“I want to tell you that I know full well that we aren’t the only game in town. You sitting here today are the same ones in your church, your alma maters, your children’s activities all depend on your leadership. BUT – because you are here at this meeting, I know that the Garden Club of Virginia is also a priority in your life. We are guardians of a special quality of life. Each of you club presidents has an enormous opportunity, for you are largely responsible as to whether your term in office has meaning for the group. People want more than mere pleasantries when they give their time today.” Betty closed with the words “I stand here in awe of the whole scene but with your help and understanding, I pledge it my best effort!”

~Betty Schutte, May 1996

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Board members enjoyed a delightful July weekend with spouses at Peaks of Otter Lodge. Betty began her Saturday Board meeting with an orientation, dispelling the “GCV mysteries” she encountered when she was a new Board member. Who hosts Board meetings? What are the responsibilities of each Board member? What attendance is required or encouraged? Business included the approval of a resolution for retiring Executive Director of Nature Camp Col. John H. Reeves; a review of junior club membership; flower show tabulation delays; and Follow the Green Arrow sequel plans for distribution in May.

Board members and spouses were invited to tour Poplar Forest the following morning.

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The 77th Board of Governors was hosted by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club on October 8-10, 1996, at the Sheraton in Fredericksburg, chaired by Sarah Bass. It was noted this was the fifth time the BOG had been held in Fredericksburg, the first two in 1925 and 1928, before Rappahannock Valley Garden Club was a GCV member.

“We swam into Fredericksburg with the storm Josephine, in time for a delicious luncheon at Bev King’s charming and interesting house. Later, we bused to Belmont where Josephine had blown down the cocktail tent. We were fortunate to enjoy the house and then Gari Melchers’ studio for both cocktails and an autumnal, Colonial feast, including venison bagged by a sharp-shooting chef member of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club.” Helen continued, “Wednesday evening, we swam through the rain again to Mary Washington College, first to the Ridderhof Martin Gallery for cocktails, then to a banquet at the Great Hall.” She concluded, “Josephine did not dampen our spirits or enthusiasm. Our umbrellas are well broken in, a most welcomed gift in the attractive, stenciled bags.”

~Helen Hamilton

Wednesday morning business began with Rappahannock Valley Garden Club historian, Martha Frances Embrey describing a flower show to benefit underprivileged children in 1924 that basically sparked ten women and two men to establish the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club. The first president, Helen Stewart Devore, served eight years, and the first treasurer, W. W. Braxton served more than ten years. Feeling unprepared when asked to join the Garden Club of Virginia in 1926, the club declined the invitation, but accepted with pleasure when asked for the second time in 1933. Landscaping and beautification projects in the park, hospital, high school, old library and the Washington Avenue Mall changed the landscape of Fredericksburg over the years, and through club efforts, Fredericksburg became a bird sanctuary in 1965. The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club received the Massie Medal in 1963 for a project at the historic Rising Sun Tavern.

Attendees learned that Betty Schutte and Barbara Catlett participated in meetings with the Prince's Foundation (formerly The Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture), whose delegation arrived in Richmond for a 10-day summer visit to study possibilities of improving the district around the KVH.

Gabriella Garden Club President Carol Stoakley provided an update of their 1994 Common Wealth Award for the Danville Regional Medical Center Roof Garden. "In spite of a winter of record snow, sleet, ice and cold weather, and a hot summer, the Roof Garden at the Danville Regional Medical Center is flourishing." Hillside Garden Club member Jane White reported that their 1995 Common Wealth Award project for the Gatehouse of Old City Cemetery had enticed community businesses and citizens to become involved, expanding the project well beyond the original scope.

Mary Ann Johnson reported on a September 1996 publicity workshop with guest speaker Ed Slipek, writer for Style Magazine and the Virginian Pilot. During the workshop, attendees were asked to write “Sweet Briar" on a piece of paper. Attendees learned why editing is so important when quite a few variations of spelling were revealed.

Gail Braxton introduced Rudy Favretti, GCV Landscape Architect and honorary GCV member, “professor emeritus of landscape architecture at the University of Connecticut, a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a specialist in landscape restoration and preservation who has served as a consultant on over five hundred historic sites, and the gentleman who wrote the text for Gardens and Landscapes of Virginia.” Mr. Favretti delivered a slide presentation lecture featuring the gardens and landscaping of Belmont, Kenmore, the Mary Washington House and the Mary Washington Monument.

The meeting was adjourned and attendees enjoyed a bus tour of downtown Fredericksburg, followed by lunch in members’ homes. The Mary Washington House and Kenmore offered dessert and garden tours.

Attendees gathered Wednesday evening at Mary Washington College, first at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery for cocktails, then at the Great Hall for the awards banquet. “What magnificent flowers, all locally grown, exquisitely arranged for our enjoyment while feasting and chatting with our host, hostess and other friends at each table."

The Blue Ridge Garden Club received the 1996 Common Wealth Award for "Roots and Shoots: An Intergenerational School Garden." The $5,000 award will allow Blue Ridge to expand the garden at Waddell Elementary School in Lexington and to publish a garden curriculum.

Reports continued Thursday morning at 8:30 am. Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Nancy Talley reported that a vote the previous May to reduce the number of years served by Directors at Large from three years to two years was contrary to charter, which at the time stated three-year terms. Because of “improper execution of the motion," the motion was rescinded. Nancy also reported that copies of the GCV Register are to be rationed, in an attempt to eliminate waste and reduce costs. Each club received ten copies and one for the club president.

Lula Hopkins held up a floppy disk of FTGA II and added “if you have wondered who did wear the miniskirts way back then or what was Mrs. Benjamin W. Mears, Jr.’s (Katty) 1980 hairdo, this disk is the way to find out.” She reported plans to have FTGA II ready for the 1997 Annual Meeting.

Member Handbooks were sold at the 1996 BOG for $2 each.

Slides Committee Chairman Karen Jamison revealed the greatest challenge she faced initially as chairman was to find closet space large enough in her home to accommodate the several hundred (maybe closer to thousands) of GCV slides, accumulated over the past 75 years. She listed 11 programs available, each 30-45 minutes with scripts, including Wildflowers, Mechanics for Flower Arrangers, Blue Ribbon Winners at GCV Flower Shows, Period Arrangements and Historic Garden Week.

Member club presidents were called upon to continue their reports. Following a tribute to the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, the meeting was adjourned at noon.

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With Kent-Valentine House construction in full swing, Helen Hamilton hosted the Board of Directors at her lovely home in Richmond on January 16, 1997, for the board meeting and lunch.

After "much discussion of pros and cons and the ramifications of shortening the BOG meeting," an ad hoc committee was formed to study the idea. KVH Chairman Barbara Catlett reported that housekeeper Cynthia Mason resigned and was replaced with Annie Tyler. HGW Chairman Helen Hamilton reported that independent film producer Jody Rawley had approached the Garden Club of Virginia expressing interest in producing an hour-long video of Historic Garden Week at no charge. He would then sell the video to local stations in and around Virginia. The board felt it best to seek legal advice before signing a contract. Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Nancy Talley initiated lengthy discussion about a new format for the Register that would include first names and addresses of all GCV members.

And from the Admissions Committee, "The committee unanimously recommends that the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula be invited to become a member of the Garden Club of Virginia. The membership of this club is composed of 50 talented and dedicated women from four counties: Essex, King and Queen, King William and Middlesex. The members are fairly distributed through these four counties. They have a wonderful yearbook with excellent and varied programs. They have assisted the Garden Club of the Northern Neck with Historic Garden Week. They have many outstanding old homes and churches in the area and would be a great addition to Historic Garden Week. The club is very aware of the requirements of the Garden Club of Virginia. Several members attended the Lily Show in Charlottesville, the Rose Show in Newport News and, again many attended the Judging School in Richmond. The Admissions Committee feels the Garden Club of Virginia has a "golden opportunity" to include this club in our organization as our 47th member club, whose talented, attractive and enthusiastic members can make a valuable contribution." Letters of endorsement by the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, and Helen Murphy were included.

Two motions were presented and passed. Restoration Chairman Helen Murphy moved to accept the Restoration Committee’s recommendation that restoration records be given to the Virginia Historical Society and that true copies be kept on file at the Kent-Valentine House. And Conservation Chairman Hylah Boyd moved that the Conservation Chairman (or her designee agreed upon by the Conservation Chairman and the GCV President for a specific time), in consultation with the GCV President, should be able to speak for the GCV in favor of or in opposition to specific bills.

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The 77th Annual Meeting was hosted by the Garden Club of the Northern Neck on May 13-15, 1997, at the Tides Inn in Irvington, co-chaired by Kay Cardwell and Mary Chester Griffith.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 13, 1997, at the Northern Neck home of Kathy Dunton, an eighteenth-century historic landmark called "Verville," offering a spectacular view of the Corrotoman River.

Betty Schutte announced with great excitement that the Kent-Valentine House Campaign passed the $2,000,000 goal. She also told the committee of plans to present cause to the General Assembly for exemption from state sales tax. Finally, she shared a color printout of the Historic Garden Week webpage and pointed out that email for Susan Flowers and Suzanne Munson has the potential for saving hundreds of dollars, as that is the most efficient way of getting information out to publications and to the public. In other HGW news, Chairman Helen Hamilton reported she had received a letter from Virginia Beach and Princess Anne to inform GCV they are combining their 1998 HGW tours.

Jody Brinkley moved that board members not be required to sign a paper saying they had read the minutes of the board meetings, Annual Meeting and Board of Governors. Motion carried. Elizabeth Boetsch invited all husbands to the dinner prior to the Lily Show.

Following the board meeting, attendees were invited to cruise aboard the Tides Inn boat, “Miss Ann,” followed by a delicious seafood dinner.

Miss Ann was built by Pusey & Jones Shipyard of Wilmington, Delaware, in 1926 as the pleasure yacht Siele for John French of Detroit. In 1941, a subsequent owner sold her to the U.S. Navy, which pressed her into service as the USS Aquamarine during World War II. Retrofitted with military gear and painted battleship gray, she was used for underwater acoustics, radar research, and as a special tender to the presidential yachts Potomac and Williamsburg. In 1955, the decommissioned ship was purchased by E.A. Stephens, who renamed her Miss Ann for his wife and rehabilitated her for use at his resort, the Tides Inn, where the ship evoked her glamorous past with her teak cabin house and main decks, and walnut-paneled interiors. She served the guests at the Tides Inn for 52 years.

From www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/242-0034/

Betty called the Annual Meeting to order at the Tides Inn on Wednesday morning and thanked members of the Northern Neck Garden Club for their gracious hospitality. Northern Neck President Ann Terhune welcomed attendees and called on Helen Murphy, founding member of the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, former President of the Garden Club of Virginia and current Restoration Committee Chairman to present the club’s history. Originally an auxiliary club of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, the Garden Club of the Northern Neck was founded in 1966, with members from Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties living as far as 75 miles apart, and was invited to join the Garden Club of Virginia in 1969. The club has planted wildflowers on nature walks at Stratford Hall and at George Washington’s birthplace, created a planting around the Chinn House at Rappahannock Valley Community College in Warsaw, and a white garden at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury.

Helen continued, "Mary Lloyd Lay started a monthly club newsletter of announcements, plant news and club recipes. A contest winner provided the name 'Hot Garden Flashes.'  Mary Lloyd also began the practice of wearing a sign around her neck with the Latin name of a plant on it and insisted she be addressed by that name during the meeting. We did fairly well with Mertensia virginica, but balked a bit when we got to Ilex vomitoria, especially during lunch."

Helen closed her history, “We hope that this Annual Meeting will run a bit more smoothly than the 1983 one when the after-dinner entertainer enjoyed far too much before-dinner libation to perform and, at the business meeting the next morning, the chairman of the meeting, Pat Carter, filled in with song and dance because the speaker had to cancel at the last minute.”

Betty Schutte then described her yearlong activities, ranging from long meetings with architects and contractors, to canoeing on the Pamunkey River with conservation chairmen, describing them as “a bunch of live wires.”

Morning business included distribution of the latest GCV Speakers Bureau Book, compiled by Judy Perry. Treasurer Mary Hart Darden reviewed the board decision to combine the de Lacy Gray Fund, the Susa Snider Fund and the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Fund into a single interest-bearing fund within the trust account, to be referred to as the Conservation Awards Fund.

Fleet Davis announced the 1997 Horticulture Awards of Merit: Virginia Clay Savage, Eastern Shore; Jody Petersen, Hampton Roads; Frances Booth Kincanon, Mill Mountain; and Rebecca White McCoy, Winchester-Clarke.

Lula Hopkins held a balloon to represent FTGA II, then popped the balloon to show the FTGA II committee at 12:10 p.m. on the prior Monday when they learned the book would not be distributed at this meeting.

Speakers were The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. and C. Jackson Simmons, attorney, author and local historian.

After the meeting was adjourned, Suzy and Bob Lee Stephens served a festive lunch to attendees at Topside, their lovely home on Carters Creek.

The awards banquet was held in the Tides Inn dining room.

Common Wealth Award Chairman Rossie Fisher announced that an anonymous donor offered a $10,000 one-to-one matching grant to benefit the Common Wealth Award with a deadline of June 1998. She reminded attendees that the committee has a slide show of past Common Wealth Award recipients to share with clubs.

Kent-Valentine House Chairman Barbara Catlett described luncheons, coffees and meetings at the Kent-Valentine House in the middle of ongoing construction, with the Commonwealth Club and the Woman’s Club offering space when needed. She reported that the GCV apartment was vacated in November 1996, providing much needed storage space, a small meeting room, bath and staff kitchen. She also reported that architect Douglas Harnsberger continued to lease the Carriage House, retelling the story that he had moved into the Carriage House in late 1995 and, in finalizing his tax assessment liability, city records indicated his rent was “grossly lacking when compared to other comparable properties.”

Nominations Chairman Katty Mears presented two names for election as Directors at Large: Widgie Zirkle, the Spotswood Garden Club and Charlotte Frischkorn, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton and moved to accept the slate. The motion was seconded and passed.

Pamela Harper, award-winning gardening author, photographer and horticulturist, then presented a beautiful and informative slide lecture showing perennials from her Seaford garden.

Deedy Bumgardner gave a clever tribute to the  Garden Club of the Northern Neck describing the "skeleton of the Garden Club of Virginia, and it's not in the closet," and the Annual Meeting was adjourned.

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The Board of Directors met on July 19, 1997, at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.

Board members were updated on Kent-Valentine House construction -- finishing up Phase I tower addition and nailing down plans for Phase II renovation of headquarters. An updated security system was to be included, as housekeeper Annie Tyler reported discovering a man sleeping under the hydrangeas next to the porch. When police asked why he didn’t go to a shelter, he replied that he had been sleeping under those bushes for about three years because he didn’t like the class of people who go to the homeless shelters.

Mr. Harnsberger signed a new lease for the Carriage House with a more realistic rental fee.

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The 78th Board of Governors was hosted by the Petersburg Garden Club on October 14-16, 1997, at the Steven Kent Quality Inn in Petersburg, chaired by Betty Steele.

The Board Meeting was hosted by Mary Frances Ragsdale at her home. Betty reported the creation of an ad hoc Development Committee, chaired by Lucy Ellett, to present options to membership for planned giving, especially important at the beginning of Phase II renovations to the Kent-Valentine House. Betty also informed the board of a letter from the President of the Virginia Senate and from the Speaker of the House of Delegates asking the garden club to be “in charge of” establishing a plan, setting up guidelines, setting policy for now and the future of Capitol Square. She credited the initiative to Tayloe Murphy, the guiding force on so many conservation issues.

Helen Murphy announced Rudy Favretti’s retirement to be effective July 1998, after 20 years as the Garden Club of Virginia Landscape Architect. The selection of a Search Committee was underway.

Following the board meeting, attendees toured historic Battersea, home of Petersburg's first mayor, and enjoyed dinner at Mayfield, Dinwiddie County's oldest brick house, built circa 1750. President Betty Schutte called the Board of Governors to order on Wednesday, October 15, 1997, at 9:00 a.m.

The invitation to the meeting had earlier provided a glimpse into the rich history of Petersburg, mentioning New York’s Museum of Modern Art display of a “Petersburg Room” with woodwork taken from a home on Bank Street; molding at Centre Hill created by local plaster and woodworkers; local ironwork “unsurpassed in Charleston or Savannah” displayed at Blandford Cemetery; Greek Revival architecture of the 1800s displayed throughout the city; Lee Park Herbarium Collection (1948 Massie Medal Winner), 238 watercolors by Bessie Niemeyer Marshall at Centre Hill; Blandford Church (1735) with 15 Tiffany windows.

Petersburg president Mary Frances Ragsdale welcomed visitors and introduced club historian Shirley Van Landingham. She began by saying the Petersburg Garden Club was once described as “the most prominent, civic-minded, garden-loving ladies in the city.” Members planted crepe myrtles along city streets and created gardens at the hospital, Bishop Payne’s Divinity School, Courthouse Hill and Trapezium. “The boxwood donated by members for the courthouse project finally lost their battle for survival with the chemical solutions used to clear the brick walk of ice and snow.”

“We joined the Garden Club of Virginia’s plea to save Capitol Hill and supported Senator Marye’s Bottle Bill, as well as joined the battle to ‘Fight Billboard Blight.’"

In 1980, after many visits of the Restoration Committee, the Garden Club of Virginia voted to landscape the immediate grounds and approach to Centre Hill. A watering system and handwrought iron fence were added later. Presidents Abraham Lincoln and William H. Taft visited while they were in office."The restoration of Centre Hill has been a blessing for our city and gives us bragging rights to tell all that this is a gift from the Garden Club of Virginia, and it is a privilege to do our part for Historic Garden Week."

Admissions Committee Chairman Cora Sue Spruill welcomed new member club -- the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula.

It had been reported in 1997 that the Board of Directors received a letter from an anonymous donor, offering to give $10,000 to the Common Wealth Award Fund as a matching one-for-one gift with a deadline of June 1998. Rossie Fisher announced the challenge had been met with $27,400 with one extraordinarily generous gift of $25,000. She thanked members and encouraged then to continue with donations to build the fund.

Becky O'Brian presented an update of the 1995 Common Wealth Award recipient Hillside Garden Club project at Old City Cemetery to plant 100 trees of old 19th-century varieties. A partnership with the City of Lynchburg followed, turning the area into a major visitor attraction with educational opportunities in flora and fauna, black history, grave markers, Civil War pestilence and epizootics in horses. The gatehouse became a focal point, and improvements began taking place in areas surrounding the cemetery.

Evan Atkin presented an update of the 1996 Common Wealth Award recipient, the Blue Ridge Garden Club project Roots and Shoots Intergenerational School Garden. The funding allowed for expanded gardens and publication of the gardening curriculum. Parents, teachers and volunteers built five additional theme gardens with raised beds, brick and mulch paths, arbors, tables and benches. Each grade planted its own garden: Sunflower/Farm Garden; Peter Rabbit and Mr. MacGregor; Scarecrow Garden with vegetables and flowers; Alphabet Garden; Herb Garden; Butterfly Garden; and Pond Garden. Summer plantings included corn, pumpkins, tomatoes and squash. Students dug potatoes for potato bake, made tussie mussies and corn husk dolls, carved jack-o'-lanterns and stored seeds.

Alice Martin then introduced Petersburg landscape architect Joseph Dye Lahendro who presented a slide lecture on Petersburg Architecture.

Attendees enjoyed lunch in private homes around Petersburg and visited Blandford Church to see the magnificent Tiffany windows. Cocktails were served at Historic Mayfield Cottage and dinner followed at the Petersburg Country Club. The 1997 Common Wealth Award was presented to Rivanna Garden Club for Landscaping at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Thursday morning business included a report by Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Nancy Talley informing attendees that 22 of 39 repondants preferred to continue the use of social "husband's name only" in the GCV Register.

Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Chairman Sally Guy Brown presented the Green Book Guide for hosting Board of Governors and Annual Meetings. It was filled with information and time schedules for booking hotels and speakers; how to make name tags and arrange transportation; a new fiscal form which itemizes all possible expenses so host clubs will know what to expect.

Round-table discussions offered three topics: Community Impact, Awards and Funding, after which speaker Dr. Donna Ware, Herbarium Curator of the College of William & Mary presented “The Flora of Lee Park.”

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The Board of Directors met at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond on January 22, 1998.

Betty admitted she had initially worried about dislocation caused by KVH construction, but realized it had turned into a pleasant way of getting to know "our friends and neighbors." Committee meetings throughout the construction process met at the Woman’s Club, APVA headquarters, Commonwealth Club, Wilton, Farmington Country Club, Darden School of UVA, Virginia Historical Society and homes of members.

A follow-up discussion of Board of Governors round-table topics (Community Impact, Awards and Funding) pointed out the following: a need for better GCV communication, particularly concerning awards; more GCV encouragement and recognition of community involvement by member clubs; and more sensitivity of the GCV Board of Directors to cost issues of the clubs.

In other business, Conservation Chairman Hylah Boyd announced the de Lacy Gray Medal had been funded again by the Duningtons (Dolley Madison Garden Club) and will be restruck; the ad hoc Development Committee was to become a Standing Committee; the cost of publishing Follow the Green Arrow II stood at $38,066.22 with 218 copies sold.

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The 78th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Hillside Garden Club on May 19-21, 1998, at the Holiday Inn in Lynchburg, co-chaired by the “Dynamic Jane Team” of Jane Bowden and Jane Davis.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 19 at the home of Peggy Andrews. First on the agenda was the submission of The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. for Honorary Membership in the Garden Club of Virginia. “Tayloe has served the Garden Club of Virginia in every way possible through his accomplishments as a member of the House of Delegates since 1982. He has spoken at our Conservation Forums, sponsored billboard legislation before the House of Delegates, has worked for environmental legislation to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and has strived to improve the quality of life and the natural beauty of our Commonwealth.”

Betty described a two-year, balancing act of carrying out presidential duties while simultaneously leading members and staff through a two-year, construction project at the Kent-Valentine House, all the while keeping an eye on funding. “I‘m forever indebted to you for all this board has done. You made a difference for the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Helen Murphy announced that William D. Rieley of Charlottesville had accepted an offer to replace Rudy Favretti as GCV Landscape Architect. Mr. Rieley has worked with Mr. Favretti on several projects, has taught in the graduate landscape architecture department at the University of Virginia since 1980, and has done projects at many historic sites in Virginia, including Monticello, Poplar Forest, Montpelier and Upper Brandon.

Additional business included a report from Sally Kitchin, President of the Virginia Beach Junior Club, detailing their programs, community commitment and projects. And Barbara Catlett reported that GCV attorney Joseph C. Carter was reviewing a contract for Kent-Valentine House rentals that included fees and policies. Discussion would be continued at the 1998 summer board meeting.

President Betty Schutte called the 78th Annual Meeting to order and introduced Hillside President Becky O’Brian, who welcomed attendees to the City of Seven Hills. Club historian Melanie  Christian.

Betty remarked that she had been given a hard hat by Pat Leggett when she assumed the presidency of GCV, and the hat had been on her head, so to speak, every day of her term. When Betty took office, the tower was “the thing” and no plans were made beyond that until the Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House had successfully reached $2 million – $1.5 million for construction and $500,000 for the endowment.

“It was a happy day when they passed the $2 million goal, and though some of the pledges were made to be paid over several years, all is well. Our bills are paid. We are heading on a direct route to the million-dollar endowment which we must have to assure maintenance and growth of principal.”

The ad hoc Development Committee, chaired by Lucy Ellett of Mill Mountain Garden Club, had been created to provide "giving" opportunites and to consider ways to encourage future gifts, bequests and planned giving options. The Board of Directors approved it as a Standing Committee. The committee recognized that while "all efforts would be low-key, it will be important to keep the message of donations, bequests and planned giving in front of the membership."

Horticulture Chairman Fleet Davis announced the following 1998 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Kathi Cassell Marshall, Albemarle; Virginia E. Queitzsch, Dolley Madison; Barbara O’Brien Holland, Martinsville; Susan K. Critz, Martinsville; Laura Lee Johnson, Hillside; Eeda Sissener Dennis, Leesburg; Grace Tarver Leach, Nansemond River; Mary Lloyd Lay, Northern Neck; Geraldine Osborn Molloy, Princess Anne; Rosemary Hynes Wallinger, Spotswood; and Jewel Lynn Delaune, Williamsburg.

Jane Bowden introduced Jane White of Hillside Garden Club who presented an interesting talk about the Old City Cemetery.

Lunch was hosted in member homes, followed by a tour of Old City Cemetery. Cocktails were served at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest (tour included) where "Thomas Jefferson" arrived to visit with attendees. The awards banquet followed at the Boonsboro Country Club.

Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Chairman Sally Guy Brown asked, "Why are we here? Why did Jane Bowden and her committee work so hard to create this wonderful three days for us? Why didn't we just stay home and have Betty Schutte email us? We have faxes, email, the telephone, voice mail, regular mail, and Lord knows what new inventions will come out tomorrow. With all these great new modes of communication, it may seem that old-fashioned getting together is not necessary. Not so!!! The 'power of presence' is still the most effective form of communication. It is the difference between seeing a slide of a work of art and encountering it in person. The 'power of presence' is the thing that gets the adrenalin flowing, that makes laughter contagious, that sparks ideas and makes them fly. It is where friendships are formed and old acquaintances are renewed. That is the reason we have these Annual and Board of Governors meetings -- so we can get together, have fun, be educated and go home better people. You just can't do all that on the Internet!"

The Nominating Committee presented the following slate of officers:

The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, new Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia, was introduced and welcomed.

Helen Murphy presented a report by Pat Leggett, Chairman of the Landscape Architect Search Committee. The search spread over eight eastern states and the choice was unanimous. “We landed a winner who scored the highest marks in every category – history, horticulture, research, writing, planning, designing and architecture. He was an apprentice to Mr. Favretti during our initial work at Prestwould and Smithfield. His firm, opened in 1980, uses the latest computer technology and undertook projects at Montpelier, Upper Brandon Plantation and the State Arboretum. He has done historical analysis at Poplar Forest, Shadwell and Monticello, and his firm is currently designing and implementing the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, a linear park along the entrance corridor to Monticello." Mr. William D. Rieley was then introduced.

Mr. Rieley expressed his gratitude and stated he has a deep conviction that the work of the Garden Club of Virginia and the contributions to Virginia’s landscape and indeed, the American landscape, can’t be overestimated.

Mary Ann Johnson delivered a tribute to Hillside Garden Club. Tributes to Betty followed.

Tributes to Betty

Certainly, Pat Leggett was right in 1996 when she said “There is no question that Betty will bring superb expertise to the job. She will turn her great capabilities into great accomplishments.”

Bessie Carter repeated Helen Murphy in saying of Betty Schutte that "no one will ever know how much of herself she put into the Kent-Valentine House." She continued, "Betty Schutte had a demanding watch because in addition to her regular duties, there was the major work at the Kent-Valentine House. She was always there with her good judgement, quite effectiveness, tact and constant good humor. In leadership skills, Betty has a wonderful capacity for friendship."

Bessie adjourned the 78th Annual Meeting and introduced speaker Dr. Lamar Cecil who presented "A Time for Tulips."

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Chairman Dootsie Wilbur, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club

Dootsie Wilbur moved at the 1997 spring Annual Meeting that the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula be invited to become a member club of the Garden Club of Virginia; Helen Murphy seconded; and, when the motion carried unanimously, the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula was invited to become the 47th member club of the Garden Club of Virginia.

When W. Tayloe Murphy was named Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia at the 1998 Annual Meeting, he remarked, “There is no organization in the Commonwealth of Virginia for which I have more respect or admiration. All of your work, especially your work in restoration, conservation and all the things that the Garden Club does, it does to the highest degree of ethics and expertise. It is a really high honor to receive this recognition and I am delighted to be an honorary member of the Garden Club of Virginia. It will take top billing on my biographical data sheet!”

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Chairman Hylah Boyd, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

The 1996 Conservation Workshop was held September 18 at APVA headquarters, the Cole Diggs House in Richmond with guest speaker Patti Jackson, Executive Director of the James River Association and current President of the Board of Directors of Virginia Conservation Network. Her comments focused primarily on water issues. Attendees were invited to participate in a rafting trip the day before on the James River or in a walk on one of the islands.

The 1996 Conservation Forum was held on October 29 in Williamsburg for the second time and drew 250 attendees. (The Forum was open to the public in 1995 for the first time.) Featured speakers were Larry Schweiger with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Mary Marra with National Wildlife Federation -- each addressed the topic of water quality. Retired Executive Director of Nature Camp Colonel John H. Reeves, Jr. was presented with a resolution and appreciation from the Garden Club of Virginia. The 1996 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, nominated by the Williamsburg Garden Club.

A canoe trip through wetlands was offered the day prior to the Forum.

Hylah traveled to Baltimore in May 1997 to receive a citation on behalf of the Garden Club of Virginia from Scenic America for its success in leading the way toward defeating House Bill 2601, which would have destroyed thousands of trees along Virginia highways. (billboards).

The 1997 Conservation Workshop was held September 23 at Wilton with representatives from Scenic America and VDOT who discussed billboards.

The Board of Directors approved a Conservation and Beautification plan at its 1997 fall meeting in Petersburg to initiate a bill to be introduced into the upcoming session of the General Assembly that would (1) Eliminate all new construction of billboards in the State of Virginia (2) Raise the permit fee to 100% of the cost to the state to monitor billboards, and (3) Eliminate all tree cutting on public property in front of billboards.

The 1997 Conservation Forum, "Fighting Sprawl – The Battle to Preserve Our Land, Our Community Character and Our National Heritage," was held October 29 at Mary Washington College and focused on urban sprawl and featured two speakers: Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Gary Gallagher, a history professor at Penn State who is moving to Charlottesville to take a post at the University of Virginia.

