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THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA Journal VOL LIX, NO. 2, JUNE 2014

June 2014 GCV Journal

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June 2014 Issue of the quarterly Journal published by the Garden Club of Virginia

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Page 1: June 2014 GCV Journal

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JournalVOL LIX, NO. 2, JUNE 2014

Page 2: June 2014 GCV Journal

WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

The Garden Club of Virginia exists to celebrate the beauty of the land, to conserve the gifts of nature and to challenge future generations to build on this heritage.

From The EditorWhen the 2014 Historic Garden Week chairmen convened last fall for the

first annual Boot Camp, few participants realized just how prophetic that

nomenclature would become. Despite some awful weather, GCV members,

volunteers, and guests alike donned their best rain boots and foul-weather gear.

The show went on and, as always, received great accolades. Cheers, and a sincere

thank you for a job well done, to Karen Miller, Director of HGW and Editor

of the Guidebook, Alice Martin, HGW Committee Chair, local tour chairmen,

and the myriad of volunteers who made it all possible. On to 2015!

We look forward to receiving your articles. Write to us at [email protected]. Submission guidelines may be found on the GCV website.

Journal Editorial Board2014-2015

Editor and Chairman: Karla MacKimmie, The Warrenton Garden Club

ExOfficio MembersGCV President, Jeanette Cadwallender, The Rappahannock Valley Garden ClubGCV Corresponding Secretary, Linda Consolvo, The Nansemond River Garden ClubJournal Cover Editor, Jeanette McKittrick, Three Chopt Garden ClubGCV Photographer, Esther Carpi, The Hunting Creek Garden Club GCV Communications Coordinator, Ann Heller

Journal Advertising Chairman, Anne Beals, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

MembersBetty Anne Garrett, The Garden Club of the Middle PeninsulaLyn Hutchens, The Huntington Garden ClubAileen Laing, The Warrenton Garden ClubSusan Morten, The Martinsville Garden ClubHelen Pinckney, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of WesthamptonGrace Rhinesmith, The Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula

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The Garden Club of Virginia Journal

The Garden Club of Virginia Journal (USPS 574-520, ISSN 0431-0233) is published four times a year for members by the GCV, 12 East Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219. Periodical postage paid in Richmond, VA. Single issue price, $5.00.

Copy and ad deadlines are: January 15 for the March issueApril 15 for the June issueJuly 15 for the September issueOctober 15 for the December issueEmail copy to the Editor and advertising to the Ad Chairman

President of the Garden Club of Virginia:Jeanette Cadwallender

Journal Editor:Karla MacKimmie8505 Lees Ridge RoadWarrenton, VA 20186Phone: (540) 341-3432Email: [email protected]

Journal Advertising Chairman:Anne Beals801 Hanover Street #1Fredericksburg, VA 22401Phone: (540) 226-2841Email: [email protected]

Vol. LIX, No. 2Printed on recycled paper byCarter Printing CompanyRichmond, VA

ON THE COVER... Phlox paniculata is beautifully captured here in watercolor by Mary Page Hickey of The Garden Club of Alexandria, and charmingly depicted as well by Louise Beebe Wilder in her 1916 book, My Garden. “This plant is a native, and with true American perspicacity and enterprise has forged his way from magenta obscurity to the most prominent place in the floral world.” Nearly a century later, it remains a summer garden classic.

IN THIS ISSUE ...Meet Jeanette ....................................... 2Board of Directors ................................ 3Massie Medal Award ............................ 4de Lacy Gray Medal Award ...................5Bessie Bocock Carter Award ..................5Horticulture Award of Merit ...................... 7Lily Show Announcement .................... 8Lily Notes ..............................................9Common Wealth Award ...................... 10Jefferson’s Clumps ................................12Fort Christanna ...................................13VNRLI ................................................ 14Kent-Valentine House .......................... 1580th Annual Daffodil Show ................. 16Ex Libris ............................................. 19Historic Garden Week ........................ 21Life of a Flower Arranger .................... 23Conservation Forum ........................... 24Club Notes ......................................... 25Club Notes ......................................... 26Club Notes ......................................... 27Club Notes ......................................... 28Club Notes ......................................... 29Contributions ..................................... 30

OTHER REFERENCES...Kent-Valentine HousePhone: (804) 643-4137 Fax: (804) 644-7778Email: [email protected]

Historic Garden Week OfficePhone: (804) 644-7776 Fax: (804) 644-7778Email: [email protected]

Postmaster, please send address changes to:Garden Club of Virginia12 East Franklin StreetRichmond, VA 23219

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2 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Meet Jeanette Cadwallender48th President of the Garden Club of VirginiaBy Karla MacKimmie, Editor, GCV Journal, The Warrenton Garden Club

and Aileen Laing, The Warrenton Garden Club

“I am so excited. This is going to be such fun,” said Jeanette Cadwallender when congratulated

on her new position as President of the Garden Club of Virginia. Her joie de vivre, intelligence and creativity are all encapsulated in this enthusiastic statement. Hold onto your hats, ladies, we are in for a lively journey.

Jeanette has many gifts, one of which is her cheerful efficiency. At the initial meeting of the first GCV Symposium, a venue had to be selected. While the feasibility of several locations was being discussed, Jeanette quietly took out her cell phone, made a call, and reported that Fredericksburg was ready to host our gathering, if the Committee agreed. Energetic, but thoughtful, she never pushed her suggestion, but made it seem the obvious choice.

A Fredericksburg native and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Sweet Briar College, she taught Latin prior to departing on a worldwide backpack adventure which changed the course of her life. While in Nepal, Jeanette Rowe met Nick Cadwallender. Shortly thereafter, Nick wrote his mother in Australia, apprising her of Jeanette’s imminent arrival there. If Jeanette arrived first, Nick instructed, his mother was to “put a leg rope on her.” The rest, as they say, is history, and the Cadwallenders are the parents of three adult children, Jess, Julia, and Mary.

One of her many interests is historic preservation. Jeanette is a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, a board member of the Fredericksburg City Cemetery and a member of the Patawomeck Indian tribe. The Cadwallenders renovated the Fredericksburg home in which they reside and which has been in Jeanette’s family since built by her 4th great-grandfather in 1828. Jeanette, a flower shows judge for GCV, and Nick, a knowledgeable gardener, are restoring the gardens with an eye to sustainability and usefulness, as well as beauty

Jeanette served as president of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club 2002-04 and has held many positions in GCV including 1st Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Journal Editor. “Serving as Journal Editor gave me a great understanding of the good work we do in Restoration, Education, and Conservation,” states Jeanette. She admits that ink runs in her blood; The Free Lance-Star was started by paternal relatives over 100 years ago, and Nick serves as its publisher.

