2019 Winter BOD: Richmond

September 12, 2024

President Jean Gilpin called the board of directors meeting to order on January 19 at the Kent-Valentine House.

Jean reported that the executive committee met in December and approved a letter to the Richmond City Planning Commission concerning the rezoning of Monroe Ward, stating its support of Historic Richmond Foundation in maintaining and protecting the historic environment of Monroe Ward.

Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham provided the following updates:

• Mary Friediani and Martha Moore will chair the VMFA luncheon
• The VMHC exhibit, “A Landscape Saved: Garden Club of Virginia at 100”
• Scheduled events for May 13, 2020, include a morning presentation at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture by landscape architect Thomas Woltz, a luncheon at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and an evening reception featuring the exhibition. A floral demonstration by Paula Pryke, English floral designer, will be held at the VMHC on May 14.
• A request to the Executive Director of Richmond’s Low Line has been made to offer afternoon tours.
• Free docent tours at the VMFA after the luncheon are being considered.
• The sideboard at the Kent-Valentine House to be used for the time capsule is currently being restored.

A meeting of Centennial club liaisons was held on November 7, 2019, organized by Kris Carbone, with 42 of 47 member clubs represented.

Sarah Jane Wyatt is coordinating with Centennial consultant Frazier Armstrong and with Lynn McCashin to establish a timeline, calendar, and goals for both an internal and external marketing plan for the Centennial. A colorful and informative Centennial announcement has been produced for a two-page spread in the 2019 HGW Guidebook, as well as an article for the March Journal. Four items have been selected to commemorate our Centennial: a Waterford ornament, a Tervis tumbler, a scarf, and a men’s necktie. Kate Ackerly of Peter-Blair, Richmond, is in the process of completing the design of a beautiful oblong, floral scarf, and the design for the men’s necktie has been approved and will be offered in several popular colors.

GCV Nominations Committee Chairman Ann Gordon Evans announced nominations for three Directors at Large to serve from May 2019-May 2021: District 2: Fran Carden, Albemarle Garden Club; District 5: Laura Francis, The Hunting Creek Garden Club; and District 6: Debbie Bonnewell, Harborfront Garden Club. The membership will vote at the May 2019 Annual Meeting.

The Centennial humorous histories project has been well-received by the clubs with 21 clubs responding. The December 1 deadline was extended until June 1, 2019.

Journal Editorial Board Chairman Julie Grover proposed a Centennial issue of the Journal in June 2020.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander reported on budget preparations and provided board members with audit results. Two items were noted as having been addressed since previous audits — Restoration budget oversight and restricted fund balances. Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel provided updates on KVH contents insurance. She then provided fund and portfolio balances and draws.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Stephanie Broadwater presented a comprehensive report on HGW 2019 preparations that included updates to the HGW Guidebook, tour and homeowner information, and club requests for changes.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin provided Kent-Valentine House updates:

• At its January meeting, the Restoration Committee considered Will Rieley’s suggestions for spiffing up the KVH grounds. He led the committee on a tour around the KVH grounds to view the areas he was describing in his report. KVH Committee Chairman Jody Branch will discuss these suggestions with her committee.
• Jody planted Green Arrow daffodil bulbs in the urns in the front of the house.
• The painters arrived December 10 to begin the painting of the first floor and stairwell. They had planned to be finished by December 21, but the paint fumes and dust tripped the security system while the staff were at their Christmas lunch. The alarm had to be reset through Vector, our security system provider, and a report sent to the fire marshal. As a result, the painting crew lost the afternoon. They returned after the holiday break to finish up.
• Upholstered pieces were sent to Jeffery Potter’s workshop after Thanksgiving. This first group is expected to be returned to KVH by the end of January. The remaining upholstered pieces will go out then.
• The dry wall repairs to the third-floor ceiling are the next project to be scheduled. It should be completed by March, and then the paint crew will return to paint the third floor. The carpet has been ordered for the third floor and will be installed after the painting. New carpet for the elevator and sunroom will also be installed then. The painters will return to touch up any dings that the installer makes.
• Toward the end of this fiscal year, we will schedule the last remaining project – refurbishing the wood floors with a sandless process. Our contractor used the business on his own floors and was pleased.
• For the time being, we have completed refinishing the wooden pieces on the first floor (end tables, game tables in the Gothic parlor, etc). We are expecting a gift for conserving another mirror.