The GCV’s position statement on Land Use in Virginia was formally introduced at the Forum.

Two recipients were awarded the 1997 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award. The first, Patricia A. Jackson, Executive Director of the James River Association, was nominated by the James River Garden Club. Patti is "extremely effective in the General Assembly because of her knowledge of environmental concerns in Virginia." The second recipient, the Kenmore Association, nominated by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, for its role in preserving Ferry Farm, George Washington’s childhood home on the Rappahannock River in Stafford County.

Attendees were invited the day prior to the Forum to tour Fredericksburg battlefield sites -- those preserved, those under siege of development and those under pavement. Dinner was held that night at Kenmore.

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Chairman Penny Bryan,The Hunting Creek Garden Club

The 54th Annual Lily Show was hosted by Rivanna Garden Club on June 19-20, 1996, at UVA Alumni Hall. Carolyn Wilcox and Cecila Ochs co-chaired the show, "Following the Green Arrow," and reported 217 lily specimen exhibits and eleven InterClub collections. The horticulture workroom ran "dangerously low on gin bottles." Artistic Design classes featured GCV's historic properties Point of Honor, Prestwould Plantation, Wilton, Kenmore and Oatlands.

1996 Flower Arranging and Judging School was held September 17-18 at the Woman's Club in Richmond. The focus was “In the Oriental Manner,” taught by Madge Overly, a recognized teacher from the Sogetsu School.

The 1996 Rose Show, "Audrey Hepburn: A Retrospective" was hosted by the Hampton Roads Garden Club at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News on September 25-26. The show was chaired by G.G. Buxton, Nancy Horgan and Diane Koun. "Big gun" horticulture exhibitors from the Colonial District of the American Rose Society graced the show with gorgeous blooms and took the awards in the Court of Honor. Altogether, 390 horticulture stems were exhibited and 75 floral arrangements with a total of 123 exhibitors.

The 1997 Daffodil Show was co-sponsored by the Garden Club of Danville and the Danville Parks and Recreation Department at the Danville Senior Citizens’ Center on April 9-10. The show, “Danville, A Victorian Flower,” was chaired by Carol Strange and Nan Freed, who reported 1109 blooms, 70 artistic arrangements, and 13 InterClub collections. Danville also hosted the 1996 Daffodil Show, "Grandmother's Attic."

The Blue Ridge Garden Club hosted the 1997 Lily Show, "Musical Arrangements," at Washington and Lee's University Center on June 18-19.

1997 Flower Arranging and Judging School was held on September 30-October 1 at the Woman's Club in Richmond. Jane Dressler of Roanoke Valley Garden Club led attendees through guidelines and construction of early, mid- and late-Victorian arrangements. Jewel Lynn Delaune of the Williamsburg Garden Club discussed color and its effects on floral designs.

The Hampton Roads Garden Club hosted the 1997 Rose Show, “Bouquets to Broadway: A Tribute to Rodgers & Hammerstein.” The show was held on September 17-18 at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center with 392 stems, 75 arrangements and 114 exhibitors.

Three Chopt Garden Club hosted the 1998 Daffodil Show on April 15-16  at St. Mary's Church in Richmond. The show titled "What's in a Name?" included 6 InterClub collections, 157 exhibitors, 77 arrangements and 907 horticulture stems.

The Board of Directors received a request in late 1997 for GCV to co-sponsor a NALS International Lily Show in 2002 with the Potomac Lily Society and the Mid-Atlantic Lily Society. Twice in the past, GCV has collaborated on such a show, the last time in Ashland in 1975. NALS wanted a location near Dulles airport, and Genie Diller suggested Fauquier and Loudoun as possible sponsor. GCV responsibility would be to write the artistic schedule, stage it, provide all hospitality including two banquets, lunches for judges, entertainment such as house tours and, basically, attend to the nuts and bolts of putting on a successful, major international flower show. After lengthy discussions, and the unanimous conclusion that taking on a show of this scope was unrealistic for the GCV and not feasible, the request was declined.

The Flower Shows Committee decided in 1998 the word, test, must be eliminated, not only removing the word from daffodil, lily and rose collections, but also from the daffodil, lily and rose committee names. In past years, many GCV ladies did "test" for various companies or supply houses from which GCV purchased test collections. Today this practice is limited to two or three GCV members. The committee instead now chooses varieties.  The change required a change to bylaws.

Also, a new ruling by the Flower Show Committee stated, “an exhibitor is to indicate the origin of plant material used in the design with G for garden-grown flowers and F for flowers from a florist. The use of either will not affect the scale of points in judging.” Note: GCV urban legend says G carries more weight in point scoring.

The Lily Committee ruled that Orientals in artistic classes MUST be grown by the exhibiting club. "No 'Casa Blancas' or other late flowering Orientals are permitted because the Garden Club of Virginia is well respected, and its integrity as a garden club should be upheld.” The decision must have been controversial because it was pointed out that those in favor exceeded those in opposition.

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1997 Tour Chairman Helen Hamilton, Three Chopt Garden Club

1998 Tour Chairman Nancy Bowles, The Boxwood Garden Club

1997 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

1998 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

Helen Hamilton stressed the importance of keeping an eye on HGW expenses and indicated that discussions were underway to improve flow across the state, with Mondays and Fridays being especially light. She noted the Guidebook cover had to be changed from the Yeaton-Fairfax House to Woodlawn due to construction.

A review of HGW expenses revealed a range from 0% to 37% of local tour income with the largest expenses being shuttles, ticket and brochure printing costs; purchased flowers; police and other traffic personnel. Historic Garden Week scheduling discussions included competition on same day tours, uneven distribution throughout the week, a lack of weekend tours, and the idea of a more regional approach to eliminate “crisscrossing" the state. A “central traffic pattern across the state for all 46 clubs was to be investigated.”

From HGW Director Susanne Munson: “Tours have become such a part of American life…even Miss Manners devoted an entire column to what one should and, more importantly, what one should not say during an open house.”

Interesting remarks from tours as told by hostesses: “How did the man make his money?” “I heard he married her for her money.” From the lady of the house in the kitchen came the reply, “He did NOT.”

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Chairman Fleet Hurlbatt, The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore

The June 1996 Horticulture Field Day on the Eastern Shore was a “beautiful day of visiting members' gardens, having a good lunch at Dot Kellam’s wonderful house and, where time permitted, checking out the local nurseries. We had 110 members from 29 clubs participate” Having suffered lack of interest in Horticulture Field Day, Fleet Davis reminded members, "It is expected that each of the 46 member clubs send two members to Horticulture Field Day and, if the president or the horticulture chairman are unable to attend, they should appoint two members to take their place and report back to the club."

The horticulture exhibit at the fall 1996 Board of Governors featured “Pictures, Specimens and Recipes of Flowers Pretty Enough to Eat.”

The horticulture exhibit at the spring 1997 Annual Meeting featured "three to five unusual specimens from members’ gardens to be artistically displayed in a 24” x 24” space in either clear or colored glass bottles or containers. Specimens may be flowering plants or foliage plants, but the emphasis is on being unusual and being displayed in an artistic manner, as well." It was announced that future exhibits would be open to the public.

“The weather was threatening and it had rained for days prior to 1997 Horticulture Field Day on the south side of the James River. The morning dawned cool and cloudy, but at 10:00 a.m. the sun came out.” The event featured four gardens between Upper Brandon on the western end and Bacon’s Castle on the eastern end -- Brandon, Upper Brandon, Pleasant Point and Bacon’s Castle. Participants were encouraged to stop in at Farmer Joe’s Greenhouse & Garden in Surry and Smithfield Gardens Nursery on Route 17.

The fall 1997 Board of Governors horticulture exhibit called for “Workhorses of the Summer Garden” and a rooted plant exchange consisting of shrubs, perennials, bulbs, tubers and grasses that perform from August until frost, three plants per club. The exhibit was open to the public for the first time.

The spring 1998 Annual Meeting horticulture exhibit featured a planter of mixed plants and flowers. “The exhibit may be in your choice of container, but your club should consider the weight of the planter when making your choice.” The planter is to be kept during the summer by one of your members and a photograph taken of the mature planters. The planter that exhibits the best qualities after growing all summer is to be published in the GCV Journal.

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KVH Chairman Barbara Catlett, The Boxwood Garden Club

The decision to build the Kent-Valentine House tower addition was made by the Long-Range Planning Committee in 1992, and a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on April 14, 1996, with a contract signed by then president Pat Leggett. Work began in October 1996 with Betty Schutte as foreman in charge.

Barbara reported in the fall of 1996, “Construction at the Kent-Valentine House is finally in full swing – a tall link fence encloses the side yard and parking area. Because of tree roots and accessibility to the construction site, a portion of the brick wall on First Street was dismantled brick by brick, to be rebuilt to its original state later. Electricians, plumbers, city employees, carpenters, cement trucks and bulldozers, you name it, come and go, leaving us with a maze of string outlines, new water, sewer and electrical lines, a 28-foot elevator shaft, and a huge, excavated area. The general contractors, Taylor and Parrish, have prepared the east side of the house for the joining of the tower wing by removing two hall closets on the third floor and the partitions in the second-floor library. Although the use of the house is limited due to this renovation, we are doing our best to maintain a 'business as usual' atmosphere."

By May 1998 tower construction and Kent-Valentine House interior renovations were complete. According to Barbara, the new space was “conveniently arranged and tastefully furnished with only the best of our treasures. Peach-toned paint; chandeliers everywhere; a window turned into a trophy display case; wide expanses of glass in the tower; a handsome elevator; four spacious restrooms; beautifully painted light oak graining on the woodwork in the Gothic rooms; a green-carpeted meeting room with many windows, surrounded by Catesby prints which create the feeling of being in a tree house; the quietness of the library; the coziness of the President’s office and the lightness of the dining room.” Noted design consultant C. Dudley Brown oversaw every detail -- wall treatments, colors, fabrics, furniture and picture placement, and general interior and exterior planning.

Gifts included a chandelier from Kitty Quarles of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club; silver-covered tureen from Jewell Carter of the Lynchburg Garden Club; two chandeliers from George Will of Washington D.C; and four chandeliers, an enamel and ormolu clock and brass candlesticks from Dudley Brown.

Landscaping and lighting at the rear of the house by Rudy Favretti greeted visitors, and the city agreed to replace the brick sidewalk on the First Street side. Lead urns in honor of Betty Schutte and a bench given in honor of Nancy Talley added finishing touches.

Members were given the new telephone number 804-643-4137 and told, “if housekeeper Annie Tyler is unable to answer, you may leave a message and we will return your call."

An open house was held for all members on April 15,1998, in conjunction with the Daffodil Show, followed by an event hosting the regular meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association on April 28. The dedication of the tower and rededication of the house was held on May 3, at which time major donors to the campaign were honored.

How did GCV accomplish this monumental task?

The path began in the early 1990s under the leadership of Lee Cochran with long-range plans to celebrate the Garden Club of Virginia and Kent-Valentine House milestones. A Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House was initiated, with a phased approach for construction to be dependent upon funds in hand. In addition, a goal was set to reach a $1 million Kent-Valentine House Endowment.

The first project, the enclosure of the sun porch, was completed by 1993. With a successful campaign underway, plans for tower construction began. The original budget for architectural, engineering and construction costs for the tower was set at $1.5 million. A campaign goal of $2 million was established -- $1.5 million for construction and $500,000 to be added to the Kent-Valentine House Endowment. When Betty held her first board meeting at Peaks of Otter in July 1996, the $2 million Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House had reached $1,733,000 and, during her term in office, the $2 million goal was surpassed, allowing for plans to renovate the Kent-Valentine House to move foreward.

The construction budget held, largely a credit to Betty’s watchful financial management. Campaign funds and pledges also provided $541,000 toward the endowment, bringing that to $964,000.

Mary Lou Seilheimer paid a tribute to campaign leaders Lee Cochran, Katty Mears, Bev King, Barbara Catlett, Ellen Godwin, Mary Hart Darden, Leila Jones, Rossie Fisher, Diana Carter, Charlotte Frischkorn, Widgie Zirkle and Pat Leggett, and to members and member clubs for their support. For two full days, members of the Spotswood Garden Club prepared 3000 case statements for mailing, each signed personally by Betty Schutte.

Betty created an ad hoc Development Committee to consider ways to encourage future gifts, bequests and planned giving options from our membership. The Board of Directors later approved it as a Standing Committee.

Plans to allow Kent-Valentine House rentals to the public began soon after construction was complete. Rental contracts were drawn up with guests limited to 160 for evening parties and 100 for lunches or dinners. Party hostesses would be responsible for rental of china, glassware and silverware, tables and chairs, flowers and containers. Renters would be required to employ the housekeeper for $15/hour. There would be no dancing, no birdseed or rice, no smoking, and no alcoholic beverages allowed on the front porch.

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Chairman Helen Murphy, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

A request from the Rosewell Foundation, seeking Restoration Committee advice on how to proceed with developing the site, prompted a visit by the committee on June 11, 1996. Rosewell History

The committee authorized GCV Landscape Architect Rudy Favretti to offer guidance toward approaches for presenting historic landscape and integrating a proposed visitor center with pedestrian circulation and historic landscape. The committee agreed to provide funds for a detailed survey of Rosewell.

Committee members followed the visit with a delicious lunch hosted by former committee member Connie Ingles at White Marsh Plantation before crossing the Rappahannock River to visit Christ Church, Lancaster County, which looked well-tended. Then up the Northern Neck to Stratford Hall where they met and stayed at the Cheek Guest House and had dinner with the new Executive Director Dr. Junius R. Fishburne, and his wife. Before meeting the next morning, members visited Stratford Hall’s East Garden.

Business continued with the following actions: agreed to contribute toward reconstruction of the wall between the Emily Smith Terrace and the Bowknot Garden at Woodrow Wilson Birthplace that collapsed completely just before Historic Garden Week; authorized Mr. Favretti to work on a master churchyard plan for St. John’s Church, Richmond; and authorized Mr. Favretti to address staff concerns in regard to the original plan for the East Garden at Stratford Hall.

In the fall of 1996, the committee gave permission to Kenmore for brick paving in sand in the kitchen yard; agreed to extend brick walkway and update landscaping at Ker Place; gave permission to Scotchtown to move boxwood; agreed to plant additional trees, flowering vines and flowers in the East Garden at Stratford Hall; approved the Favretti plan for Fredericksburg's Washington Street Mall; provided funds for a detailed survey of Rosewell, adding "the Restoration Committee no longer funds site archeology;" began plans to plant 29 trees at Maymont; and made the decision to update garden brochures.

Because nearly all restoration properties were having trouble with boxwood, the committee sponsored a boxwood workshop in March at Stratford Hall. Lynn Batdorf from the National Arboretum and Hollin Woolley from Colonial Williamsburg offered lectures and demonstrations on pruning and other cultural practices.

In the winter and spring of 1997, Restoration Chairman Helen Murphy reported on the need for long-range planning at Gunston Hall; tree planting and edging borders at Bacon’s Castle; minor updates at Centre Hill; brick walkway at Fincastle; removal of unauthentic and deteriorated gazebos at Kenmore; upgrade to irrigation at Montpelier; and extensive work on formal garden and boxwood circle at Woodlawn.

Restoration records were turned over to the Virginia Historical Society duing the spring of 1997.

Helen reported on an article in Albemarle Magazine by Murray Howard, Curator and Architect of the University’s Academical Village:

"By sponsoring restoration of the gardens during the middle decades of this century, the Garden Club of Virginia has demonstrated landscape philanthropy at its best. They are, in my view, a perfect example of altruists who benefit everyone revealing the beauty of Virginia gardens to our visitors and to those who use the gardens daily in much the same way the greater gardens of Europe have long been offered to the multitudes. The Garden Club of Virginia has repeatedly proven itself to be a sustaining agent for good, never flagging in their devotion to this important historical site.”

Mr. Favretti spoke to attendees at the 1997 spring Annual Meeting about recent projects at Maymont, Rosewell and Woodlawn, then introduced Mr. Mario Herrada, the first Garden Club of Virginia Fellow.

Maymont Restoration Project 1996-1998

The Garden Club was asked to make a significant contribution to the restoration of six acres of ornamental grounds immediately surrounding Maymont, the magnificent late Victorian mansion located in the center of Richmond. GCV Landscape Architect Rudy J. Favretti described Maymont as one of the finest late Victorian residences in the United States because it retains all of its architectural details plus interior furnishings. The grounds, of utmost concern to the GCY, still display the eclectic landscape so popular during the end of the past century. Mr. Favretti noted that few archives in recent times have offered so many photographs, paintings and other graphic images; plans, sketches and written comments; orders for plants and letters about them; and actual site evidence. Because of these extensive resources, the restoration of the ornamental grounds at Maymont will be one of the purest restorations that the GCV has done in recent times.

Spanning two years, the project began in 1996 with the planting of 61 trees and shrubs surrounding the mansion, infilling with 27 species of plants. Work continued into 1997 to restore the Dooleys' 1890s shrub labyrinth, based on studies of old aerial photographs and observance of grass coloration. According to Favretti, this type of shrub planting was popular on some British estates in the 18th and 19th century. Thomas Jefferson planned several shrub labyrinths at Monticello, where one was reproduced in 1978. Maymont’s west lawn shrub labyrinth included over 150 shrubs.

The final stage of the extensive Maymont restoration included the replacement of a hard-surfaced gravel walk system and the three large, iron rose arbors, located on the brow of the south lawn overlooking the James River.

Summer and fall of 1997 brought visits to Smithfield (westernmost property) on the Virginia Tech campus, Fincastle Presbyterian Church, Lee Chapel and the President’s House on the Washington and Lee University campus in Lexington, Belle Grove, Burwell-Morgan Mill and Oatlands.

Business discussions included the inability of Prestwould near Clarksville to maintain the restoration work done by GCV over a 20-year period at that property and the endorsement of the nomination of Mr. William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil for the Historic Preservation of Medal for the splendid work he has done at Biltmore in Ashville, as requested by the French Broad River Garden Club of Asheville.

Completed and "in progress" work included plantings at Ker Place; replacement of a large elm tree (struck by lightning) at Belmont; fence repairs at Smithfield and Centre Hill; landscape plans at the Historic St. John's churchyard; Kent-Valentine House trim work repair and painting, landscaping, installation of new irrigation and lighting, brickwork and planting in the rear of the building; and the two-year Maymont project to be completed Fall 1997. Darrin Alfred, 1997 Garden Club of Virginia Fellow, completed work at Eyre Hall.

Rudy Favretti, Garden Club of Virginia Landscape Architect for 20 years, announced his retirement to be effective July 1998.

The committee met in Richmond at the Virginia Historical Society in January 1998. Lee Shepherd, VHS Archivist, explained how the Restoration Committee records have been preserved. Committee members visited St. John's Church where extensive tree pruning and removal were scheduled.  Helen later reported, "Some of you may have heard on television or read in the paper about neighbors protesting the removal of mostly diseased and hazardous trees in the St. John’s churchyard in Richmond, which was part of the master plan done by Mr. Favretti and commissioned by the Restoration Committee."  Helen visited St. John’s and met with the leader of the protestors and reported, "I think she now understand what we are trying to accomplish at this site. The vestry, Commission of Architectural Review, and the City Council all approved Mr. Favretti’s plan before the work was begun."

Committee members also visited Maymont in the pouring rain where the restoration of ornamental grounds immediately surrounding the mansion is complete, minus a few shrubs that were slated for spring planting.

Mr. Favretti was authorized to proceed with plans for the Moses Myers House garden in Norfolk, and concepts of possible projects at Mount Vernon Bowling Green and the Entrance Court at Washington and Lee's Lee Chapel were initiated and later approved. "Because of financial contraints currently being experienced by the Prestwould Foundation, Mr. Julian Hudson, Director and Chairman of the Board, and his board requested permission to cut back on the scope of Lady Skipwith's Garden in order to reduce maintenance. The Restoration Committee and Mr. Favretti felt as though such a move would compromise the integrity of the garden. After much deliberation and with regret, the committee voted to "release Prestwould from its obligations to the GCV according to our 1980 contract and to state our willingness to consider revisiting Prestwould in the future if the financial situation there changes."  This decision will enable Prestwould to cut back whatever portions of the garden it finds necessary in order to meet it budgetary constraints.

After an extensive search for a Landscape Architect to replace Rudy Favretti upon his July 1998 retirement, William D. Rieley of William D. Rieley and Associates in Charlottesville was selected.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

The first Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship in landscape architecture was offered in 1996. Mario Herrada, a graduate student in landscape architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, was selected to spend that summer researching and documenting the gardens at Sabine Hall in Richmond County on the Northern Neck. Built in 1730, Sabine Hall was the home of Landon Carter. Herrada produced original drawings, watercolor rendering, photographs and papers.

The 1997 Garden Club of Virginia Fellow was Darrin R. Alfred, a B.A. graduate in Architectural Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a graduate student in Landscape Architecture at the New School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado in Denver. His research produced measured drawings of the ornamental grounds at Eyre Hall, a stately 18th-century home near Eastville on the Eastern Shore.

No candidate was selected for the 1998 GCV Fellowship, given the imminent retirement of Rudy Favretti and the lack of a qualified candidate.

Upon Favretti's retirement, the Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship was renamed the Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship.

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Betty noted at the 1996 BOG, "We are continually updating our communication methods with computers, faxes, and several of the clubs use email."

"On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first audible phone message when he called ‘Watson, come here, I want you." On April 25, 1997, the first email message went out to the test group of email representatives of the Garden Club of Virginia. As Mr. Bell’s invention was at first a novelty, I feel sure the email, which is strictly for our member clubs, and the webpage on the internet, which is information for the public, is the way to the future…."

She later added, “We must be constantly looking at ways to update our communication methods and to reduce costs of mailings, postage and just general conservation of paper."

Also, in 1997, Mary Lou Seilheimer contracted with Warrenton Workshop for $20/hour to create and maintain the Garden Club of Virginia roster on an IBM-compatible disk for mailings in support of the Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House. "This may become the basis for a computerized listing of the GCV membership...the beginning for what we hope will be a greater use of available technology by the Garden Club of Virginia.” A motion was made and passed, giving permission to the Editor of the Register to throw away the shoe box of membership names.

Email Coordinator Zan Short of the Charlottesville Garden Club reported, "After eight weeks of testing, the GCV email program officially began on June 2, 1997, and a message from President Betty Schutte was sent to 51 garden club members which included 13 member club presidents. So far we have sent 9 messages.” Dates of future messages were given.

She presented instructions at the 1997 fall BOG detailing what was required to have an email address. She mentioned software popular at the time -- Eudora and Netscape. “You can even retrieve your messages while traveling.” She gave sample email addresses and reviewed email etiquette. “After reading a message, you can print it or you can add comments and forward it electronically… remember it can be forwarded anywhere in the WORLD.” Zan referred to gcv@comet.net.

In closing Zan offered, “And finally, I would like to offer special thanks to our computers. I agree with what many of you have told me: Computers can be wonderful, but they can also create havoc. I apologize to my computer for sometimes being impatient with it and even saying unkind words to it.”

Betty concluded in 1998,  "We must constantly be updating our ways of communications. But I want to assure you that we must also safeguard the privacy of our members. Our interclub email system is totally separate from those in the HGW offices and nothing is on our webpage that is not public information. For instance, no mention of Horticulture Field Day is on the webpage as that is strictly for members."

She continued, "But these are supplemental forms of communication. The most important form of communication still is the opportunity you have at meetings, such as this, to share information with other clubs and understand more about the strength of our organization and its members."

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Nancy Talley announced at the spring 1997 Annual Meeting that the “first educational travel plan" is to take place May 28-June 7, 1998.

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“These last two years have been a highlight of my life, because of you, and because I believe in the mission of The Garden Club."

“We are here because we care about the work of plants, we care about our communities and our state, we care about creating beauty, thus lifting the spirits of others. Most delightful of all is the human dynamic. We care about each other, and we care about the GCV.”

Bessie Carter, May 2000

Bessie accepted the gavel from Betty on May 21, 1998 and noted, "It is a tremendous job to me to be your header gardener. The Garden Club of Virginia has been important to my family for many years. My mother and her sister Rossie worked tirelessly to remove billboards from the face of the earth. Their love for flowers and passion for trees was contagious." She concluded, "We share a commitment to a wonderful organization that promotes beauty and protects and enhances the quality of life in Virginia."

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Bessie Carter hosted her first board meeting in Charlottesville at her historic home, Redlands on Friday, July 17. She began the meeting by expressing appreciation to Betty Schutte and Barbara Catlett for their “perseverance, skill and indefatigable personal effort” in overseeing the Kent-Valentine House construction project. She also praised Betty for her accomplishments in obtaining sales tax exemption (an act of legislation), and for initiating scheduled email communication to member club presidents.

Bessie provided Basics 101 to board members for hostessing, liaison duties and attendance. Liaisons and committee chairmen provided reports, bringing board members up to speed, primarily, by summarizing early fall events and announcing plans for upcoming events and initiatives. One topic requiring further discussion came from a Horticulture Field Day homeowner who requested liability insurance coverage. Restoration Committee Chairman Nancy Talley moved to include a resolution in honor of Mr. Favretti in the minutes. Conservation and Beautification Chairman Sharon Scott reported on a request from Scenic Virginia for financial assistance, and a motion to pledge $5,000 for Scenic Virginia start-up was seconded and passed (pending Finance Committee approval). Plans for a 1999 study tour to Italy were discussed, with $100 per person to be directed to the Kent-Valentine Endowment.

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The 79th Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Charlottesville Garden Club on October 7-8, 1998, at the Boar’s Head Inn. The meeting was chaired by Jane Maddux and Kate Kessler.

The Board of Directors was invited for lunch on October 6, 1998, by Dr. and Mrs. John Janes at their UVA Pavilion V home. The board meeting that followed included a discussion of flower shows, a topic that arose when member club presidents met with GCV leadership at the Kent-Valentine House in September. From Bessie, “My experience so far is that flower shows are in need of an update on their format. Each one is so beautiful, and so educational, that we would like to think the present way will last forever. However, they are too costly in time and money for the host club and the InterClub arrangements require too much time and too many flowers for the clubs. We are working on what we can change without losing the high quality our shows now represent. Any ideas are very welcome; please give them to me or Annabel Josephs or Elizabeth Boetsch.”

Further discussions included plans for upcoming Board of Governors and Annual Meetings, with primary focus on streamlining future BOG meetings. Sarah Bass sent a revised format to the board with a late morning start to Wednesday's meeting. Tuesday arrival for delegates would be optional, giving them the option to travel on Wednesday morning. The board agreed to offer this option for the 1999 BOG meeting in Staunton.

Cocktails were served that evening at “Double Fault,” the delightful home of Hunter Smith, followed by Dutch treat dinner at the Boar’s Head Inn. Bessie called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and welcomed guests. Charlottesville Garden Club President Linda MacIlwaine welcomed attendees and introduced Kate Kessler, who provided a brief history of the club beginning with a project to arrange dried flowers at Monticello. The first club president, Martha Rankin, authored a pamphlet on drying flowers that sold 27,000 copies to benefit the club. With $2,000 from the 1988 Common Wealth Award, members attempted to clean up the fraternity/sorority area at UVA. Kate remarked, “At least the entrance on University Avenue shows some positive results.”

Bessie called for reports from GCV officers and committee chairmen. Treasurer Deedy Bumgardner reported the recent sales tax exemption granted to GCV does not apply to GCV member club purchases, unless GCV authorizes the purchase and is obligated for the expense. Financial reports were followed with updates from previous Common Wealth Award recipients. Carol Hughes of the Blue Ridge Garden Club provided an update of its 1996 Common Wealth Award project, Roots and Shoots Intergenerational Garden at Waddell Elementary School. The award provided funds for garden supplies and resource material to create theme gardens and to provide an associated curriculum. Mary Ann Miller of Rivanna Garden Club provided an update of its 1997 Common Wealth Award project at Ivy Creek Natural Area, a 215-acre site of natural beauty and a diverse wildlife habitat. A landscape plan has been drawn to surround the new education building, and planting is to begin this fall.

Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Marty Whipple pointed out the 1998 Register included first names of GCV members for the first time.

Following business reports, guest speaker Dr. Richard Guy Wilson, Commonwealth Professor and Chair of the Department of Architectural History at the University of Virginia, presented “The Colonial Revival in Virginia.”

After adjournment for the day, attendees enjoyed a tour of Bessie's Redlands, followed by lunch on her front lawn served by Albemarle Garden Club members. Attendees then enjoyed a spectacular garden tour of Morven, a three-story, brick manor house built in the late-Georgian/Federal Style that dates to 1820. The land on which it sits was part of the original Carter family land grant and was known to Thomas Jefferson as “Indian Camp.”  The formal gardens at Morven were restored in 1930 by landscape architect Annette Hoyt Flanders and have been open to the public for Historic Garden Week every year since 1933. The property is on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Virginia Landmarks Register. The awards banquet was held at the University of Virginia Rotunda.

“The Rotunda at the University of Virginia was designed by Thomas Jefferson as the architectural and academic heart of the University’s community of scholars. He named the University’s original buildings the “Academical Village.” As the phrase suggests, the 'Academical Village' is based on the Jeffersonian principle that learning is a lifelong process, and that interaction between faculty and students is vital to the pursuit of knowledge."

