Greetings!
The end of summer is near as Labor Day approaches. We return from vacations, children return to school, and our lives return to our usual hum of activity. Garden Club of Virginia is waiting to welcome you back with fun events and educational opportunities.
The second Fall Symposium will be held in Richmond on September 25-26. Learn about Floral Design, enter an arrangement, cut from your garden for the expanded Horticulture Show, enjoy the Photography Exhibit, and hear inspiring speakers. There is truly something for everyone.
Please plan to attend our 2018 Conservation Forum on October 25 in Charlottesville where we will learn about alternatives to pesticide use in our gardens.
I am looking forward to celebrating with you the exciting work of our Garden Club of Virginia.
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Linda Consolvo
Nansemond River Garden Club
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The hum of bees is the voice of the garden.
~Elizabeth Lawrence
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Wed-Thu, September 5-6
Restoration Committee Meeting, Williamsburg
Monday, September 10
Horticulture Committee, KVH 10:30 am
Tuesday, September 11
Membership Committee, KVH 10:30 am
Centennial Steering Committee, KVH noon
Wednesday, September 12
HGW Districts 1 and 5, KVH 9:30 am
HGW Districts 3 and 6, Hampton/Newport News
Thursday, September 13
HGW Districts 2 and 4, location tbd
Tuesday, September 25
Conservation Committee, 4:00 pm
Tue-Wed, September 25-26
GCV Fall Symposium, Science Museum Richmond
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Member clubs will cast their ballots in September for their favorite application for the Common Wealth Award. Their votes will be recorded at the Board of Governor’s meeting in October. Good luck to all the nominees! For a description of the projects
CLICK HERE
.
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The Massie Medal is the most prestigious award of the Garden Club of Virginia. It is awarded to an individual member or member club of the GCV who has served with unusual dedication and distinction. The deadline for applying is December 1.
CLICK HERE
for an application and criteria for submitting a candidate or contact Dianne Spence at dsspence@widomaker.com
or 757-870-3154.
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Member Clubs in the Community
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Boxwood Garden Club
has raised funds to benefit Peter Paul Development Center in Richmond. The funds will be used for fruit bushes in the community garden and landscaping around the playground.
Peter Paul Development Center is an outreach and community center serving Church Hill and neighboring communities in Richmond’s East End. Founded in 1979, it is the oldest community-based agency continually serving Church Hill children and families. Peter Paul gives children a safe, consistent, structured, and loving environment in which to thrive, where staff and volunteers establish long-term relationships of trust and support for the children and their families. In addition to Youth Programs, Peter Paul’s Community Programs are an integral part of life in Richmond’s East End.
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The Garden Club of Fairfax
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Mason Neck State Park Junior Ranger Program begins July 9 and the
Garden Club of Fairfax
is providing tuition for 24 elementary and middle school campers.
From VA State Parks Blog by Johanna Petrosky...
Junior Rangers play games, hike trails, observe animals and wildlife, discover tracks, all while making friends your own age with the same interests!
There are several different activities to the Junior Ranger Program. Geology, ecology, history, safety, plants, and wildlife are some of the activity areas you will be exploring in the program. Don't worry, you're invited to come too! This is a great way for you and your child to learn about history and nature that's in your own backyard.
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2018 Landscape Research Fellowships
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l to r: Mary Fesak and Penelope Cottrell-Crawford
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l to r: Jean Gilpin, Mary Fesak, Penelope Cottrell-Crawford, Judy Perry and Will Rieley
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2018 GCV Landscape Research Fellows
Penelope Cottrell-Crawford
and
Mary Fesak
made their final presentations at Shirley Plantation and Sherwood Forest Plantation on August 8 before the GCV Board of Directors, Restoration Committee, Fellowship Committee and other guests.
With their research completed, they will each document their findings and create bound presentations.
CLICK HERE
to learn more about the GCV Fellowship program and to read the documentation of historic properties recorded by former GCV Fellows.
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Thursday, October 25, 2018, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
$30 (Free for students)
Ticket price includes continental breakfast.
Speakers will share the latest research on the impact of pesticides on pollinators, the environment and our health, providing alternative sustainable garden practices that can be implemented in our own backyards.
Dr. Pete Meyers
will speak on the dangers of pesticides on the health of wildlife and people even in low doses, touching on endocrine disrupting pesticides and how the EPA may improve its risk assessment.
Rick Felker
of Mattawoman Creek Farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia will speak on the importance of soil, growing conditions on health.
Russ Britton
, CEO of Mirimichi Green will speak on innovative practices and latest advancements in sustainable green spaces including biostimulants and reduced watering needs.
Rick Fell
, Professor of Entomology at Virginia Tech will speak on the importance of pollinators and the threats they are facing in today's environment.
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Centennial Daffodil 'Green Arrow'
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Order 'Green Arrow' in packs of 5 bulbs at $30 per pack.
