In April, 250 garden enthusiasts and supporters of Anniston Museum’s future botanical garden were treated to an afternoon with legendary Georgia football Coach Vince Dooley and his wife, Barbara.

The event was made possible through the sponsorships of Georgia alum Jason Alderman and BB&T, Noble Bank & Trust, Art and Libba Moore, Jerry and Jean Ann Oglesby, and David and Lesa Cummings.

Many individuals and businesses supported the event by purchasing a table or tickets.

As guests enjoyed a picnic lunch served by Museum League volunteers Jean Ann Oglesby, Lesa Cummings, Nancy Lipham, Lynne Isom, Barbara Walters, Sara Rutledge, Margaret Hatley and Susan Gibbins — all dressed in their very best gardening overalls — Vince and Barbara Dooley entertained the audience with stories about gardening, football and life.

The Dooleys then toured both the Anniston Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum of World History. They were quite impressed with the museums, as well as with the plans to incorporate a botanical garden into the museum complex in Lagarde Park.

On May 30, the league volunteers, along with the museum’s dynamic “Green Team” gardeners, traveled to see Coach Dooley’s garden for themselves. Coach Dooley showed true Southern hospitality by giving the group a personal tour of his magnificent gardens, including his extensive collection of hydrangeas and Japanese maples.

To share your news with Small Talk, contact Annette Maddox at starsmalltalk@yahoo.com.

Save the Date

Attention all would-be actors and actresses! General auditions for CAST’s upcoming season will be at 7 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church on Henry Road in Anniston, and then again at 2 p.m. Saturday. Scripts will be available or you can bring your own to read. Go show ‘em what you got!