"Jefferson modeled the Rotunda after the Pantheon, a second-century temple in Rome. Construction began in 1822 and was completed in 1826, shortly after Jefferson’s death on July 4 of that year. Built at a cost of almost $60,000, it was the last structure to be finished on the Lawn. Together with Monticello, the Academical Village is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.”

https://rotunda.virginia.edu

The 1998 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Petersburg Garden Club for “A Legacy of Wildflowers,” a project to preserve Lee Park and its wildflower legacy with a botanical art book, With Paintbrush and Shovel, and reproductions of watercolors originally painted by Bessie Niemeyer Marshall. The four Richmond clubs -- Boxwood, James River, Three Chopt and Tuckahoe -- received second place for revitalization of Library Park in partnership with the City of Richmond.

Charlotte Frischkorn offered a tribute to the Charlottesville Garden Club before Mina adjourned the meeting.

Floral designer and author Hardie Newton then presented a flower-arranging demonstration entitled “Nature’s Fall Finery.”

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The 79th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Boxwood Garden Club on May 11-13 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, chaired by Loretta Miller and Beese Craigie.

The Board of Directors met at historic Redesdale, home of Boxwood Garden Club member Ann Reed with luncheon preceding the meeting.

Bessie brought up the emerging need for a house manager, plus assistance for the GCV Treasurer. GCV Attorney Joe Carter had advised the board that HGW funds could be used for an additional salary without jeopardizing 501(c)(3) status, and a consultant from Warren, Whitney and Sherwood was already in the process of evaluating GCV staffing needs.

Finance Chairman Lucy Ellett presented a scenario of increasing expenses and decreasing income. The Finance Committee had suggested (1) a dues increase from $15 to $25 (2) an increase in rental rate for HGW offices, and (3) an increase in Journal subscription rates.

In following up on a 1999 winter Board of Directors discussion, Betty reported that House Bill 1206, introduced by Tayloe Murphy to fund the creation of a Capitol Square Preservation Council was duly funded and signed by Governor Gilmore, to take effect July 1.

Betty also reported on research into the publication of a millennium book -- a personal journal of a 1930 visitor to the second Historic Garden Week.

Scott and Stringfellow hosted cocktails in the Jefferson Hotel Rotunda Tuesday night prior to the Dutch treat dinner. Bessie called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and welcomed attendees. She introduced Boxwood Garden Club President Millie Stuckey, who expressed appreciation to her club members and, especially, to Chairmen Loretta Miller and Beese Craigie. She called on Mary Frances Flowers, former GCV President and Massie Medal recipient to present a brief history of the club. Mary Frances revealed that Boxwood had helped with Historic Garden Week for 14 years BEFORE becoming a member of the Garden Club of Virginia in 1951. Also noted at the time, eight members of the club had been Chairman of Historic Garden Week and twice the club won the Massie Medal for civic beautification.

Hunter Savage offered a tribute to former GCV Attorney Justice Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. who passed away August 25, 1998. He served 20 years as GCV Attorney until his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971 and, in 1972, became an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia. He had guided GCV through the process of obtaining 501(c)(3) status and in purchasing the Kent-Valentine House.

Bessie described events on the evening before Historic Garden Week, when she was invited by the National Association of Landscape Architects to a reception at Carr’s Hill, home of UVA President John Casteen. GCV was given a “beautifully expressed tribute and a framed resolution.” The president of the association, Barry Stark, described GCV as a "state and national leader in landscape conservation and preservation, and in the restoration of historic gardens and landscapes, and a leader in the fight to protect the natural beauty along our highways, naming Arthur Shurcliff, Charles F. Gillette, Ralph Griswold, William Swain, Alden Hopkins, Mead Palmer, Umberto Innocenti and Rudy Favretti." Calling this her finest hour, she said “a slightly less exalted moment came when a man said he had four daughters, and two were members of garden club, and two were Christians.”

Speakers Bureau booklets, GCV Members Handbook ($2) and Follow the Green Arrow II ($30) were available at the meeting.

Hylah Boyd, former GCV Conservation Chairman and current President of Scenic Virginia, gave a history of the organization, formed in the spring of 1998 after a bruising billboard fight in the 1997 General Assembly. She listed first-year accomplishments and goals for the remainder of the year and encouraged member clubs and individual members to join Scenic Virginia.

Financial reports followed and the 1999-2000 budget was approved.

Horticulture Chairman Elaine Burden announced 1999 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Carolyn Noland, Mill Mountain; Glenna Graves, Spotswood; Suzanne Wright, Petersburg; Sue Thompson, Tuckahoe; Anne Beals, Rappahannock Valley; Ann Schmidtlein, Hunting Creek; Linda Bryan, Hunting Creek; Elaine Brandt, Winchester-Clarke; Frances Tayloe, Northern Neck; Jane Orgain, Brunswick; and Fleet Davis, Eastern Shore.

Betty Schutte reported the creation of the Capitol Square Preservation Council with funding to provide a curator and long-range planning for Capitol Square, stating that the Garden Club of Virginia would have a member on the council.

Following additional committee reports, Managing Director of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Holly Shimizu presented an exceptional slide lecture.

The meeting was adjourned for the day, and attendees were transported to a lovely al fresco lunch and the dedication of the restored Maymont landscape, followed by tours of the extensive gardens and the Dooley mansion. The Maymont restoration began in 1996 and included 28 species of trees and 40 species of shrubs. Walkways were found during digging and rebuilt in the original terra-cotta color.

Attendees were hosted that evening by Mr. and Mrs. Bruce C. Gottwald for cocktails at the Center for Education and Outreach at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts before an elegant Awards Banquet in Marble Hall.

Thursday morning's meeting opened with guest speakers Mr. James J. McCarthy, Jr., Executive Director of Richmond Riverfront Development Corporation, and Mr. Brenton S. Halsey, President of the Richmond Riverfront Development Corporation. The presentations illustrated the revitalization of downtown Richmond through the development of its James River and its canal.

GCV chairmen reports continued. Nominations Chairman Helen Murphy presented two names on the slate for Directors at Large serving 1999-2002: Marietta Gwathmey, Harborfront, and Kim Nash, Warrenton. Helen moved to accept the slate. Motion was seconded and passed.

A tribute to the Boxwood Garden Club was presented by Sarah Bass, and the meeting was adjourned.

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The Board of Directors met on Saturday, July 17, 1999, at Trillium House, Wintergreen. Bessie's report noted disappointing attendance at the Lily Show hosted by Roanoke Valley in June; the appointment of Betty Schutte by Speaker Moss to chair the newly formed Capitol Square Preservation Council; and the death of Mr. August Dietz, whose company printed the Historic Garden Week Guidebook for many years. Mr. Dietz was an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia. Bessie reminded liaisons to attend committee meetings and to report to the board. She added, "Your current 'dictator' has asked First Vice President Mina Wood to chair an ad hoc Personnel Committee and Second Vice President Mary Hart Darden to chair an ad hoc Cyberspace Committee." Nan Williams of Warren, Whitney and Sherwood Management Professionals was retained during the past year to identify GCV staffing needs. Personnel Committee Chairman Mina Wood reported the results, indicating the need for a GCV Administrator who would have a myriad of duties and would assist board members and committee chairmen with nitty-gritty paperwork. She gave the following examples:

• Serve as the identifying figure for the GCV members and to take on certain related administrative and assume additional bookkeeping duties
• Serve as the House Manager and oversee GCV/HGW staff
• Serve as the marketing person for the KVH to the Richmond community – soliciting and managing business meeting and social functions at KVH.

Following a lengthy discussion, a motion was made and passed to hire a staff member.

Miscellaneous actions included the distribution of surplus Horticulture Field Day funds to Long Branch's Sheila MacQueen Garden, the Kent-Valentine House flower fund, and to the Native Plant Society. Five thousand copies of the Garden Club Pilgrimage to Virginia booklet were approved, as was a dues increase of $10, to become effective spring 2001.

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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.

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."

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Bessie called the Board of Directors to order in the midst of persistent snowfall on January 20, 2000, at the Kent-Valentine House.

Bessie announced receipt of a generous unrestricted gift from Bambe Wilson, a member of the Warrenton Garden Club.

Marty Whipple led attendees through a complex and tedious discussion of changes to bylaws, standing rules, policies and procedures. The decision to reduce Director at Large terms from three years to two required an amendment to the Charter (Articles of Amendment).

Board members agreed to offer the streamlined BOG format again and debated the pros and cons of round-table discussions vs presidents' reports.

Second Vice President and Webpage Chairman Mary Hart Darden announced that GCV had registered http://gcvirginia.org on January 3, 2000. VCU would be hosting the website and assisting with the project. Kathy Rolph would be the administrative contact.

In other business, the Flower Shows Committee was denied a request to appoint a four-year Chairman of Artistic Judges; Kathy Rolph was assigned the responsibility of handling donations, deposits and thank you notes.

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The 80th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Harborfront Garden Club at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott on May 9-11, 2000, chaired by Robin Ingram and Gigi Miller.

The Board of Directors met at the Norfolk home of Nancy Huber on May 9, preceded by a luncheon hosted by Nancy and Marietta Gwathmey.

Bessie reviewed recent GCV events and was delighted to report a new atmosphere at the Kent-Valentine House since the arrival of Kathy Rolph. She felt progress had been made in reducing expenses and manpower requirements for Flower Shows but reported that many member club presidents and GCVmembers were questioning whether attendance justified the time and resources required, noting that more work needed to be done. She expressed tremendous gratitude and admiration for the collective and good-humored effectiveness of her board.

Personnel Chairman Mina Wood discussed recent efforts to "formalize" employment reviews and salary increases and suggested that Journal Editor Clarkie Eppes be included in the annual reviews. Parliamentarian Marty Whipple moved to accept changes to previously distributed bylaws, standing rules, policies and procedures. Motion seconded and passed.

Restoration Chairman Nancy Talley moved to adopt the stone wall at Blandy Experimental Farm and the grounds at Lee Hall as restoration projects. Motions seconded and passed. Finance Chairman Lucy Ellett presented a number of motions to review insurance needs, budgeting, staff expense accountability and investment policies. Dootsie Wilber reported disappointing sales for the Garden Club Pilgrimage to Virginia booklet, leading to a $5,367 shortfall. Printing had cost $11,754.66. And, finally, a recommendation to combine the Bambe Wilson bequest with existing assets in the General Maintenance Account to fund the Bambe Wilson Memorial Endowment was referred to the Finance Committee. Additional reports were to be given at the Annual Meeting.

Prior to adjournment, Board Members paid tribute to Bessie, the self-proclaimed "Weed Queen." The Tuesday evening Dutch Treat dinner was held at the elegant Town Point Club. Located in the World Trade Center in downtown Norfolk, the club overlooks the inner harbor of the busiest port on the East Coast.

Bessie called the 80th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia to order and welcomed all on May 10, 2000, at the Waterside Marriott. Among the thanks, she recognized Frank Gwathmey (Marietta’s husband) for building the garden gate adorned with a lush flower box, setting the theme for the meeting, and then introduced Harborfront President Dottie Ballard who provided a fascinating history of the area. Norfolk was built on fill land at sea level (or below) with floodwalls that closed during storms. Five tunnels lead into Norfolk. Why not bridges? Norfolk is NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) headquarters and bridges would make easy targets to interrupt shipping in wartime. She added interesting quick facts: Moses Myers, a New York shipping merchant, built the first brick house in the area; the ice cream cone was invented at Doumar’s Drive-In where the original cone machine still stands; and the United States' first in-vitro fertilization baby was born in Norfolk in 1981. Attendees then enjoyed "The History of Harborfront Garden Club in One Act," a skit presented by Marietta Gwathmey (Mrs. Kent V. House III) and Robin Reeves (Mrs. Boxwood R. Hedges IV).

Bessie began her report with a suggested job description for GCV member club presidents.

Bessie continued with farewell remarks that received a standing ovation.

Mary Hart Darden reported with great excitement that www.gcvirginia.org was scheduled to go live June 1. She listed Public Page items and Members of the GCV Page, resembling much of what exists on today’s site, a credit to the foresight of Mary Hart Darden and her team.

The 2000-2001 GCV budget was approved and a detailed and informative investment report signifying changes to increase maximum equity allocation was presented. A dues increase to $25 per person, to take effect spring 2001 was approved. And Parliamentarian Marty Whipple moved to change the term for Directors at Large from three years to two, requiring Articles of Amendment. Motion seconded and passed.

Peggy Quayle reported that going forward, the Slides Committee would maintain the Best in Show presentation and the newly created Historic Garden Week presentation. All other slides were to be stored in the basement of the Kent-Valentine House.

Finalists for 2000 Common Wealth Awards were distributed for club votes prior to the September deadline.

Mary Frances Flowers read a tribute to Charlotte Massie (1917-2000), Tuckahoe Garden Club member and editor of the HGW Guidebook and the Executive Director of Historic Garden Week for 27 years. She was a stickler for precise descriptions and had a rule against living architects, decorators and landscape architects being mentioned in the Guidebook copy. For her dedication, she was awarded the Massie Medal in 1985.

Horticulture Chairman Elaine Burden announced 2000 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Ruth Matheson, Gloucester; Patricia Sauer, Tuckahoe; Sara Ann Lindsey, Hunting Creek; Genie Diller, Spotswood; Jean Knapp, Elizabeth River; Mildred Barkhouser, Danville.

After a short break, Robin Ingram introduced speaker Ray Gindroz of Urban Design Associates, Pittsburgh, hailed by Preservation Magazine as “the Michael Jordan of Urban Planning.” His topic was “The Community Organization's Role in the New Urbanization for the 21^st Century” and included slides of larger cities abroad compared to Norfolk.

Clarkie Eppes was then called forward to receive a framed resolution in commemoration of her tenth anniversary as editor of publications.

Lunch in private homes was followed by a choice of afternoon activities: Flowers in Art, a docent led tour of the Chrysler Museum to explore the majesty of the botanical world as interpreted by artists through the ages; Demystifying Mass, a demonstration led by Lee Snyder through mechanics and techniques of creating a majestic arrangement in a deepwater container for a special event at the Chrysler; and "All Aboard, a Spring Train and Walking Tour of Norfolk Botanical Gardens" through azaleas, rose blooms and native plants, with an opportunity to learn about the garden’s history.

Helen Murphy moved to accept the following slate. Motion seconded and passed.

Bessie then introduced Mina Wood to attendees. Known among longtime friends as the "Dean" for her ability "to organize people so well that you don't even know you are being organized." She has been described as "inspiration" and is known for her "unerringly good judgement." Bessie added "a cheerleader with people skills, a horticulturist with great organizational ability and sound judgement, is a prescription for an outstanding president. The GCV is very, very lucky to have Mina Wood as our leader."

Diana Carter then offered a tribute to Harborfront Garden Club by singing to the tune of Gilligan's Island.

Mina thanked Diana and then offered a tribute to Bessie listing a few of her accomplishments: bylaws changes, changes to Flower Shows, creation of the GCV website, bimonthly emails, restoration of the Charles Gillette garden at the Executive Mansion under new Landscape Architect Will Rieley, establishment of the GCV Executive Director position, record-breaking Historic Garden Week profits ... attendees followed with a standing ovation.

Following a brief break, Nancy Talley presented Restoration Committee updates and moved to adopt restoration projects at Blandy Experimental Farm and Lee Hall Mansion. Motions seconded and passed.

After closing remarks, Mina adjourned the meeting and called on Dottie Ballard to introduce Susan Cofer of the Elizabeth River Project who gave a slide lecture presentation, “For the Love of a River Project,” showing how a grassroots organization is grappling with the daunting task of reclaiming a natural treasure.

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Chairman Sharon Scott, Gabriella Garden Club

The 1998 Conservation Workshop, "Native Plants and Invasive Plants," was held on September 30, 1998, at the Kent-Valentine House. Speakers Bob Lyons and Ted Scott presented a slide lecture on invasive exotic and invasive native plants. They advised attendees what NOT to plant and provided alternatives. The workshop attracted 87 attendees.

The 1998 Conservation Forum was held on October 27-28, 1998, in Charlottesville, chaired by Mary Bruce Glaize. Attendees gathered at the Boar's Head Inn on Tuesday and headed by bus to the new Thomas Jefferson Parkway trail. Filled with native vegetation and offering scenic views, the two-mile hike was guided by Peter Hatch, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello. After the tour, the buses headed back up the mountain for a shopping trip in the Monticello garden shop. Cocktails and dinner were offered at Farmington that night.

Wednesday's Forum, "The Good Earth Primer: The ABCs of Wise Land Use," was held at the Boar’s Head Inn with speakers Ralph Grossi, President of the American Farmland Trust, and Ed McMahon, Director of the American Greenways program at the Conservation Fund. Mr. Grossi stressed the importance of preserving the diminishing supply of fertile land for farming. Mr. McMahon, cofounder and former president of Scenic America, emphasized smart growth and planning options as targets for wise land use, while entertaining guests with his stunning collection of slides.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Sharon Scott presented the 1998 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award to the Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation of Winchester for serving as an example of how to preserve green space by not developing the land.

The GCV supported a number of bills at 1999 Legislative Day that failed to pass. SB 1283 would have required VDOT to adhere to local zoning regulations when siting telecommunications towers. House Bill HB 1747 would have provided $40 million in state funding to conserve and protect Virginia’s natural areas, green space, forest land and historic areas. On a brighter note, bills dealing with out-of-state waste and garbage management were well received and passed.

The 1999 Conservation Workshop on September 21was chaired by Frances Kemper and featured speakers Jeff Corbin, scientist at Chesapeake Bay Foundation, to discuss pfiesteria (associated with harmful algal blooms and fish kills) and Robbin Marks of the Clean Water Network to discuss feedlot runoff and its effects on water. Four sample resources boxes were available to encourage participation in the committee's statewide initiative.

The 1999 Conservation Forum was held on October 26-27 in Alexandria. Attendees gathered Tuesday afternoon on the docks of the Torpedo Factory in Old Town to board the riverboat "Miss Christin" for a historic tour downriver to Mount Vernon.  Jim Cummins, Associate Director of the Living Resources Section of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, guided the tour, providing an overview of the environmental health of the waterway. After guided tours of the grounds and gardens, and a candlelight tour of the mansion, the group gathered on the riverside piazza where Lisa Moore, a Director of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, recounted the history of the preservation of Mount Vernon’s viewshed.

Wednesday's Conservation Forum was held at the Fort Belvoir Officers' Club. Speakers were Kent Mountford, Senior Scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency, and Ann Pesiri Swanson, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, addressed the crowd.

The 1999 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to the University of Virginia Foundation, owner of Morven and a significant landowner in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

GCV supported legislation at 2000 Legislative Day to preserve wetlands; to give $20 million year for 2 years to provide dedicated funding for the preservation of Open Spaces; to study tree cutting for billboards; and to stop unregulated draining of wetlands. Legislation passed $15.8 million for land conservation efforts through the Virginia Land Conservation Fund.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Sharon Scott initiated a statewide GCV educational project during her term to provide resource boxes to elementary schools in each club's locality, consistent with SOLs.

Scenic Virginia was organized in 1998, by former Conservation and Beautification Chairman Hylah Boyd, to address billboard control, highway beautification and scenic byways. On Hylah's behalf in 2000, Sharon requested and received approval from the GCV Board of Directors (pending Finance Committee review) to provide $5,000 start-up funds to Scenic Virginia.

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Chairman Tricia Kincheloe, The Garden Club of Fairfax

The 1998 Lily Show was hosted again by the Blue Ridge Garden Club on June 17-18, in Lexington at Washington and Lee's University Center. Titled "Around the World in Eighty Days," the show was chaired by Elizabeth Boetsch who reported 232 stems. A severe hailstorm hit Lexington during the show but, fortunately for hosts and exhibitors, it occurred during evening hours and did not interrupt activities.

Artistic Judging School was held on September 15, 1998, at the Woman’s Club in Richmond. Speaker and floral designer Betty Dols demonstrated a number of techniques for "Creative Arrangements."

The 1998 Rose Show, "A Tasting...Old World Flavour," was hosted on September 24-25, by Nansemond River Garden Club, still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Bonnie.  Rose Chairman Charlotte Hundley reported 474 stems, 74 artistic arrangements and 127 exhibitors.

The April 7-8, 1999 Daffodil Show, "What's in a Name?," was sponsored by Three Chopt Garden Club at St. Mary’s Church for the second year.  The show reported 90 exhibitors, 67 arrangements and 1521 stems.

The 1999 Lily Show, "Celebrate the Century," was hosted by Roanoke Valley Garden Club on June 16-17 at the Second Presbyterian Church. In spite of disappointing attendance, the club reported 51 exhibitors, 66 arrangements and 181 stems. A new perpetual award for creativity was offered.

The 1999 Rose Show, "A Tasting...New World Flavor," was scheduled September 24-25 to be hosted by the Nansemond River Garden Club. With widespread devastation from Hurricane Floyd, the show was canceled.

Artistic Judging School was held on September 28-29, 1999, at the Woman’s Club, with speaker Penny Horne featuring "New School Design: Meet Me for the Millennium!"

Noted author and magazine contributor Mary Tonetti Dorra was invited to the Kent-Valentine House on February 15, 2000, to discuss her book, Beautiful American Rose Gardens.

A Judges Seminar was offered on March 9, 2000, at the Kent-Valentine House, chaired by Lee Snyder of Harborfront and Carolyn Jones of Eastern Shore. Virginia Guild of Hunting Creek, Martha Lynch of Leesburg and Flower Shows Committee members participated.

The April 5-6, 2000 Daffodil Show, was hosted by the James River Garden Club at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Center for Education and Outreach. The artistic theme, "A Work of Art," centered around the interpretation of 20th-century art and featured 1486 stems, 65 artistic exhibits and 16 InterClub collections. Best in Show went to an exhibitor in the Challenge Class.

Flower Shows Chairman Tricia Kincheloe reported at the 1998 Board of Governors that flower shows are “a lot of work and can cost a lot of money." She emphasized the Flower Shows Committee’s goal -- "to create a show that can accommodate our changing needs and lifestyles without sacrificing the integrity, if you will, of our traditional GCV shows." She welcomed suggestions. At the 1999 Annual Meeting she reported the committee had received many suggestions and criticisms and there were some compliments, as well. The overwhelming concern was cost, both in dollars and manpower. She urged host clubs to refrain from entertaining lavishly, to avoid renting typewriters or hiring typists, and to decrease the number of artistic classes. The Flower Shows Committee also would pay for the expensive, engraved Crane award cards, relieving host clubs of that responsibility.

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1999 Tour Chairman Nancy Bowles, The Boxwood Garden Club

2000 Tour Chairman Helen Pinckney, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

1999 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2000 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

Historic Garden Week Chairman Nancy Bowles reported a wide variance in expenses for each tour. The new state sales tax exemption, and lower printing costs for the guidebook, posters and brochures, resulted in a 30% savings overall and, for the first time, Guidebook ads paid for its printing. She also questioned if single admission tickets should be continued since they were not financially beneficial.

HGW Administrator Susan Flowers encouraged clubs to send local brochures to her at the Kent-Valentine House office as soon as possible, as she sends them out in great quantities to supplement marketing.

One two-day tour proposed eliminating one day, substituting it with a plant sale. The Board of Directors rejected the proposal. Another tour asked permission to serve wine during evening tour hours. Permission was granted, but the club was advised to investigate their insurance policies and ABC regulations. The Board was disappointed when a club asked to be excused from hostessing at James River Plantations during Historic Garden Week. When asked by the Board to reconsider, the club agreed to hostess. Eleven clubs closest to James River plantations Westover, Brandon and Belle Air provided hostesses.

In reviewing an earlier decision that allowed Virginia Beach and Princess Anne Garden Clubs to combine their tours, the Board of Directors notified the clubs that the joint tour had reduced profits. Dolley Madison Garden Club was considering a request to offer a tour every other year.

GCV was notified in 1999 that Historic Garden Week had been selected for the bicentennial celebration of the Library of Congress, “Local Legacies,” a national project to document American community traditions. In other exciting news, Southern Living made plans to cover HGW preparation by homeowners and flower arrangers in the March 2000 issue, and House Beautiful featured HGW in an article "Women of Action."

The 2000 HGW tour added Flowerdew Hundred to the James River plantations tour through the generosity of the David Harrison family.

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Chairman Elaine Burden, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club

The June 1998 Horticulture Field Day, organized by Fleet Davis and Elaine Burden, was a resounding success with 220 participants. Homes and gardens in Loudoun County were visited, and catered lunch was served on the grounds of Oatlands in glorious weather. Unexpectedly, a homeowner requested liability insurance coverage from the GCV in the amount of $1 million for the day. The homeowner agreed to open without the insurance, but the discussion was sent to the Board of Directors.

The horticulture exhibit at the fall 1998 BOG displayed "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue" and a plant exchange.

The spring 1999 Annual Meeting exhibit,“Tapestry by Design,” called for five potted plants in a basket featuring foliage in chartreuse, silver, purple and any variation.

The June 3, 1999 Horticulture Field Day was held in Clarke County with a flower-arranging workshop at Long Branch Historic Plantation on June 2. The workshop, conducted by Barry Ferguson, was a fund-raiser for Long Branch. Four Clarke County gardens were on display for the 200 attendees. The Bittersweet Shop, a local garden shop and nursery, brought plants and containers to sell with part of the proceeds also going to Long Branch. Read Journal article.

The October 4, 1999, Horticulture Workshop and was a great success with 50 attendees. Donna Hackman provided a start-to-finish slide show of her “massive and very beautiful Middleburg garden, Highland Springs.” Fran Boninti spoke on native plants and brought live specimens from her Charlottesville garden.

The fall 1999 BOG horticulture exhibit was titled “Sedges Have Edges, Rushes are Round, Grasses are Hollow like Holes in the Ground.” The meeting also included a plant exchange.

The spring 2000 Annual Meeting horticulture exhibit featured three-to-five plants in either a trough garden of miniature plants or a window box full of plants.

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Chairman Mary Wick, Three Chopt Garden Club

Kent-Valentine House Chairman Mary Wick expressed concern in fall 1998 that KVH expenses were running ahead of projections. House rental levels had not reached projections, and the Carriage House was still unoccupied. She reported at the 1998 Board of Governors that increased use of the house by members required more help with fresh flower arrangements. The Petersburg and Ashland garden clubs were invited to join the four Richmond clubs in the flower arranging rotation, and each graciously accepted the invitation. On a discouraging note, rain from Hurricane Bonnie flooded the elevator pit and the mechanical room. While no major damage occurred, a sump pump had to be purchased and installed.

By spring 1999, the KVH budget was still a concern, but increasing use of the house by members resulted in ever increasing demands. Housekeeper Annie Tyler’s hours needed to be increased, and the need of a house manager with responsibility for marketing, managing staff, overseeing maintenance and help with development was becoming apparent. Fortunately, a new tenant signed a three-year contract to lease the Carriage House and a Journal article about the Catesby prints brought in donations to restore the prints. A year later, finances had improved with added rentals, Carriage House income and donations -- a new carpet for the parlor, gardening books for the library and funds to restore the large exterior urns and twelve Catesby prints. Rentals netted $4,000.

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Chairman Nancy Talley, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club

The Restoration Committee agreed in 1998 to fund two studies at Gunston Hall (geophysical survey and topographical survey) as part of that property's landmark investigation of the historic grounds. And Chairman Nancy Talley reported that Mr. Favretti's plans for the Mount Vernon project "appeared to include every shrub known in Washington’s day." It was noted that Mr. Favretti will complete his work at St. John's Church and will see Mount Vernon to completion, ending 20 years with the GCV. In Mr. Favretti's honor, the GCV Fellowship was renamed the Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship.

The committee was invited for a fall lunch at Glen Burnie, a newly opened house museum in Winchester with notable and beautifully maintained gardens. The fall business meeting was held at Dodona Manor in Leesburg, an 18th-century farmhouse home to General George Marshall. The property received a grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to restore the home and a grant from the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century (TEA-21) to restore the landscape. The Marshall Center requested GCV assistance in implementing the TEA-21 grant, and the Restoration Committee voted to direct Mr. Rieley to provide plans, “not to be construed as a promise to return to restore the grounds to the Marshall period.”

Mr. Rieley's first major assignment was for the Moses Myers House landscape restoration in Norfolk where documentation suggested a more elaborate plan than the Favretti plan approved at the 1998 Annual Meeting.

A 1999 GCV Maintenance Workshop was held at Montpelier on February 25 for restoration property gardeners. Diane Wilson Director of Grounds at Montpelier; David Berreth, Director of Belmont; Nancy Caruthers, chairman of the Belmont garden committee; and Peter Hatch, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello each addressed problems in maintaining historic gardens.

Restoration Committee members attended a rededication at St. John’s Church in Richmond on April 18, 1999. GCV had provided a master plan in 1983, and Mr. Favretti had provided more detailed directions for renovation in 1997. Following Mr. Favretti's plan, GCV funded removal of trees and stumps and the planting of new trees.

Spring and summer activity included a decision to fund two, limited, graduate student research projects under the direction of Mr. Rieley, for the purpose of locating existing garden documentation at Centre Hill in Petersburg and Lee Hall in Newport News. Other committee actions included authorization to prune the "goodly row of cedars” at Christ Church, Lancaster; approval of Mr. Rieley's plans for the TEA-21 grant at Dodona Manor; approval of his conceptual plan at Lee Hall; and the adoption of a lighting policy to discourage dramatic lighting in historic properties.

Following the damage caused by Hurricane Floyd in 1999, the committee voted to make a $1,000 donation to the Franklin Garden Club following extensive flood damage to the club's civic planting project at Barrett’s Landing Park. The funding would be used to replant trees lost during the storm.

First Lady Roxanne Gilmore approached the Garden Club of Virginia in late 1999, requesting a restoration of the formal garden on the south side of the Executive Mansion. Charles Gillette designed and installed the original garden in the mid-50s, and it had suffered during renovations to the mansion. The garden, a highly visible outdoor room for entertaining, needed to be ready for Historic Garden Week 2000.

