Greetings!
The Holiday Season has begun! I hope you are enjoying this time with your family members and friends, in spite of the pressures to decorate and entertain and shop and wrap and host and travel. I'm told matching family Christmas pajamas are rivaling "ugly Christmas sweaters" this year in popularity. Whatever your choice, don't forget the Christmas cheer!
GCV Committee Chairmen have wrapped up fall events and are busy preparing for spring and summer activities. Enjoy reading about upcoming events and let us know if you have any news to share.
As you receive this nearly every GCV club is in the middle of a holiday greenery fundraising sale, and members are getting ready for club holiday parties. I wish you success in your fundraising and joy in your club holiday activities.
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Holly Watercolor, Normandy Watercolor,
Tulip Watercolor
Tica Sydnor
Lynchburg Garden Club
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Thursday, November 30
Conservation Awards Committee, KVH 10:30
Friday, December 1
Massie Medal Nomination Deadline
Saturday, December 2
VCN Legislative Preview Webinars, statewide
Friday, December 8
VA State Parks Grant Application Deadline
Tuesday, December 12
VA State Parks Committee, KVH 10:30
Wednesday, December 13
Daffodil Day Committee, KVH
Monday, January 1
Thursday, January 4
Restoration Committee, Richmond
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The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown:
English Christmas Carol
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Danville
Katherine Laramore
Dolores Settle
Fauquier and Loudoun
Michele White
Garden Study
Beth Cahill
Jean Gautsch
Sandi Loganadan
Beverly Pitzer
Hampton Roads
Greta Vander Vennet
Hunting Creek
Robin Williams
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Mill Mountain
Heather Ellett
Hetty Hoyt
Lisa Laughon
Emily Mangus
Rappahannock Valley
Carter Corbin
Cindy Coppola
Trish Williams
Roanoke Valley
Laura Ramsey
Tuckahoe
Rose Marie Bundy
Betsy Carney
Lauren Neal
Taylor Raquet
Rita Ryan
Carey Viego
Warren County
Kelly Wahl
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Join Garden Club of Virginia members and fellow daffodil enthusiasts for
Daffodil Day
on
Wednesday,
March 28
. This exciting event marks the
84th Annual
GCV Daffodil Horticulture Show.
See award-winning
daffodil specimens
in the light-filled Marshall Ballroom at the historic John Marshall and take in the judged daffodil
photography exhibit
. Enjoy spectacular
flower arrangements
at the Kent-Valentine House.
Be an exhibitor!
Learn more about growing and showing daffodils by attending Daffodil School on
Tuesday
with American Daffodil Society guest instructors teaching
Part III of ADS Judging School
.
Meet the
Indiana Jones of plants
Tony Avent
and join friends for
cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
Tuesday night to hear about his adventurous expeditions in a quest for rare and exotic species. Join Mr. Avent for a Wednesday
luncheon lecture
on
shade gardening
.
In preparation for Daffodil Day, register for a
hands-on workshop
in Beginning Flower Arranging, Advanced Flower Arranging or Botanical Arts, to be held
February 6-8
at the Kent-Valentine House. Space will be limited!
Visit the website to learn about Daffodil Day.
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Horticulture Tips for December
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It is the time of the year when we see
BERRIES
everywhere. One we think of immediately is the Holly species, Ilex. The greatest diversity of this species is found in the Americas and Southeast Asia. In Europe the genus is represented by a single species. We in Virginia are fortunate to be able to grow plants that live farther to our North and to the South. We have so many good choices for plantings that will enhance our gardens in fall and winter when other things have died back.
An added benefit: berries are perfect for winter arrangements. Plantings with berries add color to the garden in two ways: the color of the berries themselves, often bright reds and oranges, AND the colors of the birds they attract.
Birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide shelter, protection from predators (with their spiny leaves) and a food source for numerous species of birds and other wild animals. In autumn and early winter, the fruits can be hard and apparently unpalatable but after being frozen or frosted several times the fruits soften and become moist and milder in taste.
Be sure, when there is a choice, to buy only female plants as male plants won’t do what we want them to do! Here are some recommendations for berries to add to your garden:
- Beauty Berry, Callicarpa, purple berries
- Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia, blue berries
- Japanese Laurel, Aucuba, red berries
- Firethorn, Pyracantha, orange, red, or yellow berries
- Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina, bright red berries
- Ilex favorites
- Winterberry, red berries
- Buford, red berries
- Fosteri, red berries
- Yaupon, small red berries (Despite Yaupon’s name, Ilex vomitoria, you can make a fine tea from its berries!)
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Horticulture Tips provided by Mary Ann Schmidt, member
of the GCV Horticulture Committee and Ginnie Costenbader, Horticulture Chairman of Princess Anne Garden Club.
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Conservation and Beautification News
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Act Now!
Don't wait for Legislative Day. Contact your legislator now to discuss board approved issues that have a direct impact on our GCV mission.
Click Here
to review GCV 2017 Legislative Issues and Positions of Concern.
GCV joined other
Virginia's No Child Left Inside
members in sending a letter to Governor McAuliffe in November 2017 requesting he include funding in his final budget proposal for environmental education positions that were eliminated last year.
Click Here
to read letter.
Don't Miss VCN Legislative Preview on December 2 in Richmond and in 6 viewing parties across the state!
Click Here
to register.
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English Gardens May 19-27
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Grand English Gardens and Estates
Chelsea Flower Show
CLICK HERE
for Trip Itinerary
and Reservation Form
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Quick Links to Websites, Publications, Social Media & More
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