Cook to become Honorary Lifetime Member of Garden Club
A woman who has been a member of the Pine Island Garden Club since 1998 will become an Honorary Lifetime Member of the club Thursday, Jan. 17, during a special ceremony.
Donna Cook has served on the Garden Club board as the secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer over the years. She has also been an intricate member of keeping the Garden Park in pristine condition throughout the years.
A presentation will take place Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fishers of Men Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10360 Stringfellow Road, which will also include a cake for the new inductee of the Pine Island Garden Club Honorary Lifetime Member as well as those in attendance.
In addition to being active in the club, Cook also spends a great deal of time tending to gardens in St. James City. Her gardens not only include many different kinds of native plants, but also tropical and exotic plants, as well as many trees to enhance her waterfront setting.
Floral arranging is another interest of Cook’s. She has studied creative design with some well-known Florida and national designers and floral judges.
“At the end of the classes, there is a workshop to put into practice what has been learned,” Garden Club Honorary Member Marjorie Vanderkruik said. “Donna sends the judges away in awe by her creative work. They are always amazed by her ingenious and resourcefulness in not only finding the material, but in her use of it.”
Her floral arrangements include items from her garden, something found growing alongside the road or pieces from someone’s horticultural trash pile.
“Donna is truly the master of creative floral design,” Vanderkruik said.
Cook will demonstrate how she creates her masterpieces at the annual Garden Gala Feb. 23 at the Garden Club Nature Park from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“Those of you who have been to the demonstrate section of the Garden Gala for the past five years have seen first-hand some of her creative and extraordinary masterful flora designs,” Vanderkruik said.