The committee engaged retired GCV Landscape Architect Rudy Favretti to produce a Maintenance Manual to be used at all properties, estimated to be a three-year project.

Nancy Talley reported at the spring 2000 Annual Meeting that the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, at its annual meeting on April 15, awarded its highest honor, the Katherine Glaize Rockwood Award, to the GCV Restoration Committee. She also reported that in spite of immense bureaucratic problems, the Gillette garden restoration at the Executive Mansion was completed on April 14, 2000; the Maymont garden was flourishing, as was the bowling green at Mount Vernon; and the Moses Myers House landscaping restoration project was held up while the City of Norfolk removed rubble from adjacent construction of MacArthur Center.

She moved to approve two properties for restoration. The first, at Blandy Experimental Farm (State Arboretum of Virginia) in Boyce, to restore a significant stone wall believed to have been built in the 1830s. The wall was planted with dogwoods in the 1930s, and the old road, which led from the Tuleyries to the main Millwood road is now called Dogwood Lane. The property is owned and administered by UVA. The second restoration at Lee Hall, the 1859 farm and residence of Richard Decatur Lee, near Newport News, was to retore grounds surrounding the house, to include fencing, tree planting, and stabilization of Civil War breastworks. Motions were seconded and passed.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

Christopher Stevens, graduate student in landscape architecture at UVA, was selected as the 1999 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow to make measured drawings at Bremo Recess, the first of General John Hartwell Cocke’s three mansions of the Upper James. The house, a fine example of Jacobean architecture, was designed to resemble Bacon’s Castle, the first home of General Cocke, who lived at Bacon’s Castle while building Bremo Recess. Like Bremo and Lower Bremo, Bremo Recess has remained in the Cocke family.

Before undertaking measured drawings, Christopher wrote a paper on General Cocke, who built all three Bremos. He expressed interest in future collaborative work with an archaeologist from SUNY who had finished a three-year project at the Recess over the summer.  The three Cocke family houses together comprise a National Historic Landmark on the Upper James River south of Charlottesville.

The 2000 Favretti Fellow K. Brooke Whiting, candidate for MLA at the University of Pennsylvania, was selected to document Bremo, the second of the Bremo complex houses, often called the most perfect Palladian house in Virginia.

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Great Gardens of Italy departed on May 17, 1999, for 11 days in Italy. Led by Rudy Favretti, retired GCV Landscape Architect, the trip included stays in Rome, Florence, Tuscany and the Lakes region; Vatican gardens, Villa d’Este, Hadrian’s Villa in Rome; day trips to Sienna, Settignano and Fiesole; Boboli Gardens of Pitti Palace; Lucca region, Villa Torrigiani and Villa Reale; Verdi’s garden in Santa Agata; Stresa and the island gardens around Lake Maggiore.

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“Never did I believe Lee Cochran when she said to me that this is the best job in the world, but it is true. The combination of your personalities, the GCV's needs and what you bring to the Garden Club of Virginia creates a generosity of spirit among us. I travel to many different locations in the state -- from Fincastle in the western part of the state, to horse country in Middleburg, to the Shenandoah Valley, to the Back Bay at Virginia Beach, and the familiar drive home for me from Charlottesville to Lynchburg -- it is a continual visual feast. I am constantly awed by its beauty and by the foresight of our predecessors who, in 1929, had the vision to initiate a tour of homes to help restore the gardens at Kenmore. I am indeed grateful to them and to you for allowing me the privilege of serving you.”

~Mina Wood, October 2000

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Mina Wood held her first board meeting at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach on July 29, 2000. She welcomed new board members and provided a brief orientation to remind those present of their responsibilities as board members and as leaders of the Garden Club of Virginia.

She described GCV summer activities that included Horticulture Field Day in Harrisonburg, where one garden had a hillside of trillium and another garden, where the homeowner was growing test trees for the U.S. National Arboretum and the Lily Show in Roanoke, where the artistic best-in-show included a yellow hose from True Value Hardware.

Business reports included a concern by the Flower Shows Committee at the sight of empty, artistic InterClub pedestals at the recent Lily Show.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Helen Pinckney was pleased to announce that, despite rain during ten tours, 2000 HGW gross profits were the second highest in history. She also brought up the ongoing discussion of tour expenses. In new HGW developments, Princess Anne and Virginia Beach clubs were asked to host their combined tour for two days; Westover and Belle Air plantations submitted plans to open for three days instead of five; Elizabeth River and Nansemond River planned tours on the same day, causing concern; and after being approached by the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond about the possibility of a joint marketing initiative, the board rejected the plan because of its conflict with GCV advertising policy.

Following up on a previous board discussion, First Vice President Mary Hart Darden stated the board has the right to name any fund, but past boards have recommended against it. The board then voted to add the generous Bambe Wilson gift to the existing Kent-Valentine Endowment. Another policy under discussion was disbursement of surplus money from Horticulture Field Day, Conservation Forum and Flower Arranging School. Further study was called for.

Mina announced the establishment of a new committee called the GCV Speakers Series, chaired by Elaine Burden and Fleet Hurlbatt.

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The eighty-first Board of Governors meeting was hosted by Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club on October 10-12, 2000, at the Middleburg Community Center, chaired by Daphne Cheatham and Linda Newton.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 10, 2000, at Loretta, the Warrenton home of Dootsie Wilbur. Business included ideas from member club presidents for additions to the website; the possibility of turning Flower Arranging School into a one-day event with the exam portion being moved to the Kent-Valentine House; personnel updates; equity in Register distribution and a policy for the disbursement of funds generated by the Conservation Forum, Horticulture Field Day and Flower Arranging School (later amended to include Other Special Events).

Attendees spent time that afternoon at the historic Goose Creek Stone Bridge, learning of its history while sipping punch with floating nasturtium blossoms. Cocktails and Dutch treat dinner followed at Oak Hill, the historic home of Gayle and Tommy DeLashmutt. Former home of James Monroe and one of the only privately owned early presidential residences in the country, the 1,200-acre estate was purchased by the DeLashmutt family in 1948 and has been home to three generations of DeLashmutts who have dedicated themselves to caring for the property. Mina called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and introduced Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club President Elaine Burden. Elaine welcomed guests and called upon club historian Millicent West to provide a brief history of Fauquier and Loudoun.

Mina summarized summer and fall activities -- Horticulture Field Day in Harrisonburg, Lily Show in Roanoke, summer board meeting in Virginia Beach, luncheon for member club presidents at the Kent-Valentine House, Conservation Workshop, Flower Arranging School in Richmond and the Rose Show in South Hill. She then gave a preview of upcoming GCV activities -- GCV Speakers Series in January, plans to refurbish and add to the Kent-Valentine House library, new investment policies and new website activity.

Admissions Committee Chairman Margaret Moring reported that her committee has been asked to offer support for any membership concerns, in addition to researching new member club requests. Conservation and Beautification Chairman Sue Cecil presented legislative updates concerning waste imports, preservation of wetlands and urban sprawl. Flower Shows Chairman Carolyn Jones was “dumbfounded by the mystery many found the judging procedure,” and reported the new Flower Arranging Handbook was scheduled for publication in early 2001.

Following a Common Wealth Award Committee slide presentation and an update of the Williamsburg Garden Club’s 1999 Common Wealth Award, “Discovery Garden for Williamsburg’s Children,” the meeting was adjourned for the day.

Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of self-guided tours of gardens at Cold Crick Farm, Highland Spring and Seven Springs Farm.

The awards banquet was held at Middleburg’s Red Fox Inn, where pre-dinner cocktails were served on the patio. The 2000 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Franklin Garden Club for the Chamber Walk. Second place was awarded to the Albemarle Garden Club for Washington Park.

Committee reports continued Thursday morning. Horticulture Chairman Rosemary Wallinger reminded attendees that horticulture cannot be practiced successfully without looking at the environment that sustains it. She added, “Where there are no bees, there is no fruit. When water is insufficient, plants wither and die. Without the proper predators, pest populations explode."

Mina adjourned the business meeting and attendees gathered for roundtable discussions about Flower Shows. Helen Pinckney paid tribute to Fauquier and Loudoun, after which Mina adjourned the eighty-first Board of Governors.

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The Board of Directors met on January 18, 2001, at the Richmond home of Hylah Boyd.

Mina urged attendees to concentrate their efforts on the new areas of endeavor such as investment policies, the lecture series, the rebuilding of the KVH library and on the ever challenging problems involved with some areas, such as flower shows.

Mary Hart Darden reported that Executive Director Katherine Rolph was taking computer courses to improve her computer skills and was installing a new bookkeeping system for Kent-Valentine House library books.

Mina announced that Mary Wynn McDaniel, whose family has a national moving company, Hilldrup Moving and Storage, offered to arrange for flower show properties to be stored in a Richmond warehouse and transported to and from flower shows, free of charge.

Slides, Restoration and Historic Garden Week committees provided brief updates. The Flower Shows Committee was making final reviews to the new Flower Shows Handbook under the leadership of Di Cook. Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Sue Cecil reported in depth on 2001 legislative challenges, noting the committee planned to focus on “dedicated funding for land conservation, a topic which encompasses agricultural vitality and sprawl; new power plants and wetlands.” The Long-Range Planning Committee offered options in the continuing search for ways to streamline flower shows, including a plan for alternating club participation. The committee also suggested more artistic training at the member club level and smaller dinners for judges.

Following board administrative business, the meeting was adjourned.

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The eighty-first Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Martinsville Garden Club on May 15-17, 2001, at Chatmoss Country Club, chaired by Nancy Moore and Susan Pannill.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday at the home of former GCV President Dot Montgomery for a delicious lunch, followed by the board meeting. After describing recent GCV events -- Legislative Day, Daffodil Show, the presentation of the Executive Mansion’s formal garden and Historic Garden Week, Mina concluded with the following:

“That is just three months of activity of the Garden Club of Virginia in the year 2001. Today I want you to contemplate our history from the 1920s, when eight clubs grew to twelve, then twenty, etc. The ability to have a flower show was a standard by which a candidate club’s membership to the GCV was judged. And now we are going full tilt, 47 clubs strong, with not only three large flower shows a year, but a Flower Arranging School, Conservation Forum, Horticulture Field Day and many related activities that take club members’ time -- not to mention the local projects and fund-raisers to which different clubs are committed. It is the responsibility of the leadership of the GCV to make sure we do not overburden our member clubs in any one area and to try to set realistic goals for all concerned -- especially in a day when women work both in the home and outside the home. The demands on their time are great, and we must bring these thoughts to bear as we discuss the various aspects of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

The board meeting continued with committee reports. Concern was raised about the geographical location of flower shows, Annual Meetings and Board of Governors meetings and the lack of communication when scheduling the events. It was pointed out that events appeared to have been placed too heavily on one side of the state. Treasurer Deedy Bumgardner announced that an unrestricted gift of $25,000 had been received from Lynn Wiley of Middleburg. An earlier recommendation by the Long-Range Planning Committee to consider alternating club participation in Flower Shows had met with concerns from the Flower Shows Committee. As a result, the Board of Directors requested a report from the Flower Shows Committee on their recommendations for show changes, to be presented by January 2002. The Development Committee raised the question of renaming the Kent-Valentine Endowment to the Garden Club of Virginia Endowment, after being advised that many people chose not to give to bricks and mortar. And, the Common Wealth Award Committee was searching for ways to increase the number of applicants, having received only one in 2001.

Mina read a letter from a member club requesting that consideration be given to the proposal that clubs be allowed to retain a percentage of their Historic Garden Week proceeds. The discussion was tabled unitil Mina could communicate directly with the club president.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Sue Cecil read a letter from the U.S. Home Corporation that offered to donate several parcels of property in Henrico County. She was directed to respond that the Garden Club of Virginia could not accept the offer. She then urged board members to support a permanently funded conservation fund, trash import legislation and funding for the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail with letters and phone calls.

Following the board meeting, attendees were invited for cocktails in the infield of the Martinsville Speedway and were treated to a demonstration by race car drivers. The Dutch treat dinner was held in the speedway press box. It was reported that attire included Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte T-shirts, and at least one pair of leather pants.

Mina called the 2001 Annual Meeting to order and introduced Lynne Beeler, president of the Martinsville Garden Club. Former GCV President Dot Montgomery provided an entertaining club history, beginning with its establishment in April 1923 “to add visual beauty to our community; to enhance our landscapes; to exchange gardening information; and to fight those nasty billboard companies, who regard us as mindless, old peahens and call us ‘the scenic sisters.’”

Dot continued, as if whisked away by Merlin to the April 1923 inaugural meeting, hoping for an invitation to join the Garden Club of Virginia:

"With this exciting possibility in mind -- it is only a possibility -- and at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I feel it is my duty as chairman to speak to you candidly, ladies, about your appearance. Ladies, my dear ladies, where are your hats, where are your gloves and your pearls? You don’t have pearls? Heaven protect us! I even saw as I entered just now, not only exposed bare legs, but skirts pulled up above bare knees. I could not look! Well, only for a few moments! And one or two -- I shall not name them -- a show of cleavage! What is the world coming to?!!! I beg you dear, dear ladies, to examine yourselves when you appear in public, and to resolve that henceforth you will not disgrace yourselves and your gardening sisters by inappropriate attire. Now, let us continue with the meeting.”

Brought back from Merlin’s spell, Dot proudly described the club’s numerous and worthy accomplishments and added, “So here we are, ladies, more than three-quarters of a century later, still doing what we were organized to do – help preserve our heritage and ride herd on whatever threatens to sully our beloved Virginia.”

Mina provided highlights of recent GCV events -- Conservation Forum, Legislative Day, presentation of the Executive Mansion Gillette garden, the Daffodil Show at Lewis Ginter and Historic Garden Week.

Common Wealth Award Chairman Ann Gordon Evans reported that the only application received for the 2001 award was submitted by the Garden Club of Norfolk for “The Virginia Native Plant Garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden.”

Flower Shows Chairman Carolyn Jones reported the new Flower Shows Handbook would be available soon and to expect significant changes in upcoming shows, a result of the ongoing effort to reduce the burden on host clubs. Mary Winn McDaniel was recognized for Hilldrup’s generous offer to store and transport flower show properties; Historian Cora Sue Spruill reported on a meeting at the Kent-Valentine on March 19, 2001, that featured a lecture by Dr. Nelson Lankford, Assistant Director of Publications and Education at the Virginia Historical Society; and a presentation by VHS staff member and GCV member Gwen Litchfield.

Horticulture Chairman Rosemary Wallinger presented the 2001 Horticulture Award of Merit to the following: Mabel Baldwin, Three Chopt; Martha Cook, Winchester-Clarke; Mary Hamlin, Gabriella; Lynn Rush, Rivanna; Betty Webb, Petersburg; and Lois Wickham, Ashland.

At the conclusion of business reports for the morning, Mina declared a recess and Robert Inman, literary preservationist and author, presented, “Life, Love and All Things Southern.”

Lunch was hosted in members’ homes followed by afternoon activities that included “Insects with Virginia Heritage,” presented by Richard L. Hoffman at the Virginia Museum of Natural History and a tour of Piedmont Arts Association with a flower-arranging demonstration by Jerry Blankenship of Elegant Design and Consulting. His extraordinary creation around an armillary sphere was positioned in the center of the ballroom at Chatmoss Country Club for the Awards Banquet that night.

Reports continued Thursday morning, after which Paul F. Calloway (Chip) of Calloway Designs in Greensboro, North Carolina, gave an informative and entertaining program on gardens and grounds of historic buildings.

When the business meeting resumed, Restoration Chairman Lucy Ellett provided committee updates and introduced 2000 Favretti Fellow Brooke Whiting who presented a slide lecture. Lucy then introduced Will Riley who presented slides and narrative of recent work.

Nominations Chairman Nancy Talley presented two names on the slate for 2001-2003 Directors at Large: Meg Clement, the Garden Club of Danville, and Helen Pinckney, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton. These were the first Directors at Large elected for two-year terms.

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The Board of Directors held its summer board meeting at the Inn at Gristmill Square in Warm Springs. Board members and their husbands enjoyed dinner the previous evening at the inn’s charming tavern, originally a mill built in 1771. Mina reported a meeting with Douglas Martin, a Richmond gardener who is assisting with the purchase of library books. She also expressed the need for a library selection committee, as she admitted she was apt to accept any book offered to her, the most recent being a three-volume set of books, the world authority on trees, written in German!

Annabel Josephs reported that Roberta Hughes would replace Housekeeper Annie Tyler who was no longer able to work due to ill health.

Development Chairman Widgee Zirkle sent a report requesting that the recent $25,000 unrestricted gift from Lynn Wiley be designated toward the proposed kitchen project. A motion as such carried.

Business discussions included plans to evenly distribute Board of Governors, Annual Meetings and flower shows throughout the state; the disturbing trend of attendees leaving before adjournment at Annual Meetings and Board of Governors; and the logistics of transitioning from three-year terms to two-year terms for Directors at Large.

New Historic Garden Week Chairman Meredith Scott discussed proposals for online advance ticket sales and Guidebooks and the need for understanding the increasing complexity of internet marketing and transactions -- growing pains. She also pointed out that Easter would fall on the first Sunday of Historic Garden Week in 2003. The board agreed to increase GCV insurance coverage to include homeowners’ liability insurance for HGW tours in their homes, with funds to be drawn from Historic Garden Week proceeds.

Conservation Chairman Sue Cecil described upcoming events and expressed concern over continuing loss of wetlands as mitigation projects stalled and regulations were challenged. She reported the approval of funding for a bird trail that was to run from the Eastern Shore to the mountains.

The Flower Shows Committee proposed to divide the artistic InterClub class into four classes, each with a distinct style of arrangement. Clubs would be expected to enter all shows, and an annual InterClub award would be presented to the club with the most points. The committee also requested funding for Daffodil and Lily perpetual award cards. The board approved all requests.

In remaining business, the board decided against renaming the Kent-Valentine House Endowment but did not rule out the possibility of establishing a separate Garden Club of Virginia Endowment.

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The eighty-second meeting of the Board Governors was hosted by the Little Garden Club of Winchester on October 9-11, 2001, at the Holiday Inn, chaired by Carolyn Griffin and Regina Headley.

The Board of Directors was hosted for lunch and the board meeting that followed at the lovely home of Chris Scully, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sally Guy Brown later admitted she had spent several minutes thanking Chris, only to find out she was talking to her twin sister.

Treasurer Deedy Bumgardner reported the extension of GCV sales tax exemption through June 30, 2005, and raised the ongoing issue of carry-over event funding. Restoration Chairman Lucy Ellett described September committee visits to Winchester and Leesburg, updates to restorations in progress, and spoke of interest in reprinting Dottie Willliams’s 1975 publication, Historic Virginia Gardens: Preservations by the Garden Club of Virginia. The Flower Shows Committee shared financial concerns and requested a portion of profits from Flower Arranging School be carried over. Chairman Carolyn Jones also sought advice on purchasing the new artistic InterClub trophy.

Following more general business discussions, the meeting was adjourned.

Mary Bruce and Phil Glaize hosted a Dutch treat “Winchester-style” picnic Tuesday night at their home with apple candles, apple hors d’oeuvres, apple casseroles, apple crisp and a delicious dinner served on apple tablecloths. Mina called the meeting to order Wednesday morning. Little Garden Club President Martha Parthemos welcomed attendees and called upon Dolly Glaize to present the club history. Dolly confided that when murmurs of an invitation to join the Garden Club of Virginia membership were heard in the early 1950s, members panicked and decided the club’s name was not dignified enough for such an honor. After reviewing 17 suggestions for a new name, the club decided upon Glen Burnie, home of Winchester’s founder. Wait a minute! Within thirty days, members voted to change the name back to the Little Garden Club, and so it stood when asked to join GCV in 1954. Dolly then spoke of the club’s many civic projects through the years and the lasting impact of their work in the Winchester community.

Mina marveled at the level of participation in summer and fall activities. She reported that the new one-day Flower Arranging School seemed popular and hoped the new Speakers Series and Kent-Valentine House library would stimulate interest. In the wake of the 911 tragedy, she asked that suggestions for a meaningful GCV response be sent to Meg Clement.

Mary Hart Darden assured attendees that the website committee was working diligently to meet members’ expectations saying, “There is much work to be done.” Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Ann Gordon Evans called on Mary Nelson Thompson, president of the Franklin Garden Club, to present an update of their 2000 Common Wealth Award winning project, the Chamber Walk. The slide presentation included stunning images of the recovery of Franklin from the devasting floods and the incorporation of a pocket park in the recovery efforts. Ann Gordon also shared a letter from the Petersburg Garden Club, 1998 recipient of the award, that included a listing of book signings and special events related to the publication of With Paintbrush and Shovel.

GCV Historian Cora Sue Spruill presented a brief history of GCV landscape architects and their restoration projects. One project she mentioned was Rudy Favretti’s project at Bacon’s Castle. As quoted by Will Rieley, “Bacon’s Castle in Surry County may be the most significant garden restoration in the country. Certainly, it is a restoration of our earliest known and documented garden. It was a remarkable undertaking, beginning with archaeologists peeling away the accumulated soil from three hundred and fifty years of history to reveal a garden that looked as if it had been put to bed for the winter….it changes our understanding of 17th-century Virginia gardens in profound ways.”

Horticulture Chairman Rosemary Wallinger presented a scholarly report about the relationship between the practice of horticulture and the processes of nature (ecology).

Mina recessed the business meeting and attendees were hosted for lunch by Ann Glaize and Susan Holland in their homes, followed by a guided tour of 18th-century Glen Burnie House and Gardens. Cocktails and dinner that night were served in Old Town Winchester at Shenandoah University’s Bowman Building, once a bustling bank. Flautists from the university serenaded attendees as they walked into the hall, transformed by candelabra filled with dahlias and roses.

The 2001 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Garden Club of Norfolk for “The Virginia Native Plant Garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden.” The club received $6,000 for the project. The business meeting continued Thursday morning. Publications Chairmen Clarkie Eppes and Elizabeth Boetsch reported on the September 24 Publications Workshop featuring speaker, widely-published author and member of the Garden Club of Danville, Emyl Jenkins. A frequent contributor to Art in Antiques and Southern Accents, Emyl spoke on the principals of writing. It was also announced that beginning March 2002, the Journal would be published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Prior to that date, the Journal had been published in September and March, with an abbreviated Update published in December and June.

Roundtable discussions followed the business meeting with discussions on organic gardening, obtaining 501(c)(3) status and the restorations of the Garden Club of Virginia.

David Carr, a UVA professor of environmental sciences and the director of Blandy Experimental Farm, then provided attendees with a fascinating lecture on invasive and native plants.

Sally Guy Brown paid tribute to the Little Garden Club of Winchester, closing with,

“But there is something wrong, it seems to me: The amazing garden club could not little be!”

The meeting was adjourned following the tribute.

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The Board of Directors met on January 17, 2002, at the Richmond home of Sallie Stillwell (daughter of Sue Cecil), where Sue and Deedy provided a wonderful winter lunch.

Mina updated board members on the success of the recent Speakers Series, the completion of the Kent-Valentine House library inventory and the fund-raising effort for the renovation of the KVH kitchen with one-third of the goal already pledged. She encouraged board members to come up with new ideas and innovative solutions to the challenges of the 21st-century.

Mary Hart Darden reported ongoing website issues of outdated material and late entry of important information. As a result, the GCV Communications Committee was created. Following the creation of the new committee, Public Relations Chairman Sarah Bass reported plans to add information to the site, including Annual Meeting and BOG summaries, restoration projects and photos. The Flower Shows Committee also expressed interest in establishing a presence on the site.

Parliamentarian Gale Roberts moved to appoint Kim Nash to fill the vacancy of Director at Large, May 2002 to May 2003, a final adjustment in the change from three-year terms to two-year terms. Motion passed.

Following lengthy discussions and meetings, the board voted to establish the Garden Club of Virginia Fund, to be used for general purposes of the club, including but not limited to special events, special projects and committee special needs. The former Garden Club of Virginia Miscellaneous Account Fund would be folded into the new fund, and related changes to GCV bylaws would be submitted at the 2002 Annual Meeting.

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The eighty-second Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Gabriella Garden Club at the Stratford Inn Conference Center in Danville, chaired by Sharon Scott and Ina Ingram.

The Board met at the home of Sharon Scott for “a magnificent luncheon served under the elegant arms of the voluptuous crab apple tree” in her backyard, followed by the Board meeting. Directors presented Mina with a painted canvas of flowers that represented each of their member clubs. Worm watering indicators at each place competed with Sharon’s meringue pie crust for top billing. Mina thanked Board members for their support during her term and encouraged continued loyalty to the Garden Club of Virginia. She added, “I think the volunteer effort that the GCV represents is remarkable. I hope it will continue in the same spirit that it is carried out today, which is why we must try to streamline these jobs as much as possible so that women will have time to incorporate them into their busy schedules. Our state programs have a full participation, which indicates they are interesting and fun. We must work to ensure that they stay current and address the problems of the 21st century.”

Ad hoc Personnel Committee Chairman Annabel Josephs reported the impending departure of GCV Executive Director Kathy Rolph and the decision to rename the position “Administrator to the Garden Club of Virginia,” to reflect more emphasis on computer skills.

Referring to the recent reorganization of investments accounts, Chairman Mary Howe Dizerega reported that current accounts included the Kent-Valentine House Endowment, the new GCV Fund, Conservation Awards Fund and Common Wealth Award Fund.

Other business discussions included the possibility of reorganizing several committees -- publications, editorial board, slides and public relations; library updates; the planned garden study trip to Ireland; numerous changes to the bylaws to reflect a replacement of the word “publications” with the word Journal; and additional changes to the format of names in the Register.

The Dutch treat dinner was held at the Danville Community Market with “Gabriels” tending bar. In her tribute, Marietta Gwathmey asked, “Are there really that many ferns in the entire world??!! ” Mina called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and introduced Gabriella Garden Club President Paige Wiseman. Club historian Peyton Parker began, “Don’t think for a minute that the Gabriellas were so named because they were angelic!  The club was formed in the garden of a lady whose name was Gabriella Dula.“ She described the club’s first project -- cleaning up the area surrounding the town’s haunted house – and continued with more recent community projects

Helen Murphy was called up to pay tribute to former GCV President (1994-1996) Pat Leggett who died on May 1, 2002. Pat held numerous GCV board positions before her presidency, including Restoration Committee Chairman. Her knowledge and keen interest in landscape architecture was of benefit, not only to GCV, but also to other statewide organizations. During her term she initiated the first capital campaign ever conducted by the GCV with a goal to raise $2 million for renovations of the Kent-Valentine House and for the addition of the elevator tower. She also presided over the 75th anniversary of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Meg Clement gave a stirring report regarding the September 11, 2001, attack and reminded attendees that Garden Club of Virginia members in the previous generations had paid tribute during the war years of the 1940s by sending funds to Danville-born Lady Astor of the House of Parliament for civilian relief in England; purchasing war bonds; participating in wartime projects and sending 1941 Historic Garden Week proceeds to England. Why? Meg stated, “Because woven through our mission statement is our own pledge of allegiance and our commitment to this Commonwealth, our determination not to be deaf or aloof to the adversities that affect her and her citizens.” On behalf of the GCV Board of Directors, Meg recommended that each club plant a tree in its community, to be enjoyed by the public and to serve as a symbol of recognition of the lives lost.

Horticulture Chairman Rosemary Wallinger provided a preview of 2002 Horticulture Field Day to be held on June 5-6 in Alexandria. She then announced the 2002 Horticiulture Award of Merit recipients: Elaine Burden, Fauquier and Loudoun; Laura Dansby, Spotswood; Claiborne Dickenson, Eastern Shore; Eveline Holt, Virginia Beach; Alice Martin, Petersburg; Martha Moore, Tuckahoe; and Dianne Spence, Williamsburg. Rosemary thanked attendees for their generous participation in making her committee’s two-year journey into horticultural ecology a success.

Following a brief recess, James I. Robertson, Jr., noted author and professor of history at Virginia Tech, spoke on the role of women in the Civil War. Described by Marietta Gwathmey,“We heard his riveting account of passion and intrigue as he told of the planning and executing of a fiery first kiss on or about the lips of Nell Jefferson who blushed prettily as she whispered to his wife, ‘Really, it was nothing….,’ proving, of course, that the wife is always the last to know. He warmed to his topic, ‘Southern Women in the Civil War,’ and held us spellbound by his rendering of women’s roles in the war-torn South.”

Lunch was served in the lovely homes of Gabriella’s members and included a dessert of ice cream, Nesselrode (a mixture of candied fruits, nuts and maraschino) and frozen lemonade -- popular enough to warrant putting the recipe on the website!

Attendees were then offered a choice of three afternoon activities: a tour of Carol Strange’s garden, filled with the scent of old roses; a stroll along the River Walk; and a tour of Millionaire’s Row that included the Langhorne House, home of the Gibson Girl and her sister Lady Astor. The awards banquet was held at the Danville Golf Club, transformed into Victorian splendor, complete with brocade table toppers, hats, hatpins, pin cushions, flower hat boxes and moss-covered hats, all different. Gabriella herself sat on the mantel, decked out in parsley, lime green pearls and white lilies.

Mina called the meeting to order early Thursday morning and reports continued. Nominations Chairman Nancy Talley presented the following slate in nomination for 2002-2004. A motion to accept the slate was seconded and passed.

Parliamentarian Gale Roberts presented changes to bylaws, including the addition of the Garden Club of Virginia Fund, renaming the Publications Committee to the Journal Committee and the addition of the Communications and Personnel committees. Director of Public Relations Sarah Bass presented Mina with two scrapbooks, one for each year of her term.

