilliamHastings,8,shareshis
discoveryofafossilfoundonBearisland.
Robert,LauraandWilliamHastingsfromHouston,TX,
pauseforabreakduringtheirexpeditiontoBearIsland.
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Construction is underway on the new
group camp at Hodges Gardens StatePark. The old lodge was demolished in
November, 2008. Also, the old RV sites were
demolished in order for the area to be used
for the construction of the new group camp.
The new site was chosen by the Resource
Development Department of the Ofce of
State Parks. The architect was chosen and
the design and the bid process completed to
make way for the project to begin in 2009.
A new road to the site location had to
be cleared from the old RV campground
to the lake. Then the site itself had to be
cleared. French drains were added to address
the drainage issues of the location. With
approximately 6,000 yards of dirt in place
and the foundation poured, the building
started to take shape. We are hoping to have
the construction completed by this Fall.
Once completed, the 5,000 sq. ft. group
camp will sleep 50 in two dormitory style
wings with bunk beds and will accommodate
75 in the central great room for meetings and
banquets. The kitchen is easily accessible to
the great room and has a back entrance for
deliveries. The group camp is going to be
a much needed addition to the park. Stay
tuned for updates and progress reports!
Group camp construction
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Hodges Gardens State Park again hosted the Sabine
Parish PALS program this summer for the third year in a
row.
Friends of Hodges Gardens sponsored many of the
events and provided t-shirts and trophies for participants
in the activities.
Young people from Sabine Parish schools lled thepark during the month of June. The students rotated
through outdoor, nature-based programs, biking, hiking,
canoeing, music, art and a competitive shing tournament.
Louisiana’s unique style of music and culture separates
this state from others. Louisiana Roots Music was a
special component of the PALS program over the summer.
Students learned about the many artists and music that call
Louisiana home.
Family Day was the grand finish for the month-
long PALS program. Students displayed their artwork
and performed on the Lakefront Stage for their parents,
relatives and friends.
Support for this summer educational program based on
the outdoors and nature was overwhelming. Professional
artists and musicians with volunteer retired teachers andpark staff made this a memorable summer for many school
children.
The summer of 2011 will mark the fourth year Hodges
Gardens State Park will provide educational, nature-based
programming for school children. Plans are underway to
include school children from Vernon Parish in the 2011
PALS progam.
PALS program 2010
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T he Friends Group has chosen a major project to help
fund for Hodges Gardens State Park. While many projects
were considered, the Willow Point Fountain project was
clearly the most important at this time. It is a focal point
from many places on the park. From the breathtaking lake
view of the lake as you enter the park, from the porches atCabin Point, and from the Lakefront Stage Lawn, the giant
fountain can be seen.
The fountain was no small accomplishment for its
designers in the 1950’s. Mr. Hodges spared no expense to
create this wonderful water feature in his garden paradise
that he shared with the public. It has given many of you
fond memories of Christmas time at Hodges. Its changing of
colors with the Christmas music was unforgettable on those
December nights. In the daytime, the water brings a sense
of refreshing beauty.
It will cost approximately $5,000.00 to bring this fountain
back to its former glory. Friends of Hodges Gardens StatePark is accepting donations dedicated to rebuild and refurbish
the fountain. Donations are tax-free. For more information
please contact John Byrd, president of Friends of Hodges
Gardens. (318-256-5591 nights)
