Gwen Kelley and Maurene Guffin examine entries at a previous flower show. 

Maureen Guffin has a story about each of the plants in her yard, from the roses that climb her trellised garden entrance, to her award-winning iris, to the wild ginger that grows in one of her flower beds.

Pointing to the wild ginger, Guffin talks about how, as a child, her dad showed her the plants and said that he once supported his young family by digging them up in the wild and selling them for $.50 a bushel to feed her and her twin sister.

Guffin got involved with her local garden club when her children started school and she found herself with free time. At the time, there were 17 garden clubs in the North End Council and each club was flourishing.

“At the time Fultondale’s club was the largest,” Guffin remembers. That club no longer exists, falling by the wayside, as did 13 others.

Now, there are only three clubs remaining, the Gardendale Club, the Blue Star club and the Magnolia Garden Club in Warrior. Those clubs are still going strong, but always looking for new members who are interested in gardening and flowers.

Guffin also remembers those early flower shows, when they were relegated to a small church venue. The construction of Gardendale’s first civic center allowed the council to make the show larger and open it up to the public more. The show has grown to cover much of the civic center’s exhibition space and now draws attendees from all over the state.

Guffin will be showcasing her flowers this week at the annual North End Council of Garden Clubs Flower Show. Guffin is the chairman of the event this year, as well as the one who painted the design for the show’s program. This year’s theme will be “Where the Sweet Magnolias Blossom.” The show will be at the Gardendale Civic Center on Thursday, May 16 from 2-7 p.m.

The show, which has previously been named the best in the state and one of the best in the region, is open to the public and there is no charge for entry.

The show will host a number of competitions for individual flowers as well as floral designs, educational exhibits and a plant sale. Some of the competitions are even open to the public for those who think their flowers are award-winning. Entries must be at the civic center by Wednesday afternoon.

For more information, contact Guffin at 631-4871.