Garden Club ready to decorate city

Staff

Published Sunday, April 25, 2004

Suffolk News-Herald

The Suffolk Garden Club recently met with one of its members, Alma Duke, at Lake Prince Retirement Center to discuss plans for the organization's annual Crepe Myrtle Project, a part of the state beautification program.

Debbie Williams Chappell, president of the Suffolk Garden Club, initiated the project in 1998 after visiting the Eastern Shore, where she noticed that the cities' gateways were graced with the pink-flowering trees.

"I checked into doing such a project in Suffolk and learned that within six years, more than 5,000 trees had been planted on the Eastern Shore," she said. "That project was heavily supported by those who purchased trees in memory of a loved one, or people who purchased them as gifts."

The Suffolk Garden Club has adopted that idea too.

"My sister lives in Seattle and she even purchased one in honor of her graduating class at Forest Glen High School."

Each year, as the Suffolk Garden Club kicks off this event, people begin ordering the crepe myrtle trees.

Chappell collects funds and orders the trees locally from Lancaster Farms. The trees are delivered in time for fall and winter planting

Each donor receives a note of thanks and the person honored also receives a card telling them about his special tree, Chappell said.

Crepe myrtles were selected because they are among the most beautiful in the horticultural world, Chappell said.

"The crepe myrtle flowers about 100 days each summer," said Chappell. "Even in the wintertime, the trees are beautiful because of the splendid nature and color of their bark.

"They are just so beautiful and the flowers come in a great variety of hues including white, watermelon, pink, purple and fuchsia. Crepe myrtle trees are truly some of the most graceful and decorative of trees."

Robert Johnson, a representative of the Virginia Department of Transportation's environmental division, praised the club's work.

This project adds greatly to the beauty of the city and these women are dedicated, giving freely of their time and talents to carry it out, he said.

To donate to project, send a check payable to the Suffolk Crepe Myrtle Project, C/O Debbie Williams Chappell, 3716 Arcanum Lane, Suffolk, VA, 23434. Trees cost $14 to $18 each, but any amount would be appreciated.

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