Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the Autumn tree ...
Emily Bronte
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Inspired we were! Bright fall days set the stage for a spectacular GCV Symposium at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond on Sept. 20-21. The event was a tremendous success with renowned speakers, extraordinary exhibits and a botanical inspired “Mix it Up” cocktail party. Thank you to Symposium Chairmen Jennifer Kelley and Dawn Byrd, our sponsors, the many volunteers and our GCV staff who made this event possible. What fun it was to be back together with friends!
The Roanoke Valley Garden Club promises a Star Filled October as they host the 103rd Board of Governors Meeting Oct. 18-20 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, in the Star City of the South. This annual fall meeting offers the perfect opportunity for idea sharing among member club presidents.
Be sure to mark your calendar and register for GCV’s 64th Annual Conservation Forum, PFAS, The Forever Chemical. Listen and learn what these forever chemicals have to do with us from a panel of experts. It’s a virtual webinar, free and open to the public, on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. See details within this Membership News.
As I begin traveling throughout the state to visit with each member club, I look forward to meeting all of you and having the opportunity to personally thank you for your hard work and commitment to the Garden Club of Virginia.
Warm regards,
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Debbie Lewis
GCV President, 2022-2024
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Symposium 2022 - For Those Who Missed It |
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The “Sense of Place” photo display made a beautiful statement regarding the GCV restoration efforts.
Presentations from nature photographers Bob Llewellyn, Sherryl Belinsky and Bryan Peterson provided valuable insights for members aspiring to strengthen their photography skills. Llewellyn’s presentation is not available, however, the others are:
Please avail yourselves of both recorded presentations and share with members of your clubs. Please Note: Bryan Peterson’s presentation is for the GCV use only and not for replay to the public.
Pictured are Jeanette McKittrick and Symposium Co-Chairman Jennifer Kelley modeling botanical art creations by Francoise Weeks.
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Conservation Forum, Nov. 3, 2022, via Zoom |
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What’s in Your Drinking Water? Your Food? What’s in You!?
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl Substances: PFAS – the forever chemicals – are found in the blood of 98% of Americans, as well as in the air and land, in food, in clothing, cleaning and cooking products, and in the water you drink.
The Conservation Forum panel of experts will cover some of the basics about PFAS as well as discuss the complex challenges PFAS use has created for the environment, humans and wildlife. Seize the opportunity to learn how to make better and safer consumer decisions to lessen your PFAS exposure.
The Forum is free to all and open to the public. Mark your calendar for Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to noon. Information and Registration. The program will be recorded and available on gcvirginia.org.
Thank you to our Conservation Forum Sponsor
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If you are a HGW tour chair, co-chair, publicity chair or social media chair, mark your calendars for the upcoming Historic Garden Week Marketing meeting on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Woman’s Club in Richmond, a few blocks from the Kent-Valentine House. This is HGW’s largest meeting of the year and focuses on tour publicity and resources to support clubs’ marketing efforts. Club chairmen will receive a registration email in mid-October. Please contact Terri Lowman, HGW marketing coordinator, at Terri@VAGardenWeek.org after Oct. 31 if you plan to attend and have not yet registered.
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Say “Yes!” to the 2022 Daffodil and Lily Collections
New test collections for daffodils and lilies, which have been selected by the GCV Horticulture Daffodil and Lily chairmen in consultation with time-tested growers and suppliers, are available now. These gorgeous specimens do well in most zones across the commonwealth.
Try your hand at entering a show in the horticulture division or creating an artistic design with these special flowers. Consider planting a bed of test collections over many years – or just one year – to see how it adds to your landscape vision. Pictured is "Winter Waltz," a sweet daffodil that blooms early to mid-season with reflexed creamy white perianth and a buff turning pinkish apricot corona.
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Photography Workshops Offered Again!
Please join Edie Hessberg for the first of four photography workshops that will be offered in 2022 and 2023. The first is a free-of-charge, three-part Zoom/in-person Lightroom Classic editing workshop on Nov. 10 and 16 and Dec. 5, 2022. Details and Registration.
Stay tuned for information on the Snapseed, Basic Composition and Basic Editing workshops in future Membership News.
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Nominations For Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award
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.
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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.
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... about Virginia’s “Big Tree Search"?
You can identify and nominate a tree for the state Big Tree register.
In 1970, Virginia Forests Inc. partnered with Virginia Cooperative Extension to launch a new project known as the ‘Big Tree Search.’ This initiative was created to discover and document Virginia’s biggest trees by encouraging youth members of the 4-H and Future Farmers of America to search for the largest trees in their communities. Trees are measured for their height, girth and crown spread. With these measured points combined, trees compete with other trees in the state and nation for the top three standing ‘Champions,’ the largest of that specific species. To learn more about Remarkable Trees of Virginia and Virginia Big Tree program, visit treesvirginia.org. Join the search for Virginia’s Champions!
Pictured is a towering California incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) one of 15 Champion Trees at Maymont, A GCV Restoration property.
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How Important Are You to the GCV?
From support to your local clubs and communities, your remarkable efforts for Historic Garden Week and your attendance and support at special events such as Daffodil Day, Horticulture Field Day, Restoration presentations, Legislative Day and the Symposium, know that your voice, your presence and your work matter. What a small group of ladies began in 1920 has grown to become a respected and valuable part of our state’s efforts to maintain and sustain the environment and its natural beauty. Thank you all for all that you do to keep the important mission of the GCV alive.
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The Nansemond River Garden Club Presents
"A Home for All Seasons"
Speaker Luncheon
Oct. 25, 2022
Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront
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Dolley Madison Garden Club Presents
John Forti
Nov. 9, 2022
The Barn at Arcadia at Edgewood
Orange, VA
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Daffodil Day
March 29, 2023
Norfolk Botanical Garden
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Horticulture Field Day Williamsburg
June 7-8, 2023
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Summer Fun!
2023 Lily Show
Orange
June 20-21
Hosted by Dolley Madison Garden Club
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Check out the fun and useful items for sale in our shop!
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Albemarle Garden Club
Amy Williams
Leesburg Garden Club
Donna Knutson
The Petersburg Garden Club
Sandra Harrison
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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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