Daffodil Day 2023 was dazzling as nearly 2,000 magnificent blossoms adorned the Batten Student Center at Virginia Wesleyan University. It was a spectacular show and I thank the many volunteers and our gracious hosts at VWU who worked together to make it a resounding success.
One of the many silver linings in our last-minute change of venue was the great gift of being among college students who showed a keen interest and sincere enthusiasm for our event. It was a unique and rewarding teaching opportunity, and the students were delighted, at the close of the show, to gather their very own daffodil bouquets, learning the name of each specimen as they selected their blooms. Budding horticulturists?
As we turn our thoughts to the Garden Club of Virginia’s storied springtime tradition, I thank you for your talent, time and commitment to Historic Garden Week. With 29 tours statewide, our members are all working hard to showcase beautiful properties in their communities and the extraordinary restoration sites that continue to benefit from the proceeds of the HGW tours.
I hope that you will take time to enjoy the exceptional beauty of spring in Virginia, and I look forward to seeing you on tour!
My best,
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Debbie Lewis
GCV President, 2022-2024
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Horticulture Field Day
“Unseen Treasures”
A True Gardener’s Horticulture Tour
June 7-8, 2023
Williamsburg
Register here and spend one or two nights for a fun and informative visit to Williamsburg.
Join other GCV members for unique educational horticulture tours. Topics include: dazzling landscaping, planting and pruning tips, heirloom flowers and vegetables, IPM boxwood blight, topiary shearing demonstrations, champion trees, garden archaeology and more. Visit two GCV restoration sites: the newly completed Reveley Garden at William & Mary and the historic Bruton Parish Churchyard in Colonial Williamsburg.
Professional horticulture staff-led tours will be held Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday’s tour will be from 1-4 p.m. on the campus of William & Mary with refreshments on the patio of W&M President’s home. The tour on Thursday will take place from 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. and includes Colonial Williamsburg’s “Unseen Treasures” from America’s first restored property and rarely seen 18th-century home gardens.
Registration is limited to the first 150 (GCV members only). Expect significant walking on uneven terrain. Rain or shine.
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Bunny Mellon Style Event
April 12 is almost here! We’re so excited to be hosting this special event and book signing with The Woman’s Club on Wednesday, April 12 at The Bolling Haxall House, 211 East Franklin St, Richmond. Bunny Mellon’s grandson, Thomas Lloyd, and fellow author Bryan Huffman will share stories and design tips from their book Bunny Mellon Style–you won’t want to miss it.
The event takes place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will include drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $40 for members of the GCV or The Woman’s Club and $50 for their guests/non-members, and can be purchased here. Purchase of the book Bunny Mellon Style is additional, and the authors will be available for book signing. The Woman's Club and the GCV will share proceeds from the event.
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2023 GCV/NALS Lily Show
June 20-21, 2023
Orange Presbyterian Church
162 W. Main Street
Orange, Virginia 22960
Join Dolley Madison Garden Club for Summer Fun with Lilies at the 2023 Lily Show in Orange, Virginia. The artistic design and photography schedules have been created to encourage you to explore lilies in fun summer activities and settings. The horticulture division will be judged by North American Lily Society judges, the artistic design division by GCV judges and the photography division by GCA/GCV judges.
Dr. Brian Bergman, a NALS judge, judge instructor, and renowned lily hybridizer, will hold a lily workshop, free and open to the public, on Tues., June 20, at 10 a.m., on “Growing and Showing Lilies.”
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GCV’s Historic Garden Week Featured in Better Homes and Gardens
The following excerpt was included in BHG’s list of “9 Spring Flower Festivals That Will Inspire You to Start Planting” in March.
It’s not one city that celebrates the arrival of spring in Virginia—it’s the whole state! While the official name of this 90-year-old event is Historic Garden Week, it’s a bit misleading because "America’s Largest Open House" is actually eight days long. During this time, visitors can drive and walk through a variety of gardens and homes to admire a kaleidoscope of blooms. The price varies depending on location, but it all benefits the state’s historic public gardens and landscapes, a research fellowship program, and other initiatives.