When asked about her passion for GCV, Jeanette explained, “It’s an organization that stays true to its vision and an effective outlet for making Virginia a better place.” We are, indeed, fortunate to have Jeanette at the helm of GCV for the next two years. ❁

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Board of DirectorsThe Garden Club of Virginia 2014-2016

Officers:President—Jeanette R. Cadwallender, The Rappahannock Valley Garden ClubFirst Vice President—Nina Mustard, The Williamsburg Garden ClubSecond Vice President—Anne Geddy Cross, The Ashland Garden ClubTreasurer—Betsy Worthington, The Lynchburg Garden ClubRecording Secretary—Denise Revercomb, Roanoke Valley Garden ClubCorresponding Secretary—Linda Consolvo, The Nansemond River Garden Club

Directors at Large:District 1 (2014-16) Susan Robertson, The James River Garden ClubDistrict 2 (2013-15) DeLane Porter, Dolley Madison Garden Club District 3 (2014-16) Tricia McDaniel, The Rappahannock Valley Garden ClubDistrict 4 (2014-16) Mary Jac Meadows, Chatham Garden ClubDistrict 5 (2013-15) Lynn Gas, The Hunting Creek Garden ClubDistrict 6 (2013-15) Susan Wight, The Princess Anne Garden Club

Conservation and Beautification—Tuckie Westfall, The Garden Club of AlexandriaDevelopment—Jean Gilpin, Winchester-Clarke Garden ClubFinance—Sugie Battin, The Augusta Garden ClubFlower Shows—Lea Shuba, The Hunting Creek Garden ClubHistoric Garden Week—Alice Martin, The Petersburg Garden ClubHorticulture—Beth DeBergh, The Garden Club of Warren CountyParliamentarian—Missy Buckingham, The Boxwood Garden ClubRestoration—Kim Nash, The Warrenton Garden ClubImmediate Past President—Ann Gordon Evans, The Huntington Garden Club

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4 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Massie Medal Awarded to Mary Ann Johnson

By Missy Buckingham Massie Medal Committee Chairman, The Boxwood Garden Club

The Massie Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement was presented to Mary Ann Johnson at the Annual Meeting in Leesburg

on May 14, 2014. A member of Roanoke Valley Garden Club since 1977, Mary Ann continues to be dedicated and devoted to the betterment of her club, community, church and the Garden Club of Virginia. True to the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia and the guidelines for this award, this year’s recipient has served with dedication and distinction in her numerous and varied roles promoting horticulture, restoration, preservation and conservation of the natural resources of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mary Ann has served in the offices of Recording Secretary, Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary on the GCV Board of Directors. She served for several terms on the Editorial Board of the GCV Journal, and her work in the mid-1990s was instrumental in setting the publication on a new path of creativity and relevance. Mary Ann’s enthusiasm and dedication make her an invaluable member of the Restoration Committee. Mary Ann’s involvement in the Roanoke community is extensive and influential. She is involved in various preservation and conservation organizations including the Preservation Foundation and the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. A gifted writer, she was Book Editor for the Roanoke Times for many years. Described by her friends, family and peers as a great team player, Mary Ann Johnson is held in high regard by all for her integrity and inspirational leadership. We congratulate her as a most worthy recipient of this year’s Massie Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement. ❁

Massie Medal Awarded Massie Medal Awarded

Johnson at the Annual Meeting in Leesburg Johnson at the Annual Meeting in Leesburg

Mary Ann Johnson, recipient of the 2014 Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement, with husband, Jim Johnson

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The de Lacy Gray AwardBetsy Agelasto received the 2014 de Lacy Gray Award for her exceptional conservation work for both the Garden Club of Virginia and her communities. A member of the Virginia Beach Garden Club, she has served on the GCV Conservation and Beautification Committee several times, chairing Legislative Day and instructing GCV members in effective lobbying techniques. She and her family started the Rockfish Valley Foundation near their farm in Nellysford “to work cooperatively with the Rockfish Valley community and others to demonstrate and promote agricultural and non-agricultural land uses and activities that conserve, protect and sustain the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Rockfish Valley for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors.” We are overjoyed to salute Betsy for her enthusiasm in promoting the conservation and beautification of our Commonwealth. ❁

The Bessie Bocock Carter AwardThe Albemarle Garden Club received the Bessie Bocock Carter Award for their project “Interpreting the Bog Garden – Where Conservation, Horticulture and Civic Projects Meet.” The project was created “to enhance the beauty and wildlife habitat of a city park wetland with interpretive signage and print materials and to enable better understanding of storm water rain gardens, wetlands plants, and bio systems for the general public and for school field trips.” Ongoing volunteer maintenance will be provided by the Albemarle Garden Club and their project partner organizations including the Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation, Rivanna Master Naturalists, and the Garden Club of America Partners for Plants. Deepest thanks to Albemarle Garden Club members Dorothy Tompkins, Horticulture Chair, and Constance Palmer, Civic Projects Chair, for this very worthy nomination, and to the Albemarle Garden Club as its sponsor. ❁

The de Lacy Gray AwardThe de Lacy Gray Award

Conservation and Beautification Committee several Conservation and Beautification Committee several

The Albemarle Garden Club received The Albemarle Garden Club received the Bessie Bocock Carter Award for the Bessie Bocock Carter Award for their project “Interpreting the Bog their project “Interpreting the Bog

Meet.” The project was created “to Meet.” The project was created “to

with interpretive signage and print with interpretive signage and print Carol Carter (Albemarle GC), Anne Beals (Conservation and Beautification Chairman, The Rappahannock Valley GC), Robert Carter,

and Kim Cory (President, Albemarle GC)

Betsy Agelasto (The Virginia Beach GC), winner of the 2014 de Lacy Gray Award, with Mary

Ann Johnson (Roanoke Valley GC), recipient of the

2014 Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement

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6 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 7

2014 Garden Club of Virginia Horticulture Award of Meritby Dianne Spence, GCV Horticulture Chairman

The Williamsburg Garden Club and The Garden Club of Gloucester

The Garden Club of Virginia honored six members with the Horticulture Award of Merit at its Annual Meeting in Leesburg in May. The Horticulture Award of Merit was established in 1960 for individual members of the Garden

Club of Virginia who have achieved significant accomplishments in horticulture, both personally and in the community at large.

Tyra Freed, The Hampton Roads Garden ClubTyra, a landscape designer by profession, has shared her expertise in many areas, including landscape design and growing perennials, natives, and organic vegetables. As club liaison to the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Tyra helped to revive the entrance garden there. She also spearheaded the restoration of the James River entrance to The Mariners’ Museum.

Kris Lloyd, Hillside Garden ClubKris, a passionate supporter of The Roots and Shoots Garden at Bedford Hills Elementary School in Lynchburg since its inception, has diligently recruited volunteers, raised funds, and worked with children in this outdoor classroom. She has also worked with other community volunteers to create vegetable and ornamental gardens at a special needs care-giving facility. Additionally, Kris has instructed at-risk youth at the Juvenile Detention Center in growing vegetables in their greenhouse facility.

Wanda Russo, The Elizabeth River Garden ClubWanda has carried on her family’s long tradition of gardening, and even grows some of their old-fashioned roses in her garden. As a River Star Home owner on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, her gardening practices protect the river from pollution.

Dorothy Tompkins, Albemarle Garden ClubA retired pediatric cardiologist, Dorothy serves on the GCV Horticulture Committee and co-chaired the 2013 Conservation/Horticulture Workshop. She is a Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward and is involved with the local jail’s re-entry program. Her passion is growing vegetables, annuals, and perennials—all native and organic.

