OP Garden Club continues holiday tradition of ‘Decorating the Pines’

(Dec. 3, 2020) Members of the Ocean Pines Garden Club continued a longstanding tradition this week, by “Decorating the Pines” for the holidays with dozens of festive wreaths and garland.  

Gail Philippi, head of Ocean Pines Garden Club publicity, said club members met on Monday, Nov. 30 both in the community center and remotely, because of restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In normal times, Garden Club members gather at the community center – usually around 40 decorators – and work together to create their decorations, which are then hung by volunteer husbands and other helpers,” she said. “This is followed by a delicious chili luncheon to reward all of the hard, but fun, work. 

“This year, we had 14 members working at home and 14 members working at the community center, to comply with COVID-19 restrictions,” Philippi continued. “There were 14 wreaths and 38 larger swags made and hung by members and husbands. Unfortunately, we could not have our chili luncheon, but we certainly hope to next year.” 

“Swag” refers to a suspended wreath, garland or drapery that is fastened up at the end and hangs down in the middle. 

Philippi said the Garden Club formed in 1976 and has been “Decorating the Pines” since at least the mid-1990s.  

“It started with red ribbons and greenery that members gathered from what is now the area around The Point,” she said. “At one point, there was some concern about deer hunting and gunfire being a little too close to those cutting the greenery. The club started using artificial greenery with fresh supplements around that time!” 

Since then, Philippi said it’s become a tradition for the club to gather on the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

Each year, Garden Club members “create beautiful wreaths and swags to be displayed at various locations, including the community center, the Administration and Police Department building, the south and north gates, and the entrances of numerous Ocean Pines neighborhoods,” she said.  

“In addition, OPGC members spruce up smaller swags that OPA's Public Works elves then hang on stop signs throughout Ocean Pines,” Philippi said, adding the club created more than 60 such stop-sign decorations this year.  

The Garden Club has not held an in-person meeting since March, but members have remained active on Zoom and have already started planning for 2021 activities.   

“While we normally have a mixed schedule of speakers, demonstrations, and tours or road trips, we will focus for now on those events we can conduct on Zoom or safely outside, such as our Arbor Day Tree Planting Memorial Ceremony, May Day Basket Display, and Mother's Day Arrangement Sale at the Ocean Pines Farmer's Market,” Philippi said. “The Ocean Pines Garden Club is still bloomin’!”  

She said the Garden Club currently has about 60 members and is always looking for new people to join. Dues are $15 each year and include a subscription to the Garden Club newsletter, “The Bloomin’ News.” 

For more information or to join the Ocean Pines Garden Club, email Garden Club President Patti Lookner at [email protected].