By Dennis P. Kriewald

The 53rd annual Flower and Art Show, which the United Methodist Women have been sponsoring since 1950, will take place Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30, according to the Show's general chairperson, Hortense Offerle.
The site of the Show is the First United Methodist Church's Fellowship Hall, located at 1000 Guadalupe at McClelland, and the Show's times are 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. both days. Since this Laredo springtime tradition is a fundraiser for the United Methodist Women, admission is $3 per person, and tickets will be sold at the door.
On behalf of the entire United Methodist Women, Mrs. Offerle invites everyone to attend. She says, "Our Show epitomizes the joy and beauty of springtime here in Laredo with our colorful floral exhibits, the special themed tables, and the lovely art works of this year's Guest Artist, Linda LaMantia."
The theme of the 2003 Show, "Laredo Under Seven Flags," relates to the long and colorful history of the Gateway City because Laredo, unlike the rest of Texas, which has had only six flags, has prospered under seven flags: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Republic of the Río Grande, the United States, and the Confederate States of America.

Show dedicated
to Mrs. Angela Borchers
One fine lady, the late Mrs. Angela Borchers, entered flowers from her garden every year of the Show until she passed away last year, and in recognition of Mrs. Borchers' faithful participation and support, the United Methodist Women are dedicating this year's Flower and Art Show to her. No doubt, members of the Borchers family will display flowers from Mrs. Borchers' garden in the 2003 Show.

Linda LaMantia,
2003 Guest Artist
The Guest Artist for this year's event will be Linda LaMantia, about whom there is a sidebar story. Linda's colorful watercolors have won her many awards and prizes.

Show proceeds go
to benefit charity
The United Methodist Women's president, Delia Whitfield, emphasizes that the proceeds from the Flower and Art Show help to support the First United Methodist Church's missions activities, including two Nuevo Laredo children's homes, the Douglas Home, and the Salvation Army Home. Mrs. Whitfield adds, "We women enjoy putting on the Show because we know that, by doing so, we are helping those in need as well as providing joy and beauty in the Fellowship Hall."

Flower and Art Show
history
In the Spring of 1950 the United Methodist Women, inspired by one of their members, Ann Shanks, staged their first-ever Flower and Art Show to showcase Laredo's talented gardeners and artists and to raise money for the Church's missions activities. Among the organizers were Woncele Dublin, Hazel Snow, Lois Sullivan, and Hazel Skinner as well as Mrs. Shanks. Laredo's gardeners and artists enthusiastically supported the Show and continue to do so.
According to Mrs. Offerle, other flower growers who enter annually include Leona Alston, Ruth Fierros, Gloria Guajardo, Julia Watson Jones, Marilyn Mapus, Ann Neel, Dr. Wilburn Ottmers, Lynne Twiss Odom, Elena Holloway, Dr. Rosa Maria Vida, Sharon Yeary, and Billy Moore, "the orchid Lady." She and her husband Mervil, retired businessman, grow orchids in their own greenhouse and display them at the Show. Ann Shanks, daughter of the original Show inspirer, will also enter the products of her garden as she has always done.

Refreshments, displays,
and door prizes
The Women will serve light refreshments both days and award door prizes, generously donated by local businesses, at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 30. Winners need not be present to win.
According to Mrs. Offerle, "United Methodist Women and other Laredoans will show off their flowers in floral displays throughout the Hall, and talented local artist Linda La Mantia will display pieces of her art."

Request for flower donations
and flower arrangers
Because of the recent severely cold weather, Mrs. Offerle requests donations of flowers from local gardeners. She says, "Just call the Church office at 722-1674 or call me at home at 724-4297, and we can send someone to pick up your flowers if you want to contribute to the Show. We will see that you and your flowers are properly acknowledged with name cards for the Show. And if anyone wants to help arrange flowers Saturday morning (from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.), come to the Fellowship Hall. We welcome all volunteers."

The tradition
of the Guest Artist
The time-honored tradition of the Flower and Art Show is to designate a talented well known local or out-of-town artist to display during the Show. Among the local artists have been Mary Leyendecker Quiros, Lejeune Whitworth, Vivian Harrell, Genevieve Richter, Janet Krueger, the students of Rosario Azios, Linda Talton, Charley Bruni, Nuevo Laredo artists Ernesto Lopez and his wife Mari Lugo, Armando Hinojosa, Rosa Haber, Laredo Community College art students, and others.
For the Fifty-Third Annual Flower and Art Show, the United Methodist Women have selected Linda La Mantia as this year's Guest Artist.
Special theme tables
In keeping with the Show's theme, "Laredo Under Seven Flags," Mrs. Offerle adds that the Show will also include special theme tables in the Fellowship Hall and that local people will decorate these "special tables" to exemplify the Show's theme: the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, the United States, the Republic of the Río Grande, and the Confederate States of America. Members of the Webb County Heritage Foundation, owners and guardians of the Museum of the Republic of the Río Grande, will decorate the table for Laredo's Republic of the Río Grande flag.

Committee members
and volunteers
Various duties for the Show are handled by these members: Tickets -- Geneva Widener; Hostesses and Refreshments -- Eileen Hale; Flower Pick-Up -- Rachel Bohmfalk, Laura Oden, Amy Kuly, and Delia Whitfield; Flower Receiving -- Doris Sparenberg and Anna and Katy Chavez; and Flower Arranging -- Billy Moore, Chief Flower Arranger.
Others include Ann Shanks, Zelma Heck, Delia Whitfield, Dolly Claes, Dixie Morrow, Peggy Frost, Dorothy Neumann, and other UMWomen. Dennis Kriewald does the publicity and garners the door prizes. Other men assisting are Mervil Moore, Hank Neumann, John Hale, Perry Widener, and Charles Whitfield.