Judie Wine, The Spotswood Garden ClubJudie has many favorite garden pastimes, but caring for roses and propagating boxwood top her list. She shares her talents not only with her club, but with the community, and was instrumental in the garden restoration of historic Fort Harrison. A club leader since the mid-60s, Judie has helped make her club what it is today.

Mary Queitzsch Zocchi, Dolley Madison Garden ClubFaithfully carrying on her mother’s knowledge and tradition, Mary has dedicated her life to the study of lilies. She has participated in flower shows as both judge and advisor. Mary has conducted in-depth workshops and lectures on the successful propagation, growth, and showing of lilies. ❁

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8 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

The Garden Club of Virginia Presents

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Open to the PublicOpen to the Public Donations Appreciated Donations Appreciated

Skyline Middle School Skyline Middle School 470 Linda Lane 470 Linda Lane Harrisonburg VA 22802 Harrisonburg VA 22802

Hosted by Hosted by Hosted by Hosted by

The Spotswood Garden Club The Spotswood Garden Club Sanctioned by Sanctioned by

The North American Lily SocietyThe North American Lily Society

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Thursday, June 19, 2014 Thursday, June 19, 2014 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Oh Shenandoah!

Workroom open and entries accepted Tuesday, June 17th, Noon – 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18th, 7:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 9

Lily Notes By Barbara Holland, GCV Lily Chairman

The Garden Study Club

The Spotswood Garden Club in Harrisonburg is ready to host the 72nd Annual Garden Club of Virginia Lily Show on June 18 and 19. All GCV members are invited to attend this beautiful event. Plan now to take a day

trip to Harrisonburg with a friend, have lunch, and stop by the show. You will not be disappointed.

For members who are planning to enter horticulture exhibits in the show, here are a few hints and reminders. Now is the time to be checking your garden for your best stems. They should be healthy, and free from disease and insect damage. It is best to cut your stems in either late evening or early morning. Take a bucket of water into the garden so that you can get the stem into water as quickly as possible after cutting. After cutting your entries, take them into the house and transfer each stem into its traveling bottle and do any needed grooming. Clean each leaf with a damp cotton ball, and if pollen has gotten on the bloom, use a dry artist’s brush to gently clean the petals.

If pollen gets on your clothes, don’t touch the pollen, and even more importantly, don’t wet the pollen. Rubbing and brushing only cause the pollen to become more deeply ingrained. Use tape (masking or clear cellophane tape work well) to gently lift off the pollen. Don’t reuse the same area of tape once it has picked up pollen; move to a fresh piece so that you don’t put the pollen right back on the material. One friend uses a hand vacuum to carefully suck up the pollen.

What if you have already rubbed pollen in and tried to wash it out? You’re probably still seeing the stain. Don’t worry – you can still get it out by letting the sun bleach it. Just put the stained article in a sunny spot and let nature do its thing. You’ll be surprised to see that the stain will disappear. For some stains, it only takes a few hours in the sun; for others, it may take a couple days.

Off to the show now, with your lilies in sufficient water and not rubbing together or having any contact that could cause bruising or damage to the flowers or stem. See you at the awards ceremony. ❁

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10 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Common Wealth Award NominationsBy Katherine Knopf, Common Wealth Award Chairman

The Roanoke Valley Garden Club

The Common Wealth Award Committee is pleased to announce two finalists for the 2014 Common Wealth Award. The finalists are The Ashland Train Station, proposed by the Ashland Garden Club, and The Canal Walk at Great Shiplock

Park, a joint proposal from the four Richmond Garden Clubs. The recipients of the first place award of $8,500 and the second place award of $4,500 will be announced at the Board of Governors meeting this October.

Interestingly, both projects chosen as finalists share a transportation theme. The Ashland Garden Club’s project involves the restoration of plantings, seating and walkways at their local train station. The Canal Walk at Great Shiplock Park overlooks the canal and the once vibrant Trigg Shipyard. The train tracks that run behind this park are still active today.

The projects selected exemplify the criteria for the award in the areas of conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation and education. Both projects will provide improvements to areas which have fallen to neglect and will enrich the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please discuss these projects with your membership and plan to vote on them at your September meetings.

The Ashland Train StationSubmitted by The Ashland Garden Club

The Ashland Garden Club seeks a redesign of the grounds of the historic 1922 Ashland Train Station to provide much-needed additional seating and complementary landscaping for the 20,000 heritage tourists and train enthusiasts who visit this site each year.

Ashland is a small, turn-of-the-century railroad town created, and still defined, by the tracks running past beautiful shady streets and homes. The station is unquestionably the heart and soul of historic downtown Ashland. Currently, the structure serves as the Ashland/Hanover Visitors Center and is an active Amtrak stop.

The paving is crumbling, the soil is so compacted that new plantings struggle to survive, and the seating is an inadequate, unattractive muddle of picnic tables and mismatched benches. Despite three years of watering, planting, mulching and weeding, the Ashland Garden Club realizes that a major overhaul is needed to make this truly the jewel Ashland both needs and deserves.

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 11

The Canal Walk at Great Shiplock ParkSubmitted by the Boxwood, James River,

Three Chopt and Tuckahoe Garden Clubs

In 2013, the Boxwood, James River, Three Chopt and Tuckahoe Garden Clubs came together with the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, the City of Richmond and others to re-open a transformed Great Shiplock Park, the western trailhead of the Virginia Capital Trail. Where tree roots once struggled with weeds and concrete, expansive gardens, shady trails, and storm water amenities have taken root, providing a green gateway to historic Chapel Island, where the collaboration resulted in the additional restoration of hundreds of native plants.

Designed by George Washington in 1784, the site is the eastern-most of the historic James River and Kanawha Canal locks. It now includes the 19th century Trigg Shipyard, a working canal lock, bicycle and foot trails, fishing spots and stunning views of the river, offering 200,000 annual visitors environmentally-sensitive gardens with bio-filtration amenities.

The work is not finished, however. The weed-choked waterfront tract remains. The clubs, working together as Capital Trees, plan to install a 200-foot long walkway along the canal and plant native trees and perennials. The sensitive James River watershed will be protected by bio-filtration and educational signage and website support will be installed. Also, the proposed 45,000-bulb “river” of narcissus leading to the park along Dock Street will be completed. ❁

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12 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Jefferson’s Clumps Restored at Poplar ForestBy Catherine Madden

GCV Restoration CommitteeThe Lynchburg Garden Club

Tight plantings of trees, “clumps” as Jefferson called them, have recently been planted at Poplar Forest, just as Jefferson originally did over 200 years ago. This completes the second part of Phase I in the landscape restoration project

of the Garden Club of Virginia in partnership with Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.These tight plantings of trees were elements of the eighteenth century English

landscape style popularized by William Kent. Jefferson would have seen many examples on his 1786 tour of English gardens with his friend, John Adams. Although rare in the American landscape, Alexander Hamilton had a remarkable example at his New York home, The Grange, and Jefferson’s friend, William Hamilton, used this same feature at his Philadelphia estate, The Woodlands, whose landscape Jefferson greatly admired. There is also evidence that George Washington planted clumps at Mount Vernon, and Jefferson used them at the White House, at Monticello, and of course at Poplar Forest. The replanting of these clumps at Poplar Forest marks the first restoration of this striking 18th century landscape feature anywhere in America.

