September has arrived and while it is sad to say goodbye to summer, fall ushers in a season of new opportunities. I hope you are rested and ready to take part in the exciting upcoming Garden Club of Virginia events. Whether your passion is landscape design, photography, horticulture, conservation, restoration or floral design, there is something for you!
Our new mission and vision statements, adopted at the Annual Meeting in May, lead the direction and initiatives of the GCV and provide the inspiration for all that we do. This month, the Symposium, “Grow Your Knowledge,” will touch on each of the tenets of our mission with dynamic speakers, workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. I am certain that you will find this much anticipated event to be both educational and memorable as you enjoy the fellowship of other talented and engaged members from across Virginia.
Member clubs, too, have been busy preparing for the year ahead. Be sure to send information about your programs and projects so they can be shared in Membership News or the Journal. We want to hear from you!
Enjoy the lovely fall days and I hope to see you soon. The Symposium is a wonderful way to bring us back together again!
Warm regards,
|
|
Debbie Lewis
GCV President, 2022-2024
|
|
You won’t want to miss the upcoming Symposium!
Join fellow Garden Club of Virginia members and garden-enthusiasts on Sept. 20 and 21 at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. The GCV’s two-day Symposium is a feast for the eyes and food for the soul for those who thrive on nature’s inspiration. Whether your passion is Horticulture, Artistic Design, Photography or Conservation, attendees can enjoy both free and ticketed events with dynamic speakers, as well as a full-scale flower show awash with the jewel tones of a fall garden. Highlights include:
Learn how to create wearable botanicals with internationally renowned artist Francoise Weeks. From jaw-dropping headpieces to bracelets made from seasonal flowers, these one-of-a-kind creations celebrate sustainability and individuality. Watch Francoise create highly detailed, couture garments from leaves, flowers, seed pods and other plant materials.
Interested in helping rebuild local ecosystems? Emilie Carter, ASLA, will share her horticulture wisdom and design techniques for creating diverse, vibrant and sustainable plantings for home gardens. Be sure to check out the educational exhibit on invasive plant species and environmentally safe alternatives.
Robert Llewellyn will amaze with his photographic depictions of flowers, seeds and trees. Bryan Peterson’s pre-recorded presentation on the use of color in photography and Sherryl Belinsky’s pre-recorded demonstration on how to photograph a garden from wide angles to close-ups will inspire photographers of any skill level.
Symposium attendees will also enjoy the judged photography show, “Celebrating the Fields, Gardens and Waters of Virginia,” as well as the "Sense of Place" exhibit which showcases the winning images from the 2020 Centennial project to photograph GCV restoration sites throughout the state. In addition, a visually appealing slide show provides a fresh look at GCV’s restoration sites through the efforts of member photographers.
Allium (onion), Allium sp. photo by Robert Llewellyn
|
|
Mix it Up!
Cap off the first day with mixologist Bobby Daglio from The Continental, a hip restaurant in Richmond’s Manchester district, as he demonstrates the use of fresh botanicals in beverages. Enjoy a lively cocktail party amidst hundreds of prize-winning floral specimens and dazzling arrangements. What a wonderful way to socialize with GCV friends!
|
|
Be Part of the Symposium
Go behind the scenes at the Horticulture and Artistic Design Flower Show workrooms. Rub elbows with exhibitors and learn about horticulture grooming techniques and the inspiration behind artistic design.
Volunteers will have these opportunities and more, including meeting and greeting guests and friends, taking tickets and helping set the stage for the Symposium.
“This event requires many volunteers to make it successful and their contributions will be invaluable,” said Jennifer Kelley, co-chairman of the 2022 Symposium. You can help by signing up for one or more of the volunteer opportunities through SignUpGenius.
|
|
Several Artistic Design Opportunities are Still Available
Class 1: FULL
Class 2: Inter Club "Food Flash - Prodigious Produce" 4 Openings
Class 3: FULL
Class 4: Individual "Vitamin C - Engaging Edibles" CANCELLED
Class 5: Individual "Worldly Wearables" 5 Openings
Class 6: FULL
Class 7: Individual "Shaken Not Stirred" 2 Openings
Class 8: Individual "Air Mail" 1 Opening
We look forward to seeing your creative genius at the 2022 GCV Symposium Artistic Design Flower Show.
Please continue to walk through your gardens to fin that "blue ribbon" entry in the Horticulture Show. To enter, just follow the instructions on the Schedule page. Pre-registration is not required for horticulture classes except classes 15-18 (container-grown). To pre-register, email francarden@me.com. Registration does not require an address, simply a name and club.
|
|
Conservation Forum, Nov. 3, 2022, via Zoom |
|
PFAS: The Forever Chemicals
What does this have to do with us?
Everything! Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have leached, permeated and crept their way into our land, water and air since the 1940s. These complex manufactured chemicals are in non-stick cookware, water repellent clothing, mascara, food packaging, municipal and well water and maybe even in the bloodstreams of 98 percent of Americans (CDC statistic). Environmental contamination from PFAS has reached alarming levels. Join the virtual 64th Annual GCV Conservation Forum on PFAS: The Forever Chemicals, on Thursday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.–noon.
