Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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One of the first harbingers of spring, pussy willows are a sign that warmer temperatures and longer days are not too far away. As February teases us with subtle hints of the coming change of season, I confess to holding out hope for a beautiful blanket of snow, a day to sit by the fire and plan my summer garden or venture outside with my camera.
What the transition from winter to spring means for the Garden Club of Virginia, though, is that we are busier than ever! Just yesterday GCV members from across Virginia attended Legislative Day and spoke to their representatives about promoting clean air, clean water and clean soil. Thank you to our Conservation Legislative Subcommittee for its commitment to poring through proposed legislation and keeping us informed.
Due to popular demand, our Photography Committee is offering a range of Photography Workshops and a Winter Photo Challenge in February. Details are being finalized for two of our major spring events: Daffodil Day, "Here Comes the Sun," to be held March 29 at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the celebration of GCV’s 90th Historic Garden Week in April.
As you read through this newsletter, I hope you will be inspired to take full advantage of these events and all that GCV has to offer you, not only during the final days of winter but throughout the coming spring.
My best,
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Debbie Lewis
GCV President, 2022-2024
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Daffodil Day
March 29, 2023
2-5 p.m.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
6700 Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk, VA 23518
Free and Open to the Public
As the days of winter drag on, we long for more sunlight to nudge the first blooms of spring. Join us to see an abundance of these early bloomers at the Garden Club of Virginia’s 89th Daffodil Day, which carries the theme “Here Comes the Sun.”
As one of the nation’s largest daffodil shows, an estimated 2,000 daffodil stems will be featured, along with 40 floral arrangements and an eye-catching photography show. The horticulture show will be judged by American Daffodil Society judges, the artistic design will be judged by GCV judges and the photography show by GCA/GCV judges.
Daffodils will be showcased in a wide variety of “sunny” floral arrangements that interpret “The Sun King” in the Early French Baroque style; “The Sun Also Rises” in the Phoenix style, “Keep Your Sunny Side Up” in the Casual Contemporary style, and more.
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Watch for details about GCV 101, an informative, fun and engaging Membership Orientation to be held during judging at Norfolk Botanical Garden on March 29. All GCV members are welcome to attend.
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Bunny Mellon Style
April 12, 2023
4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Woman's Club
211 East Franklin Street
Richmond, Va.
$40 GCV and Woman's Club Members/ $50 Non-Members
Co-hosted with The Woman's Club
Bunny Mellon Style is the intimate story of one of the most unintentionally influential women of 20th-century design. Coauthors Thomas Lloyd (Mrs. Mellon's grandson) and Bryan Huffman will take you on an exploration of Mrs. Mellon's style in furnishings, art and collectibles, as well as her personal investment in designing every aspect of her home and gardens.
Taking place at Bolling Haxall House, just three blocks from Kent-Valentine House, tickets include drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Purchase of the book "Bunny Mellon Style" is additional, and the authors will be available for book signing.
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Ticket Sales
Reminder: Online ticketing for HGW 2023 goes live on VAGardenWeek.org on Feb. 6.
And please don’t forget, state passes – which normally sell for $300 – are now $200 through an exclusive, joint promotion with Flower magazine. Purchase yours now!
HGW/Artistic Design
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Congratulations to Our New Director-at-Large Nominees
The GCV Board of Directors unanimously passed the slate of new Directors-at-Large to serve from May, 2023 to May 2025. These nominees will be presented at the May 2023 Annual Meeting for a vote:
District 2–Michelle Jennings, Rivanna Garden Club
District 5–Suzi Worsham, Leesburg Garden Club
District 6–Stephie Broadwater, The Nansemond River Garden Club
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With Daffodil Day on the horizon, and Historic Garden Week and the Lily Show soon thereafter, it is time to think about what, when and how to plant new and care for the plants we have. We encourage you to take advantage of the many resources on the GCV website which provide valuable insights on planting, grooming and exhibiting horticulture specimens. Some helpful resources are:
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Winter Photo Challenge
You are invited to celebrate the beauty of nature in winter with a new Winter Photo Challenge which will run until Feb. 15. This year’s challenge has two themes: “Monochrome Flora” and “Water in Nature in Winter.” Photos should reflect the winter season and should not include pets, animals, buildings or people. The water photos may be running water, waterfalls, ice or rain but the image must clearly reflect a winter scene. As a reminder, monochrome photos are one color only and also include black and white shots. Please submit only one image per person per class.
Please send your digital images as Actual Size to Georgiana Watt at Georgianawatt@hotmail.com no later than Feb. 15. Your email should include your name, club and District with your entry renamed as follows:
Flora, First Initial, Last Name
Water, First Initial, Last Name
This year, we will introduce a new aspect to the Winter Challenge -- photos will be judged! First, second and third place awards will be given in both categories. Because of this, photos submitted after Feb. 15 will not be accepted. So, go outside this winter, explore your world and show off your photographic talent. Remember: compose, focus, click, review, edit and share!