The restoration process began with Jefferson’s own words recorded in his garden book in November of 1812: “Plant a clump of Athenian and Balsam poplars each corner of the house. Intermix locusts, common and Kentucky, redbuds, dogwoods, calycanthus, liriodendron.”

Discovering the meaning behind these words and bringing this unique landscape feature back to Poplar Forest has taken a tremendous amount of research, both historical and archaeological. Jack Gary, Poplar Forest’s director of Archaeology and Landscapes, and Will Rieley, landscape architect for the Garden Club of Virginia, collaborated and led a great team of researchers who worked painstakingly on this project. The onsite archaeology, including identifying plant stains in the soil combined with delving into Jefferson’s copious records that show his use of a surveyor’s chain in laying out his landscape, has resulted in the placement of trees and shrubs in the exact locations that Jefferson used 200 years ago.

Archaeological work continues on the third part of the first phase of the landscape restoration that includes the carriage turnaround and the central oval bed at the approach to the house. Research has established that the boxwood there were not from the Jefferson period, but the investigation is ongoing to discover Jefferson’s original plan for that part of the landscape.

There is no doubt that all the lessons learned from this exploration of Jefferson’s landscape at Poplar Forest, specifically his ingenious marriage of geometry with nature, will have important implications for other historic landscape restorations in Virginia and beyond. ❁

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Fort Christanna – 300 Years of HistoryBy Jackie J. Myers

The Brunswick Garden Club

On June 14, Brunswick County will mark the 300-year history of Fort Christanna, a prized historic site, with a celebration at the fort. Established in 1714, the fort long ago rotted into the ground. The land was plowed

and farmed for years, then left to grow up into wilderness again. But now, owing to generous community effort, the support of the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors, and several awards, including the Common Wealth Award from the Garden Club of Virginia, the fort has become a pleasant park and a tourist destination.

Fort Christanna was established by Governor Alexander Spotswood to protect incoming settlers, to be a trading post with the local Native Americans, and to provide shelter nearby in a new Indian village for the displaced Tidewater American Indians from many little tribes driven west. These tribes, possibly as many as 25, united under the name of Saponi. Since Virginia was a colony of England, the fort became the most western outpost of the British Empire. Spotswood named it Christanna for Christ and Queen Anne.

The governor set up a company to trade with Native Americans from near and far and staffed the fort with twelve rangers, young men who rode the trails of the county making sure all of the new settlers were safe. He was also concerned about the children of the Saponi in the village and established a school for them, hiring a teacher with his own money. The 1714 fort was funded, at first, by the Virginia legislature as the Virginia Indian Company. After four years, it was no longer funded and a private company took over, but dissolved in 1722. Trade still continued and some Saponi lingered for a few years; there were still Native Americans living at the village in 1728 when William Byrd came through Brunswick County. Many settled nearby or in North Carolina and New York state with other tribes.

Recently, as interest in the fort has resumed, there have been archaeological investigations at the fort and quite a bit of interest throughout scholarly circles. There are plans for future development of the park. At present the Fort Christanna park site has a steady stream of visitors and is a delightful place for a woodland walk or a bird-watching afternoon.

We are looking forward to the 300th anniversary party next summer. Everyone will be welcome. ❁

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14 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Virginia Natural Resources Leadership InstituteBy Anne Beals

The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

The Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI) began in North Carolina in 1995. Its usefulness took it to many other states, Virginia among them, and VNRLI was launched in 2001. Run under the aegis of the Institute

for Environmental Negotiation in Charlottesville, it began as a collaborative effort between UVA, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Department of Forestry. It teaches how to move beyond conflict in order to come to mutually acceptable agreements, rather than to just win a fight or, worse, end in gridlock. Six separate two-day classes over the year are presented in a seminar format and center on water resources, water quality, pollution, community and rural forestry management, environmental justice, waste management, coastal management, and land use. The faculty includes highly skilled and very entertaining teachers who use a wide range of methods: mini-lectures, panels, and large and small group exercises. Hands-on experiential learning techniques that give participants opportunities to develop and practice skills taught in the classes are emphasized and are coupled with enriching case studies and field trips that make the issues come alive.

My classes met in Syria at Graves Mountain Lodge, then in Harrisonburg, Irvington, Richmond, Abingdon, and Charlottesville. Each class presented a distinct issue in a debate format with experts in a particular field and trained us in problem solving. Highlights of my year included a boat trip to Tangier Island and a discussion about the health of the Bay, a visit to Polyface Farm near Staunton, and an opportunity to stand in the pit of an active mountaintop coal mine while discussing mine reclamation.

As the year progressed, friendships formed, providing valuable networking opportunities. As we studied conflict resolution, we learned whole sets of new behaviors. One aim of the VNRLI program is to provide Virginia with skilled environmental leaders and, as conservation issues develop, to give those on opposite sides of the fence the means to communicate with one another for the benefit of all. I was delighted with the mix of people in my particular group. The 30-student class included persons of broad interests and experience: individual conservationists and environmental entrepreneurs, corporate employees and executives, government employees, elected officials and university professors. Ages spanned more than four decades.

I would recommend VNRLI to anyone. Even if you are not a particularly fierce conservationist, the skills and friendships generated during the year will enrich your life beyond expectation. Not only will you learn a lot, but you will have a lot of fun doing it.

To learn more about VNRLI, please contact Anne Beals at [email protected]

The Garden Club of Virginia appreciates responsible advertising and reserves the right to accept or reject submitted advertisements. Inclusion in the Journal is not to be

construed as an endorsement by the Garden Club of the advertised goods or services.

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Making Ourselves at Home:A Call for Furnishings for the Kent-Valentine House

By Bebe Luck, Chairman of the Kent-Valentine Committee, The Ashland Garden ClubLynn McCashin, GCV Executive Director

The Kent-Valentine House, or as we know it today, the Garden Club of Virginia’s headquarters, reflects

the GCV’s constituent clubs and their members. Many of the furnishings, much of the silver and household goods – even the prints of drawings by 18th-century naturalist Mark Catesby – came from members of those clubs.

The house began life in 1845 as the private residence of Horace Kent, a wholesale goods merchant and Richmond City Councilor. Granville Valentine bought it in 1904, and made extensive alterations, including adding Roman Ionic columns and a portico to create a stately façade. The Valentine family’s company made a beef-extract tonic, whose users included England’s King George V and Japan’s Emperor Yoshita.

When the house faced demolition during the late 1960s, forward-thinking women of the GCV saved it from the wrecking ball. In 1970, the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register added it to their rolls. Outside, an easement protects its trees and green space, making it one of the few downtown residences still surrounded by trees.

In 1971, the GCV bought the house it had rescued. The GCV set about adapting a grand old home for reuse as its headquarters. A call to the members resulted in donations of fine furniture, lamps, chandeliers, silver and handsome antique rugs.

Adaptation has continued. During the 1990s, an elevator wing was added to the east side of the house. It includes required fire safety stairs, handicapped access and handicapped-accessible restrooms for all levels.

For four decades, the Kent-Valentine House has served as the nexus of operations for the GCV and its members. The first floor’s formal parlors, dining room, and sun porch accommodate luncheons, dinners, weddings, parties and small group meetings. The second floor houses the offices of Historic Garden Week, Communications, Development, Accounting and the Executive Director. The third floor has meeting space for GCV clubs, committees, and outside groups.

