September 2019 Greetings! With summer behind us, September greets us with a new year of GCV activities. Now is the time to commit to learning something new! Perhaps you want to experiment with your digital camera. The photography workshop might be just what you are looking for. Maybe you would like to visit a state park. Come to Natural Bridge where we will be hiking, geocaching and star gazing. Interested in native plants? Our fall horticulture show at Back to Nature will inspire you. Have you ever seen a paw paw? The 61st Annual Conservation Forum will answer your questions about these as well as other varieties of trees and their impact on our environment. September also brings exciting news! The Garden Club of Virginia has been notified that we are the recipient of a prestigious national award. Read on for details. What a wonderful way to begin our year of Centennial celebration.  I invite you to join in the fun!   Warm regards,

GCV Member Photography Kate Zullo The Garden Club of Gloucester (taken at February Photography workshop) Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Mark Your Calendar   Thursday, September 5 Charlottesville Conservation Committee 2:00 pm Friday, September 6, Middleburg Beatrix Farrand's American Landscape Screening Monday, September 9, KVH 10:30 Horticulture Committee Wednesday, September 11, KVH 10:30 Centennial Liaisons Centennial Journal Thursday, September 12 KVH 10:30 Photography Workshop Saturday, September 14, Orange Dolley Madison Centennial Zinnia Show Monday, September 16, KVH 10:30 Artistic Design Committee Thursday, September 19, Lynchburg 2:00 Point of Honor Presentation Thu-Fri, September 19-20 Lynchburg Restoration Committee  Tuesday, September 24 Natural Bridge Back to Nature Horticulture & Hiking Wednesday, September 25 Natural Bridge Conservation Forum "Trees: Canopy of Conservation" Monday, September 30, KVH 10:30 Daffodil Committee Wednesday, October 2, KVH 10:30 Membership Committee Thursday, October 3, KVH 10:30 Strategic Planning

Chateaux & Gardens, Food & History of Normandy

Garden Club of Virginia Trip June 2 - 10, 2020 This “One of a Kind” trip has been specially arranged for the Garden Club of Virginia! We will visit chateaux and gardens, and journey to GCV’s adopted city, Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy. It is there that Virginian explorer and aviator Richard E. Byrd landed his airplane in the surf during his historic transatlantic flight and was rescued by the town’s people. We will see the twelfth century church of St. Martin whose 10 windows were restored by GCV and view the marble plaque placed in gratitude and in memory of the sons and husbands of GCV members killed during the war. We will tour the British Normandy Memorial under construction on nearby Gold Beach, which has received funding from the GCV. Space is limited and the deadline for sign up is September 30. Please join us as we trace the steps of our past during this special year of the Garden Club of Virginia’s Centennial.   Learn more 

Photography

Photography Workshop September 12

Sharpen your mobile phone photography skills in this day-long workshop at the Kent-Valentine House on September 12. Claire Mellinger of the Albemarle Garden Club will share her knowledge, providing you with tools and tips to shoot like a professional. The workshop is open to all skill levels. CLICK HERE to register for Photography Workshop  Centennial Retrospective GCV will host a retrospective photography exhibit during Centennial celebrations, showcasing our historic landscape and garden restoration projects throughout Virginia. Members are invited to capture our restorations through their photography with images that inspire and celebrate the important work that GCV has championed since 1929. CLICK HERE for schedule.

Back to Nature

Don't miss our two-day event at Natural Bridge, September 24-25. Park activities on Tuesday include a Virginia native plant Horticulture Show, guided and self-guided hiking, geocaching, tree planting, dinner and stargazing. Wednesday's Conservation Forum "Trees: Canopy of Conservation" features four speakers discussing the impact on trees on our environment and our community. Learn more

GCV Receives Award for Support of State Parks

The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) has selected the Garden Club of Virginia to receive the President’s Award for a Statewide Organization. The Garden Club of Virginia has successfully partnered with countless partners for over 83 years. Your efforts truly exemplify the steadfast perseverance to navigate how the public uses parks and how that has changed. These efforts truly exemplify your mission and vision in coordination with Virginia State Parks.  Well done! Todd A. Coffelt, Chair NASPD Awards Committee CLICK HERE for details.

Don't forget to Take the Pledge!

We're looking for ways we can reduce our consumption of single use plastics. We have 3500 Garden Club of Virginia members and together we can make a difference. Please join us in our search for earth friendly alternatives. Take the pledge and make choices now that will become second nature later. Pledge Now!

Commonwealth Award

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 .

Massie Medal 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.

Centennial Daffodil 'Green Arrow'

‘Green Arrow’ daffodils will once again be available to GCV members through Brent and Becky Heath.  Click here  to download the order form, or call Brent and Becky at 877-661-2852 to place your order. Supplies are limited. The American Daffodil Society Fall Forum will be held Friday, Saturday & Sunday October 25-27, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn Lynchburg. Included in full registration is Lunch and Learn “Small” Symposium, a demonstration of planting bulbs in pots plus talks on the growing of daffodils in small spaces: pots, miniature daffodils, small garden spaces. $40 if registering as a separate event.  Advance registration required. There will be no on-site registration. Registration deadline by October 1.  Learn more

Calling All Artists!

Would you be willing to lend your talents to help illustrate our Centennial Humorous Memories booklet? If so, please contact Judy Perry for more information at gcvhistorian1920@gmail.com or call 757-393-1122.

Member Club Activities

Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club

A screening of Beatrix Farrand's American Landscapes at the Sheila C. Johnson Performing Arts Center. Beatrix Farrand was America’s first female landscape architect, and was responsible for some of the most celebrated gardens in the United States. This film follows award-winning public garden designer Lynden B. Miller as she sets off to explore Farrand’s remarkable life and career. Joined by the film’s director, Stephen Ives, this event will include a wine and cheese reception preceding the screening. Friday, September 6 Reception at 5:00 pm and Screening at 6:00 pm The Hill School 130 S. Madison Street, Middleburg, VA 20117 Tickets are free and available at beatrix-farrand-middleburg-screening.eventbrite.com.

Mill Mountain Garden Club

After reading Andrew Moore's book Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit, members of Mill Mountain Garden Club took a hike of Mill Mountain in search of pawpaws. To their delight, they found them! Note: Author Andrew Moore will speak at the GCV Conservation Forum September 25 and will sign copies of his book.

Dolley Madison Garden Club Zinnia Show

Of Interest ...

Piedmont Master Gardeners and Virginia Cooperative Extension

September 8 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm The Paramount Charlottesville Tickets on sale at http://www.theparamount.net More info https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/events/

Dolley Madison Catherine Lea Huntington April Kochan Petersburg Lucia Malon Brenda Mitchell Spotswood Pat Harkins

Quick Links

www.gcvirginia.org www.vagardenweek.org www.gcvfellowship.org Back to Nature Conservation Forum GCV Centennial ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