December 2016
Greetings!

Special thanks to the GCV Conservation and Beautification Committee for hosting our 58th GCV Conservation Forum "Clean Energy: Exploring Wind and Solar" in Charlottesville. And also to the GCV Horticulture Committee for hosting our annual Horticulture Workshop featuring Peggy Cornett "Preserving Plants From the Past: Heirloom Flowers for Your Garden." Rave reviews are still coming in from these GCV signature events.

December is busy as we prepare to celebrate with family and friends during the holiday season. December also brings two important GCV deadlines:

     Massie Medal nominations are due Thursday, December 1. Learn more. 

     VA State Parks Grant applications are due Saturday, December 10. Learn more.

If you are an artist and would like to share your artwork with members in the monthly newsletter, please contact me directly at n2mustard@gmail.com or by cell 757-871-2826. 

Enjoy this beautiful time of year with loved ones.

My best,
GCV Member Art
Margie Lucas, Mill Mountain Garden Club
VA State Parks Series
Plein Air Oil on Canvas

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, December 5
Flower Festival Think Tank, KVH 10:30 am

Saturday, December 10

Monday, December 12
Nominations, KVH 10:30 am

Tuesday, December 13 
State Parks, KVH 10:30 am

At Christmas I no more desire a rose 
than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth; 
But like of each thing that in season grows.

                                                                                            ~William Shakespeare  
Member Club News and Events
Friday, December 2 Rivanna Garden Club District 2

Wednesday, December 7 Harborfront Garden Club District 6

Saturday, February 25 Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club District 5

Left to right: Boo Greene, Charlottesville; Cheryl Bradbury and Jan Stalford, Rivanna; Carol Carter and Katya Spicuzza, Albemarle; and Lucy Huff and Liz Carter, Rivanna.  
Deck the Halls
The three Charlottesville GCV clubs have been decorating the Amtrak Train station in Charlottesville for the Christmas Holidays since 2005.

The Albemarle, Charlottesville and Rivanna Garden Clubs met the first  Monday  after Thanksgiving this year to give the local train station a beautiful touch of holiday spirit. Each club donated the decorations which included a Christmas tree and lots of greenery from members’ yards. 

Presidents and past Presidents join together to work on the project each year, bringing cheer to travelers throughout the holiday season.

Simply awesome!
Leesburg Garden Club Award
The Leesburg Garden Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015 by planting a Native Tree Walk in downtown Leesburg's Ida Lee Park.  Twenty-five native Virginia trees were planted along a walking path. 

The club has been awarded the Environmental Award for the project by the Town of Leesburg at its Annual Business Awards Ceremony. The award celebrates a business or organization that leads or participates in activities that benefit the environment through its business practices and policies. And, L eesburg Parks and Recreation has been awarded Best New Environmental Sustainability for the project by the Virginia Parks and Recreation Society at its annual meeting in November.  Congratulations!
Conservation and Beautification News
Act Now!
Contact your legislator now to discuss board approved issues that have a direct impact our GCV mission. T he following sentence has been approved by the GCV Board of Directors and added to "Advocacy and Political Activity" on page 158 of the 2016-2018 Directory and Handbook:  "Individual club members may advocate in the name of the Garden Club of Virginia on those issues or bills approved by t he Board of Directors."  2016 Legislative Issues  

Action Taken
GCV joined other Virginia's No Child Left Inside members in sending a letter  to Governor McAuliffe requesting budget cuts not be made that would cause the closing of the office of environmental education. Click Here to read letter.

In mid-November, letters were sent to senior administrators in the Obama Administration requesting that the Atlantic Ocean be permanently removed from Offshore Gas an Oil Drilling Plans and from Seismic Testing Permitting. The Obama Administration finalized the current 5-year oil and gas drilling plan on November 18th, excluding the Atlantic. However, the next 5-year planning process will begin soon. Click Here to read letter.

Don't Miss
VCN Legislative Preview on December 3 at the State Capitol in Richmond.  Register now.

VA State Parks
Margie Lucas of the Mill Mountain Garden Club has completed a series of plein air oil paintings depicting each of the 37 Virginia State Parks.

Margie's work will go on display December 1 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and in April at Aurora Studio Center in downtown Roanoke.

The Roanoke Times recently featured Margie and her work. Click Here to read the article. 

Don't forget! Deadline for State Parks Grants applications is December 10.
Photos You May Have Missed
Quick Links to Websites, Publications, Social Media & More
Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Instagram