The Southern PInes Garden Club had a busy 2008. In September, the meeting took place at the home of Mary Alice Gozzi. Gozzi is the president of the club.

The hostesses were Suzanne Daughtridge, Mary Jozzie, Joyce White and Mary Joe Worth.

The speaker was Taylor Williams, from the Moore County extension office, who spoke on local farmers' markets.

On Oct. 2, Susan Rice hosted the club for a tour of her truffle orchard in Vass.

Hostesses were Patsy Bonsal, Joan Meade and Alice Robbins.

On Nov. 14, the club held its meeting at the home of Joanne Kilpatrick.

Hostesses were Courtney Kilpatrick and Joanne Kilpatrick. The guest speaker was Kathy Byron, who spoke on the Master Gardeners program and the school gardens. The meeting on Jan. 26 will be held at Weymouth and is open to the public. All are invited to attend, says a spokesman.

At 9:30 refreshments will be served, and at 10 a.m. the program will start. The guest speaker will be Martha Blakeslee. Hostesses will be Carolyn Anderson, Pete Broughton, Diana Douglass and Peggy Thompson.

The Southern Pines Garden Club is over 50 years old and was established for the beautification of Southern PInes. Members have contributed to many projects including downtown schools, churches and a scholarship each year at Sandhills Community College horticultural program.

The club has given a home and garden tour every year for over 50 years. The profits of this tour go to fund the club's many projects.