Our panel of experts – Joe Dinardo, ‘PFAS Science Guy’ toxicologist, Rockbridge Conservation, defines PFAS and identifies product contamination; Bill Mann, Ph.D., Virginia Environmental PFAS Task Force, cautions about health risks; Erin Ling, Leigh-Anne Krometis, Ph.D,. and Katherine Hohweiler of Virginia Tech discuss toxins in water; and Robert C. Hale, Ph.D., from Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, provides guidance to determine whether PFAS are on your farm or in your garden.
The Forum is free to all. Mark your calendar for Nov. 3 and watch for registration information on the GCV website.
Thank you to our Forum sponsor, Investment Management of Virginia.
|
|
Restoration Newsletter
Developed by the GCV Restoration Committee, this online publication is an informational link between GCV and historic properties, as well as a connection between the properties themselves. Read the Summer 2022 edition to learn about the newly presented gardens at the Poe Museum, Stratford Hall, and most recently, the Reveley Garden at William & Mary. In addition, there are links to the speakers at the Restoration Committee winter workshop and an interview with featured Property Manager Judy Zatsick (at left with Restoration Committee member Anne Baldwin) at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria.
|
|
The Conservation Awards Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Conservation Educator Awards and the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation.
Conservation Educator Awards
Established in 2016, the Conservation Educator Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work embodies GCV’s ideals. The recipients’ work must create a learning situation which benefits the community.
Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2022 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation, the Save River Farm Committee, for its grassroots and successful efforts to save an important property and landscape from development.
The Dugdale Award for Conservation is given annually to a non-GCV organization, industry or individual who has rendered outstanding service in conservation and wise development of natural resources for the commonwealth of Virginia.
|
|
The Common Wealth Award was established in 1979 to provide an annual grant to promote projects in the interest of conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation and education. The two word name Common Wealth was chosen to describe the "wealth" that is "common" to all Virginians.
The following are the 2022 Common Wealth Award Nominees. Clubs will vote electronically by Sept. 30 and the recipient will be announced at the Board of Governors meeting in October. Read the Descriptions.
The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore:
Beautification & Conservation of
the Eastern Shore Coalition Against
Domestic Violence Campus
Gabriella Garden Club:
HOME Pocket Park
The Garden Club of Norfolk:
GCN’s Tribute to Frederick Law
Olmsted—Greenways Along
Norfolk’s Elizabeth River Trail
Three Chopt Garden Club:
Horticulture Therapy for Pediatric
Patients at Virginia Treatment
Center for Children (VTCC)
|
|
Nominations For Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award Nominations
Due Nov. 1, 2022
The Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award is given annually in memory of Bessie Bocock Carter, GCV President, 1998-2000. The award was established to fund implementation of a conservation project that will serve as a catalyst for community action for natural resource conservation or environmental protection within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grants are awarded to a GCV member club or to the member club in association with another conservation group.
Nomination applications should be sent to the attention of Ann Heller, GCV Communications Coordinator, 12 East Franklin Street, Richmond, Va., 23119 or communications@gcvirginia.org.
|
|
Nominations for the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement
Due Dec. 1, 2022
The Massie Medal is the oldest and most prestigious award given by the Garden Club of Virginia. It was inaugurated in 1928 by Susanne Williams Massie during her presidency and was given by her until her death in 1952. Since that time it has been given by the GCV in her memory.
Nominations should be sent to: Massie Medal Committee Chairman Candy Crosby, PO Box 7212 Charlottesville, Va. 22906 434-981-9331 clover8084@gmail.com. The recipient will be announced at the 2023 Annual Meeting in May.
|
|
Focus on the Foxglove
HGW's 2023 Flower
August through October is a great time to plant foxglove (digitalis) seeds - in anticipation of Historic Garden Week 2023. Some seed catalogs claim that flowers are not produced until the second year, however, some gardeners have had luck with varieties that have been developed to bloom the first year. The results: they put on a show. Historic Garden Week is April 15-22, 2023. vagardenweek.org
|
|
Late Summer/Early Fall: It's on its way! Keep your eyes peeled for the next edition of the Journal coming soon to GCV club member mailboxes all over the state. Learn about the winning ways of Japanese maples, meet the Conservation Educator and Dugdale award recipients, and see what's in store at this year's Symposium later this month, and the Conservation Forum in November.
|
|
Daffodil Day
March 29, 2023
Norfolk Botanical Garden
|
|
Horticulture Field Day Williamsburg
June 7-8, 2023
|
|
Summer Fun!
2023 Lily Show
Orange
June 20-21
Hosted by Dolley Madison Garden Club
|
|
Check out the fun and useful items for sale in our shop!
|
|
|
|
Albemarle Garden Club
Susan Deeks
The Brunswick Garden Club
Mary Alice Adams
Sally Brennan
Marianne Gearhart
The Franklin Garden Club
Holly Gizzi
The Garden Study Club
Carolyn Byrd
Pat Russell
The Princess Anne Garden Club
Rhea Barklage
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
