Month: May 2023

Aiken in Bloom: In Conversation with Margaret Brown

For 27 years, she created the floral ​arrangements that decorated Augusta ​National during the Masters Tournament. ​The flowers she arranged each year in The ​Butler Cabin, where the post-tournament ​Green Jacket Interview is famously held, ​have been seen by hundreds of millions of ​people around the world. Her experiences ​over the course of nearly 3 decades, from ​1982 until 2008, inspired her to write a book entitled A Florist’s Walk Down ​Magnolia Lane: An Augusta Story so that ​she could share a behind the scenes look ​at the tradition of one of the most storied ​golf tournaments in history.

Long before she was the floral designer for Augusta National, Margaret was busy ​falling in love with nature and flowers in ​her parents’ yard growing up. She was ​zealous about spending time outdoors, ​and as she got older, she became equally ​enthusiastic about the happiness, peace, ​and joy that spread wherever flowers go.

Tune in as we have the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss her passion of flowers and how she originally started working with Augusta National.

Interested in learning more about Margaret and her work at Augusta National? Purchase her book here.

Joye in Aiken: Off the Stage and into the Classroom

Joye in Aiken makes a grand entrance onto the social ​scene each March with it’s array of dazzling performing ​artists and productions. The sweet melodies and soulful ​jazz fills the local businesses and performance venues ​throughout the week. What is often over looked is what ​is softly happening in the background of Joye in Aiken: ​the philanthropic work that they do in the local public ​schools as part of their outreach program.

46,000 students have felt the impact of their outreach ​program since Joye in Aiken’s inception in 2008. Joye in Aiken works closely with the Aiken County Public ​School District to bring Kidz Bop and Young People’s ​concerts, master classes, in-school performances, artist residencies, and a summer jazz camp to town for ​the students to participate in. They offer performing art experiences and learning opportunities that would ​otherwise not be available in Aiken.

This past winter, Joye in Aiken received a 2023 Community Grant of $15,000 from the CSRA Community Foundation to continue the impactful work that they do in our public schools. This grant will go towards a newer mission of Joye in Aiken that came about due to the pandemic. They are working closely with schools to reengage students after multiple years of disrupted education that led to, in some cases, substantial learning losses.

Their philanthropic work over the past fifteen years has been inspiring to students throughout our community and we’re grateful for all that they do!

Interested in learning more about Joye in Aiken 2024? Click below to visit their site:
https://www.joyeinaiken.com/

 

Our resident sommelier, Matthew Sayer, is back this spring with his recommendation for what to drink this season. His choice? Tears of Vulcan. This wine is special because it is an “orange” wine… no, not wine made from oranges, but instead it’s a wine made where the skins and seeds of the grapes are left in contact with the juice creating an orange tint to the wine. It hails from the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon. You’ll enjoy the beautiful copper color, light tannins, and hint of umami that comes with every pour. It elicits endless depth and character. The best way to enjoy it is on a warm spring day, sitting on the shaded patio enjoying some cheese. It also pairs well with a spicy low country boil.