As history will repeat itself, increased use of the Kent-Valentine House has generated a renewed request to the membership for donations. There is a need for large and small antique rugs, ranging in size from 8-by-15 down to 4-by-6. An increase in luncheons and dinners has created a need for china, silver flatware, and serving spoons and forks. Informal occasions require quality stainless steel flatware. The kitchen needs cooking utensils, baking sheets, ice buckets and cookware.

As use of the Kent-Valentine House is open to all GCV members, the house, in essence, belongs to all. The Kent-Valentine House Committee would be grateful if anyone planning a move, or anyone who knows someone planning a move, would kindly consider or encourage donating in-kind gifts. Such gifts are tax-deductible. More importantly, such gifts are deeply appreciated. ❁

Dining Room in the Kent-Valentine House. Given in memory of Ann Peace Rawls

by her family.

Page 18: June 2014 GCV Journal

16 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

The 80th Annual Daffodil ShowSponsored by the Little Garden Club of Winchester

NUMBER OF ARTISTIC EXHIBITORS: 72NUMBER ARTISTIC ENTRIES: 74 NUMBER OF HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITORS: 71NUMBER OF HORTICULTURAL STEMS: 491

For more photos and a complete list of winners, go to www.gcvirginia.org and see Flower Shows Grateful appreciation extended to Mary Wynn and Charles McDaniel and Hilldrup Transfer and Storage for support of the GCV Flower Shows

InterClub Class 247CStabile Design: The Mrs. Littleton

H. Mears Trophy (Quad Blue)The Rappahannock Valley

Garden Club

InterClub Class 247DLate Georgian Arrangement:

BlueThe James River

Garden Club

Junior Artistic Class 252Mass Arrangement: Blue

Mary Grace Utz, Winchester

InterClub Class 247BPhoenix Arrangement: Blue

The Garden Club of Danville

Individual Class 248Western Line: Blue

The Hunter Hankins Savage Award

(best arrangement by a novice)Lois Spencer,

The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

The Jacqueline Byrd Shank Memorial Trophy, “Snipe”

(best GCV member miniature exhibit)

Nancy McLaughlin, The Blue Ridge Garden Club

Individual Class 248

InterClub Class 247ACreative Mass: Blue

Fauquier & Loudoun Garden Club

Individual Class 250Construction: Blue

The Sandra Sadler Baylor Award(most creative arrangement)

The Decca Gilmer Frackelton AwardThe Flower Show Chairman’s Cup

(best arrangement in show)Matilda Bradshaw, The Mill

Mountain Garden Club

Artistic Awards

“A Little Celebration”

Photos by Jane Cowles

Page 19: June 2014 GCV Journal

JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 17

The 80th Annual Daffodil ShowSponsored by the Little Garden Club of Winchester

April 1-2, 2014

For more photos and a complete list of winners, go to www.gcvirginia.org and see Flower ShowsGrateful appreciation extended to Mary Wynn and Charles McDaniel and Hilldrup Transfer and Storage for support of the GCV Flower Shows

InterClub Class 247CStabile Design: The Mrs. Littleton

H. Mears Trophy (Quad Blue)The Rappahannock Valley

Garden Club

Junior Artistic Class 252Mass Arrangement: Blue

Mary Grace Utz, Winchester

The Daffodil Chairman’s Cup (best GCV daffodil chairman’s

collection of 12 varieties) Roanoke Valley Garden Club

The Jacqueline Byrd Shank Memorial Trophy, “Snipe”

(best GCV member miniature exhibit)

Nancy McLaughlin, The Blue Ridge Garden Club

Award Honoring the Hostess Club “King Alfred” Suzy Oliver,

The Little Garden Club of Winchester

The Patricia MannCrenshaw Award (novice)

“Stratosphere” Bobbie Oldham,

Hillside Garden Club

Junior Artistic Class 253Vegetative Design: Blue

Talley Sublett, Winchester

The Member Club’s Cup(best bloom in show) “Sonar”

Katherine Beale, Harborfront Garden Club

Ella Schnoor (right) discussing her artistic arrangement in the

Junior Artistic Division with Matilda Bradshaw, The Mill Mountain

GC, winner of the most creative arrangement in the Daffodil Show.

Horticulture Awards

Page 20: June 2014 GCV Journal

18 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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Page 21: June 2014 GCV Journal

JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 19

Ex Libris New Additions to the Library

By Anne Cross, GCV Library CommitteeThe Ashland Garden Club

The shelves of the GCV library at the Kent-Valentine House are filling. We have many new acquisitions thanks to the generosity of GCV members. Two of

the most interesting are American Eden: From Monticello to Central Park to our Backyards by Wade Graham and American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic.

American Eden is a well written and researched history of American garden design which has received glowing reviews since its publication in 2011. It integrates American garden design, culture, history, art, architecture, and literature, telling a complex story from the days of the first colonists to the present. There are chapters on Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson Downing, the arts and crafts garden, and the modern garden. The final chapter that addresses today’s return to organic gardening, naturalism, and pastoral urbanization uses the White House vegetable garden and High Line Park in NYC, once an abandoned freight railroad, as examples. Graham feels that this pastoral urbanism is “grounds for hope; that now, more than 400 years into the experiment, we Americans have come close to reconciling the contradictions of our existence-living in cities in the midst of a tantalizing wildness a garden of possibility that cannot be attained by continuously fleeing from civilization.” He feels that, since this coincides with a return to cities and is both pro-urban and pro-nature, there is real hope that Americans are “coming to grips with the urban and capitalist nature of our actual cultural landscape and resolving to make it functional on its own terms.” This thought-provoking book was a gift from Evelyn Paulson Hutchens, president of the Huntington Garden Club from 2012 to 2014.

Ester Carpi of the Hunting Creek Garden Club presented a copy of American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic to the GCV library. This book is published by the board of Botanical Artists for Education & the Environment. All proceeds from its sale benefit native plant education, conservation and horticulture. Among the artists whose work is included are Marcia Long from the Williamsburg Garden Club, Holly Maillet from the Charlottesville Garden Club, Mary Page Hickey from the Garden Club of Alexandria and Ester Carpi of the Hunting Creek Garden Club.