The Executive Committee of the Friends organization
will meet and is expected to recommend donating the income
from the azalea fundraiser to the refurbishment of the Willow
Point Fountain.A lightning strike during a storm took out the 30 hp motor
that runs the fountain. The fountain today sits dry and broken
awaiting its turn in the restoration process. The Friends o
Hodges Gardens State Park is excited for the opportunity to
help repair the fountain and get the water owing again! We
need your help! We hope to raise enough money and have
enough volunteers to turn the fountain back on. This would
complete Phase I. Lights and other features will be addressed
in the next phase. Please send your tax deductible donation
to Friends of Hodges Gardens State Park – Fountain Project
PO Box 7, Florien, LA 71429. For additional information
contact a member of the Friends Board of Directors. Names
and contact information are available on our website: www
hodgesgardens.net
Friends passion project
PhotocourtesyofFrankDuttonwww.toledo-bend.comPhotobyParkSta
Willow Point Fountain
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HODGES GARDENS STATE PARK
FallScheduleOfEvents
SEPTEMBER
Date Time Event
10 All day Volunteer Day!
11 All day Flutter Fest Butterfy Festival
11 All day Volunteer Day!
12 9:30 am Butterfy Garden Tour
18 All day Rotary Club Run
19 9:30 am “Dragonfies”
22 All day Vernon Parish Forestry Awareness
23 All day Vernon Parish Forestry Awareness
23 10:00 pm Full Moon in the Gardens with Guided Night Hike25 All day LEC Fall Trail Ride
OCTOBER
Date Time Event
2 All day Fun Run
2 9:30 am Butterfy Garden Tour
3 9:30 am Water Garden Tour
6 All day Sabine Parish 5th Grade Forestry Awareness
7 All day Sabine Parish 5th Grade Forestry Awareness
9 9:30 am Modern Rose Garden Tour10 9:30 am Modern Rose Garden Tour
16 9:30 am Modern Rose Garden Tour
17 9:30 am Modern Rose Garden Tour
22 All day Volunteer Day!
23 All day Volunteer Day!
23 8:00 pm Full Moon in the Gardens with Guided Night Hike
NOVEMBER
Date Time Event
6 10:30 am Natural Fall Arrangements
7 10:30 am “Pines o Hodges Gardens State Park”
13 10:30 am Tree Identication
18 All day Nature Education Day-Sabine Parish 4th Grade
20 All day Fall Arts Festival
21 All day Full Moon in the Gardens - Open until Midnight
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TheBoardA.J.&Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Len Musick
Members at Large . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Edith Palmer and James Wagley
Sabine Parish Tourist Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Curtis-Sparks
Vernon Parish Tourist Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Crook
Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . John Byrd and Mary Beth Brocato
Louisiana Equine Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peggy Bianchi and Sybille Waruszcak
Louisiana Craft Guild (Art Park) .. . . . . . . . Doug Stannard and Tony McDonald
Centenary College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Hobson and Will Andress
Sabine Master Gardeners .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vicki Holbrook and Anita Thedford
TheExecutiveCommitteeJohn Byrd – president . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ([email protected]) 318-256-5591
Mary Beth Brocato – vice president . . . . . . ([email protected]) 318-256-5809
Peggy Bianchi – secretary . . . . . ([email protected]) 337-238-5428
Edith Palmer – treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . .([email protected]) 318-256-2036
Many people have indicated their support or Hodges
Gardens State Park by purchasing one-year membershipsin the Friends o Hodges Gardens non-prot organization.We thank them or their support and hope that you, too,
will become a member and enjoy the many benets othis worthwhile, tax-ree organization. Memberships areavailable in dierent categories and include passes to theGardens (year-long passes or contributions at $100 level
or above), ree admission to all events, subscription to thequarterly newsletter, and many other benets. Pleasee-mail or call any member o the executive committee
or inormation on how to become a Friend o HodgesGardens State Park. You may also contact any member o the board o directors.
FriendsofHodgesGardensStatePark
Boardofdirectorsandexecutivecommittee
© 2010 NSU Press Publications
Editor, Mary Beth Brocato
Graphic Designer, Beth Mann
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FriendsofHodgesGardensStatePark MEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION
Name: _______________________________________________________________________
Mailing address: _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Phone number: _______________________________________________________________
E-mail address: _______________________________________________________________
Pleasecheckthemembershiplevelyouprefer:
❑ $50.00Level: entitles you to membership in the Friends organizationand two ree day passes to the gardens.
❑ $100.00Level: entitles you to membership in the Friends organizationand an annual pass to the gardens. The pass will allow everyone in your vehicleentrance into the gardens. This pass also entitles you to entrance to all Louisiana State
Parks.
❑ $250.00Level (corporate, business, or individual): entitles you to membership
in the Friends organization and two annual passes to the gardens. These passes willallow everyone in your vehicle entrance to the gardens. This pass also entitles you toentrance to all Louisiana State Parks.
Annual passes are good or one year: January – December
CheckshouldbepayabletoFriendsofHodgesGardens.Mailyourcheckto:
Friends o Hodges Gardens State Park Attn: Edith Palmer, treasurer
P.O. Box 7Florien, Louisiana 71429