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For the first time in many years, the GCV is hosting a getaway! Join us for four nights in the breathtaking Hudson Valley, touring homes built and occupied by the Rockefeller, Roosevelt and Vanderbilt families. The tour is limited to 25 and includes lodging at the incredible Mirabeau Inn & Spa in Rhinebeck, New York.
The full itinerary can be found here. Travel dates are Sept. 25-29,2023, timed perfectly for the start of fall colors, and rates are $4,599 per person for a double-booking or $5,799 for single travelers. Reservations are open to GCV members and a nonmember guest, and can be made by contacting our representative at Arrangements Abroad, Rebecca Frymer (rfrymer@arrangementsabroad.com). Reservations must be completed by May 28, so don’t wait!
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Attendees at Daffodil Day’s "Dig In!" session learned several ways members can get involved with all that the GCV does and accomplishes. Ideas included entering flower shows and completing judges training, serving on a GCV committee, and volunteering your time and talents at GCV events. Whatever your skills and interests, the GCV welcomes you! Reach out to your club's leadership to learn what opportunities align best with your passions and expertise. |
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GCV members preparing their horticulture exhibits at the 2023 Daffodil Day. |
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First Place Flora, Susan Lendermon |
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First Place Water, Colleen Hamlin |
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Congratulations to Susan Lendermon of The Augusta Garden Club and Colleen Hamlin of The Garden Club of Norfolk for winning overall First Place in the Winter Photo Challenge in the Flora class and in the Water class, respectively. All photos submitted for this challenge were first divided into their appropriate districts, then given to panels of judges who judged photos from Districts 1-3 and Districts 4-6 in each class. Combined district awards of first, second and third place were awarded when merited and some honorable mention awards were also given. All photos received positive and constructive comments. Please enjoy the talents of all of our GCV photographers who submitted photos in the Water and in the Flora classes. Click on the photo in each link to read the judges’ comments. We thank all who participated and look forward to seeing more photographic skills and beauty in future photo challenges.
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The Conservation Awards Committee seeks nominations for the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation and the Conservation Educator Award. The Dugdale Award is presented to an organization, industry or individual, not a GCV member or GCV member club. The Conservation Educator Award recognizes an individual or organization that promotes the ideals of conservation through education. The work of the nominee must reflect the GCV’s mission.
Proposals for awards should be sent to Ann Heller, GCV Communications Coordinator, 12 E. Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23219 or electronically at communications@gcvirginia.org, and must be received by June 1, 2023.
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Daffodil Day 2023 featured 1,722 stems across 774 entries! Each year, GCV's Daffodil Day ranks as one of the largest daffodil shows in the country, and it is made possible by our members. |
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April is Earth Month, National Garden Month AND Virginia Native Plant Month!
Celebrate with us by planting Virginia Natives, leaving the leaves, honoring No Mow April, and choosing ecologically friendly weed and pest management practices.
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The 65th Annual Conservation Forum will take place on Thursday, Nov. 2 in Charlottesville. The topic is EcoLandscaping. Come learn how to unlove your lawn, leave your leaves, rewild and much more.
Please note this is a date and location change from what was previously reported.
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Our Shop features fun and useful GCV and Member Club items. Shop Now.
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Gabriella Garden Club
Sallie Abreu
Brannon Blount
Shannon Vaughan
The Huntington Garden Club
Amy Behm
Joanne Jones
Renee Kauder
Cheryl Lockwood
Kim Pruden
Tenley Raithel
Diana Thompson
Leesburg Garden Club
Kristin O' Rourke
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Our Mission:
To conserve the gifts of nature, to restore and preserve historic landscapes of the commonwealth, to cultivate the knowledge and love of gardening, and to lead future generations to build on this heritage.
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