Other recent additions to the library include a number of books on flower arranging and gardening donated by Molly Carey of the Boxwood Garden Club. We are most grateful to all. Please visit the GCV library (which doubles as Lynn McCashin’s office.) It is easy to borrow books. ❁

The Ashland Garden ClubThe Ashland Garden Club

he shelves of the GCV library at the Kent-Valentine he shelves of the GCV library at the Kent-Valentine House are filling. We have many new acquisitions House are filling. We have many new acquisitions thanks to the generosity of GCV members. Two of thanks to the generosity of GCV members. Two of

American Eden: From Monticello American Eden: From Monticello by Wade Graham and by Wade Graham and

American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid

history of American garden design which has received history of American garden design which has received

art, architecture, and literature, telling a complex story art, architecture, and literature, telling a complex story from the days of the first colonists to the present. There from the days of the first colonists to the present. There

Downing, the arts and crafts garden, and the modern garden. The final Downing, the arts and crafts garden, and the modern garden. The final chapter that addresses today’s return to organic gardening, naturalism, and pastoral chapter that addresses today’s return to organic gardening, naturalism, and pastoral urbanization uses the White House vegetable garden and High Line Park in NYC, once urbanization uses the White House vegetable garden and High Line Park in NYC, once

1919

Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic to the GCVto the GCV library.library. This book This book

Education & the Environment. All proceeds from Education & the Environment. All proceeds from its sale benefit native plant education, conservation its sale benefit native plant education, conservation and horticulture. Among the artists whose work is and horticulture. Among the artists whose work is

Garden Club, Holly Maillet from the Charlottesville Garden Club, Holly Maillet from the Charlottesville

Club of Alexandria and Ester Carpi of the Hunting Club of Alexandria and Ester Carpi of the Hunting

Other recent additions to the library include a Other recent additions to the library include a number of books on flower arranging and gardening number of books on flower arranging and gardening

Page 22: June 2014 GCV Journal

20 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Flower Arranging SchoolUniversity of RichmondJepson Alumni Center

Tuesday, September 23, 2014Check-in 9:00 - 9:45 AMProgram Begins 10:00 AMOnline registration opens July 1

for Garden Club of Virginia members. Cost is $50 per person.

Featuring International Floral Designer and DemonstratorCrescentia Motzi

Longwood GardensHotel accommodations:

Hampton Inn & Suites Richmond/Glenside(Code: GCV Flower Arranging School)

Page 23: June 2014 GCV Journal

JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 21

Measuring the Impact of Historic Garden Week By Lynn McCashin

Executive Director of the Garden Club of Virginia

Eighty one years of any event is a heroic achievement and makes a spectacular story. One that employs thousands of volunteers’ time, energy and talent is even more extraordinary. Monies raised benefit GCV’s restoration projects, but there

are other, unexplored, Historic Garden Week benefits. Last year, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VATC) surveyed Historic Garden Week participants who purchased their tickets online. What we learned made us eager to find out more.

From the first car that drives onto the expansive grounds of a plantation or a grand estate, an impact has been made on local communities. Visitors have bought gas, sought out lunch, gifts and souvenirs. Some travelers spend a few days enjoying multiple tours and require hotel rooms.

Consider the homeowners who agree to open for a tour. Homes and gardens are spruced up, resulting in a bonanza for decorators, painters, garden shops and home improvement stores. This economic impact has not been measured.

The VATC survey responses told us that our visitors are not offended by surveys and are willing to share their Historic Garden Week experiences. An unprecedented 41 percent of those surveyed responded. We found out that our visitors are enthusiastic and dedicated. We learned that the average visitor spends $132 per day and $1,207 for overnight travel. We shared the results at the first Historic Garden Week Boot Camp last summer. Tour chairmen used the data to leverage important local resources.

This survey partially fulfilled the vision of the 2006-2011 Strategic Plan to undertake a full-fledged economic impact study of Historic Garden Week. We want to dig deeper to find out what HGW means from an economic standpoint, to our individual communities and to the Commonwealth. A sponsor underwrote the study, and GCV hired Chmura Analytics, a well-respected consulting and data firm.

This is an important undertaking for the Garden Club of Virginia. We look forward to sharing the preliminary results with all clubs following the Chmura presentation at the July Board of Directors meeting. ❁

Ann Gordon Evans (GCV President, The Huntington GC) with winners of The Annabel Josephs Inter Club Artistic Award; Fauquier and Loudoun GC (Harriett Condon,

President), The GC of Gloucester (Lynn Hornsby, President), The GC of Danville (Jo Silvers, President), Rivanna GC (Cheryl Bradbury, President)

and Bettie Guthrie, (GCV Flower Shows Chairman, The Petersburg GC)

Page 24: June 2014 GCV Journal

22 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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Page 25: June 2014 GCV Journal

JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 23

The (Flower) Show (Arranger) Must Go OnBy Elise Pitts

Harborfront Garden Club

I’m helping fellow Harborfront Garden Club members with an unanticipated redesign of our Interclub arrangement for the 71st Annual Garden Club of Virginia Lily Show, 2013. The show opens tomorrow, so we’re moving, reaching and

grabbing to pull it together. I go for something in a bucket next to a table where my own practically complete arrangement stands in a vase that seems practically made for its design and class.

That’s when my hip bumps the table. My arrangement wobbles, then crashes to the floor.

The workroom in Harrisonburg’s Skyline Middle School, a din of chatter, falls silent.

I want to cry. Garden-grown lilies, shaped wire-ribboned aspidistra and a glass trumpet vase lie bent and broken. The vase’s base featured a stalactite form, perfect for its class: a traditional line mass that pays tribute to geometric shapes found in caverns. The show celebrates Shenandoah Valley geological formations.

As a judge, I cannot bring myself to leave the show pedestal empty, and crying won’t help. Several kind women do help, picking up pieces of the vase; I save a large one. Other women come to offer condolences and new lilies, while sponsoring Spotswood Garden Club members offer a hand.

My immediate need: a container. A trip to T.J. Maxx produces two glass vases. With some persuasion, the salvaged piece fits inside one of the new vases. It will be part of the arrangement after all.

Mary Lou Johnson, Jean Bell and I have been hard at it. Soon, 6 o’clock comes, workroom closing time.

We head for the hotel and dinner. Back in our room, Mary Lou climbs into bed, but keeps me company while I work on the arrangement’s second iteration. I turn in and turn out the lights, but get up several times to tweak. This second design seems OK, but pales compared with the first, now just a photo in my cell phone.

The next morning, we return to the workroom where daylight spotlights my arrangement’s crushed and creased petals. Kind co-arrangers know my situation and offer more fresh lilies. So it’s out with the old and in with the new, making this design No. 3.

We put the finishing touches on our arrangements and place them to be passed for judging, then head out for lunch. When the show opens, a group of Harborfront ladies enters and sees a horticulture pedestal that showcases a best in show: our own Katherine Beale’s ‘Triumphator.’ We walk on and see a blue ribbon on Mary Lou’s arrangement. Then, we see my arrangement – broken, remade, re-remade and tweaked – has a blue, too, plus a tricolor ribbon.

In this moment, the benevolence of so many overwhelms me. So, some words of encouragement for arrangers: Stay calm, keep the creative juices flowing, and finish with your best effort. ❁

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24 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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The Garden Club of Virginia’s 2014 Conservation ForumLiving with Trees

Virginia’s Remarkable RenewableBy Anne Beals

Chairman, 2014 Conservation ForumThe Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

When you think of trees, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people mention a beautiful tree in their yard or garden, or reminisce about a tree they knew in their youth and perhaps spent a lot of time climbing. Many

also mention the great benefits trees and forests afford us: clean air and water, recreation, solitude, wildlife, and wood. Trees are our largest and oldest living companions on the planet.

When you attend the Conservation Forum on November 12 at Old Dominion University, all these subjects will be addressed. We’ll hear from educators, conservationists, and members of the Virginia Department of Forestry – 100 years old this year – about what it is they do to enrich and protect this most valuable resource. We’ll hear about trees as beautiful enhancements to our environment, trees as commodity, urban trees, and the many ways trees enhance our lives.

