Aldridge recognized by Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri

Earve Aldridge’s willingness to share his gardening skills and strength have earned him not only praise but a citation from the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc.

Aldridge’s wife Carla is a member and past president of the Poplar Bluff Garden Club.

Poplar Bluff Garden Club President Jane Hansmann presented the award at the first stop on the annual ”Members Garden Tour,” which was at the Aldridge home. The group toured five yards as a group to learn and share ideas about gardening.

State citations chairman Cindy Keesler sent the award for Aldridge with said, “For the many volunteer hours and dedication to aiding the Poplar Bluff Garden Club’s projects in their efforts to beautify their city. He could be seen digging, hauling dirt and mulch, pruning, weed eating but especially in the landscaping of the historic steps of the railroad depot.”

Keesler prepared the citation after receiving a nomination from Poplar Bluff Garden Club member Judy Duncan.

Duncan submitted the following nomination: “Poplar Bluff Garden Club of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, is proud and lucky to have Carla Aldridge as a hard working and former club president. And what comes along with Carla is her husband, Earve Aldridge, who has been such a great volunteer in helping our club in so many ways. Earve was willing to transport our heavy Yard-Of-The-Month sign, hammer that steel post into the ground which was sometime very hard because of the dry weather.”

“Our biggest landscape project for the last few years was grooming a large area around the beautiful steps leading from Main Street down to Union Pacific Depot,” Duncan continued. “We GC ladies trimmed the roses, and landscaped in front of the historic steps. But, there was a lot more work grooming and beautifying a much larger area, part of which was a very steep hillside that was risky to work on.

“... Earve worked on the dangerous slope, plus he hauled mulch and potting soil, helped trim the crape myrtles, and hauled the debris to the dump. We are so grateful for Earve and the many hours he volunteered.”