Lynn followed with a report of KVH budgeting and financing.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey, also a GCV representative on the board of Virginia Forever, attended the Bridge Builders dinner held in October to honor Tayloe Murphy, former head of the Department of Environmental Quality. Secretary of Natural Resources Matt Strickler and Speaker of the House Kirk Cox each gave addresses that celebrated Tayloe’s service to Virginia and his dedication to the preservation of water and air and conservation of land. It was well attended by leaders in business and the community.

Governor Northam gave Virginia Forever a shout-out in his address to unveil his proposed budget. The budget is historic in that it raises the amount spent on conservation initiatives and natural resource programs to 2% of the General Budget (previously .6%). Virginia Forever was integral in advocating for the increase in funding.

The October 2018 Conservation Forum in Charlottesville was hugely successful, attracting 200 paid attendees. Each of four outstanding speakers offered a different perspective and expertise on the effects and alternatives of pesticides. Photos

The 2019 Conservation Forum will be held in conjunction with the Virginia State Parks Committee in honor of the Centennial. Plans are underway to convene at Natural Bridge State Park September 24-25 and will focus on the importance of trees and the benefits they provide in urban and rural areas alike. Stay tuned!

Four members of the Conservation and Beautification Committee make up a legislative group and each follows specific conservation issues. Carrie provides oversight. The group attended Legislative Preview Day in early January, organized by Virginia Conservation Network, to hear about the policy issues that will be addressed at this year’s General Assembly. Carrie described the complex process in creating position statements to be adopted by the Garden Club of Virginia — a process that involves dozens of members and bill tracking, not to mention understanding the bill process. She then presented the 2019 GCV Legislative Positions and Issues of Concern for your review and approval.

Conservation Awards Committee Chairman Heidi James reviewed the two applications for the 2019 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, to be announced at the 2019 Spring Annual Meeting.

Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve (ACWP) is an extremely rare and unique habitat, providing safe haven for over 300 plant species, 20 state-rare, and two found nowhere else in Virginia. The 25-acre preserve is an educational and recreational resource for the City of Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This urban green space, a calcareous muck fen, is extremely distinctive because of its limestone bedrock, low acidity, and high nutrient levels. Encroaching shrubs and trees threaten this treasure, as do residential and commercial development. Preserving this open, grassy, and sun-filled habitat now requires people to do what nature once did on its own. Through time, money, and energy, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club is partnering with the City of Winchester and Shenandoah University’s Environmental Studies Program to conserve, educate and share this exceptional wetlands area. Migrating birds and butterflies and naturalists from age 6 to 86 comingle among the blue Marsh Skullcap. Through additional signage, accessible paths, an audio/internet walking tour, and working teams of garden clippers who remove invading species, an effort is being made to protect the marsh’s rare native plants from being lost. ACWP is a place for students to learn, visitors to enjoy, and for rare plants to thrive.

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) is implementing a $9 million project to preserve 90 of its 214 acres. Part of this acreage will become 3.5 miles of biking, hiking, and walking trails known as The Trails at the MSV, and will be Virginia’s largest public art park. Over $8.9 million has been raised and the project is nearing completion. Major contributors include the City of Winchester and VDOT. In partnership with The Little Garden Club of Winchester, which has donated $20,000 to date, we are applying for the GCV Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award for the creation of the “Weir Garden.” This garden will serve as a storm water management tool, a naturally managed wildlife habitat, and an educational tool for visitors. Large stone weirs and an ADA-accessible trail will be created, including a 1.6-acre wildflower meadow of indigenous plants and grassy trails. The project will conserve natural resources, protect the environment by preserving green space within an urban setting, and utilize fallow farmland. The MSV has over 71,000 visitors annually, and the park will be free and open to the public.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard summarized grant applications from 11 State Parks and the Youth Conservation Corp. Available funds for 2019 grants total $101,740. The committee invited Director of Virginia State Parks Craig Seaver to its first meeting on December 14, providing an opportunity for committee members to ask questions about proposed projects. The committee met again on January 11 to allocate funds and requested funding of  $101,091  to the following:

Bear Creek: Pollinator meadow and landscaping; Belle Isle* Phase 3 Belle Isle Manor and Bel Air House landscaping; Chippokes Plantation VC Exhibit Updates; Claytor Lake Native Landscaping; Douthat Dark Sky Park; Natural Bridge* VC Base Camp Exhibits; Pocahontas CCC Work Cabin Week; Shenandoah River* VC Landscaping; Sky Meadow* Phase 3 Trail System; Staunton River Battlefield Mulberry Hill Interpretation; York River* Landscaping and turtle habitat; and Youth Conservation Corps Supplies.  * Supported by member clubs.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker noted that information and instructions were being finalized for the 2019 GCV Annual Meeting in Portsmouth. The meeting’s theme is “Portsmouth, the Port of Virginia,” and the horticulture display will feature hardy flowering blooms and plants which can withstand the saltwater intrusion of storm waters.

The Horticulture Committee will meet on March 11 to review nominations and select recipients for the Horticulture Award of Merit. Wendy provided updates on plans for 2019 GCV Horticulture Field Day in Orange County on May 22-23. Area club presidents Annie Vanderwarker, Robin Cherry, and area club members are assisting with the local portion of this event. The tour will feature private gardens, including the beautiful Mount Sharon Farm, with headquarters at the Market at Grelen and guided tours of their nursery and workshops onsite.

Daffodil Committee Chairman Janet Hickman and Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reviewed plans in preparing for 2019 Daffodil Day, to include horticulture, artistic design, and photography exhibits. Lily Committee Chairman Carrie Darracott provided planning updates for 2019 Lilies in Bloom.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin reported that Poplar Forest hosted a visit on October 24 to view the Thomas Jefferson surface for the carriage turnaround. Guests were greeted by Jeff Nichols, President and CEO, who provided an overview of the work. Acting Director of Archaeology Eric Proebstring explained the important archaeological work that has been going on for years. Guests were able to see the beautiful allées of paper mulberry trees on the side of the house planted earlier by the GCV, and the clumps of trees also planted by the GCV in front of the house. After a delicious lunch in the Visitors Center, guests were treated to a tour of the house by Director of Architectural Restoration Travis McDonald. It was a very special day, and is an example of the kind of one-day opportunity we would like to offer at GCV sites during the Centennial.

The committee met at the Kent-Valentine House on January 9, 2019. Will Rieley provided updates to the following projects in progress:

Poe Museum: Each of the gardens behind and around this historic building in Richmond that now serves as the Poe Museum is based on a poem or story written by Poe. The first one we did is called the Enchanted Garden and is now used as the site of events and weddings. Work this fall in adding plants was done in Maggie’s Garden and also the Ragged Mountain garden. The committee plans to visit here in March.

Poplar Forest: The work by archaeologists to uncover by hand the entire surface of the Thomas Jefferson carriage turnaround in front of the house was completed in October. Additional archaeological work on this site is being done now, while the surface is uncovered. Meanwhile, about a mile away, a rock crushing machine is crushing the rocks that will be used for the new surface. We are excited that these rocks come from similar fields where Thomas Jefferson’s men would have gathered rocks to use for the original surface and are from the same vein of rock that was used then. Once the winter weather is behind us, Will says that the new surface will be applied this spring.

Point of Honor: Work began here in November to do the walkways and hardscape for a new garden behind the house. Once that is complete, planting should begin this spring.