Helen Pinckney reported for Development Chairman Widgee Zirkle that four areas in the Kent-Valentine still need renovations to complete the 1997 master plan -- kitchens on first and second floors, first-floor flower pantry and third-floor powder room. She informed attendees the goal of $150,000 was two-thirds complete and said donations would be greatly appreciated.

After a short recess, Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina, presented an entertaining and informative slide lecture and warned, “If you want to have a garden, you have to break a few rules.” Marietta reported, “With his wild and crazy humor and high energy, he set forth a wealth of information on landscaping and plants which made for a fun listening experience.”

Mina then called new GCV President Mary Hart Darden to the podium and welcomed the “Georgia peach,” stating she had known Mary Hart for ten or twelve years and had never known a more efficient, personable, good-humored, dependable person. "Her attention to detail is constant and her devotion to the Garden Club of Virginia is evident in her take-charge attitude, whether it be in handling finances or tapping an entirely new avenue of GCV activity, the development and evolution of our website. I know of no one who could have doggedly pursued this challenge more effectively and with more good humor than Mary Hart.”

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Chairman Sue Cecil, The Boxwood Garden Club

A conservation survey was sent to a small sampling of GCV members the summer of 2000 revealing top environmental concerns -- air and water pollution, land use, out-of-state trash, billboard, wetlands, Chesapeake Bay, recycling and invasive plants.

The 2000 Conservation Workshop was held on September 13 at the Kent-Valentine House. Kay Slaughter, president of Virginia Conservation Network, provided information about legislative issues facing the 2001 General Assembly.

Martha Wingfield, a member of the Ashland Garden Club and GCV’s representative on Virginia Conservation Network’s board, chaired the Virginia Environmental Assembly on September 16, where one senatorial candidate dropped out at the last minute, forcing Martha to drop the other candidate from the agenda.

The 2000 Conservation Forum, held on October 23-24, at the Hotel Roanoke was initially off to a shaky start when the invited speaker, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, regretted at the last minute and a resulting date change conflicted with VMFA’s “Fine Arts and Flowers.” Fortunately, Forum Chairman Rosemary Wallinger, the Spotswood Garden Club, was able to keep the event on track. The first day included an afternoon at Explore Park, a magnificent 1100-acre park opened to the public on July 2, 1994. The park contains 15 separate sites, some constructed, some reconstructed, all geared to teaching visitors historical, cultural and environmental lessons in an entertaining, “real world” setting. Explore Park’s founding director, Dr. Rupert Cutler, stressed the importance of updating Virginia’s state conservation and forest regulatory laws.

The Tuesday Forum in the Hotel Roanoke ballroom featured two speakers. Dr. Richard C. Collins, Director of the Institute for Environmental Negotiation, UVA School of Architecture, and coauthor of America’s Downtowns: Growth, Politics and Preservation, stressed that in today’s complex and litigious world, workable, sustainable solutions for growth management and environmental issues are best attained with lasting results through mediation and intelligent conflict resolution techniques. The second speaker of the morning, Dr. Dana Beach, founder and Executive Director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League presented slides and statistics relating to growth patterns and problems with sprawl.

Sue presented the 2000 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award to two recipients. The first, Georgie Hughes Morgan, a lower school science teacher at Nansemond Suffolk Academy, has directed the Nansemond River Garden Club’s Summer Ecology Camp for the past 14 years. The second recipient was the Alexandria Seaport Foundation whose mission is “using the power and the beauty of the Potomac River waterfront with Alexandria’s wealth of maritime history to benefit the Northern Virginia Community.”

Legislative Day January 24, 2001, was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. GCV supported legislation on dedicated funding for land conservation. Unfortunately, legislative barring the use of rotating billboards was vetoed and a bill regulating air emissions from new power plants was sent for broader study. The good news? Wildlife cheered when all efforts to weaken the non-tidal wetlands protection program were rebuffed.

Sue reviewed committee activities at the 2001 Annual Meeting, summarized 2001 Legislative Day and outlined upcoming areas of concern: a permanently funded conservation fund, the proliferation of new power plants on the heels of deregulation, non-source point pollution problems and brownfield issues.  She also urged attendees to support legislation that sets limits on interstate trash and to support funding for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The 2001 Conservation Workshop was held on September 12 at the Kent-Valentine House with speaker Lisa M. Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, who presented “Lobbying for Success.” The attendees then broke into six roundtables, each given an issue to be presented to a legislator. Delegate Albert Pollard of Whitestone agreed to be the legislator who had to be convinced. Attendees appreciated his attendance in that the September 11 attacks had occurred the day before, and, especially, because his first child was born just four days prior.

The 2001 Conservation Forum, “Reclamation, Restoration, Revitalization,” was held on October 29-30, at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, chaired by Mary Anne Kellam. Monday afternoon arrivals enjoyed a guided bus tour of properties in downtown Richmond that included reclaimed properties (old warehouses and a cement factory), restored properties (canals) and revitalized properties (Shockoe Slip). Cocktails, dinner and a talk by Lewis Ginter greenhouse manager Ed Olsen followed on Monday night. Tuesday speakers were Alan Front of the Trust for Public Land and Robin Miller, president of Development Resources Corporation. Attendees learned about federal and state brownfield legislation.  (Virginia Code defines "brownfield" as real property; the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.) Chapter 12.1 § 10.1-1230

The 2001 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to Nancy Hugo, garden columnist for the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Legislative Day February 6, 2002 focused on permanent funding for land conservation, water quality improvements, natural resources protection and sound land use legislation. Key speakers were Gerry McCarthy, Director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment; Tayloe Murphy, Secretary of Natural Resources; and Davie Whitehurst, Director of the Wildlife Diversity Department of Inland Game and Fisheries. Funding for the proposed Birding and Hiking Trail was needed to complete the planning phase of the trail from the Eastern Shore to the mountains.

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Chairman Carolyn Jones, The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore

The 2000 Lily Show, “In the Good Old Summertime,” was hosted by the Roanoke Valley Garden Club at the Second Presbyterian Church on June 14-15, chaired by Susie Feinour and Rita Matthews.

2000 Flower Arranging School was held on September 19 at the Woman’s Club in Richmond, chaired by Charlotte Benjamin. Emphasis was placed on flower arranging for Historic Garden Week. Speakers and arrangers were Di Cook, Virginia Guild, Carolyn Jones, Margaret Kincheloe and Lee Snyder.

The 2000 Rose Show, “Time Frames: 1900-2000,” was hosted by the Brunswick Garden Club at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in South Hill on October 5-6, chaired by Joyce Moorman. The show reported 438 stems in 35 horticulture classes and 69 artistic arrangements.

Ron Chiabotta, U.S. Vice President of the North American Lily Society, spoke at the Kent-Valentine House on November 6, 2000, on flower show practice – how and what to exhibit.

A Rose Committee meeting scheduled for March 5, 2001 was cancelled because of the “storm of the century” weather forecast.

The 2001 Daffodil Show was hosted by the James River Garden Club at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond on April 5-6, chaired by Carroll Andrews and Muschi Fisher. The artistic theme, “A Child’s Garden with Toys,” included InterClub arrangements featuring LEGOS®. The show reported 1096 blooms, 67 artistic arrangements and 10 entries in the InterClub horticulture collection class.

The 2001 Lily Show, “The Meeting House,” was hosted at the Chatham Garden Club at Watson Memorial United Methodist Church on June 13-14, chaired by Nancie Motley and Pattie Motley.

2021 Flower Arranging School was held for the first time as a one-day event on September 18 at the Woman’s Club in Richmond, chaired by Charlotte Benjamin and Mary Nelson Thompson. A capacity crowd of 250 attended.

The 2001 Rose Show, “Global Harmony,” was hosted by the Brunswick Garden Club on October 3-4 at Southside Virginia Community College in Alberta, chaired by Joyce Moorman. During judging Randy White, well-known rose grower and exhibitor, presented “Exhibiting Roses in the Fall” in the school’s theater.

Beginning with the 2002 Lily Show, artistic InterClub is to be divided into four distinct classes, each with its own style and its own ribbons. Points earned during the three annual shows will determine an annual InterClub award recipient.

The 2002 Daffodil Show, “Water, Water, Everywhere,” was hosted by Leesburg Garden Club on April 10-11 at the Holiday Inn at Historic Carradoc Hall, chaired by Emma Kelly, with 1179 blooms, 515 exhibits and 94 exhibitors. Richard Ezell, noted ADS judge and award winner, presented a workshop at the show entitled “Blooms that Win, Blooms that Don’t and Why.”

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2001 Tour Chairman Helen Pinckney,  The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

2002 Tour Chairman Meredith Scott, The James River Garden Club

2001 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2002 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

Westend, located in Virginia’s Louisa County, was featured on the cover of the 2001 Historic Garden Week Guidebook. The antebellum mansion was built in 1849 under the supervision of Colonel James Magruder for Susan Dabney Morris Watson. Current homeowner Henry Taylor, Jr. is a direct descendant of Mrs. Watson.

Ticket sales exceeded $702,000, making 2001 the most financially successful tour to date. The HGW Chairman provided an entertaining look at her tour observations: an amazingly detailed topiary chess set with all the appropriate men; seeing a tour chairman talking furiously to her transportation chairman on a walkie-talkie when they looked up to find they were directly across the street from each other; an arrangement card that listed “mystery weed tree;” a green canoe full of red geraniums floating on a pond at the foot of a hill; meeting two men who had each opened three different houses for Historic Garden Week and the visitor who asked a hostess where the “erotic art” in the house was located, only to discover the Guidebook described “exotic art.”

HGW Executive Director Suzanne Munson suggested a “Take Your Husbands to Work Day” after one volunteer’s husband expressed surprise that the stunning flower arrangements contained real flowers. Another visitor was taken aback to see her grandmother’s portrait hanging proudly as an ancestor in the home of a complete stranger.

Pebbleton, the 18th-century home of Kay and Kent Van Allen in Bedford County, was featured on the cover of the 2002 Historic Garden Week Guidebook. The Colonial farmhouse was constructed in 1785 by Colonel Nicolas Davies on land he received from the King of England.

Final ticket sales were reported at $750,268, boosted by bus tours, group sales and advance ticket sales.

For the first time, Historic Garden Week tickets and Guidebooks were offered online for limited 2002 tours on an experimental basis. Another first for Historic Garden Week -- state tour passes were given to 2002 homeowners in appreciation for their generosity.

Executive Director Suzanne Munson reported a call from the Director of Menopausal Tours, Specialty Travel for Women, whose motto is “no men, no kids and no whining,” asking for 2003 tour information for their newsletter, “Hot Flashes.” She also said to expect a visit in 2003 from a group of men from North Carolina who call themselves “Macho Gardeners.”

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Chairman Rosemary Wallinger, The Spotswood Garden Club

The horticulture exhibit at the fall 2000 Board of Governors featured “Salvia, Sage, Lamiacea,” a collection of the stems of five different salvias, annual or perennial or both, exhibited in glass bottles.

The horticulture exhibit at the spring 2001 Annual Meeting, “Layers of the Landscape,” called for a bird garden for all seasons -- from canopy tress to ground covers. Rosemary admitted she had worried the exhibit was asking too much but was delighted to report the projects had involved members, husbands and children, turning the beautiful exhibits into an educational opportunity for all involved.

June 6-7, 2001, Horticulture Field Day

The 2001 Horticulture Workshop, “Drop-Dead Gorgeous Gardening – For the Fun of It,” was held on September 26 at the Kent-Valentine House and included speakers Laura Dansby, "Roses You Can Grow Without Life Support;" Janice Whitehead, "Landscape Gardening Unplugged;" Fran Boninti, "Going Green with Natives;" and Rosemary Wallinger, "Letting Go of Grass."

The horticulture exhibit at the fall 2001 Board of Governors, “Invasive Plants in Your Backyard: Pretty is as Pretty Does,” called for a display of branches or stems of two invasive plants from the club's region, displayed in glass containers, to include suggestions for what to plant instead. In her tribute to the Little Garden Club of Winchester, Sally Guy wondered if “those of us not native to Clarke and Frederick counties are considered alien invasives?!" She added, "We will try to incur no harm in the landscape.”

The horticulture exhibit at the spring 2002 Annual Meeting was “Native Instinct,” described as a “drop-dead beautiful example of how wonderfully resourceful the women of the GCV can be.” Chairman Rosemary Wallinger said The Atlas of Virginia Flora was a valuable resource for the project and recommended it to gardeners and horticulturists.

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Chairman Lucy Ellett, Mill  Mountain Garden Club

2000 summer and fall committee visits included the Adam Thoroughgood House, Boykin’s Tavern, Bacon’s Castle, Smith’s Fort, Smithfield, Fincastle Presbyterian Church, Lee House and Lee Chapel. Lucy reported on a special tour of three Bremo estates in Fluvanna County built by General John Hartwell Cocke in the 19th-century: Bremo Recess (documented by 1999 Favretti Fellow Chris Stevens), Bremo (documented by 2000 Favretti Fellow Brooke Whiting) and Lower Bremo. Owners of the three properties graciously allowed committee members and their husbands to tour the grounds and two of the houses.

The committee authorized work at Bacon’s Castle, Belle Grove, Belmont, Kent-Valentine House, Stratford, Ker Place, Mary Washington House and Smith’s Fort.

Lucy reported Dogwood Lane at Blandy was progressing nicely with a master craftsman stonemason at work; Lee Hall was waiting on insurance endorsements; and, unfortunately, the Moses Myers House continued to have bureaucratic problems. She also reported that the Garden Club of Virginia was recognized at a reception at Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, where a GCV project to restore the pavilions and the well house were complete.

The committee learned that several large trees had been cut down on the UVA campus over the 2000 Christmas vacation, “ostensibly for safety reasons.” One of the trees was located in Pavilion III, another in Pavilion IV.  The committee agreed to send a letter to the Chief Facilities Officer of the University of Virginia, expressing concern and reminding him of the 1993 legally binding agreement between UVA and GCV.

2001 winter and spring committee visits included Scotchtown, the Kent-Valentine House, Wilton, Maymont, Woodlawn, Montpelier and UVA Pavilion Gardens. The UVA visit confirmed the need for major Pavilion renovations. Trees had matured, some removed, some needing removal; plant material had died out; and current plants bore little resemblance to the original Alden Hopkins plan. Mary Hughes, Landscape Architect at UVA, offered funds to begin the restoration at Pavilion III under the direction of Will Rieley

The committee authorized maintenance and updates at the Kent-Valentine House, Mary Washington House, Ker Place and the Mary Washington Monument; as well as assistance with landscape planning at the Sutherlin Mansion in Danville, Boykin’s Tavern in Isle of Wight County and Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.

A restoration maintenance workshop was held at Lewis Ginter on March 7, 2001, chaired by Mary Lou Seilheimer and Katty Mears. Attendees included executive directors, gardeners and horticulturists from GCV restoration properties.

The Gillette garden restoration at the Executive Mansion in Richmond was presented on April 16, 2001. The project’s success was credited to cooperation between the State of Virginia, the Garden Club of Virginia, William D. Rieley, the Waynesboro Nursery and the labor force at the Executive Mansion. First Lady of Virginia Roxanne Gilmore presented the Garden Club of Virginia with a framed picture of Charles Gillette’s original garden in appreciation. Following the presentation, attendees were invited to a reception and were offered tours of the mansion. 2001 summer and fall committee visits included Rosewell, The Mews, St. John’s Church, Centre Hill, Belle Grove, Blandy Experimental Farm, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Dodona Manor and Oatlands.

The committee authorized work at Kenmore, Portsmouth Courthouse, Smithfield, Smith’s Fort, Wilton, Bruton Parish and Lee Chapel. Committee members Margaret Bemiss and Nancy Talley were investigating a reprint of Dottie Williams’s 1975 publication Historic Virginia Gardens.

The committee agreed to accept UVA’s recent offer to restore the Pavilion III garden under the supervision of Will Rieley.

The Capitol Square Preservation Council, chaired by former GCV President Betty Schutte, had called for public proposals for a landscape architect to develop a master landscape plan, estimated at $100,000. As a standing member of the Capitol Square Preservation Council, the committee approved a future donation of $25,000 to be applied toward the plan.

The presentation of the Bowling Green at Mount Vernon was held on October 21, 2001. It was unfortunate that Rudy Favretti was unable to attend, as this was his final project for the Garden Club of Virginia. Will Rieley read notes on Rudy's behalf. The Bowling Green was originally planned and planted by George Washington, and the 1999 restoration included many of the plants used during Washington’s era. The presentation began at 5:45 p.m. and was followed by a reception on the piazza of Mount Vernon, hosted by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.

2002 winter and spring committee visits included Point of Honor, Moses Myers House, Portsmouth Courthouse and Lee Hall.

The committee authorized work at Fincastle Presbyterian Church, Lee Chapel, Mount Vernon, Scotchtown, Smith’s Fort, Lee Hall, UVA, Kent-Valentine House, Wilton, Moses Myers House and Portsmouth Courthouse. The committee continued to investigate reprinting Historic Virginia Gardens.

The Moses Myers House project required last minute repairs when electrical work in the garden caused a great deal of damage to brick that had been laid and to the sundial which had been given by the Garden Club of Norfolk. Lucy acknowledged the Garden Club of Norfolk, Harborfront Garden Club and the Virginia Beach Junior Garden Club for their substantial contributions to cover the cost of lighting in the garden.

The second announcement was a proposal for final landscape plans, construction documents and subsequent implementation of the plans at Dodona Manor, former home of General George C. Marshall in Leesburg. In 1998, the Restoration Committee had directed Will Rieley to prepare a conceptual plan for four acres covered by a TEA-21 grant. Will presented slides of Dodona Manor, showing the property with conceptual plans, and described plans for the restoration. The project was enthusiastically endorsed by attendees.

Lucy was pleased to report on recognition recently received by two GCV landscape architects. In celebrating the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia held a luncheon, awarded medals in the fields of law and architecture and planted a tree in memory of Alden Hopkins, Landscape Architect of the Garden Club of Virginia, who was responsible for the design of the West Lawn Pavilion gardens in 1947-1953. He was also partially responsible for the design of the East Lawn Pavilion gardens but died before the project was complete.

The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects awarded “Society Honors” to Garden Club of Virginia Landscape Architect Will Rieley as one whose efforts have positively influenced the built environment. Specifically mentioned was his work in sustaining the high quality of Virginia’s historic landscapes. She then introduced Will Rieley who presented slides of work in progress at the Moses Myers House and Lee Hall and described plans for the 2002 Favretti Fellowship site, Old Mansion.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

Adriane Fowler of the UVA landscape architecture program was named 2001 Favretti Fellow; she was selected to make measured drawings at Bremo in Fluvanna County. The drawings will complete the 2000 research at the same property by Favretti Fellow Brooke Whiting.

2001 Favretti Fellow Jocelyn Chorney, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. was selected to document Lower Bremo, the smallest of General John Hartwell Cocke’s three Bremo plantations.

Sarah Trautvetter, graduate student in the MLA program at the University of Virginia, was selected as the 2002 Favretti Fellow, to document Old Mansion, an early 18th-century house in Bowling Green, described as a “blue chip” architectural specimen of the Colonial Chesapeake Bay area style and as a threatened landscape. The property included large groupings of dwarf boxwood in front of the house, geometric plantings of boxwood to the east of the house, and an allee of American hollies of considerable stature. Sarah provided an informative report on her work at the spring 2003 Annual Meeting in Fairfax.

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Chairmen Elaine Burden, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club and Fleet Hurlbatt, The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore

The inaugural Speakers Series event was held on January 15, 2001, at the Kent-Valentine House. The first speaker, Arabella Dane of Boston, Massachusetts, presented “Creative Elements of Design.” Mrs. Dane is a Garden Club of America flower-arranging and horticulture judge, a master flower show judge, landscape consultant and founder of the GCA Flower Arranging Study Group. The second speaker, Mary Phipps of Old Westbury, Long Island, presented a slide show using Old Westbury gardens to illustrate the importance of connecting one’s house to the landscape and how to have a succession of color throughout the season. Mrs. Phipps is a GCA member and a former president of the Old Westbury Gardens Board of Trustees.

The 2002 Speakers Series was held January 7 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The event sold out, but inclement weather west of Charlottesville prevented some ticket holders from crossing snowy Afton Mountain. Vacancies were filled with wait-listed members. Landscape Architect Chip Callaway focused on landscape design and presented a slide program, “Favorite Plants in the Garden.” Suzy Bales, author and flower lover who tends a large garden off the north shore of Long Island, spoke on the scented garden, and author Jack Staub, widely considered to be one of the country's leading experts on edible gardening, spoke on classic and contemporary vegetable gardens.

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“The last two years will leave me with years of memories. The accomplishments we all worked so very hard to complete have left me with a sense of pride. The very best  news is that morale is running at a record high. Our members are excited to learn of our successes and supportive when they learn of our setbacks. We are a strong group of very savvy women. Teach this to your new members. The more events they attend the more they feel an important part of a larger mission in the Garden Club of Virginia life.

~Mary Hart Darden, May 2004

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Mary Hart held her first summer board meeting at Farmington Country Club on July 20, 2002.  She welcomed board members and called on Parliamentarian Lucy Ellett to review changes to bylaws and standing rules as presented at the 2002 spring Annual Meeting.

Mary Hart described her introduction to the presidency as “less than auspicious” when her first official action was dealing with Kent-Valentine House sewerage problems. Her summer highlights included Horticulture Field Day in Alexandria and the Lily Show in Chatham where, she added, “the microphone wouldn’t work and I forgot the name of the church member the minister requested I pray for.”

Kim Nash reported for the Journal and the editorial board that the replacement of the December and June Updates with full-fledged Journals had increased costs considerably and would require more advertisers to make up the difference. (It had been previously recommended that each of the four Journals be limited to about 20 pages.) Sarah Bass reported on plans to merge the Slides and Public Relations committees. Mary Lou Seilheimer moved to authorize Public Relations Committee Chairman Fleet Hurlbatt to move forward with plans for the Richmond Times Dispatch to publish a Garden Club of Virginia fall supplement. Motion carried.

Mina Wood, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, reported that her committee was beginning the search for a new administrator to replace Kathy Rolph, who would be leaving in October.

Finance Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reported that the GCV insurance bill was $4,700 over budget, indicating a need for evaluation. She also reported concerns about a lack of guidelines for check writing procedures.

Mary Hart announced the upcoming retirement of GCV Attorney Joseph Carter and his offer of assistance in selecting a new attorney.

Business concluded and the meeting was adjourned.

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The eighty-third Board of Governors meeting, chaired by Petie Matheson and Betty Barr Ould, was held in Gloucester on October 8-10, 2002.

The Board of Directors met for lunch and board meeting on October 8 at White Marsh Plantation, the beautiful, historic home of Connie Ingles.

Mary Hart began the board meeting by reminding liaisons of their duties, and then requested that a recap of board minutes be provided, not to replace minutes, but to serve as a quick reminder of tasks to be accomplished and by whom.

Board members discussed increases in Journal expenses and decreases in ad revenue. The discussion also revealed confusion in Journal budgeting practices.

Personnel Chairman Mina Wood reported that Maggie King began work on September 16, 2002, as Administrator to the Garden Club of Virginia, replacing Kathy Rolph. Maggie was hired to manage and care for the Kent-Valentine House; function as the contact and communicator for GCV activities at the KVH; manage the GCV website; coordinate email; and perform database entry and maintenance.

At the recommendation of the Finance Committee, Dianne Spence moved that costs associated with registration and meals at GCV events be waived for the President of the Garden Club of Virginia beginning January 1, 2003. Motion carried.

Additional topics included more detailed financial discussions, announcements of upcoming events and plans to expand HGW online ticket sales. Following administrative business, the meeting was adjourned.

Cocktails and the Dutch treat dinner were held at “history-filled Warner Hall and water’s edge, to wine and dine and walk on ballroom floors where George Washington learned to dance.”

Mary Hart called the Board of Governors to order Wednesday morning at the historic, Ccolonial courthouse building in Gloucester and introduced Peggy Bowditch, president of the Garden Club of Gloucester, who described a “reverence for the past.” She continued, “You meet today in our 1766 courthouse, the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States. John Clayton, an internationally known botanist, served as clerk of the Gloucester court from 1720 to 1773.”

Club historian Sarah Finney followed with a brief history of the club. She pointed out the brick wall and sidewalks in the historic courthouse area -- funded by the club’s first project in the early 1920s. She also described a project begun by president Maude Perrin MacKubin in the 1930s, offering a prize to the child who killed the greatest number of tent caterpillars. “Method of proof and number killed is not noted.” Sarah continued, “Today I am wearing a part of my history with the Garden Club of Gloucester. In 1976, when I was president, I went to my first GCV meeting in Virginia Beach. When I came home, I told my husband that I could not possibly continue as president without an ultrasuede suit as 99% of the ladies present at the meeting had them on.”

Mary Hart described her whirlwind of summer and fall activities and encouraged the club presidents in attendance to get to know each other as “the best line of support.”

Rachel Cottrell, the Garden Club of Norfolk, presented an update of their 2002 Common Wealth Award project, “The Virginia Native Plant Garden at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.” The $6,000 funding was used to purchase 862 plants, composting and pine straw -- “hardwood trees and appropriate under planting in the bottomland/hardwood forest with emphasis on rare, threatened and horticulturally interesting species.” Rachel added that the Norfolk Botanical Garden would continue to maintain the garden.

Business reports followed. Conservation and Beautification Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize urged attendees to vote YES for a $119 million Virginia Parks and Natural Areas bond referendum. If approved, bond funds would be used to help conserve Virginia’s important natural resources and provide more recreational offerings.

Historian and Custodian of Records Lynne Beeler reported,

“On September 9 most of you attended the presidents' luncheon at the Kent-Valentine House. While you were enjoying an informative speaker and a delicious luncheon, I was there combing the archives. It was then that I came across some words in a report from the '70s that I feel sum up the purpose of recording our club histories. These words are: ‘That the future may learn from the past.’ With these words in mind, I proceeded upstairs and explored each club’s file box. It was then that I discovered a lot of the ‘past’ was not in these boxes. I was sorry to see that some clubs had not put anything in the box since 1996 or 1998. I then thought, the future will have very little to learn if our files are not up to date.”

Development Committee Chairman Susan Ewing outlined her committee’s focus to “secure the Kent-Valentine House endowment and motivate members to keep it growing for the future.” A coordinated effort was underway to establish procedures that would allow GCV to request foundation funding for KVH needs.

Following business reports, speakers Brent and Becky Heath presented, “Past, Present and Future: Over 100 Years of Daffodils and More.” Attendees were treated to lunch at Wareham Farm, home of Barbara and Peter Hunt, and Five Gables, home of Emily and George Barbee, followed by choice of an afternoon bus tour of historic sites and gardens at Rosewell, Lisborne and Elmington, or a river tour by boat on the Yorktown Lady.

Cocktails and a lavish awards banquet were held al fresco that evening at Goshen, the historic home of Adriane and Edwin Joseph overlooking the Ware River. Clam shell place cards and floral centerpieces of cattails, bittersweet and roses adorned each table. The 2002 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore for their “Community Garden Central Park” in Cape Charles.

Mary Hart reconvened the Board of Governors on Thursday morning at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s Waterman’s Hall and business reports continued. Parliamentarian Lucy Ellett provided an overview of GCV policies concerning member clubs, the GCV membership list, lobbying, tax-exempt status, contributions and budget allowances. Fleet Hurlbatt and Linda Consolvo described a trial unification of the Slides and Public Relations committees.

At the close of business, attendees were offered three seminars: a local expert discussing "Gardening Without Water; Bessie Carter and Lucy Ellett on the Restoration Committee; and Honorable Albert Pollard on "How to be an Effective Lobbyist for your Legislature."

Meredith Scott offered a tribute to the Garden Club of Gloucester and the meeting was adjourned.

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The GCV Board of Directors met January 14, 2003, at the Country Club of Virginia.

A major topic of discussion concerned keeping up with rapidly growing technology, including the database in progress (what to include and how to collect data), outdated computers, help with data entry, and website growing pains.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize noted an upcoming Journal article to outline the history between the Garden Club of Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network and Virginia Environmental Assembly. She described a “brag board” and suggested GCV might display one at all events. Mary Bruce moved that her committee create a permanent, portable display to highlight GCV interests and achievements, to be used at such places deemed appropriate by the committee. Motion carried.

Mary Bruce reported that Legislative Day interest would focus on land use and conservation. Bessie Carter moved that the Conservation and Beautification Committee be authorized to support any legislation that arose to help funding for the Secretary of Natural Resources. Motion carried.

Finance Chairman Dianne Spence reported the difficulty of tracking the various GCV accounts because no central source existed among the various treasurers. She also reported that payroll responsibilities had been reassigned, with GCV Administrator Maggie King being given the responsibilities of maintaining and enhancing the website, bill paying, payroll, donations, member database and Kent-Valentine House rentals.

Business reports followed and the meeting was adjourned.

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The eighty-third Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Garden Club of Fairfax on May 12-14, 2003, at the Fair Lakes Hyatt, chaired by Sandy Aman and Nancy Anne Cook.

The Board of Directors gathered on May 12 at the home of Suzi Worsham in Clifton for lunch, followed by the board meeting.

A revised edition of the Member’s Handbook was presented.

Business reports from Development, Communications and Journal committees followed. Finance Chairman Dianne Spence initiated a discussion of the soaring insurance costs, pointing out that GCV was fortunate coverage was not canceled following the large sewerage repair claim. She also presented a motion from the Kent-Valentine House Committee that up to $5,000 be approved from the balance of the kitchen renovation fund to purchase 60 ballroom chairs, a trolley to carry and store chairs, 8 white tablecloths and white overlays. The chairs would be offered for rental during events at the Kent-Valentine House. Motion carried.