Photo by Edie Hessberg
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New Photography Zoom Workshops
Review of Basic Editing Techniques
Feb. 22, 2023, 1-2 p.m., Free
This will be a quick review of the tools which allow editing out flaws and enhancing images. While all members are allowed to participate, this is meant to be a review of the Basic Editing Techniques and Practice workshop offered on Jan.23.
Snapseed
Feb. 24, 2023, 1-3 p.m., Free
This workshop is for cell phone users who want to explore more advanced and creative ways to edit or enhance their images. Prior participation in the Basic Editing Techniques and Practice Workshop is not required, but an understanding of basic editing tools is strongly recommended.
Understanding the Exposure Triangle
Feb. 27, 2023, 7-8 p.m., Free
Please join Susie Lendermon and Edie Hessberg for a review of the elements that allow the camera to capture light and to create an image. While all members are welcome, camera users will benefit most from this discussion.
Photo by Edie Hessberg
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Bessie Bocock Carter Award Nominee
The proposed Bessie Bocock Carter Award for 2023 is for the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont’s project “Cultivating Conservationists: Promoting Native Species, Pollinators, and Nature Literacy at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont.” Submitted by Albemarle Garden Club, this project involves efforts by six organizations in the area to create nature-inspired storyboards for children which are popular with teachers, librarians and parents. In addition to creating more storyboards, the money from the award would be used to help produce information cards and bee boxes by students from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center and to educate children on pollinators such as mason bees.
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GCV Awards: Nominations Due March 1, 2023 |
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The Common Wealth Award provides funds to support community projects of conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation and/or education. The two-word name Common Wealth describes the "wealth" that is "common" to all Virginians. Nominations may be submitted by GCV members or member clubs. Learn more.
The Horticulture Award of Merit recognizes individual members of the Garden Club of Virginia who have achieved significant accomplishments in horticulture, both personally and in their communities. Please consider nominating your club’s dedicated and hard-working horticulturalists. Learn more.
The de Lacy Gray Conservation Medal was established by the Dolley Madison Garden Club as a memorial to de Lacy Thompson Gray. The award recognizes outstanding effort by a GCV member or a GCV member club in furthering the knowledge of our natural resources as well as encouraging their wise use. Nominations may be submitted by GCV members or member clubs. Learn more.
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Protecting Our Landscapes by Way of Civic Engagement
Jan. 31, 2023, was the Garden Club of Virginia's annual Legislative Day. Members from throughout the state visited with key legislators at the state capitol, engaging in advocacy in support of GCV’s mission. If you were not able to participate in-person this year, it is not too late to have your voice heard! This year’s legislative session is scheduled to adjourn in early March, with bills under consideration at varying times between now and then. Here, you can find a summary of the bills the GCV Conservation Legislative Sub-Committee has identified as being most closely related to our mission. Please choose and champion those that are nearest and dearest to you and your community. You can find your state representatives and their contact information here.
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Visit Restoration Sites this Winter
Did You Know that a number of our GCV historic restoration sites offer programs and events throughout the winter months? It is a wonderful time to visit a property hosting interesting programs and fewer crowds. A few properties offering winter programs are Green Spring Garden in Alexandria, Poplar Forest in Bedford, Stratford Hall in Stratford and Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon. See individual programs and dates in the Winter 2023 Edition of the Restoration Newsletter.
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Horticulture Field Day
Williamsburg
June 7-8, 2023
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Lily Show
Orange
June 20-21, 2023
Hosted by Dolley Madison Garden Club
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Conservation Forum
Lynchburg
Fall 2023
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The Garden Club of Norfolk presents Rebecca Lang, celebrated author of Y'all Come Over: Charming Your Guests with New Recipes, Heirloom Treasures and True Southern Hospitality.
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
Norfolk Yacht & Country Club
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featuring Caspari of Charlottesville, Virginia and Paris
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Country Club of Petersburg
Ticket price: $45.00
For tickets, contact: Sally Seward
(804) 586-5868
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Our Shop features fun and useful GCV and Member Club items. Shop Now.
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The Boxwood Garden Club
Sarah Crane
Polly Helm
Jennifer Hudgins
Martha ("Muffy") Jamieson
Stephanie Parkes
Lauren Prince
Camille Robinson
Laura Trevey
Lisa Tripodi
Dolley Madison Garden Club
Alexandra Thomas
The Garden Club of Fairfax
Robin Walker
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The Hampton Roads Garden Club
Molly Trant
The Martinsville Garden Club
Jennifer Nease
The Nansemond River Garden Club
Amy Birdsong
Paige Jessee
Stephanie Moore
Rebecca Nairn
The Petersburg Garden Club
Cynnara Bernnard
The Princess Anne Garden Club
Kristen Beals
Three Rivers Garden Club
Brian Bajsert
Patricia Bajsert
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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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