Greetings!
Do you feel as I do that we have turned a corner and have happily come out on the other side?
Springtime brought out more than flowers this year as GCV members succeeded in hosting a Garden Week that was truly Historic. There was joyful gratitude in finally being together to welcome visitors to our gardens, homes and restored historic properties. It was your careful planning and enthusiastic participation that overcame all obstacles. Creativity was at a level rarely seen before. Horticulture Field Day provided plant, landscape and gardening inspiration with something new to see and learn each day.
Now that summer is here, my hope is that you will find more time to spend outdoors with garden club friends and your family. Plan a visit to one of Virginia’s State Parks; add native plants and compost to your garden; support the conservation of birds and their habitats and go “birding,” and remember to refuse to use single use plastics.
There is so much that we can do as individuals and even more as GCV members as we continue to learn and grow together to make the world around us a better place now and for generations to come.
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Missy Buckingham
GCV President, 2020-2022
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A Cultural Reflowering Art Show |
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October 1-31, 2021
Calling All GCV Artists and Photographers
GCV members have a special opportunity to enter a juried Art Show sponsored by Hillside Garden Club at the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, Va. Selected artwork will be on display and available for purchase the month of October and showcased during the GCV Board of Governors meeting.
Artwork is limited to two-dimensional works in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and photography. ENTRY DEADLINE AUGUST 13. Details and Registration.
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What Our Visitors Said About HGW
More than 1,500 ticket-holders responded to a survey sent immediately following Historic Garden Week in Virginia 2021. The Virginia Tourism Corporation, a GCV partner, created the survey and compiled the results to help us gather visitor feedback and plan for future tours.
An overwhelming majority of respondents (90%) said they will recommend Historic Garden Week to others, which is a key indicator that our members’ hard work made the tours successful. In addition, the vast majority (94%) felt safe while attending Historic Garden Week, thanks to all of the COVID-safe protocols the tour teams put into place. Enthusiasm was high for the focus on gardens, with touring interior spaces as the next favorite tour activity.
The use of social media by the tour teams was strategic and prolific, attracting record numbers of followers to local and state Instagram and Facebook accounts, some from as far away as Brazil and India. Social media chairs became experts in “tagging” advertisers and sponsors and promoted sister tours frequently. GCV Photography Chairman Edie Hessberg and her committee engaged 41 club photographers to capture special moments during the week, providing glimpses of behind-the-scenes work as well as day-of splendor.
While we celebrate the success of HGW 2021 and wait for final reports to be completed, we are flinging wide the garden gates and front doors for 2022! Tour chairs and club presidents will receive information about Virtual Boot Camp, June 22-23, 2021. Please join us for training and fun, as we take The Path Forward toward a new and exciting Historic Garden Week in Virginia.
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Knowledge Shared is Knowledge Squared
How does your Club identify and cultivate new members? The GCV Membership Committee wants to hear about your strategies and creative ideas. Please email details to Membership Chairman Ellie Gordon at esvagal@me.com. By working together, we all grow. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
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New Fall Workshops
Did you ever look at a photo and say to yourself: “I wish the clouds were more defined or the trees were more exposed or the mountains more pronounced"? Maybe you aren't quite there yet with your ability to break down a scene and sense the need for improvement or correction. Maybe you are and just don't know how to do it. This fall, the GCV Photography Committee will be holding workshops on more advanced editing techniques for those who are interested, ready or just curious. We plan to offer one workshop on Google's photo editing app Snapseed and another (in a two-part series) on Adobe's Lightroom Classic. Both are designed to introduce more advanced editing techniques and to get you started on using them. Firm dates for these workshops will be announced soon. Be sure to watch for those dates and sign up when registration opens.
Meanwhile, we invite you to attend one of two free Zoom photography information sessions July 27 at 11 a.m. or Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. for a general discussion on Snapseed and Lightroom Classic so that you can make an informed decision on which fall workshop might be right for you. Register now.
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Before and after photos of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range
taken and edited by Edie Hessberg.
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Conservation and Beautification |
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Conservation Tip: Cut the strings before discarding face masks. A bird, fish or animal will thank you.
Conservation Challenge
In 2022, the GCV Conservation and Beautification committee celebrates its 100th year. What can you or your club plan to do in honor of this auspicious occasion? In preparation, here is one idea for flower arrangers to try this month: Dust off your mother's or grandmother’s “pins and frogs” and put them to good reuse.