Limit 3 packs (15 bulbs) per member. Bulbs will be distributed in the fall.
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GCV Directory and Handbook
Our 2018-2020 GCV Directory & Handbook is scheduled for delivery in early September. Boxes will be shipped to club presidents for individual distribution.
Our cover botanical art by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was chosen to celebrate her pioneering work in the scientific study of insects and the relationship between insects and plants. The lasting impact of her work is felt today, 300 years later, as we concern ourselves with the importance of native plants and pollinators.
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Belle Isle State Park 2018 Grant Recipient
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Goals
Execute the master plan to make the grounds of Belle Isle safe.
Support and expand the outdoor learning opportunities in natural resource conservation and environmental problem solving.
Enrich the experience of the Visitor Center Exhibits for park visitors.
Use real life stories from oral history to develop ways to engage the public.
Provide information to the public about the rich natural and historic resources at the park.
Expand the native pollinator gardens at Belle Isle State Park to attract bees, butterflies and other wildlife.
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Project Activities
Remove, prune and replace trees and shrubs as necessary.
Purchase several backpacks, 1 field microscope & viewing scope to support the Future Naturalist Program and other student groups.
Purchase 2 listening wands and 2 stands.
Gather and record stories primarily from those who lived and worked on or near Belle Isle Farm.
Purchase and plant native pollinator species seeds to cover 8 acres worth of coverage.
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Expected Outcome
Grounds of Belle Isle Mansion House are safe and welcoming for visitors.
Necessary tools for the Future Naturalist Program.
Enhanced learning panels in the Visotor Center that will engage student groups and park visitors in the rich natural and human history of the park.
Documented stories of those who lived on or near Belle Isle Farm.
Native pollinator gardens that will nurture bees, butterflies, etc. and ruduce runoff from large tracts of land that require mowing.
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The Belle Isle State Park grant application was submitted by
the Garden Club of the Northern Neck.
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Member Club Fundraising Activities
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Leesburg Garden Club September 18
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Please join the Leesburg Garden Club September 18, 2018 for "Fall Into Entertaining!" Jane Godshalk will be creating fabulous floral designs that will be coordinated with Grit and Grace tablescapes.
Attendees will be able to purchase raffle tickets with an opportunity to take home all of these designs, including the containers!
We will have Lynnvale Studios talking about their American Grown Flower Farm and then Cooking with the Caterers followed by a cocktail party.
Coffee and a sweet roll plus a box lunch are included in the ticket price of $150. We will have a vendor tent so everyone will have time to shop during lunch and throughout the day!
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Nansemond River Garden Club October 23
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Please join Nansemond River Garden Club on October 23, 2018 for "Celebrating Autumn and Winter" - A conversation and demonstration with Natchez, MS native John Grady Burns.
Described as “Sumptuous, Gracious and Perfect” by a Food Editor at House Beautiful, Burns is an award winning floral designer, author, speaker and special events planner who will share creative ways for making exquisite decorations for our holiday homes.
The event begins at 9:30 am at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront with coffee and vendor shopping, followed at 11:00 with a demonstration, lunch and book signing. Several of Burns’ books will be available for sale.
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The Garden Club of Alexandria November 1
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The Garden Club of Alexandria invites you to a fun and idea-packed morning to help you conquer the holiday season with maximal impact with minimal effort. We'll start off in true Big Easy style with coffee and beignets as we mingle. Then we'll gather for a presentation by noted New Orleans author, designer, and magazine editor, Beverly Reese Church. She'll demonstrate clever tablescapes and inventive arrangements as well as share ideas for unique holiday entertaining. Her presentation is followed by amazing boutique shopping with light refreshments.
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The Garden Club of Danville Celebrates 100 Years
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DANVILLE was born on June 20, 1918, not only the first in the city but the first in this section of the state. As happened so many times, a lady went travelling and heard about garden clubs and came home and organized one. This lady was Mrs. S. Rutherford Dula. She invited nine close friends who lived, as she did, on Main Street in large Victorian homes with beautifully kept grounds. She was, of course, the first president.(She remained so until her death in 1928, when in a gesture unmatched, the club voted to leave her vacancy unfilled for one year as a mark of respect. A Dula Memorial Shelf was given the Library, and additions are still being made to this fine collection.)
The minutes of the first meeting: "The organization of this club was the outcome of Mrs. Dula's unflagging interest. We hope it will mean much to the garden lovers of Danville and be the means of arousing more widespread interest in gardens beautiful as well as gardens useful."
At the second meeting, it was voted to have an active membership of twenty-five, and fifteen recruits were added to the roll. Mrs. Patterson, then James River President, visited Danville twice. "She strengthened our faith, gave us courage to begin our work and has enlarged our vision to carry it on." So when James River called the founding meeting of the GCV, Danville was present.
~Follow the Green Arrow Volume I
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