Stratford Hall: I was excited to learn that this year’s BOG will bring us all to Stratford Hall, as our committee knows you will be as delighted as we are with this new garden. The pathways and brickwork were completed in the summer. Then, trees, shrubs, and fencing for espaliered fruit trees were installed this fall. Additional planting plus annuals planted by Stratford Hall will be done this spring. It will be beautiful for viewing this October.

William & Mary: Again, this new garden is being done in collaboration with William & Mary and is based on two plans by Charles Gillette that were never completed. This new garden will honor Taylor and Helen Reveley. Currently, the site preparation is being done by William & Mary to meet the plans drawn up by Will. We will look forward to this being complete sometime in the spring, and then our work of installing the garden will begin.

In addition to these new projects, our committee reviews each of our properties when we meet. Here is what we voted on at our January meeting:

Bacon’s Castle: Preservation Virginia has asked us to look at the possibility of adding the three-sided turf seats that originally existed in the garden. Will will visit to look at this, what would be involved, and the costs.

Centre Hill: Although we normally do not do tree maintenance, we have voted to take down a diseased tree at this site. The house is owned by the bankrupt City of Petersburg and is maintained by The Petersburg Garden Club. The tree is a hazard, and we are concerned about the safety of neighbors and visitors.

Hollins University: We voted to do maintenance on the two bridges installed by the GCV. The posts should not have deteriorated like they have, and we feel it is our responsibility to correct this. While Will is there, he will be looking at additional plantings that we will consider at our next meeting.

Kent-Valentine House: We are very excited to have Will work up a proposal for plantings and brick repair to be done here in advance of our Centennial celebration.

Lee Hall: Will will be visiting here to look at a problem they are having with the walkways.

Mary Washington House: They are preparing for a big anniversary celebration here at the house. They have asked for Will’s assistance with their gates.

Oatlands: The current rose garden is no longer receiving enough sun for the roses. The gardener would like Will to visit and consider the possibility of moving the roses to another location and installing a new shade-tolerant garden in this site.

Wilton: Sadly, the boxwood blight has killed all the boxwood installed in the original design by Arthur Shurcliff in the first work done here by the GCV in 1939. Will will be working up a design for new plantings here. The committee plans to visit in March.

The committee has asked Rieley & Associates to put together a new 30-minute slide presentation. Our current presentation runs close to an hour. While it is exciting, we are aware that some clubs cannot accommodate a program that long. We want every club to consider a Restoration presentation and hope this second presentation will be an attractive option. These presentations are one of the best ways we have to let our members know more about our projects.

The Restoration Committee’s Maintenance Workshop was held on January 10, 2019. Will discussed the GCV’s ongoing relationship with Restoration properties and emphasized what is expected of them in maintaining the GCV gift. The day featured three speakers. Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants at Monticello, spoke on historic plants. Peter Deahl gave a lively talk about pruning trees and shrubs and Dan Gregg of Grelen Nursery spoke about plant maintenance, especially in the first year. Elaine Burden also presented the Restoration Committee’s slide presentation.

The Research Fellowship Subcommittee met on October 29 at the Kent-Valentine House and selected two 2019 fellowship sites: Farmington in Charlottesville and Mount Airy in Warsaw.

The Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship site, Farmington, was built in 1803-04 by George Divers, a great friend of Thomas Jefferson. It was the very essence of a robust plantation life of farming, cultivation of gardens, and congeniality among neighboring plantations. A corporation purchased the property in 1927 and transformed it into the Farmington Country Club.

The William D. Rieley Fellowship site, Mount Airy, has been held in the same family since the mid-1600s. The mid-1700s historic house was built by John Tayloe II on a ridge overlooking the Rappahannock River Valley. The house is surrounded by 1400 acres that includes the remains of a once grand terraced garden. John Tayloe Emery, his wife, Catherine, and two young sons live in the house today, maintaining the integrity of this historic treasure.

The committee will meet on March 28 at the Kent-Valentine House to select the 2019 Landscape Architecture Research Fellows.

The six Directors at Large closed the meeting with club updates.