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Turns out some clubs have already been practicing new conservation efforts. The Williamsburg Garden Club showcased foamless floral arrangements during HGW 2021. |
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Horticulture Field Day
Thanks to Harborfront Garden Club and The Garden Club of Norfolk for planning and hosting this special event with the GCV Horticulture Committee at The Hermitage Museum, the Norfolk Botanical Garden and in members’ private gardens. It was fun and a great learning experience. View photos.
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Mosquito Control
Mosquitos are a nuisance in the garden. In Virginia, they are active from April to late fall and increase their population with warm temperatures and rainy weather. Different species have arrived which can cause dangerous illnesses. Find out where they breed, how to control them, how to prevent mosquito bites and what to do to keep them away. Read more.
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Thank you to the GCV members who have already donated to the Annual Fund, which provides for many of the resources needed to fulfill our vibrant mission. There’s still time to make a gift by check or online by June 30 for this fiscal year. Thank you for helping GCV to take positive steps on the path forward.
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In honor of The Augusta Garden Club's Project Dogwood and its continuing efforts to promote planting of dogwood trees in public and private spaces, the Club donated funds to plant seven trees in memory of former president Natalie Sowers in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park. The dedication coincided with the city's Arbor Day Celebration on April 23 and the introduction of a new tree tour using the app, Traipse, which features the many dogwoods and other trees throughout this beautifully landscaped park.
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On April 28, 2021, The Augusta Garden Club members enjoyed a garden walk at Waverley Hill at the invitation of David Perry-Miller. Waverley Hill is the former home of former Augusta Garden Club member and GCV president Emily Smith, and was showcased in The Augusta Garden Club's Historic Garden Week tour in 2019.
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The Martinsville Garden Club, The Garden Club of Danville and The Garden Study Club
Thanks to a GCV State Parks grant, Fairy Stone State Park has been able to move the Pollinator Way Station garden and replant it with a variety of bee balm, black-eyed-Susan, coneflower, yarrow and aster. It is now close to the beehive exhibit and pollinator programing in the Visitor Center. An unobtrusive fence was built with T-posts and thin fishing line and successfully keeps the deer out, keeps folks from picking flowers and does not restrict bees or butterflies the way a mesh fence would.
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Virtual Lily Show and Symposium |
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June – August 2021
This is a wonderful opportunity to compete and show with lily growers worldwide. A financial contribution from the GCV will be awarded for the best artistic design.
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Fall Event at Oak Spring
Oct. 2, 2021
Plan to spend a special day at Oak Spring, the former home and grounds of Paul and “Bunny” Mellon, on Saturday, Oct. 2. Additional sites will be open that were not included in the 2021 HGW tour. Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Details and ticket information will be forthcoming.
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Conservation Forum
Oct. 25, 2021, Lexington
Details forthcoming.
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Daffodil Day
March 29, 2022, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Richmond
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Paula Pryke Floral Demonstration
May 12, 2022, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond
The Centennial Steering committee is pleased to announce plans to welcome one of the most celebrated British floral designers in the world, Paula Pryke. An accomplished author of 16 floral design books, and sought after speaker, Paula will provide a floral demonstration at the museum; a luncheon will follow. Save the Date and plan to bring your friends.
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Lilies in Bloom
June 14, 2022, Fredericksburg
Hosted by The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club.
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Horticulture Field Day, Alexandria,
May 18-19, 2022
We will see beautiful private gardens and spend a day with Dean Norton at Mt. Vernon. We will also have guest speaker, Ellen Ecker Ogden, who will talk about kitchen gardens and organic gardening. This is not to be missed.
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Symposium
Sept. 20-21, 2022, Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond
Details forthcoming.
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GCV and club merchandise is available on the Shop page of the GCV website.
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The Augusta Garden Club
Brooks James
Leesburg Garden Club
Pauline Clark
Rachel Roberts
Sharon Virts
Rivanna Garden Club
Gale Martin
Shirley Midyette
Betty Phelan
Carolyn Quinn
The Virginia Beach Garden Club
Sara Catherine Kibler
Kristen Randolph
Winchester-Clarke Garden Club
Lori Dabinett
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We want to hear from you! What is going on in your clubs and communities? Please share with us by contacting Membership News Chairman Molly Ill at mollyill.vb@gmail.com.
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Mark Your Calendar (All dates are subject to change.)
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June 3 - Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
June 7 - Artistic Design Committee Meeting
June 8 - Photography Committee Meeting
June 9 - Conservation and Beautification Committee Meeting
June 16-17 - Restoration Committee Meeting
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June 22-23 - HGW Virtual Bootcamp
June 29 - Symposium 2022 Planning Committee Meeting
July 12 - Development Committee Meeting
July 16-18 - GCV Board Meeting
July 27 - Photography Information Session
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