Following business, the meeting adjourned.

An elegant Dutch treat dinner was held in the hotel that evening, offering an Oriental buffet that included “too many desserts from which to choose.” Mary Hart called the Annual Meeting to order Wednesday morning and welcomed attendees. Jo Ann Benson and Charlotte Benjamin (outgoing and incoming Fairfax presidents, respectively) each provided brief remarks and introduced club historians Roberta Carter and Linda Schlesinger. Roberta and Linda swept attendees back to 1926, when sisters Katherine McCandlish Richardson and Ruth McCandlish Graham, dressed in finery appropriate for the day, invited friends for tea in Katherine’s rose garden.

Mary Hart reported that attendees would hear about the recently revised Members Handbook from Deedy Bumgardner, the first edition of the GCV Committee Manual from Dianne Spence and updates to the GCV database from Annabel Josephs. She reviewed activities that had provided members with opportunities for continuing education -- workshops by Journal, Horticulture, Flower Shows and Conservation and Beautification committees; and special events that included forums, lectures, flower show speakers and Horticulture Field Day.

Meg Clement reported on the “Tree Memorial Project,” a remembrance of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Every club participated in the project, planting more than 65 trees. Meg continued, “Sprinkled across the Commonwealth, these trees stand tall in the forms of foster holly, katsura, dogwood, tulip poplar, honey locust and more.” She continued, “These memorials will remind us of that one horrid event, but they are as unique as each of the lives lost on September 11. The Garden Club of the Northern Neck joined with the students of Rappahannock Community College to create a meditation garden, while the Garden Club of Warren County planted 15 trees along Front Royal’s Peyton Street. Fauquier and Loudon Garden Club surrounded Goose Creek Bridge with swamp magnolias, while the four clubs in Richmond dedicated scarlet oaks at Mary Munford School and included a reading from Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. From Norway spruce in Winchester to the crape myrtles at Martinsville’s public library, from the red maple at Virginia Beach’s Garden Park to the mountain ash in Lynchburg’s Old City Cemetery, these trees will reflect the dignity, courage and hope that have arisen from our emotions born on September 11.”

GCV Members Handbook, offered for sale $3.00 and Catherine Whitham reported on the new planned giving brochure. Catherine also reported for Development Chairmen Susan Ewing that the Board of Directors had approved a resolution for the committee to seek foundations gifts for capital projects at the Kent-Valentine House, adding, “Local foundations will support GCV efforts to protect and preserve the historic house as long as a prudent, long-term, fundraising plan is in place with the membership.”

Horticulture Chairman Suzanne Wright announced 2003 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Sally Guy Brown, the Garden Club of Alexandria; Pamela Simpson DeBergh, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club; Laura Anne Brooks, the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula; Katharine Kingsley, Leesburg Garden Club; Foxie Morgan, the Lynchburg Garden Club; and Pat Taylor, the Boxwood Garden Club.

Public Relations Chairman Fleet Hurlbatt and Slides Committee Chairman Linda Consolvo summarized their efforts on plans to merge the two committees. Fleet described her responsibility in photographing and providing press releases for GCV events with Linda serving as her assistant and scribe.

The meeting was adjourned for the day and attendees were invited to Mount Vernon for lunch. Ann Gordon Evans described the afternoon, “With lunch and our rosemary centerpiece, we saw a horticulturist at his very best. The head horticulturist at Mount Vernon, Dean Norton, treated us to an afternoon filled with film, lecture, Mount Vernon gardens and lots of fun.” During the tour, attendees had an opportunity to see Mount Vernon’s bowling green, one of Rudy Favretti’s final restoration projects as the GCV Landscape Architect.

The awards banquet was held that evening at the George Mason University Center for the Arts.

Rosemary Wallinger, Betsy Agelasto and Clarkie Eppes discussed Journal goals to meet the increasing financial needs, after moving from two Journals to four, and the need to reduce the turnaround time required for editing, printing and mailing the Journals. They described a successful workshop on March 24, 2003, when Nancy Hugo presented, “The Writer’s Life: Combining the Passion with the Prose,” and followed with an amusing conversation describing the “tall and short of things” -- short articles of 450 words or less and tall orders to reach out for articles.

Barbara Catlett reported on completed Kent-Valentine House renovations of the kitchens and third-floor bathroom, then introduced Dudley Brown who spoke about his work on the project. Annabel Josephs then presented GCV Honorary Membership to C. Dudley Brown. His contributions to Kent-Valentine construction and renovation projects and interior design advice have proven invaluable to the Garden Club of Virginia.

Mary Glen Taylor, 2003 de Lacy Gray Medal recipient, gave an informative report on her project to search and catalogue Charles Gillette’s work.

Nominations Chairman Katty Mears presented the following slate in nomination for 2003-2005 Directors at Large: Meredith Scott, the James River Garden Club; Molly Rueger, the Virginia Beach Garden Club and Joyce Moorman, the Brunswick Garden Club. The motion to approve the adoption of the slate carried.

Restoration Chairman Bessie Carter introduced 2002 Favretti Fellow, Sarah Trautvetter, who gave an informative report on her work at Old Mansion in Bowling Green.

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The GCV Board of Directors met on July 19, 2003, at the Frederick House Inn. Morning business focused primarily on finances. Mary Hart reported that she had recently asked the committees to trim 10% from their expenses, to include a reduction in audit and insurance costs. Among efforts to reduce insurance costs, Finance Chairman Dianne Spence reported that GCV had raised the deductible, reduced insured contents, canceled fine arts and automobile policies, and arranged for Historic Garden Week to pay its share of costs. To reduce audit costs, the GCV accountant suggested GCV hire a bookkeeper to handle all accounts, a suggestion dismissed at the time as too expensive and unrealistic due to committee chairmen living in different parts of the state. Use of financial software was discussed.

The board approved GCV dues paying memberships in Nature Camp Foundation, Scenic Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Floribunda Society.

GCV database discussions continued, revealing a need for professional, technical assistance. Unfortunately, estimates were coming in much higher than anticipated.

Mary Hart announced receipt of a letter from the National Society of Madison Family Descendants in which they describe an award, the Madison Cup, to be presented to the Garden Club of Virginia in appreciation for the long years of work in their gardens at Montpelier.

Linda Consolvo reported on transitioning from slides to photographs, adding that members seemed “not quite ready” to give up slides but not having requested them.  Slide evaluations by those who had requested them were not favorable.

After months in planning, a garden study trip to California scheduled for fall 2003 was canceled when registration failed to reach the required minimum.

Following administrative business, the meeting was adjourned. Board members and spouses enjoyed an evening on the Middle River.

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The eighty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore on October 21-23, 2003, chaired by Carolyn Jones.

The Board of Directors met at Kendall Grove Point, the home of Katty Mears, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch prior to the board meeting.

Mary Hart opened the board meeting with, “Today you will be asked to consider several mildly radical changes in the operation of the GCV. Some suggestions will need our consideration and decision during this meeting. Others will need you to mull over and arrive at the January board meeting ready to offer your views and begin the process needed to make bylaw changes at the May Board of Directors meeting in 2004.”

Financial topics included a decision to pay for a speaker for the upcoming Board of Governors to replace the roundtable discussions; a decision to make a $500 donation to the Williamsburg Garden Club to offset the financial loss of the green offering at the canceled Rose Show; a recommendation by GCV auditor to consider eliminating the position of Journal treasurer and transferring those duties to the GCV Treasurer; a discussion on proposed changes to policies and procedures to reduce costs; and the ongoing interviews for a technical expert to assist with database implementation.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize questioned the wisdom of having the Conservation Forum in October, an exceptionally busy month for GCV members, offering November as a better choice.  Other comments from board members questioned location advantages and the idea of offering one day forums in alternate years. Discussion was to follow at the January board meeting.

A Speakers Series discussion brought up some questions: How speakers were selected? Should the event be moved around the state? Should the committee be placed under the Horticulture Committee? Discussion was to follow at theJanuary board meeting.

Bessie Carter moved that the Nominations Chairman be invited to attend any board meetings that the President deems appropriate. Motion carried.

The Dutch treat dinner was held at the Turner Sculpture Gallery in Olney, where attendees enjoyed “gazing and grazing.”

Mary Hart called the eighty-fourth meeting of the Board of Governors to order on October 22 at the Accomac County Courthouse and introduced club president Claiborne Dickinson who welcomed the crowd adding, “Yes, Virginia, there is an Eastern Shore!” Claiborne then introduced club historian Queekie Gladden.

Queekie reported an amazing history of the club, beginning with a 2003 membership of 70 that ranged in age from 33 to 90, including 11 who had been active for 48+ years. The club had initiated conservation projects like Camp Osprey for children and Project Wild for teachers; civic plantings of crape myrtles, trees and daffodils; and the removal of hundreds of unsightly, abandoned cars to name just a few. She named individual members and properties that had earned legendary status among GCV members -- Eyre Hall and Furlong Baldwin; Ker Place; Amine Kellam; Port Isobel and Central Park; Vena Walker; Dot Kellam; and Katty Mears.

Lee Cochran followed with a tribute to Hunter Hankins Savage, former GCV President 1976-1978, and referred to a beautifully written Journal article by Nancy Talley where she recounted Hunter’s many offices in the GCV and her Massie Medal award in 1994. She described Hunter’s characteristic modesty and generosity when, at the conclusion of the Moses Myers landscape presentation ceremony in May, she quietly gave the Garden Club of Virginia a check to cover the expenses of the occasion. Lee quoted from Nancy’s tribute, “An administrative dynamo who moved in an almost palpable aura of fun, Hunter Savage wore the highest heels and the brightest clothes, and turned the latest fashion from trendy to style.”

Mary Hart began her report by describing the “lighter side” of her experiences, allowing committee chairmen to report the business. She described fossil hunting in the rain on the Nansemond River in a 14’ aluminum boat and a train trip to northern Virginia where she realized, almost too late, conductors no longer call out station stops!

Annabel Josephs, Page Sullenberger and Maggie King reported that problems continued with database, described as “a wealth of information but, at present, it is unwieldy.” Annabel asked each club president to provide a hard copy backup. Page Sullenberger reported on trying to find a database consultant “for the monster” and a new hosting service for the website. She reported optimistically on the successful website calendar.

Member Handbooks, Follow the Green Arrow II and Gardens and Landscape of Virginia were offered for sale at the meeting.

Virginia Savage, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, provided an update on the club’s 2002 Common Wealth Award, “Cape Charles Central Park.”

The meeting was adjourned for the day. Attendees were invited to lunch at member homes Windingdale and Woodlands. “Martha Stewart in her heyday could not have planned more beautiful settings.” Attendees then traveled to the Barrier Islands Museum, housed in an old alms house, getting a glimpse into the rugged maritime history that has shaped the Eastern Shore. Next was a trip to Eyre Hall where attendees were delighted to be shown around by the owner, Furlong Baldwin, and his sister, whose family have lived there for fourteen generations. The day was crowned with cocktails at Ker Place, followed by the awards banquet in a heated tent where musicians played. Guests were “intrigued by the table decorations which used split peas to secure the lush, bright flowers, and convinced that the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore will be eating lots of soup this winter!”

The 2003 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Spotswood Garden Club for “Healing Gardens at Camp Still Meadows.”

The meeting was reconvened Thursday morning at Cobb Island Coast Guard Station. Because the facility was not amenable for the usual roundtable discussions, speakers were invited to the meeting. Mary Hart introduced Steve Parker of the Nature Conservancy. Deedy then introduced Jennifer Kibler, corporate sales trainer and consultant, who presented “Stay Positive and Be More Effective.” Finally, Katty introduced H. Furlong Baldwin, Chairman of the Board, NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. and retired CEO of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, who spoke on leadership.

The meeting wrapped up with remaining business reports, and Annabel Josephs offered a tribute to the Eastern Show Garden Club before the meeting was adjourned.

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The Board of Directors met on January 13, 2004, at the Kent-Valentine House. Mary Hart Darden reported on her travels to Montpelier to accept the Madison Cup on behalf of GCV. She was seated beside Lord and Lady Cornwallis at the awards dinner and when she asked where next in Virginia they were headed, Lord Cornwallis stated they were going to Yorktown, “where we got our thrashing.” Mary Hart described him as, “so charming, I almost forgot he was a Redcoat.”

Annabel Josephs provided the 2004-2006 slate from the Nominations Committee, to be presented in May for approval by the membership.

Board discussions focused again on finances and the announcement that QuickBooks accounting software had been selected for use by all treasurers of the Garden Club of Virginia. New cost-saving policies and procedures for the Journalcontinued to evolve. As a result of continued database concerns, technical consultant Gary Mittler of Media Orange in Charlottesville was engaged for $6,000 to make the database current and stabilized.

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The eighty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was held on May 19-20, 2004, at the Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg, chaired by Glenna Graves and Susan Craun.

The Board of Directors was hosted for lunch on Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at the home of Widgee Zirkle, where Mary Hart thanked her board members with parting gifts. The board meeting followed at the Hampton Inn.

Business included numerous changes to bylaws. The Journal treasurer position was eliminated and those duties were transferred to the GCV Treasurer. The Journal Advertising Committee was expanded and Journal cost-cutting measures were announced.

After previously reporting on soaring insurance costs and the efforts to reduce the costs, Finance Chairman Dianne Spence received notice that the insurance policy would not be renewed. She credited Cabell West and Anne Baldwin with obtaining a less expensive replacement policy with more coverage.

It was mentioned with concern that the “dial-up modem was limited to 1500 minutes; the staff has been mindful of turning the Internet off when they are not using it.”

Mary Hart called the eighty-fourth Annual Meeting to order and introduced Rachel Hollis, Spotswood president who then introduced club historian Sandra Eagle.

“And while this is our first Annual Meeting, we have had three Board of Governors meetings. In October 1933, we entertained the Board of Governors with headquarters at the Kavanaugh Hotel. The minutes read, ‘A series of entertainments were given in their honor, and every effort was made to give pleasure to our distinguished guests.’ In 1955, we again had this pleasure. Those minutes catalog a round of luncheons, tea and dinner. Although the minutes don’t mention it specifically, we assume the guests were distinguished. The 1979 Board of Governors meeting made the record books. The city had 10 inches of snow on October 10. At that meeting our distinguished guests were confined to the motel lobby as we ferried food and flowers through the snowbanks in four-wheel drives, readjusting our plans as the flakes piled up.”

Sandra continued with the club’s many successes in hosting GCV events and in supporting the community through the years. “There is hardly a median strip untouched, a ragged corner that goes begging or a municipal building under landscaped.”

Mary Hart expressed pride in the presentation of three restoration projects during her term: Moses Myers House garden in Norfolk; Lee Hall in Newport News; and the stone walls of Dogwood Lane in Clarke County; she laughed about her 1994 assignment to install a database of GCV members saying, “You think you are a bit slow? That assignment took me 10 years to complete!”

Lucy Ellett read a House Resolution commending the Garden Club of Virginia for the Memorial Tree Project.

Communications Chairman Page Sullenberger reported, “There is little that goes on in GCV that one won’t find at www.gcvirginia.org. And perhaps the most thrilling of all is the speed with which the membership has dumped tons of bits of data into our coffers. They are as treasured as gold.”

Development Chairman Susan Ewing reported that exterior renovations and repairs at the Kent-Valentine House were estimated in the $200,000 range. This would include balustrade and portico reconstruction. She announced plans to contact and make proposals to several local foundations for assistance with the project. The committee was also considering an annual listing of donors in the Journal.

Historian Lynn Beeler reported, “After a year and a half of planning, canceling and replanning, we had a most successful meeting of approximately 35 club historians and a few club presidents at the Kent-Valentine House in October 2003. Paulette Schwarting, an archivist with the Virginia Historical Society presented methods of preserving scrapbooks, photographs and other important papers. Attendees then toured the KVH and sorted through their club boxes. Some were happy with their overstuffed boxes, while some found more dust than history!”

Julia Stickley of the Spotswood Garden Club introduced speaker John Heatwole, celebrated author and historian, who presented, “Memories of the Land Beyond the Blue Mountains.”

Mary Hart presented for the first time the North American Lily Society Award for Service to Genie Diller. The award was designed by her husband and talented artist, David Diller.

The 2004 Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement was presented to Dorothy Harris Montgomery for her leadership, service, advocacy and devotion to the Garden Club of Virginia. The 2004 de Lacy Gray Memorial Medal for Conservation was presented to Rebecca McGovern for a lifetime of achievement in conservation and beautification.

Mary Hart reconvened the meeting on Thursday morning. Following a report by Conservation and Beautification Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize, Nina Luxmoore of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation presented the GCV with a John Barber print to thank the GCV for their continued support for working to protect the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. The CBF and GCV have worked together on a variety of issues, including poultry waste, wetlands protection, King William Reservoir and increased funding for natural resources.

Betsy Agelasto and Clarke Eppes compared their committee efforts to streamline Journal production and reduce costs with the Extreme Makeover shows on television, calling their work an Extreme Journal Makeover.

Horticulture Chairman Suzanne Wright reminded attendees that The Horticulture Committee’s Directory of Nurseries, Speakers and Books was posted on the GCV website. After describing upcoming horticulture events, Suzanne presented Horticulture Awards of Merit to Nita Easley Andrew, Chatham Garden Club; Mary Sherwood Holt, Huntington Garden Club; Mac Doughtie Houfek, the Virginia Beach Garden Club; Genrose Lashinger, the Williamsburg Garden Club; Anne Olsen, the Garden Club of the Northern Neck; Nancy J. Philpott, the Garden Study Club; Linda Pinkham, the Elizabeth River Garden Club; Kay Van Allen, the Lynchburg Garden Club; and Lucy Wilson, the Martinsville Garden Club.Public Relations Chairman Fleet Hurlbatt presented Mary Hart with “collection of wonderful memories of all that has been achieved during your leadership. Enjoy!”

Following a report by Restoration Chairman Bessie Carter, Rosemary Wallinger introduced Andre Viette, author, radio show host, nursery owner and propagator.

Ellen Saunders paid tribute to Spotswood, saying, “The ladies of the Spotswood Garden Club have given us a virtual Friendship Quilt to carry with us as we travel home.”

Nominations Chairman Katty Mears presented the following 2004-2006 slate for approval.

Deedy Bumgardner paid tribute to Mary Hart with a clever and glowing “performance evaluation” of Mary Hart as the head gardener. Her evaluation included Mary Hart’s extensive GCV knowledge gained through numerous, previously held leadership positions; her selection of capable chairmen; her push, leadership and insistence that GCV become computer savvy; her wise advice and cheerful encouragement; her careful pruning (slides, budgets and more); and her skills in handling skirmishes with Richmond’s Architectural Review Board. A standing ovation followed.

Mary Hart bid farewell to the office and wished Deedy well as she was poised to bring her own dreams and aspirations to the office of President of the Garden Club of Virginia. Deedy then adjourned the eighty-fourth Annual Meeting.

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Chairman Cora Sue Spruill, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

Dudley Brown was invited in spring of 2003 to join the Garden Club of Virginia as an Honorary Member. He played leadership roles in the 1996-1998 KVH tower construction, recent renovation of the existing structure, interior design, then recent renovations of kitchens and third-floor bathroom. He brought in specialists in color analysis, faux painting artists and gifted chandeliers from his personal treasures, including the two office chandeliers and the East Parlor. He is equally at home on a ladder in jeans or celebrating in a tuxedo. Upon accepting the honor, Dudley said, “It is never difficult to do things for people you love.” Read transcript of interview with Dudley Brown. 

Furlong Baldwin was invited in the spring of 2004 to join the Garden Club of Virginia as an Honorary Member.  A native of the Eastern Shore and honorary member of that club, he has shared his ancestral home, Eyre Hall, with the Garden Club of Virginia since 1942 during Historic Garden Week. He graciously accepted the invitation.

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Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize, The Little Garden Club of Winchester

The Conservation and Beautification Committee continued to work on a proposed presentation board (brag board) led by Betsy Quarles. The board was to rest on an old, wrought iron stand at events and would describe conservation and beautification efforts, short articles about GCV activities, history, grassroots legislative efforts, forum information and a list of GCV success stories.

The 2002 Conservation Workshop was held September 12 at the Kent-Valentine House with featured speaker Roy Hoagland, Virginia Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. His CBF associates Nina Luxmoore and Barbara Sayer provided CBF resources for GCV members to use in gardening, education and legislation.

The Virginia Conservation Network presented the 2002 Virginia Environmental Assembly, “Preserving Our Natural Resources -- Our Link to the Past and Bridge to the Future” on October 4-6 in Williamsburg.

The 2002 Conservation Forum, “Downtown’s Doing It: Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future,” was held October 28-29, 2002, in Lynchburg. Attendees were given a trolley tour of Lynchburg’s historic downtown area on Monday afternoon – Old City Cemetery, Point of Honor, Percival’s Island and Blackwater Creek Hiking Trail, followed by dinner at Amazement Square that opened doors to present and future possibilities. Rachel Flynn, Director of Community Planning and Development for Lynchburg, discussed the challenges and successes of preserving and restoring downtown spaces.

Tuesday’s Forum speakers were Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, Coordinator of the National Parks Service Historic Landscape Initiative, who focused on the preservation of historic landscapes, and Julie Bargmann, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at UVA, who discussed the work involved in reclamation of industrial sites. Their presentations provided “innovative approaches to preserving our past and protecting our future, transforming the way we look at our environment and perceive our viewshed.”

The 2002 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to an individual and a corporation. Alice Stratton Wellford was recognized for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of the invasive reed Phragmites australis in tidal marshes and to eliminate it from the marshes along the Rappahannock River and tidal creeks.

Dimon Incorporated of Danville received the award for best practices in sustaining the natural and cultural heritage of Danville’s historic district after renovating their 1873-era corporate headquarters buildings with respect for the architecture of the past.

Legislative Day on January 16, 2003, focused on land use, conservation and funding for natural resources, with emphasis on Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFO) legislation. Legislative Day Chairman Sallie Sebrell gathered speakers from the conservation community, including VCN representative Martha Wingfield, Suffolk Mayor Dana Dickens, Delegate Frank Hargrove and Senator Leslie Byrne. APFO legislation did not pass in 2003, but the committee made plans to revisit the legislation in 2004.

The 2003 Conservation and Beautification Workshop was scheduled for September 24 at the Kent-Valentine House. Chairman Tish King had secured presenters Jocelyn Sladen to discuss the Federal Endangered Species Act; Kay Slaughter to discuss how to play an active role in legislative issues; and keynote speaker Chris Ludwig to discuss the Flora of Virginia Project.  Unfortunately, the workshop was canceled due to Hurricane Isabel.

The 2003 Conservation Forum, “Water: A Reality Check,” was held October 27-28, 2003, in Norfolk at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, chaired by Judy Kidd. Attendees took a fabulous trip on Monday afternoon aboard a Chesapeake Bay Foundation floating classroom with specialist Nina Luxmoore.

Tuesday’s Forum speakers were Rick Eades, President of GEO Interactive Associates in Charleston, West Virginia, and Will Backer, President and Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, Maryland.

The 2003 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to Friends of the Shenandoah River, for their dedication to the preservation and protection of the Shenandoah River and its tributaries.

Legislative Day 2004, held January 26 and chaired by Sallie Sebrell, continued to focus on billboards, Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances legislation (APFO), to support legislation to increase funding for the Secretary of Natural Resources and the King William Reservoir. Weather all but shut down Richmond, but attendees were treated to roundtable discussions and the undivided attention of legislators.

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Chairman Mary Nelson Thompson, The Franklin Garden Club

Mary Nelson presented the first GCV InterClub Award to the Spotswood Garden Club in 2003. The judging period began with the 2002 Lily Show and ended with the 2003 Daffodil Show.

The 2002 Lily Show, “Celebrate America,” was hosted by Chatham Garden Club on June 12-13 at Watson Memorial United Methodist Church, chaired by Nancie Motley and Pattie Motley.

Flower-Arranging School was held on September 17, 2002, at the Woman’s Club in Richmond. The speaker was Elaine Jo, Master Flower Arranger from the Ichiyo School of Ikebana.

The 2002 Rose Show, “Williamsburg – Rose by Design,” was hosted by the Williamsburg Garden Club on September 25-26 at the Radisson Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center, chaired by Karen Jamison and Dianne Spence. Charlotte Hundley reported 513 specimen stems and 71 artistic arrangements.

The 2003 Daffodil Show, “Give My Regards to Broadway,” was hosted by the Leesburg Garden Club on April 9-10 at the Holiday Inn in Historic Carradoc Hall, chaired by Emma Kelly. The show reported 81 artistic arrangements and 575 horticulture exhibits with 1179 blooms.

The 2003 Lily Show, “Gauguin’s Paradise,” was hosted by the Lynchburg Garden Club at Smith Hall on the campus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. A “hands-on” Ikebana workshop was held on March 5, 2003.

2003 Flower-Arranging School, “Art in Flowers,” was presented on September 16, 2003, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with Maryjo Garre, Vice President of the Garden Club of America and noted flower arranger and judge.

The 2003 Rose Show was scheduled for October 1-2, 2003, at Colonial Williamsburg’s Woodlands Conference Center by the Williamsburg Garden Club. The show was canceled due to significant and widespread damage and power outages caused by Hurricane Isabel.

A Daffodil Workshop was held at the Kent-Valentine House on March 15, 2004, led by Margaret and Skip Ford of Richmond.

The 2004 Daffodil Show, “Beach Music 2004,” hosted by the Princess Anne Garden Club on March 24-25, 2004, at the DoubleTree Hotel, was chaired by Jean Carlston, Carolyn Jones and Betty Michelson. Photos

The 2004 GCV InterClub award was presented to tied recipients – the Spotswood Garden Club and Winchester-Clarke Garden Club.

In other Flower Show news, award cards were replenished for ~ $3,800 and slides of flower shows were transferred from the Slides Committee to the Flower Shows Committee. New perpetual awards were announced during this period.

The Sandra Sadler Baylor for most creative arrangement -- Daffodil

The William G. Pannill Daffodil Award for five standard cultivars -- Daffodil

Award in memory of Georgia Vance by the Garden Club of Alexandria for novice arrangement -- Lily

Award in memory of Georgia Vance by the Blue Ridge Garden Club for most creative arrangement -- Rose

Award in memory of Hunter Hankins Savage by the Garden Club of Norfolk, novice class -- Daffodil

Award in honor of Genie and David Diller by the Spotswood Garden Club for best arrangement -- Lily

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2003 Tour Chairman Meredith Scott, The James River Garden Club

2004 Tour Chairman Peggy Talman, Three Chopt Garden Club

2003 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2004 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

Historic Garden Week celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2003, featuring Westover Plantation on the Guidebook cover. Easter fell on the first Sunday of Historic Garden Week and led to 12 tours on the final Saturday. Meredith reported that,despite the lackluster economy and “less than perfect” weather on the final weekend, the 2003 tour was the third highest grossing tour in HGW history with $694,581 gross revenue reported. Internet ticket sales doubled.

Carter Hall in Clarke County was featured on the cover of the 2004 Historic Garden Week Guidebook. Weather was spectacular. Homes, gardens and owners were star quality: the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee in Alexandria; a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Virginia Beach; the Seilheimer garden in Orange; Carter Hall in Clarke County; the Andre Viette garden in Fisherville; Gillette and Robins gardens in Richmond; Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, Lady Astor and the Gibson Girl in Charlottesville. For the first time, the entire Guidebook was posted on the website. Guidebook ads increased, and income was estimated at $740,000 – an increase of $34,000 over the previous year.

Due to cutbacks at the state level, VDOT did not provide local directional signs, beginning with the 2004 tour. The announcement resulted in a significant increase in the HGW budget. VDOT also eliminated the special Historic Garden Week highway map.

Suzanne Munson, in describing the Historic Garden Week atmosphere, repeated an often-told joke, “How many Virginians does it take to change a light bulb? One hundred. One to replace it and the others to celebrate how grand the old bulb was.”

Restoration Chairman Bessie Carter invited 2003 and 2004 tour chairmen for lunch at the Kent-Valentine House to learn more about restoration projects.

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Chairman Suzanne Wright, The Petersburg Garden Club

Suzanne Wright sent a report to the Board of Directors in July 2003 describing the Flora of Virginia Project. The Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, a 501(c)(3) project, plans to research and document the identification, distribution and habitat of Virginia’s plants. Scaled illustrations and captions will be included, and the publication will be accompanied by a website that enhances its utility through color photographs and auxiliary natural history information about the plants. The Board of Directors voted to send a letter of support to the project.

2002 Horticulture Field Day was held June 5-6 in Alexandria and included a tour of Green Spring Gardens and Old Town Alexandria. Garden walks of private gardens in Old Town were offered Wednesday afternoon. C. Colsten Burrell presented “Art, Ecology and the Wild Garden” on Thursday. In his words, the lecture “explores ecological design principles in the context of creating gardens of the highest artistic merit and shows how we can make the landscape of home a place that restores the soul and at the same time restores and preserves the environment.”  Burrell is a garden designer, award-winning author, photographer, naturalist and teacher. He is a principal in Native Landscape Design and Restoration which specialized in blending nature and culture through artistic design. He authored A Gardener’s Encyclopedia of Wildflowers and is a contributing editor to Horticulture Magazine.

Lunch followed at Green Spring Gardens, a 31-acre park with 20 different gardens, a 1780 historic house, forested paths, ponds and a horticulture center and library.

The 2002 Horticulture Workshop, “Garden Mania,” was held at the Kent-Valentine House on September 23. Fleet Hurlbatt, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, spoke on creating a garden from scratch and Linda Pinkham, the Elizabeth River Garden Club, provided recommendations for unusual plant material. Fran Boninti, Rivanna Garden Club, joined Fleet and Linda in answering questions.

