1999 Fall BOG: Augusta

January 31, 2022

The 80th Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Augusta Garden Club in Staunton at the Holiday Inn on October 12-14, 1999, chaired by Barbara Grant and Linda Holden. This meeting was the first BOG to implement a streamlined schedule with Tuesday’s events optional.

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, October 12 at the home of Treasurer Deedy Bumgardner, preceded by lunch hosted by former GCV President Lee Cochran at her historic home, Stuart House.

Excitement centered around the recent hiring of Kathy Rolph as GCV Executive Director, to begin on October 18. It was noted that Barbara Catlett will mentor Kathy and help her settle in.

The member club presidents’ luncheon was held in September where the streamlined BOG format was among topics discussed. Second Vice President Mary Hart Darden reported the Webpage Committee (referred to earlier as the Cyberspace Committee) had only a few members and progress was slow. Plans included assigning email coordinator responsibilities to the Executive Director. A lengthy discussion followed of what the new website could offer and steps needed to move forward. Up to $3,000 was budgeted for web design. Journal Editor Clarkie Eppes agreed to assume Journal Advertising responsibilities in the absence of Sarah Belle Parrott.

The Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night was held at Smithleigh, the gracious home of Doris and Jake Smith.

Bessie called the meeting to order on Wednesday, October 13 at 10:40 a.m. and thanked Augusta President Emily Cochran and meeting chairmen Barbara Grant and Linda Holden.

Club historian Doris Dixon followed with a history of the club and entertained attendees with excerpts from the minutes of Augusta’s meetings in its early years.

“Our Augusta secretary is not present, and her minutes which lengthen into hours are herewith closed.”

“A number of subjects were discussed but few conclusions arrived at.”

“Our minutes say Robert’s Rules command only facts and voting action. We must defy Mr. Robert and report this was a pleasant meeting because of its brevity and no redundancy of words.”

Early flower shows were staged in members’ homes, and judging was by popular vote. She described one large flower show in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel ballroom when the fire department loaned two beautiful parrots to greet the guests. She described numerous conservation and landscaping projects over the years, financed in a variety of ways – pilgrimage, plant and bulb sales, publication, trips, classes, etc. A particularly interesting fund-raiser was held at Staunton Military Academy in 1928 titled, “My Lady’s Boudoir,” when 100 models, including children, modeled pretty styles accompanied by maids who also wore the latest.

She closed with the advice, “Heaven help us from resting on our laurels and rhododendrons. As the Virginia Slims advertisement says, ‘You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby’ and in a moment of imaginary conversation, Doris closed with ‘Yes. I am in the garden with my phone. I’ll be right there. Good-bye.'”

Bessie acknowledged the Nansemond River Garden Club in the wake of their canceled 1999 Rose Show as a result of Hurricane Floyd, and the Franklin Garden Club, whose community experienced disastrous flooding. She congratulated Betty Schutte, newly elected Chairman of the Capitol Square Preservation Council. Finally, she reminded attendees to read the excellent article in the October 1999 House Beautiful issue, further evidence of the national reputation achieved through restoration projects.

First Vice President and Personnel Committee Chairman Mina Wood reported on the hiring the new GCV Executive Director Kathy Rolph. Betty Schutte, along with Dootsie Wilbur and Marty Whipple, presented the new millennium book, Garden Club Pilgrimage to Virginia, a diary written by a visitor to Historic Garden Week in 1920.

Betty Steele of the Petersburg Garden Club provided an update of their 1998 Common Wealth Award, “A Legacy of Wildflowers,” and extended an invitation to tour Lee Park with Donna Ware, noted botanist.

“The Lee Park Herbarium was begun in 1937 as part of a WPA project to create a wildflower sanctuary. In addition to clearing land and planting native plants, the WPA workers were taught to collect and preserve specimens. This part of the collection comprises 325 specimens; collection ended about 1940. In the 1990s, Donna M.E. Ware, botanist at the College of William & Mary, began collecting in Lee Park anew. Her goal was to determine if the original 325 species still grew there, and then expanded her project to collect other plants in the park and watershed. The Ware portion of the herbarium comprises 800 specimens and collection continues on this portion. The herbarium collection includes 238 corresponding watercolors exquisitely painted by Bessie Niemeyer Marshall during the depression era in the 1930s. The botanical renderings are showcased in With Paintbrush and Shovel: Preserving Virginia’s Wildflowers.

February 2016 New York Botanical Garden

Carol Price of Three Chopt Garden Club, on behalf of the four Richmond clubs, presented an update of their 1998 Common Wealth runner-up award for the Library Park revitalization. Located directly behind the Richmond Public Library at the corner of Second and Main Streets, the park provides a safe and beautiful area planted with annuals and perennials. Families frequent the park now and members of the business community eat lunch in the park or read a book under the circle of oaks. The project has been a shining example of a successful public/private partnership hailed by the city and the neighborhood as a tremendous community asset.

Finance Chairman Lucy Ellett presented budgetary facts and figures to explain the need for a dues increase. The Board of Directors had earlier approved a per capita increase from $15 to $25 beginning Spring 2001. Development Chairman Barbara Dyer reported on looking for ways to encourage gifts, bequests and planned giving options.

The meeting was adjourned for a full afternoon of activities, beginning with a picnic lunch at the Museum of American Frontier Culture, followed by a visit and tour of Woodrow Wilson Birthplace.

Cocktails were served in a restored warehouse building in the charming historic district of Staunton, hosted by Augusta Garden Club member Barbara Hunter. The décor featured an indoor garden, complete with a large fountain. The awards banquet was held at the Mill Street Grill Restaurant. The historic stone mill featured beautiful wooden flooring and post and beam construction. Each table arrangement featured fine and rare specimens from the gardens and conservatory of Dede Hamilton and included a card with plants’ botanical names.

The 1999 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Williamsburg Garden Club ($5,000) for “Discovery Gardens for Williamsburg’s Children.” Second place ($2,000) was awarded to the Warrenton Garden Club for “Fauquier Outdoor Lab” and third place ($1,000) was awarded to Roanoke Valley Garden Club for “Plants and Planters for the Virginia Museum of Transportation.”

Committee reports continued Thursday morning, followed by round-table discussions: Historic Garden Week, GCV Millennium Projects and the GCV in Cyberspace.

Mr. Andre Viette, noted horticulturist and host of “In the Garden with Andre Viette” presented an inspiring talk and slide presentation, followed by “potted lunches.”