Decorating the Pine Barrens way with naturalist Tom Southard
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
SOUTHARD, from Page 1
His life has taken him far and wide
and back again since then, includ-
ing a stint as a Navy Corpsman as-
signed to the 3rd Marine Aircraft
Wing on Okinawa and the Ryukyu
islands in Japan from 1968 to
1972. He also spent time at the
Newport Beach Actor’s Studio in
Newport Beach, Ca. and attended
the University of Montana from
1977 to 1982. in 1985, he returned
to the Hammonton area and began
the business he continues in today,
which is located on Pleasant Mills
Road.
“My customer base goes from
wholesale and retail florists, to ho-
tels and private homes,” Southard
said.
He has been a plant consultant
for motion pictures and television,
including the major motion pic-
tures Great Expectations and I Am
Legend. He has also decorated sets
for soap operas.
in addition, his work has graced
hotels like The Bellevue Hotel on
Broad Street in Philadelphia as
well as a variety of restaurants,
businesses and private homes. His
work at The Bellevue was inspired
by the menu from the opening of
the hotel in 1904, he said, adding
that his work appeared in the
Grand Ballroom, founders Room
and ethel Barrymore Room.
“i took [actress] Kathleen Crow-
ley of Green Bank with me when i
won first prize for decorating the
hotel. We had a great time,”
Southard said.
from Philadelphia to the Victo-
rians of Cape May to New York
City, his name and award-winning
work are well-known.
“i’ve introduced about 350 vari-
eties of plants from the Pine Bar-
rens into the New York market,” he
said.
While being interviewed for this
piece in his bungalow located in
front of his workshop on Pleasant
Mills Road, Southard took phone
calls on his cell phone from cus-
tomers seeking pine cones and
cedars.
“it’s a tough year for pine cones
all around this year,” Southard said
into the phone.
in addition to Christmas decora-
tions, Southard makes natural
menorahs for Hanukkah, he said.
He’s designed for the stars as
well.
Now carrying
Blush by
Hayley Paige and
Maggie Sottero
We carry gorgeous dresses by:
One Sindoni Lane, Suite C, Hammonton
(609) 270-7886 • www.meadowsbridalshop.com
Hayley Paige, Maggie Sottero
Casablanca, Mori Lee,
and so much more!
“i designed a throne and a love
seat for the video for the late
Aretha franklin’s song ‘A Rose is
Still A Rose’ because she was the
‘Queen of Soul,’” Southard said.
The woods and his work seem to
lend themselves well to the line by
the poet Robert frost. He said he
believed “his avocation was his vo-
cation.”
“i’ve always looked at it as a ca-
reer and not a job — it’s not just a
way to make money. it’s part of my
whole conscious being,” Southard
said, adding that he is “A Piney
who grew up in Nesco.”
“The Pine Barrens is my whole
garden,” he said.
These days, he said he only has
about five percent of the original
territory for finding and selecting
fresh greens that he started with in
1985 due to development and reg-
ulations. When asked why, he an-
swered, “it’s called, ‘The best
politicians money can buy.’”
Still, he said, the natural beauty
of the Pine Barrens can be seen all
year long.
“My garden is available year-
round. When the seasons change, it
just opens up my eyes to new and
different growth. When it’s stark
winter, it’s not stark winter to me,”
Southard said.
Since 2005, Southard has helped
veterans and shut-ins through his
“Operation Good Scents” initia-
tive. The project brings fresh
greens to people who cannot expe-
rience them on their own.
“it was triggered by a friend who
had lost her eyesight. She loved all
plants and evergreens,” he said.
A veteran himself, he made sure
to bring the evergreens to people in
the Vineland Veterans Home, Vet-
erans Haven and Ancora Psychi-
atric Hospital.
“Whether or not you believe in
the war or not, we can all be sol-
diers and save our country by
doing some good,” Southard said.
in 2013, he received a letter from
New Jersey Department of Mili-
tary and Veterans Affairs Supervi-
sor of Recreation/Volunteer
Coordinator Lisa A. Williams for
his efforts.
“Your gift [of greenery] is an af-
firmation of the kindness that still
exists in this world and clearly
demonstrates that our veterans
have not been forgotten. We have
not forgotten the sacrifices of all
those that served, fought and died
in the defense of our Country and
together we can provide our veter-
ans their just due. We are most
grateful for your friendship and
support,” Williams wrote in the let-
ter to Southard.
for more information about
Southard’s decorations or “Opera-
tion Good Scents” call him at (609)
561-2545 or (609) 457-7860. The
event will take place on December
7.
DiMeglio Septic ,
Est. 1975 ~ DEP 03261 ~ Paul DiMeglio
Inc.
1 (800) 427-4617 ~ 561-1007 ~ 561-3597
491 White Horse Pike • Ancora, NJ
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