The 2002 Fall Board of Governors horticulture exhibit, “Ferns, Fronds and Fiddleheads,” featured an exhibit of three ferns.

The 2003 Spring Annual Meeting horticulture exhibit, “Plant of the Year,” called for one particular plant that a gardener could or should not live without.

2003 Horticulture Field Day was held June 4-5 on the Northern Neck and featured eight private gardens. A 2003 Horticulture Workshop, “How to Pique Your Club’s Interest in Horticulture,” was held September 11, 2003. Topics included orchids, propagation and division of plants, best bulbs for growing and cutting (other than tulips and daffodils), and gardening tips and information.

The 2003 Board of Governors horticulture exhibit called for three conifers displayed as specimens, accompanied by photographs as they appear in the landscape. The 2004 Spring Annual Meeting exhibit featured, “Unusual Flowering Shrubs.”

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Chairman Cabell West, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

Referring to the Kent-Valentine House, Cabell said, “old age is expensive,” and proceeded to describe a list of recent costs: interior repair of sewerage leak $78,000 (covered by insurance after $2,500 deductible); exterior drainage repair $21,000; new first-floor refrigerator $1,400; new furnace and air handlers $5,200; and carriage house front door replacement after burglary $1,500. She then described the upcoming projects: balustrade replacements; painting; and renovations to first-floor kitchen, pantry, second-floor kitchen and third-floor bathroom.

While the remarkable transformation of the kitchens and bathroom was accomplished by spring of 2003, on time and under budget, repairs to the brick wall behind the Kent-Valentine House remained mired in bureaucratic delays for months. Dudley Brown determined in 2003 that balustrades on the Kent-Valentine House portico had failed. He had obtained the original drawings and material specification from Wright, Cox and Smith Architects, reviewed the Department of the Interior’s guidelines and was satisfied that Fypon, a polyurethane material was appropriate for replacement. Fypon was approved by the Secretary of the Interior and Calder Loth, Director of the Department of Historic Resources. The cost of Fypon balustrades was estimated at $44,700, compared with $18,000 for cedar ones.

Personnel Chairman Mina Wood reported on the “unfolding dramas and demons” that plague an old house – a stray cat locked in the vault, stuck elevators, locks on doors that continue not to work and air conditioning pans that overflow and leak down to next level.  She commended GCV Administrator Maggie King for keeping the air conditioning, heat, phone, grounds, technology and housekeeping on track and suggested that job qualifications be an ever-present sense of humor stating, “A live cat in a vault is a bad problem, but a dead one would be even worse.” Surprise! An unforeseen water bill for $3,360 arrived at the KVH in 2003 for usage dating back to 1999. The city could not find the KVH meter, so they based the bill on estimates. Fortunately, after negotiations, the bill was reduced to $1,967 and was payable over nine months.

In October 2003, Development Chairman Susan Ewing projected $500,000 in capital needs for the Kent-Valentine House -- restoration of exterior details, balustrades, columns and cornices.

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Chairman Bessie Carter, The James River Garden Club

“We wish you could all be with us as we tour, as it makes you so proud of what is in Virginia and what the Garden Club of Virginia has contributed by our restorations, or, more often, our effort to create an appropriate landscape for a historic structure.” Bessie Carter, 2002 Board of Governors

Committee 2002 summer and fall visits included the Adam Thoroughgood House, Portsmouth Courthouse, Ker Place, Smith’s Fort, Bruton Parish, Bacon’s Castle, St. Luke’s Church, Stratford, Belmont, Mary Washington House, Mary Washington Monument and Kenmore.

The committee signed an agreement with Dodona Manor to provide conceptual plans and construction documents for the landscape restoration funded by TEA-21 and overseen by Will Rieley; provided landscape working drawings for Bruton Parish Churchyard; agreed to provide a landscape plan for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; approved the first Restoration Committee Maintenance Manual prepared by former GCV Landscape Architect Rudy Favretti; and agreed to donate $3,000 to the Cultural Landscape Foundation and Gunston Hall for a symposium at Gunston Hall featuring Charles Birnbaum.

The committee also reviewed requests from Hollins University for assistance with the Beale Memorial Garden and from the Fairfax Park Authority for assistance with Green Spring Gardens.

Because the garden at Woodlawn appeared to be in poor shape, with management claiming a lack of National Trust funding and difficulty in securing experienced gardeners, a simplified plan for the garden was suggested.

A follow-up discussion of assistance with landscaping at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History (formerly the Sutherlin Mansion) led to an agreement to restore the historic perimeter fencing.

The committee agreed on a collaboration with Sweet Briar College on the recently approved restoration. GCV agreed to landscape the front quadrant of the garden in front of the President’s House with retaining walls, paths, plantings and pruning. The new front entrance would feature an arrival court with a direct path to the front of the house. The arboretum around the house, begun in the early 1800s, would be enhanced with additional trees such as cryptomeria, Parrot Tree, white oak and golden rain trees. The college agreed to improve the existing roadway.

Margaret Bemiss, liaison to the Executive Mansion Gillette garden, was asked not to visit because the garden was so distressing after the 2002 summer drought. Water restrictions were in place statewide and she was informed the Executive Mansion was no exception -- the Governor had forbidden watering in the garden. The committee later agreed to replace the plants that did not survive.

Landscaping brickwork at the Kent-Valentine House was an ongoing source of frustration throughout Bessie’s tenure as Restoration Chairman. A contractor initially installed orange brick edging and, when he was informed the brick did not meet specifications, he walked off the job. Next, a structural engineer was called in to examine the bulging brick wall at the rear of the house, thus beginning a two-year “battle” with the City of Richmond. The Architectural Review office of the city reviewed and approved the plan. The Zoning office denied the building permit because the local ordinance that did not allow walls along the property line to exceed 6-1/2 feet in height. Back to the drawing board. The board of Zoning Appeals was to meet September 3, and the full Restoration Committee threatened to show up in full force which should “terrify the bureaucracy.” (Margaret Bemiss, Helen Pinckney, Annabel Josephs, Will Rieley and Bessie Carter actually did show up). The permit was finally approved on September 10. In the meantime, the price of concrete had doubled. Then, after taking down the wall, it was discovered the design needed to be revised again because excavation would cut through the roots of the hollies. By this time, the contractor was committed elsewhere and a third contractor had to be found. The wall was finally finished on April 16, 2004 -- one month before Bessie’s term as Restoration Chairman was to end.

As a note of interest, Bessie announced that Belle Grove would become part of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Park, effective December 2002. She also reported that Kenmore, in a measure to protect the roof and old windows, had removed two willow oaks planted by Alden Hopkins in 1959 to frame the house. The committee was disappointed with the decision as experts had deemed the trees safe and healthy.

The Restoration Committee’s Maintenance Workshop, chaired by Helen Murphy and Margaret Bemiss, was held in February 2003 at Lewis Ginter. Mitch Van Yarhres spoke on care of historic trees and Peggy Singlemann of Maymont spoke on shrubs.

2003 winter and spring visits included Smithfield in Blacksburg, Fincastle Presbyterian Church, Lee Chapel, the President’s House at Washington and Lee University, Hollins University and the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace.

Business discussions included the landscape plan at St. Luke’s Church in Smithfield and the threat of adjacent housing plans. The church was built in 1632 and is the oldest Gothic structure in the country, called a “national shrine” by President Eisenhower. Learning that a developer had bought the adjoining golf course and planned to build houses on it, GCV provided a plan to include screening.

The Moses Myers House was presented to the Chrysler Museum on May 4, 2003, after being plagued by numerous bureaucratic problems. The garden was described as “a beautiful green oasis in a downtown city setting.” The Garden Club of Norfolk and Harborfront Garden Club contributed to the lighting, and the Virginia Beach Junior Garden Club gave the granite bed for the fence.

Committee visits continued throughout the summer and fall of 2003 and included Montpelier, Monticello, UVA Pavilion III, Centre Hill, the Executive Mansion, Maymont, the Kent-Valentine House, the Grace Arents Garden at Lewis Ginter, Dodona Manor, Oatlands, Blandy, the Burwell Morgan Mill and Belle Grove.

The committee agreed to restore the Beale Memorial Garden at Hollins University and authorized Will Rieley to update a Favretti plan at Centre Hill. Ongoing maintenance work included tree replacements at Belmont and Bacon’s Castle; evaluating stone and brick work needs at Montpelier; a new arbor at the Mary Washington House, based on the original Gillette design; new garden gates at Woodlawn, based on the original Hopkins design, and plans for a new fence to surround Nelly’s garden; and a search for ways to make a meaningful contribution to the upcoming Jamestown quadricentennial celebration. A plan for the Adam Thoroughgood House to improve walkways was on hold as contract negotiation continued following the transfer of property ownership from the City of Norfolk to the City of Virginia Beach.

Lee Hall was presented to the City of Newport News on September 28, 2003. The 19th-century landscape plan was installed with different fencing throughout to reveal the varied styles used, depending on their proximity to the house.

The stone walls a Blandy Experimental Farm were presented on May 2, 2004. Winchester-Clarke Garden Club planted the dogwoods.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

Gennifer McGill, UVA School of Landscape Architecture 2003, was selected to document Rosewell in Gloucester County. The original structure, built in 1730 by Mann Page, burned in 1916, leaving a magnificent brick ruin. The Rosewell Foundation only owns a few acres and the adjacent property between the house and river is vulnerable to development. Gennifer’s report was so successful that Rosewell has asked if they could get it printed to sell in their gift shop.

2004 Favretti Fellow Andrew Kohr from Ball State University researched the gardens at Mirador in Charlottesville, home of the Langhornes.

The Board of Directors voted in winter 2004 to create a new Garden Club of Virginia fellowship to document historic gardens and landscapes in Virginia NOT held in private ownership – churches, foundations and public entities.

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Chairman Carol Price, Three Chopt Garden Club

The Speakers Series was held January 13, 2003, at Lewis Ginter. C. Allan Brown, Charlottesville landscape architect and historian, gave an educational slide presentation and raised interesting questions about restoration of historic gardens. Joseph Luebke, chief landscaper and horticulturist for the Washington National Cathedral, presented a beautiful, photo-filled slide tour of the Bishop’s Garden, describing the history and evolution of the garden. He also shared his favorite plant material for specific sites.

The 2004 Speakers Series was January 12 at Lewis Ginter and featured two speakers. Gail Griffin, Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds at Dumbarton Oaks, had served as a horticulturist from Atlanta to London and had done extensive research on the biological impact of insecticides. She shared a pictorial history of landscape design with references to some of the world’s greatest gardens throughout history, along with Beatrix Farrand’s exquisite 1920s design of the 16-acre gardens at Dumbarton Oaks.

Wayne Amos joined the National Park Service as White House liaison and had moved from there to become conservatory manager of the United States Botanic Garden. He moved back to the White House, responsible for greenhouse and nursery production, and his responsibilities included coordinating special events and renovations to the White House gardens and grounds. He provided an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at the White House gardens.

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“The Garden Club of Virginia is a unique organization that provides a broad range of opportunities and services. It has a talented, energetic membership that has many ways to contribute. Those that have been club members for a while must always work on nourishing the newer members so they feel ownership and welcomed in the organization. The work is inspiring but full of challenges. Because of the spirit and dedication of the members whom I have met, I have the greatest confidence in our ability to continue to achieve higher goals. We will need to work, be willing to change while never forgetting the basics, and turn commitments into accomplishments.”

~ Deedy Bumgardner, May 2006

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Board members enjoyed a weekend at Smith Mountain Lake for the annual “husbands included” board retreat where guest rooms at Bernard’s Landing offered spectacular views. Husbands were left to fend for themselves on Saturday morning as board members headed over to the conference center for Deedy’s first meeting.

Having learned that First Vice President Annabel Josephs had passed away just two weeks prior, the board worked its way through parliamentary procedures to fill Annabel’s position.

Board members approved the creation of a new Journal Advertising Committee. They also discussed ways to reduce excessive HGW expenses.

Deedy presented a resolution of appreciation and gratitude to Joseph C. Carter on behalf of the Garden Club of Virginia, upon his retirement after thirty years as attorney and counselor to the Garden Club of Virginia. The news of Mr. Carter’s retirement was tempered by the announcement that John D. O’Neill, Jr. of Hunton & Williams had been retained as the new GCV attorney.

Deedy reported plans for a busy summer as she had agreed to serve on a VDOT Regulations Committee for Senate Bill 260, Comprehensive Roadside Management Program -- its main purpose to define roadside signage as opposed to billboards. She also reported plans to attend Scenic Virginia’s 2004 annual meeting at the Kent-Valentine House, along with Katty Mears, Helen Murphy and Bessie Carter, to accept the Scenic Heroes Award on behalf of the Garden Club of Virginia.

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It must have felt like “Summer Camp for Adults” in Front Royal at the 85th Board of Governors Mmeeting. The Garden Club of Warren County hosted the meeting October 12-14, 2004, co-chaired by Melba Trenary and Elsie Upchurch at the 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal.

The Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night was hosted by Corrine and Ron Llewellyn at their historic home, Rose Hill.

Warren County President Peggy Heyden welcomed attendees Wednesday morning and introduced club historian Mary “Pokey” Gibb. Pokey described the single-mindedness of club members when she told of dedicated member Mrs. Major who, after a minor traffic accident, informed the police she could not attend court on Tuesdays because that was bridge day. When court day arrived, Mrs. Major walked into court and greeted the judge with “Hello, Leroy,” much to the amusement of the court. Roadside litter was an early concern of Warren County club members, deciding “highway litter remains a blight on the landscape.” The club helped establish the town dump but, when following up on this project, club minutes indicated the condition of the dump was “not appealing to the aesthetic taste of club members.”

Peggy Talman delivered a tribute to Annabel Josephs who passed away shortly after assuming the office of GCV First Vice President. Annabel was a longtime member of Three Chopt Garden Club in Richmond where she tended “at least 200 rose bushes.” Peggy closed her tribute with words from Annabel’s daughters, “While we mourn her loss and significant void she has left, we also celebrate the beautiful person that was Annabel Josephs, a neighbor, a grandmother, an aunt, a volunteer, a leader, a gardener, a nurse, a mother, a wife, a friend.”

Parliamentarian Page Sullenberger followed the tribute with a motion to accept the recommended board member changes. By unanimous vote, Sally Guy Brown became First Vice President, Nancy Bowles became Second Vice President, and Fleet Davis became Director at Large.

Following business and announcements, Deedy called the meeting into recess. Attendees were treated to lunch hosted by Warren County Garden Club members in their homes, followed by a guided tour and rare glimpse of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Conservation and Research Center. (It became known as the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2010 as a symbol of its growing independence from the captive animals associated with the traditional images of zoos.)

The awards banquet Wednesday night was held at the Shenandoah Country Club where Melba Trenary presented the 2004 Common Wealth Award of $5,000 to the Boxwood Garden Club and the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton for the Environmental Education Plan for Bandy Field Nature Park. Second place recipient, the Charlottesville Garden Club, was presented with $2,000 for Gardening in Virginia: A Garden Website.

When the business meeting reconvened Thursday morning, special guest Lance Johnson, speaking on behalf of Nora Belle Comer, Director of the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center, described the variety of camping and environmental education programs and conferences held at this rural retreat.

Flower Shows Chairman Di Cook announced that the Garden Club of the Northern Neck had donated a new Rose Show Perpetual Trophy honoring Charlotte and Jim Hundley.

At the close of business, attendees were offered three seminar topics: Restorations led by Mina Wood; GCV Database led by Page Sullenberger; and Obtaining Houses for HGW led by Peggy Talman.

Remember “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah?” Mary Bruce Glaize delivered a “new camp song” tribute to Warren County and the 85th Board of Governors meeting was adjourned.

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The Board of Directors voted to proceed with the creation of the Garden Club of Virginia’s first Strategic Plan. In other discussions, Deedy summarized results of a GCV trips survey and recommended that GCV not be in the travel business on a regular basis. An ad hoc committee was appointed to study Flower Shows, in the interest of lowering the burden of cost and manpower on member clubs.

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Photos

The 85th Annual Meeting was hosted by the Huntington Garden Club at the Omni Hotel in Newport News, co-chaired by Rose Garrett and Katie Spencer.

Board members arrived Tuesday for lunch and board meeting hosted by Nan Leigh Smith at her home overlooking the James River (the oldest home in Newport News). She seemed relaxed as she informed the board her son’s wedding was to take place that weekend. Business discussions included questions regarding naming conventions in the Register (referring to the long-held formal custom of identifying a member by her husband’s name); the creation of the webmaster position; KVH ongoing construction; excessive Historic Garden Week expenses; a committee name change from Communications to GCV Online; and possible improvements for the “costly and underattended” flower shows.

The Dutch treat dinner Tuesday night was held at the Virginia Living Museum. When Deedy thanked Huntington members Wednesday morning for dinner “with the wildlife,” it wasn’t clear if she was referring to the animals or the attendees.

Huntington President Debbie Spencer welcomed attendees to Hampton Roads on Wednesday morning and introduced club historian Mary Sherwood Holt. In presenting the history of the Huntington Garden Club, Mary Sherwood admitted her club members were not quite sure when the club was established (1934 or 1935), or how the club’s name originated (Collis P. Huntington or Huntington Heights neighborhood, home of the founding members).

Project financing ideas reached new heights in early days for Huntington when members worked as dairy-maids-in-attendance, escorting guests through a local dairy to fund shrub planting along Warwick Blvd. The shrubs did not last long because they “were constantly being run over or side-swiped by errant vehicles.” The dairy-maid legacy lives on.

When Warwick County purchased Camp Henry, a WWII staging facility described by one as “five acres barren and pitted with mud holes,” and revealed plans in 1948 to create Patrick Henry Hospital for the chronically ill, Huntington Garden Club members eagerly volunteered to take on a long-term project to landscape the hospital grounds. The project was the club’s “pride and joy, as well as its near demise,” when 35 years later, exhausted club members were still volunteering. The project finally came to an end when Riverside acquired the hospital in the mid-1980s and converted it into a modern retirement community.

Mina Wood read a tribute to former GCV President (1964-1966) Dorothy Hunt Williams, written by Page Sullenberger. A member of Dolley Madison Garden Club and a true gardener, Dottie received the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement in 1976 “for her long and distinguished service and for the unselfish use of her time and talents in publishing Historic Virginia Gardens, the history and blueprints of all gardens restored by the Garden Club of Virginia, 1929-1973.”

Morning business concluded with "The History of American Gardening," presented by William Seale, architectural restorationist, noted speaker and author. Following Mr. Seale’s presentation, attendees were invited to a beautiful al fresco lunch at Tazewell, the historic home of John and Paige Lawson on the James River, and afterwards to visit the Mariner’s Museum where the afternoon was filled with planned activities and tours.

The awards banquet that evening was held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University, one of the first events to be held at this venue -- reason enough for the banquet chairman to have sleepless nights as city inspections for occupancy continued to the last minute.

Thursday morning’s business began early with an update of the Balustrade Project by Catherine Whitham, who announced a $25,000 gift to the project from the Roller-Bottimore Foundation, a $25,000 gift from Restoration and $39,000 from member clubs and individuals.

Horticulture Chairman Fran Boninti announced the following 2005 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Nancy Lowry, Rivanna; Candy Crosby, Albemarle; Suzanne Aiello, Dolley Madison; Julia Cox, Tuckahoe; Evelyn Nock, Eastern Shore; and Elizabeth Brown, Gloucester.

Mary Hart Darden followed with a report describing the upcoming yearlong Strategic Planning process.

Betty Schutte presented the following slate in nomination for 2005-2007 Directors at Large: Nan Freed, the Garden Club of Danville; Mary Nelson Thompson, the Franklin Garden Club; and Suzanne Wright, the Petersburg Garden Club. Motion seconded and passed.

Tata Kellam delivered a tribute to the Huntington Garden Club and the meeting was adjourned.

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The annual summer board retreat with spouses was held at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria. Board members learned of the Conservation Committee’s increasing number of requests for support and endorsement from environmental advocacy groups and legislative interests. In other business, the recurring topic of excessive HGW flower expenses brought about plans to disallow flower expense deductions.

In hearing KVH Balustrade Project updates, board members learned the contractor had found deterioration of the front porch roof, as well as deterioration of mortar in the basement walls.

And finally, the board heard of some frustrating Journal glitches, especially the recent issue when internal oversights were compounded by the mail house which lost the GCV check for postage, sent the Journals back to the printer, found the check, retrieved the Journals and mailed them two weeks late. Probably more amusing now than it was at the time!

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Photos

Hanover Tavern was a marvelous setting for the 86th meeting of the Board of Governors, hosted by the Ashland Garden Club on October 11-13 and chaired by Anne Cross and Pettus Miller.

Board members were invited by Diana Carter for lunch at her home on Tuesday. The board meeting followed at the home of Linda Magovern where parliamentary business required more time than usual.

A motion from the Restoration Committee was approved to set aside $25,000 from Restoration funds for rebuilding of gardens and/or the replacement of trees damaged during the 2005 hurricane season on the Gulf Coast.

The Dutch treat dinner Tuesday night was hosted by Mary Anne and Gerry Pugh at their historic home “Shrubbery Hill.”

Martha introduced Rhu Harris, Hanover County Administrator, who proudly pointed out that Hanover County is one of only 200 counties nationwide to have received the “Preserve America” designation from the White House.

Club historian Betty Roane Kendrick described the club’s obsessive tree planting over the years – dogwood, Bradford pear, hemlock, Centennial 0ak and magnolia – all for a variety of projects and celebrations. She added, “The town should look like a forest, but time takes its toll.” In 1996, Ashland hosted a GCV Lily Show that took place just as the North American Lily Society was meeting in Washington. Lily growers from the national meeting descended on Ashland, bringing lilies from all over the world. Wanting to keep the lilies in perfect condition, they were put in the cafeteria refrigerator. Image the dismay when the refrigerator doors were opened and the lilies were frozen. “No hard feelings – good intentions.”

Janice Whitehead, Spotswood Garden Club President, presented a video update of the 2003 Common Wealth Award winner, “The Healing Garden at Camp Still Meadows.” Tricia Sauer, Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton President and Ann Sanders, Boxwood Garden Club President, provided an update of the 2004 Common Wealth Award winner, “The Environmental Education Plan for Bandy Field Nature Park.”

At the close of business, Brenda Gilman of the Ashland Garden Club introduced Nancy Ross Hugo, who spoke to attendees about three of her projects: Remarkable Trees of Virginia; Flora of Virginia and Natural Communities of Virginia. The afternoon concluded with a tour of Scotchtown, the only original standing home of Patrick Henry.

The awards banquet was held at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center that night where the Common Wealth Award ($5,000) was presented to the Huntington Garden Club for the Virginia Living Museum’s Virginia’s Botanical History, 1607-Today; Runners up were Albemarle Garden Club ($1,000) for Morea – A Living Classroom and Nansemond River Garden Club ($1,000) for the Cedar Hill Cemetery Project.

Attendees were offered the following seminars on Thursday morning: Who’s Afraid of the Website?; Flower Arranging for Historic Garden Week; The Restoration Process; and Strategic Planning Focus Group for Committee Chairmen.

Sally Guy Brown delivered a tribute to the Ashland Garden Club, standing before a PowerPoint presentation of candid photos taken throughout the meeting. As the photos scrolled through slide after slide, attendees were delighted seeing themselves in candid moments, bringing peals of laughter and shrieks that nearly drowned out Sally Guy’s tribute.

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Photos

The 88th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Rivanna Garden Club at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville on May 9-11, chaired by Nancy Lowry and Jan Stalfort.

Board members arrived for lunch and board meeting hosted by Mary and Dick Howard at their beautiful home in Charlottesville. Each board member received a copy of Planting Perennials, the Strategic Plan.

Early arriving attendees not serving on the board were invited to tour former Common Wealth Award winners Washington Park Bog Garden and the Ivy Creek Natural Area, current Common Wealth Award nominee Morea, UVA Pavilion Gardens, and Thomas Jefferson’s Tufton Farm.

The Dutch treat barbeque dinner was held Tuesday night in the Ice Park Center with an all-girl band providing entertainment.

Rivanna President Louise Tayloe welcomed attendees Wednesday morning to “Mr. Jefferson’s County.”

Club historian Betsy Tremaine began her club’s history by listing a number of Rivanna projects: the “Garden of Peace” at Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society (McIntire Public Library); downtown mall beautification; plantings at Ronald McDonald House; beautification projects at Albemarle County Courthouse, Rescue Squad headquarters and Darden Town Park; dogwood plantings too numerous to mention; a wellhead and 110′ herb garden at President James Monroe’s home Ash Lawn/Highlands; the children’s room on the walking path to the Monticello entrance with trees, plants and benches that appeal to children; landscaping at Ivy Creek Natural Area Education Center and an arboretum at the Miller School to replace trees destroyed by a hurricane.

Katty Mears delivered a tribute to former GCV President (1968-1970) Dorothy Douglass Kellam. A “star” of the Eastern Shore and a member of the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, Dot opened her home, Mount Pleasant, every other year for 20 years. Staunchly supportive of all aspects of the Garden Club of Virginia, Dot was awarded the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement in 1970.

Morning business included a final report by Assistant Treasurer Gail Braxton who announced the position would no longer be necessary with the GCV Database in place. Peggy Bowditch described the complete restructuring of Journal Commitees, a result of Clarkie Eppes’ retirement in December when Peggy Federhart volunteered to step in as Editor. In Flower Shows news, Genie Diller stepped down after twenty years as Lily Chairman; the Daffodil Committee expanded InterClub collections from six years to ten; and the Rose Committee added Earthkind roses to the collection for those who grow roses without the use of pesticides, and Di Cook announced that Hunting Creek Garden Club had donated a Rose Show perpetual trophy in honor of former GCV President Virginia Guild.

Attendees were invited to lunch on the lawn at Bessie Carter’s family home, Redlands and, when they arrived they found a beautiful, tented area with fifteen tables elegantly covered in white linens. The center of each table held a gorgeous “one of a kind” birthday cake made by members of Rivanna Garden Club. Lunch turned out to be a surprise birthday party for Bessie! Following lunch, Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants at Monticello, gave a presentation on heritage plants. An afternoon tour of Monticello and a trip to Montalto for cocktails preceded the awards banquet at the Omni Hotel.

Fran Boninti announced the 2006 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Amaryllis Childress, Roanoke Valley; C.J. Carter, Northern Neck; Nancy Gresham, Tuckahoe; Janice Whitehead, Spotswood; Nancy Brubaker, Franklin; Kathy Welch, Fairfax; Ellie Daley, Leesburg; Carolyn Jones, Eastern Shore; Mary Howard, Rivanna; Judy Stegal McNeer, Boxwood; Allison Freeze Major, Little Garden Club of Winchester.

Chairman of Nominations Betty Schutte presented the Slate of Officers in nomination for 2006-2008 and moved to adopt the slate. Motion seconded and passed. Betty also notified attendees of a board recommendation that the sequence of First Vice President to President be a foremost consideration.

Tributes to Deedy

Referring to Deedy’s commitment to GCV, Lee Cochran repeated a story once told by Charlotte Massie, longtime director of HGW. A chicken and a pig live in the yard behind a roadhouse diner. The store owner decided to install a neon sign reading “Best Ham and Eggs in Town.” The chicken said to the pig, “Doesn’t it thrill you to see us advertised in bright lights?” The pig replied sadly, “No, not me. For you it’s only a contribution, but for me it’s a total commitment.” Lee continued, “Deedy’s has been a life of total commitment as a daughter, wife, mother and, most recently, grandmother. The GCV is lucky to have had her committed leadership these past two years.”

Deedy then introduced Sally Guy Brown who declared the 86th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia adjourned.

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The Conservation Workshop, September 15, 2004, was held at the Kent-Valentine House where conservation chairmen from around the state gathered for “Flora for the Future,” chaired by Tish King of the Garden Club of the Northern Neck. Chris Ludwig, Chief Biologist for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Beautification, Division of Natural Heritage, presented a slide lecture on the Flora of Project. Virginia Conservation Network President Martha Wingfield provided an update on that organization’s activities, and Jocelyn Sladen provided an overview of endangered plant protection.

The Conservation Forum, November 3-4, 2004, “Birding: A Walk on the Wild Side,” was chaired by Jean Brown of the Leesburg Garden Club on the campus of Mary Baldwin College. The two-day event attracted 85 early arrivals who gathered on Wednesday to walk portions of Virginia’s Birding and Wildlife Trail, guided by David Whitehurst, Director of Wildlife Diversity, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Dinner Wednesday night was held at the Pullman, Staunton’s restored train depot. The Thursday morning forum brought 150 attendees to the Student Activities building. Mr. Whitehurst, the first speaker, presented a slide lecture about the statewide system of Birding and Wildlife Trails, and emphasized the value of our natural resources and wilderness areas and their role in attracting tourists who are also environmentalists. The second speaker was George Fenwick, President of the American Bird Conservancy, who spoke about challenges to the health and existence of our bird population, native and migratory, caused by pollution and overdevelopment. Mary Bruce Glaize had staged exquisite table arrangements featuring bluebird houses and porcelain birds ordered from the Smithsonian collection. Twenty environmental organization and vendors had set up booths for the event. The 2004 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to Dr. Charles K. Price and Robert A.S. Wright, two outstanding conservationists who, through major contributions of time and talent, helped foster the preservation of open green space and native plant habitat of the Bandy Field Nature Park in Richmond.

