The Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club completed beautiful glassware projects at their November meeting. Pictured from left to right are Sally Newell, Judy Wilcox, Marie Zambotti. In the background are Lucy Hurley and Nancy Kohler.

The Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club met for their November meeting at the 40-acre grape farm on Temple Road in Fredonia belonging to member and local artisan of holiday decor, Barb Joy.

Annually in November, Joy holds a Finishing Touches Open House in her large red Carriage House, but this time she opened the doors to her workshop to her club members for a garden, glass-craft class.

Huge collections of unused glassware, special silicone glue and decorating suggestions were supplied by Joy, as the ladies created garden dÈcor angels, snowmen, bird feeders, stacked candy dishes, lamps and trees. The leftover glassware was later wrapped and donated to a local charitable organization.

Joy also guided the group in making grape bunch ornaments from wine corks, glue, paint, glitter and ribbon.

After the craft session, members proceeded along a stone pathway, across the tree-filled yard to the Country Farm House. Burgundy, pink and lavender hydrangea bushes; healthy hunter green holly bushes with cherry-red berries and large pots of red begonias stacked on old-fashioned milk cans circled the home.

A John Deere Tractor sign gave the gardeners an “Autumn greeting.” Four large pumpkins hugged the porch next to a bench and a fall arranged basket of mums, fall leaves and black-eyed Susan flowers graced the side door.

Once inside the home, white wicker, flower-cushioned furniture charmed the entranceway. A huge Christmas cactus (that blooms for Thanskgiving) greeted the group with a profusion of fuchsia-colored fresh blooms.

The Early American inspired modern kitchen displayed Joy’s antique bottle collection and artifacts from long ago. A spindly, happy spider plant hung from the beamed ceiling and complemented the center island.

Looking through the windows, Joy’s perrennial garden, nicely cut back for the winter, was in full view. A large pergola-covered patio was laden with grape vines – some with tiny bunches of grapes still hanging. Also, outside, Joy’s collection of 16 birdhouses and bird feeders hung from a recycled tree – covered with ivy – ready to welcome her feathered friends.

The dining room table was decorated with a multi-colored knubby runner in fall colors. The centerpiece was an antique copper scale. One side of the scale held a square, burgundy candle and the other arm of the scale held a fall arrangement of autumn leaves, zinnias, pine cones and of course, grapes.

A huge, old-time spinning wheel, a photo of the Joy Historic 1850 farm and a silver teapot collection were in full view.

Feeling a little like modern-day, “Little House on the Prairie” friends, the Garden Club ladies enjoyed a delightful selection of teas and a whipped cream-topped pumpkin cake baked by Joy herself and served on floral china. “Gobble-gobble” hand-imprinted turkey napkins completed the autumn theme. Joy was assisted by Sue Alongue.

Co-president Judy Wilcox held a brief meeting. New secretary, Sandy Newell, read the minutes from the last meeting. Plans were made for upcoming meetings.

Sadly, the wreath sale had to be canceled due to supplies of evergreen branches were unavailable due to heavy rains and flooding conditions. Apologies to all those that purchased wreaths were extended.

The next meeting will be an elaborate Holiday High Tea at the Edwards Waterhouse Inn on Central Avenue in Fredonia on Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. Members are reminded to contact Sallie Muscato, chairlady of the event, to make reservations. Toys will be collected at this December gathering to be distributed to local children by a non-profit organization.