Mark your calendars for November 12, and keep an eye on the GCV website later in the summer for registration information. We hope to see everyone in Norfolk for the 2014 GCV Conservation Forum. The Conservation Forum is generously supported by Bay Disposal & Recycling. ❁

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 25

Club NotesBy Mary Kathryn McIntosh

Hillside Garden Club

Garden enthusiasts often acquire their plants from friends, relatives and acquaintances. Part of the

enjoyment of gardening is remembering where one acquired this or that plant or flower. The Hillside Garden Club has followed this practice with its annual plant exchange in June, inspired by a simple act of “friendship beans.”

It began with a few neighborhood hyacinth beans, formally known as Lablab purpureus, given to one of our members. The seed is a species of bean in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Africa and is cultivated throughout the tropics for food. In our part of the world, it is merely ornamental and is generally an annual.

Upon receiving the seeds in early spring, the recipient split the pods, soaked the beans in water overnight and planted them in her garden where the vines could climb gracefully on an iron fence. The result was beautiful foliage, lovely lavender flowers and deep purple bean pods in the late summer and fall when many flowers are spent.

Before frost, the beans were harvested, dried, and prepared for giving to new recipients the following spring. Some were wrapped in lavender net with planting instructions and placed in box lunches at a joint garden club meeting. Since then, the pods have traveled far and wide. To date, they have graced public and neighborhood gardens, as well as the cottage fences at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg. What began as a neighborly gesture became an annual event expanding into our plant exchange. ❁

their plants from friends, relatives their plants from friends, relatives

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26 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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The Challenge of the ClubsBy Beth Sibbick

The Martinsville Garden Club

In 2012 at the Board of Governors meeting, our president, Nancy Spilman, saw other presidents

being awarded Top Ten ribbons for their participation in GCV’s Annual Fund, and she decided that the Martinsville Garden Club should be a part of that group. To spur us on, she challenged our sister club, the Garden Study Club, to compete for a Top Ten position, as well. Our clubs have a history of collaboration and friendly competition, and the challenge was accepted by Debbie Lewis, president of the Garden Study Club. The Challenge of the Clubs began.

Nancy encouraged participation at club meetings and through monthly email reminders. The idea was to demonstrate support for GCV, beat our sister club and

lead in the state. When it came time to announce the Top Ten at the 2013 Board of Governors meeting, who would have guessed the challenge would end in a tie for 3rd place between the two clubs? This was the first time either club had been in the group. Both presidents from Martinsville proudly received their Top Ten ribbons.

At the joint meeting of our two clubs this January, Debbie Lewis issued a new challenge to Sue Rosser, president of the Martinsville Garden Club, to move up to second this year. Both were proudly wearing their Top Ten ribbons, and Sue eagerly accepted the challenge. The games have begun again, and Sue’s first email to our club encouraged us to strive for first. The results remain to be seen. ❁

Sue Rosser and Debbie Lewis

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 27

Club NotesBy Susan Armfield

The Hampton Roads Garden Club

After many meetings, the Community Project Development Committee of the Hampton Roads Garden Club decided to pursue the idea of restoring and beautifying the hillside below the sculpture, Youth Taming the Wild, by Anna

Hyatt Huntington, at the river entrance to The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News. Sandy Parks, our 2012 Historic Garden Week chair, approached the museum’s

director about sprucing up the entrance to the museum at the Lion’s Bridge, and was told there were no funds available to restore the area. Subsequently, Community Project Development chair, Allison Clock, made a visual presentation, and club member, Tyra Freed, presented a landscape plan for the project to the membership. The plan was based on three priorities: stabilizing the hill, using hardy plants, and incorporating as much color as possible. Tyra volunteered to oversee the planting and mulching by club members and museum volunteers. The museum will take over full responsibility for ongoing maintenance.

After seeing before and after pictures, the club voted to donate $15,000 to The Mariners’ Museum for the purpose of restoring Monument Hill. Now, in the spring of 2014, we can start to see the results of our successful community development project. ❁

Before Restoration ... ... After Restoration

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28 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Club NotesBy Susan Comer

The Elizabeth River Garden Club

On March 6, the Elizabeth River Garden Club held its second floral arranging demonstration—but this time with a twist. Three club members accepted the challenge to create an arrangement, in only an hour, using provided containers

and flowers. Chris McKnight, Pam Kloeppel and Rebecca Larys made equally beautiful, but very different, arrangements.

Other expert, club flower arrangers did the demonstrations. Jean Knapp showed the audience some techniques for Asian arrangements. Cathy Robertson, Misty Taylor and Judy Perry demonstrated how to create contemporary and traditional arrangements; they were ably assisted by Linda Patton, Wanda Russo and Laura McDermott. Linda Pinkham provided examples of greenery we can grow to use in arrangements.

The program, chaired by Martha Perkins, was held at the newly renovated Woman’s Club of Portsmouth, with more than 70 people in attendance. The club was especially delighted that GCV President Ann Gordon Evans, as well as the District 2 Director at Large DeLane Porter (an associate member of the ERGC), were present. Refreshments were served, a lucky attendee won a statewide pass to Historic Garden Week, and several people went home with lovely floral arrangements. In addition to the fun, the club raised more than $1,000 for our projects. ❁

Club NotesBy Carolyn E. Helfrich

The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club was fortunate to partner with the National Parks Service (Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation) and Belmont, Gari

Melchers’ home and studio, to host a boxwood workshop on March 11, 2014. The workshop was held at Belmont. Featured speakers were Robert Saunders from Saunders Brothers Nursery, Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture at Mount Vernon, and Beate Jensen, Site Supervisor at Belmont. From Robert Saunders, we learned best practices for boxwood care and how to combat pests and disease. Dean Norton entertained us with the history of planting and replanting boxwood at Mount Vernon. He reminded us that plants want to live and that often a relaxed approach to their care can be the best. Beate Jensen’s talk focused on the boxwood in the restored gardens at Belmont. The highlight of the day was the pruning of a large boxwood by Dean Norton using a gas-powered trimmer. The speakers were filmed by a team from the Olmsted Center. The NPS hopes to have the material available on-line as part of a new Landscape Preservation Academy. ❁

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 29

Club NotesBy Tricia Goins

President, The Garden Club of Fairfax

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is truly a gem in the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority system and the Garden Club of Fairfax is very pleased to assist in them in their mission. Meadowlark is a secluded garden

providing a green space in the busy northern Virginia area. For the past 15 years, GCF has partnered with Meadowlark and has provided funding for touch screens and a Learning Box for children in the Visitors Center, signage for the Potomac Valley Collection, pitcher plants for the Lake Lena Wetlands, and an oak tree to commemorate 9-11. Funding for the book American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic, a book which is the culmination of a three-year effort by the board of Botanical Artists for Education & the Environment (BAEE), was also provided. Seeing these projects come to life has fulfilled our club’s objectives and would be thanks enough. However, Meadowlark Gardens published a lovely thank you in their newsletter last fall which stated that the “GCF is the single most prolific garden club supporting MBG collections,” and praised the members for their “continued support and commitment to conserving regional native plant diversity.” ❁

Handley HS students and their science teacher with Bettie Guthrie, GCV Flower Shows Chair. These students are working with the Little Garden

Club of Winchester to plant daffodil bulbs in their school courtyard.

Handley HS students and their science teacher with Bettie Guthrie, GCV Handley HS students and their science teacher with Bettie Guthrie, GCV

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30 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Donor

C O N T R I B U T I O N SReport Period From 1/1/14 Through 3/31/14

Annual Fund

The Blue Ridge Garden ClubThe Charlottesville Garden

ClubThe Princess Anne Garden

Club Rivanna Garden ClubThe Tuckahoe Garden Club

of WesthamptonHolly Hills Garden ClubCommunity Foundation

for Northern Virginia–Stockwell-Frase Family Endowment Fund

Oakwood Foundation Mimi Abel SmithSuzanne AielloMarsha J. AmorySusan BaileyJill BeachLynne BeelerPage B. BeelerBeverley G. BennerFrances BonintiNancy BrooksLaura Y. BrownTerry Emory BuntrockG. G. BuxtonMeg CampbellMolly CareyJohanna CarringtonJudith H. CarterMrs. Terry L. CarterLaura CarterKathleen M.CarterDiana CarterSally P. CastlesDidi ChapinCoates ClarkDr. Elizabeth ComptonGinny CostenbaderCecile CoxCarolyn Ann CreasyMrs. Scot N. CreechMrs. Mary New DaltonMary L. Denny

Mary Kate DillonVirginia DoppMary T. EadesCindy EdgertonNicole FagerliRebecca P. FarrarBetsy FernaldSarah B. FindleyJacqueline FiskeTyra FreedNancy T. FreemanPaige D. FrithGCV Massie Medal

CommitteePatricia H. GarnerRoberta T. GarnettSusan Tucker GarrettAnna P. GehrkenSusan H. GentryBrenda GilmanKathleen B. GlassPatricia A. GoodsonSusan A. GravesFreddie GrayJo GraysonBonnie C. GreenwaltMary Anne GriffinMrs. John H. Guy IVAnne C. HamlettMichelle HamnerElizabeth HargroveMaureen B. HarveyMr. and Mrs. William J.

HarvieMary Lou HattenDana Knight HendersonSusan HendersonDr. and Mrs. Ron

HendricksenDonna HerbertLeslie HerveySusan G. HodgesMorgan and Barbara

HollandMac Houfek

Mary A. R. HowardJanet G. HudginsLucy HuffGay Carpenter HuffmanElizabeth HutterJoyce C. JaegerMichelle W. JenningsMary C. JohnsonCecelia R. JohnsonKaren O. JonesCheryl JordanFaye JoyMrs. R. Calvin KeyserLana H. KingAnn KingtonLynn KorffJoni LawlerJudith LawsonSusan LeachmanLyde LongakerVirginia B. LorberNancy LowryLinda MagovernKatie MannAlice S. MarshallRebecca P. MasonAnne M. MasonTammy V. MasonKathy W. McCahillMary Wynn McDanielThe Rennie and Richmond

McDaniel Fund of the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

Mary McManusKatherine MearsArdis S. MerrittMargaret MilamMarilyn MillardTherese MinterMrs. Douglas D. Monroe,

Jr.Nancy MooreAmine E. Morgan

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JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 31

Nancy E. MorrisDr. Susan MorrisSusan MortenSylvia NewmanCaroline H. NormanMichelle B. NorrisMrs. William C. Overman,

Jr.Frances Hix PaddenConstance D. PalmerAnn PalmoreDana C. ParkerSandra ParksMr. and Mrs. L. Allan

Parrott, Jr.Julie Wyatt PattersonSharman G. PeitzCatherine R. PhilipsJanie PinneySarah PorterCharlotte PorterfieldSara W. PostMrs. J. Sargeant Reynolds, Jr.

Phyllis RipperSuzie RockwellSue W. RosserJanet RosserBeverley Wellford RowlandTricia RussellVirginia P. SasserElizabeth R. SibbickSallie T. SimsLaura Daughtry SmartDoris W. SmithKimberly K. SnyderSarah SouthworthNancy SpilmanJanice F. StalfortCarol Hooker StermerMargrete StevensPam StevensonBetty Carol StevensonSharon StilesLisa K. StuartDr. Anne K. SullivanMeg Talley

Mrs. T. Eugene Temple, Jr.Becky TenchKate TerrillPatsy L. ThompsonElizabeth Lacy ThompsonNancy K. TilmanDeborah C. TomsDeborah TouchstoneMrs. Henry Lee Valentine IIMary T. WamplerJudith E. WareMilly WassumSue WatsonThe Rev. Mary Beth WellsAbbie WhartonBarbara WhelessMariBeth WilliamsLucy WilsonLibby Singleton WolfLibba WolfeNancy Coleman WoodSusan WynnePage Young

Donor In Honor ofAlbemarle Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansThe Garden Club of Alexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anne Baldwin

Sally Guy BrownAnn Gordon Evans

The Boxwood Garden Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette CadwallenderThe Garden Club of Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Morgan and Barbara HollandDolley Madison Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansThe Garden Club of Fairfax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane WilkinsonThe Garden Study Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansLeesburg Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nina MustardAnne G. Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon Evans

Kathy KnollmannMaureen L. Bendall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May May GayAnonymous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elizabeth MurphyCecelia S. Howell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn QuarlesLyn Hutchens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansJosephine J. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy ParrishKatherine Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheryl BradburyAnn H. Sanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly HoodDebbie Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansLouise F. Tayloe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheryl Bradbury

Phyllis RipperKathryn Q. Wafle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Benjamin

Sally Guy Brown

Page 34: June 2014 GCV Journal

32 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

Donor In Memory ofThe Charlottesville Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellie WhiteleyThe Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Ellen HurleyMary Lawrence Harrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel HollisCharlotte B. Kerr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Charles L. BowdenJoyce W. Moorman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel HollisNancy M. Sweet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Hollis

Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award FundDonorThe Robert & Bessie Carter Foundation

Common Wealth Award FundDonor In Honor ofThe Elizabeth River Garden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon Evans

Garden Club of Virginia EndowmentDonorThe Garden Study Club The Princess Anne Garden ClubThe Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

Donor In Honor ofJean E. R. Gilpin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Gordon EvansJulie Grover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Luton Julie MacKinlayMary T. Kincheloe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marianne Stryker

Donor In Memory ofThe Ashland Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaVerne Keyser Frances SheltonHarborfront Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel HollisThe Martinsville Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Haskell Louise LewisMeg Clement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Ellen HurleyCasey Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel HollisLee Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Hollis

GCV Conservation FundDonorThe Blue Ridge Garden Club

Donor In Honor ofThe Blue Ridge Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy RhameThe Elizabeth River Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue KlineMartha P. Craddock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Carter

Donor In Memory ofAvra Leigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Hollis

Page 35: June 2014 GCV Journal

JUNE 2014 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 33

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Gifts-in-KindDonorVirginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesLaura GeddyCarl and Bettie GuthrieMartha F. Moore

RestorationDonor In Honor ofAlbemarle Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy BrownThe Elizabeth River Garden Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gale RobertsJean E. R. Gilpin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy Brown

Page 36: June 2014 GCV Journal

WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG The Garden Club of Virginia

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