• Clean smokestacks
• Funding for protection of natural resources
• Funding that enables Virginia to meet EPA standards as committed to Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 2000
• Support legislation to be brought before U.S. Congress by Congressman Boucher and Senator Warner, who are sponsoring a proposal by the Coalition for Virginia Wilderness for a bill to create four new Wilderness Areas within the Jefferson National Forest and two new National Scenic Areas.
• Continued incentives for landowners who wish to donate conservation easements.

Hayride anyone? Club conservation chairmen were given that opportunity at the Conservation Workshop, “Growing and Going Organic,” chaired by Marsha Merrell of the the James River Garden Club on September 12, 2005. Participants met at Rossie and Sandy Fisher’s Brookview Farm in Manakin-Sabot and learned firsthand about organic farming and the benefits of organic food. Organic farmers for over 20 years, Rossie and Sandy explained the methods and requirements for certified organic farming with a lecture and tour of the farm in tractor-pulled hay wagons that included a visit with the laying hens and an explanation of their compost operation, which uses all the leaves collected in Henrico County to make “black gold.” Participants were then treated to delicious, organically grown lunch selections, served by members of the James River Garden Club. Hyla Brook Farm was on site sponsoring a native plant sale and reliable sources said the participants looked like 17-year locusts surrounding the plants. Photos

November 9-10, 2005, Conservation Forum, “American Wilderness, An Enduring Legacy,” chaired by Susan Tipton, the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, and Marilyn South, the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula, offered another opportunity to enjoy nature. The outdoor enthusiasts arrived at Sweet Briar’s Florence Elston Conference Center on Wednesday and departed for a hike in nearby wilderness areas, led by Mark Miller, Vice President of the Virginia Wilderness Committee; Jim Murray and other volunteers from the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition; and David Carr from the Southern Environmental Law Center. For those who didn’t wish to hike, Tim Kasper, who heads up the Sustainability and Environmental Education Center of Sweet Briar College, presented “Voices of the Wilderness: A Discussion of the Habitats and Natural Ecosystems of Wilderness.” He discussed what we can do to protect and sustain our heritage. Cocktails and dinner followed.

Keynote speaker for Thursday morning's audience of 200 was William H. Meadows, President of the Wilderness Society. He credited the late Senator Gaylord Nelson, his colleague at the Wilderness Society and founder of Earth Day, for inspiring him to devote his time and energy to conservation causes. Mark Miller, Vice President of the Virginia Wilderness Committee and field organizer for the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, provided updates on national and regional wilderness issues and legislation. It is Mr. Miller’s advocacy that led to the introduction of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005. Thirty environmental organizations had set up booths for the event. The morning ended with presentation of the 2005 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award to William H. Harrison, founder of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. Photos

January 23, 2006, Legislative Day was chaired by Marsha Merrill of the James River Garden Club. Monday’s speakers at the Capitol Building were Preston Bryant, Secretary of Natural Resources; Leighton Powell from Scenic Virginia; Dan Holmes from Piedmont Environmental Council; Michael Town from Sierra Club; and Carey Whitehead from Virginia Conservation Network. Several other environmental organizations spoke during lunch at St. Peter's Catholic Church.

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June 16-17, 2004, the 62nd Annual Lily Show was hosted by the Lynchburg Garden Club at Smith Hall on the campus of Randolph Macon Women’s College. "Lilies and Art," chaired by Laura Crumbley and Florence Perrow, reported 71 artistic arrangements and 215 stems in horticulture. Photos

September 21, 2004, Flower Arranging School at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden attracted 200 attendees. Chairman Beverly Hereford of Albemarle Garden Club organized this very popular event. Charlotte Hundley secured award-winning flower arrangers and American Rose Society leaders Dr. Gary Barlow and Dr. Lewis Shupe from Fairborn, Ohio, to present “Elements and Principles of Design.”  Photos

October 6-7, 2004, the 66th Annual Rose Show was hosted by the Hunting Creek Garden Club in Alexandria at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Art Center on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College. "All the World’s a Stage," chaired by Donna Clauson and Lea Shuba, reported 68 artistic arrangements and 273 stems in horticulture. Photos.

April 6-7, 2005, the 71st Annual Daffodil Show was hosted by the Princess Anne Garden Club at the Doubletree Hotel. "Post Cards from the Beach," chaired by Betty Michaelson, Jean Carlston and Carolyn Jones, reported 73 artistic exhibits and 1363 blooms in horticulture. Photos

June 22-23, 2005, the 63rd Annual Lily Show was hosted by the Garden Study Club at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville. "My Fair Lily" was chaired by Barbara Holland and Susan Critz. Photos

September 20, 2005, Flower Arranging School at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden attracted a capacity crowd with noted author and floral designer Gay Estes, who demonstrated modern and abstract flower arrangements and explained how to understand and have fun in the process. Also known as the “The Lone Arranger,” Gay is a feature writer for Flower magazine and editor and photography editor of the Garden Club of America’s magazine, GCA by Design. She resides in Houston, Texas, and was fortunate to escape just as Hurricane Katrina headed toward her home. Event chairman Martha Lynch did not fare as well, stranded in Mobile, Alabama, while traveling with her 97-year-old mother. Martha’s heroic husband stepped in to fill her shoes. Photos

October 5-6, 2005, the 67th Annual Rose Show was hosted for the second year by the Hunting Creek Garden Club in Alexandria on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Chairmen Donna Clauson and Lea Shuba reported 69 artistic arrangements and 308 stems in horticulture. Photos

April 5-6, 2006, the 72nd Annual Daffodil Show was hosted by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club in Fredericksburg at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center on the campus of Mary Washington. “On the Banks of the Rappahannock: Women of Fredericksburg,” chaired by Kitty Lee Wafle and Jeanette Cadwallender, reported 74 artistic exhibitors and 2300 blooms in horticulture. The showroom looked spectacular with new green slipcovers coving each of the 24 risers. Photos

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June 2004 Horticulture Field Day in Suffolk and Virginia Beach offered two days of garden inspiration. The Pinkham garden, six acres situated on the James River, felt Asian with weeping Junipers and Japanese maples interspersed with unusual fastigiated and contorted horticulture specimens. The sunken pond at the Campbell garden was surrounded by giant live oaks, and a waterfall splashed over a dry stacked stone wall that covered the remains of an ancient sand dune. The formal courtyard entrance at the Houfek garden led to a series of lush garden rooms adjoining the golf course. The terraced hillside Malloy garden featured native trees and shrubs, with limbed up bayberries and hollies posing as sentries. An 1840s house was the centerpiece of the expansive Ritter property, situated on a magnificent bayside bluff. Huge white oaks shaded the gardens that were bordered with pastel hydrangeas. The small Henley garden was pure delight with topiaries and unusual plant material. The creative Briggs garden on Lake Wesley used mirrors behind a picket fence to enlarge the space and provide privacy.

September 19, 2004, Horticulture Workshop at the Kent-Valentine House featured speaker Linda Pinkham on her visit to English gardens and the Chelsea Flower Show; Jim Murphy on daylillies; and Kathi Marshall on setting up and preparing a horticulture exhibit.

October 2004 BOG Horticulture Exhibit in Front Royal, "Berried Trees and Shrubs Other than Hollies," called for a display of three different berried branches in clear glass containers, including one paragraph showing at least one of the specimens in the landscape, to include common and botanical names, growing conditions, propagation, usefulness in garden, and interesting facts.

May 2005 Annual Meeting Horticulture Exhibit in Newport News highlighted the available options for providing habitat for backyard birds via trees, shrubs, grasses or flowers.  Three specimens, beneficial to birds, were displayed in a clear glass container no taller than 18” with information on how these plants are used by the birds.

June 2005 Horticulture Field Day in Lynchburg featured a tour of Old City Cemetery, a horticultural delight featuring hundreds of antique roses that have been lovingly restored to their full glory. Point of Honor, the beautifully restored Federal mansion built in 1815 by Dr. George Cabell, revealed a small rectangular rear garden that was filled with perennials and bulbs, designed to create interest throughout the spring, summer and fall. The Massie garden reflected the artistic owner where beautiful plantings mingled to create a soft and pleasing palette that soothes the soul. The ever-blooming Hunt gardens featured diverse plant material, textures and color. The perennial gardens and garden rooms were enhanced by a backdrop of rose-covered stone walls, a beautiful pond and fountain with an expansive view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. The classic pergola located off the back terrace was surrounded by white-blooming plant material designed to glow at night. The Hickman garden included native and exotic trees, camellias, wildflowers, an herb garden, an orchard of historic apples and other fruit, and a woodland garden with daffodils. The Connors garden sported a wonderful collection of Camellia of every size, shape, color and season, some soaring up to 20 feet. The Giles hillside gardens showcased beautiful landscaping around the pool, continuing down the hillside with winding paths of rhododendrons, ferns, azaleas and Lenten roses. The shade garden featured native trees, shrubs and plants. The Christian garden featured a beautifully landscaped and terraced formal garden. Old English boxwoods formed the backdrop for delightful perennials and a variety of bulbs. Large, beautiful plantings graced the curved entrance to the Rosser garden that sat beside a golf course and featured a lakeside vista. From the wisteria covered porches to the carefully laid-out beds, the Piggot garden was an absolute delight with new horticultural specimens nestled among old, familiar ones.  The expansive grounds surrounding the Van Allen historic farmhouse revealed a variety of gardens scattered about, including a secret garden with a high stone wall for protection from wildlife and a wonderful perennial lakeside garden.  Photos

September 19, 2005, Horticulture Workshop at the Kent-Valentine House featured speaker Don Hyatt, a nationally known authority on azaleas and rhododendrons. He has served on the national boards of both the Azalea Society of America (ASA) and the American Rhododendron Society (ARS). Mr. Hyatt presented a slide lecture of his favorite plants. Afterward, Betty Steele and Bettie Guthrie of the Petersburg Club gave their presentation, “With Paintbrush and Shovel.” Photos

October 2005 BOG Horticulture Exhibit in Ashland, “Plants Your Grandmother Would Know and Grow,” called for a display of three different plants of choice introduced before 1950, exhibited in clear glass containers and included common and botanical name, description, growing conditions, propagation and era of plant.

May 2006 Annual Meeting Horticulture Exhibit in Charlottesville, “Our Gardens through the Eye of the Camera,” provided an educational photography exhibit of members’ gardens.

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2005 Tour Chairman Peggy Talman, Three Chopt Garden Club

2006 Tour Chairman Muff Nolde, The Boxwood Garden Club

2005 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2006 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

Online ticket sales more than doubled in 2005, when tours included the weekend home of Virginia’s governor and his wife in King George County, the studio and home of popular folk artist Nancy Thomas in Yorktown, and the residence of Dr. Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia. Houses ranged from restored log cabins to modern mansions, and gardens included small city retreats, as well as grand estates designed by Charles Gillette.

Online tickets sales topped $10,000 and VDOT provided an early publicity boost when it issued the following press release before rolling out a newly designed Welcome to Virginia sign: The first signs with the new design will be unveiled before April 22, the start of Historic Garden Week, when many garden and history lovers visit Virginia.

In spite of an opening Saturday that brought torrential rain, wind and thunderstorms, the 73rd Historic Garden Week tours enjoyed good weather and attracted large crowds. Suzanne Munson told of a phone call she received that first morning from an exhausted and drenched tour chairman who claimed, “This is like being pregnant WAY too long.”

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The Battle of the Balustrades actually began in 2003. The Kent-Valentine House's 10-year old balusters were crumbling and, with the help of preservationists and architects, GCV made the decision to replace them with Fypon, a synthetic material resistant to decay. Fypon would cost $28,000 more than wood but would reduce long-term expenses. Unfortunately, Richmond’s Committee for Architectural Review denied the request for Fypon. After months of dealing with legalities and naysayers, Cabell West led the charge and, with Deedy Bumgardner and Meg Clement, appeared before the Richmond City Council in September 2004. Prepared for battle and armed with detailed documentation, background information and letters of support, the determined trio were finally victorious in getting approval for the use of Fypon.

Development Chairman Catherine Whitham announced at the 2004 BOG in Front Royal that GCV had submitted grant applications for foundation money and would require dollar-for-dollar matching. With a price tag of $100,000, the “Buy a Baluster” campaign was born, and members were invited to join the Balustrade Brigade by purchasing a baluster for $250.

Catherine reported one year later at the 2005 BOG in Ashland that the campaign had surpassed the $100,000 goal and raised $150,000, bringing the total to $250,000 -- enough to replace the balustrade and patch the roof, repoint mortar, fix the floor, and give the house a fresh coat of paint.

Grand Illumination February 9, 2006, was a fitting celebration and tribute to those involved in the success of the Balustrade Project. The celebration brought 150 members and supporters to see the Kent-Valentine House at its most elegant with chandeliers gleaming, candles lit, beautiful silver and linens in use, and exquisite flowers in the dining room. Photos

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Chairman Mary Hart Darden, The Nansemond River Garden Club

Personnel Chairman Mary Hart Darden announced that after receiving the resignation of GCV Administrator Maggie King in June 2004, to be effective September 15, an ad hoc Search Committee was established to find Maggie’s replacement. After reviewing over 100 resumes, and with board approval, Terry Parmentier was hired to begin immediately under Maggie’s tutelage. Mary Hart “broke into song” at the November 2004 Board of Governors to show the pronunciation of Terry’s name. “Mademoiselle from Armentiers, parlez-vous? Mademoiselle from Armentiers, parlez-vous? Mademoiselle from Armentiers, hasn’t been kissed for forty years. Hinky, Dinky, parlez-vous?”

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Chairman  Mina Wood, The Lynchburg Garden Club

Restoration Chairman Mina Wood reported at the 2004 Board of Governors on an investigative visit to Jamestown Island, as preparations were underway for the 2007 Jamestown quadricentennial celebration with a planned visit by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Attendees were still dreaming about a royal visit when Mina delivered news about projects under consideration: Historic Virginia Gardens Part II, by Margaret Bemiss and Nancy Talley; a February 23 Restoration Workshop for site gardeners at Fredericksburg’s Ferry Farm; and a partnership with the Virginia Historical Society to digitize restoration landscape plans and records.

April 27 and 28 brought two glorious, sunny days for Restoration presentations. Nearly eighty visitors gathered on Wednesday for the presentation of the GCV restoration of a 19th-century perimeter fence surrounding the Sutherlin Mansion, now serving as the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. Photos

Thursday’s event brought another large gathering for the presentation of Sweet Briar’s newly installed Arrival Court in Amherst. The wide brick walks outlining the historic boxwood circle and newly planted native and exotic trees added to the original arboretum. The college was also presented with a site plan of Tusculum Institute, a historic preservation resource center on the campus dedicated to preserving and studying the region’s historic assets within a context of environmental stewardship. Photos

Mina Wood introduced three restoration projects at the 2005 Annual Meeting.

• Yeardley House Garden on Jamestown Island
• Pavilion IX Garden replanting
• Historic St. Luke’s Church in Isle of Wight refurbishments of a 2002 planting

In an update to the digitization project, Mina announced the committee had contributed $25,000 to the Virginia Historical Society to underwrite the digitization of restoration plans and documents.

She followed with a timeline of GCV association with the Adam Thoroughgood House. The relationship began in the late 1940s when GCV Landscape Architect Alden Hopkins designed a Colonial Revival garden for the property. When the property ownership changed hands from the City of Norfolk and the Chrysler Museum to the City of Virginia Beach in 2003, contracts between the new property owners and the Garden Club of Virginia had to be considered. Meanwhile, extensive research and archeology by Virginia Beach revealed that the house and garden might be later than thought when Hopkins designed the garden. As a result of these findings, and the fact that Virginia Beach purchased surrounding properties to prevent encroachment, the site called for reinterpretation. It was mutually agreed that the Garden Club of Virginia and Adam Thoroughgood House should suspend any further efforts to renew or maintain the 17th-century Hopkins garden.

At the 2005 fall Board of Governors, Mina Wood moved to set aside $25,000 from restoration funds for rebuilding a garden or gardens and/or the replacement of trees on the Gulf Coast, due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Motion was seconded and carried. The Restoration Committee intended to seek out a proper organization to direct the gift appropriately.

Attendees at the 2005 Annual Meeting learned that Pavilion IX was scheduled for refurbishment following completion of Pavilion III. Unfortunately, a severe storm came through Charlottesville and did extensive tree damage in the Pavilion VI Garden. The focus then switched to that garden, where additional problems related to its heavy use would require a new design to successfully replicate the intent of its earlier architects -- Griswold, Parker, and Hopkins.

Mina announced at the 2006 Annual Meeting that work was in full swing at the Beale Garden, approved at the 2004 Annual Meeting. It is located in the heart of the Hollins University campus and was given to the university in honor of Lucy Preston Beale, an 1864 graduate, by her daughter. Roanoke landscape architect A. A. Farnham designed the original garden, constructed in 1930. This extensive Beale Garden restoration would include new stone walls, walks, benches, streamside improvement and native plantings.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

Mina reported at the 2004 Board of Governors Breport with exciting research fellowship news. The Favretti Fellowship was established in 1996, to be awarded annually for the study and documentation of private gardens. She announced a new research fellowship to begin in 2005, the Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship, for the study and documentation of public gardens. She added that 2004 Favretti Fellow Andrew Kohr from Ball State University had completed his summer studies in Charlottesville researching and recording the gardens at Mirador, home of the Langhornes, and was currently preparing his final report.

Three recipients were awarded Research Fellowship for summer 2005. Two inaugural Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship applicants were selected to document Gay Mont, a 2000-acre property and a well-documented 1825 garden in Caroline County, near Port Royal. Penny Heavener of George Washington University Landscape program was selected to research and organize the documents, and Courtney Hinson of North Carolina State Landscape Architecture program was selected to map and model the extensive terraces. Favretti Fellowship applicant Jacqueline Lazar from the Ball State Master of Landscape Architecture progran was selected to document Dan’s Hill in Danville, the 1830s family home and garden of John Wilson during Revolutionary times. Charles Gillette worked on some of the gardens during the late 1940s.

The 2006 Favretti Fellowship was awarded to Joshua Meyer, a student in landscape architecture at Temple University in Philadelphia, to document the garden at Tuckahoe Plantation in Richmond, Thomas Jefferson’s boyhood home. Tuckahoe is a National Historic Landmark and is the home of GCV member Sue Thompson and her husband, Addison B. Thompson.

The 2006 GCV Fellowship was awarded to Zachary Scott Rutz, MLA candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, to research the once spectacular garden designed in 1924 by Ellen Biddle Shipman at Chatham Manor.

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Chairman Tata Kellam, The Garden  Club of the Eastern Shore

January 16, 2006, Speakers Series was again standing room only at Lewis Ginter. Tata secured two outstanding speakers. Renny Reynolds, one of New York’s preeminent floral and entertainment designers and owner of a wholesale and retail nursery in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, presented slides of various garden landscapes, as well as his own spectacular gardens. Duff Kliewer, well-known residential architect and interior designer from Viriginia Beach, presented, “Why We Should All Love Detail.” His design projects integrate architecture, interior design and landscape design, and attendees were fascinated as he showed examples of his work.

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Planting Perennials, the Garden Club of Virginia's first strategic plan, was presented by Deedy and Lee Switz at the 2006 Annual Meeting.

Catherine Whitham had reported that when seeking grants for the Balustrade Project, she was frequently asked the question, “Does your organization have a strategic plan?” At the recommendation of the Development Committee, the Board of Directors passed a motion at the January 2005 board meeting to undertake a statewide strategic planning effort over the next twelve months with assistance from an outside professional consultant. Allocating up to $15,000 for the project, Mary Hart Darden was named chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee with Catherine Whitham serving as a major guiding force to have the committee reach its challenge. Lee Switz of Lee Switz and Associates was engaged to help lead the effort.

The Strategic Planning Committee began the work of involving the membership in determining the direction the GCV should take over the next five to ten years. Focus meetings were held throughout the summer and fall with the past presidents, board members, club presidents and committee chairmen, and continued into winter with regional focus groups.

Steve Ellison and Bill Greer were hired to produce a survey and to tabulate the results. An electronic survey was sent to 3600+ members in September, and results were tabulated in October. After receiving an astonishing response rate of 51%, five additional regional meetings were added.

The committee members held over 30 meetings to establish the strategic plan. The areas stated in the report were establishing a GCV Vision, Values and Mission; establishing Strategic Directions for GCV; setting two year and five-year goals.

The GCV Board of Directors was called to a day-long meeting on March 22, 2006, to hear findings and recommendations of the Strategic Planning Committee. In kicking off the strategic plan, the Board of Directors approved the following:

• Adopt the Garden Club of Virginia’s Strategic Plan
• Change Kent-Valentine Endowment to Garden Club of Virginia Endowment
• Jump-start gifts to endowment by adding $100,000 from HGW each year for five years
• Raise Common Wealth Award Fund to at least $300,000 by taking 5% from HGW proceeds net each year for five years
• Approve investigation and design of a new publication GCV Year in Review
• Change the name of the GCV Fund to The SEED Fund (support, education, events and development)

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Mary Bruce Glaize organized GCV’s Eco Study Tour to the Florida Everglades on April 1-5, 2005. Her account of the trip is fascinating. After settling in at the Registry Resort and Club in Naples, tour participants quickly discovered the boardwalk leading through mangroves to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico that became a favorite early morning walking trail. From Naples, the group traveled down the Tamiami Trail through Alligator Alley to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, where the homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford on the Caloosahatchee River are surrounded by botanical gardens.

The entrance to the estate was dominated by an India banyan tree, a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925. The then four-foot Ficus benghalenis produced white sap that Edison and his friends, Ford and Firestone, hoped to use in making natural rubber. At the time, Edison had tested over 17,000 botanicals in his onsite laboratory, hoping to discover a local source of latex from which to make rubber. The experiment with the banyan was not successful but, today, the tree is the largest banyan in the continental United States, with aerial roots covering more than an acre and supported by more than 350 roots.

A barred owl watched carefully as the group continued down the boardwalk…..

A guided tour of Florida’s largest state park, the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, began the quest for native orchids, bromeliads and ferns. With curiosity piqued, the quest expanded to include Florida panthers, Florida black bears and bald eagles. American alligators and gopher tortoises were abundant on the Everglades Trail where site plans include panther crossings.

Blue flag irises were in full bloom under the cypress at the National Audubon Society’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. A red-shouldered hawk nested and hunted to the sound of the pileated woodpecker drumming on hollow trees. A barred owl watched carefully as the group continued down the boardwalk, while a raccoon observed from behind a cypress knee. The great crested flycatcher, eastern phoebe and Carolina wren were identified by sight and sound.

Before leaving the sanctuary, the group had an opportunity to visit and learn about the Living Machine, a water treatment system that restores wastewater to near-drinkable quality using sunlight, bacteria, nutrient-absorbing wetland plants and animals.

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"Friendship and camaraderie" are the #1 Garden Club of Virginia values, according to our 2005 survey. They are certainly my #1 values and, as president, I'm lucky enough to visit each of our 47 clubs in person. That means I could make 3,300 new friends statewide. And if you have any doubt what a powerful organization you belong to, just think about the potential of that many new friends. It's pretty awesome, especially when you harness that power for the public good.”

~Sally Guy Brown, 2006-2008

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Sally Guy held her first summer board retreat at Sweet Briar College. She opened the meeting by reviewing plans to implement GCV’s first strategic plan, beginning with changes to board member responsibilities. Immediate Past President Deedy Bumgardner led strategic planning during her two-year term and gave credit to Catherine Whitham, Mary Hart Darden and consultant Lee Switz for developing the final publication, Planting Perennials, which Catherine then reviewed with board members.

Second Vice President Kim Nash reported (according to Kim, perhaps the first ever report by a GCV Second Vice President) on her new responsibilities as liaison to committees in areas related to education or enrichment.

Sally Guy reported that the Corresponding Secretary would assume responsibility for membership and would coordinate regional meetings for new members.

Director at Large and liaison to Flower Shows Mary Nelson Thompson presented a comprehensive report to explain the importance of the shows in the interdependency of our GCV goals, to relate the positive changes recently implemented by the Flower Shows Committee and to make suggestions as to how the GCV can show hostess clubs more support. Following her report, the board engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding flower shows and concluded that the shows should be evaluated by an outside consultant.

The Development Committee presented ideas for increasing the Garden Club of Virginia Endowment to at least $3 million, as recommended in the strategic plan. The board approved a motion to include remittance envelopes in each of the four Journals, beginning September 2006. The committee also felt the effort would require a part-time employee to focus on professional level fundraising and to assist with publication of the proposed GCV Year in Review. Further discussion was to take place in Finance and Investment committees. A final suggestion to broaden funding appeals was based on members’ stated preference to support GCV in areas related to conservation. In closing, Catherine announced a $74,000 gift to the GCV Endowment from the estate of former GCV President Dorothy Douglass Kellam.

The Kent-Valentine House Committee reported on a note from a Kent family descendant expressing a wish to donate portraits of Horace and Elizabeth Kent and others to the Kent-Valentine House, requesting that the portraits be hung in the original part of the house.

The board approved motions to fund the cost of expanding the September 2006 Journal to include a list of annual donors, to increase fees for Annual and Board of Governors meetings from $100 to $125 and to hire consultant Beth Morchower to study flower shows.

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Photos

The eighty-seventh Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Mill Mountain Garden Club at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center on October 17-19, 2006. The meeting was chaired by Jane Coulter and Patti Palmer.

The Board of Directors met for lunch and board meeting on October 17 at the beautiful home of Kae and Chan Bolling.

Sally Guy opened the board meeting by announcing GCV receipt of a Zone VII Award from the Garden Club of America for the preservation and restoration efforts over three quarters of a century.

On behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee, First Vice President Cabell West presented two options for a GCV mission statement. The board then adopted, “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.” Kim Nash reported that committees had been asked to identify two-year and five-year strategic planning goals prior to the May 2007 Annual Meeting.

Financial matters covered a broad range of topics. Board members expressed concern about the lack of revenue for the SEED Fund, compared to the number of requests for use of those funds. Muff Nolde, Meg Clement and Suzanne Munson were tasked with establishing policies and procedures for funds raised by individual club projects during HGW. And funds remaining upon completion of the Balustrade project totaled $13,714.40, to be available for general use in the Endowment. And finally, on behalf of the Finance Committee, Anne recommended a fiscal year change from April – March to July – June, to be voted on at the January 2007 Board of Directors meeting. Grace Rice moved on behalf of the Symposium Committee that the board approve a $20,000 short-term loan to assist with start-up expenses. Motion carried.

Catherine Whitham reported on continued Development Committee efforts to increase annual giving, including the creation of a gift acceptance procedure. Meg Clement reported that 2006 Registers were distributed to all GCV members. Immediate Past President Deedy Bumgardner reported on updates to GCV employee guidelines and presented the 2006 edition of The Garden Club of Virginia Members’ Handbook.

Attendees gathered Tuesday evening for cocktails at the O. Winston Link Museum, followed by Dutch treat dinner at Billy’s Ritz, a popular local restaurant in the city's historic market area. President Sally Guy Brown called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and asked Mill Mountain Garden Club president Kay Kelly to introduce Roanoke mayor, Nelson Harris. Kay then provided a preview of events and introduced club historians Jane Butler and Jill Pendleton who recited a poem paying tribute to the 79-year-old club.

Sally Guy began her report by summarizing areas earmarked by the 2006 Strategic Plan and was followed by more detailed reports from committees.

Charged with oversight of communication initiatives, First Vice President Cabell West reported plans to launch a new publication, GCV Year in Review, designed to promote GCV activities. Second Vice President Kim Nash, responsible for educational programs, reported plans to develop two-year and five-year goals -- those based on strategic plan suggestions and those set by individual committees.

Common Wealth Award Chairman Nancy Lowry called on Huntington Garden Club president Carol Hogg to provide an update on her club’s 2005 Common Wealth Award project at the Virginia Living Museum, "Virginia’s Botanical History, 1607 to Today." She described the “1607 Garden,” scheduled to open April 2007, with its salt marsh of grasses and seaside perennials, wax myrtle and marsh elder shrubs, and a woodland garden of pines, flowering trees and shrubs. Displays would include plants introduced by Native Americans and colonists, as well as an area dedicated to early naturalists and botanists.

Having been recently consolidated into one position, the Journal Editor and the Chairman of the Editorial Board became a volunteer position with Peggy Federhart assuming the responsibility. She reported on procedural changes, including the use of online file sharing among editors. The June 2006 Journal was the first to be posted on the GCV website to supplement the printed edition.

Jocelyn Connors reported on plans for a study trip to southern Spain in October 2008, to be led by Mary Anne Wilson, Director of the Junior Year in Spain program for Sweet Briar.

Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin announced a name change from the Conservation Awards Fund to the GCV Conservation Fund. She explained that in 1996, when the fund was established, it was designated for purchasing medals. In 1998, 150 de Lacy Gray medals were donated to the GCV, eliminating the need for future funding. The name change was made to create additional funding opportunities for conservation initiatives.

In keeping with strategic plan goals to grow the Endowment and the Common Wealth Award Fund, Investment Chairman Nancy Bowles announced that beginning 2006, $100,000 from HGW proceeds would be added to the GCV Endowment each year for five years, and 5% of HGW proceeds would be added to the Common Wealth Award Fund each year for ten years.

Attendees traveled to Hollins University where lunch was served prior to the presentation of the Beale Memorial Garden. The afternoon offered a visit to Mill Mountain Garden Club’s award-winning Wildflower Garden.

The awards banquet followed that evening at the Hotel Roanoke. The 2006 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Nansemond River Garden Club for “The Cedar Hill Project: The Heritage Garden.” Second place was awarded to Albemarle Garden Club for "Morea: A Living Classroom.”

Thursday morning business began with Development Committee liaison Catherine Whitham reporting on plans to raise awareness of GCV through education; to serve as GCV ambassadors; and to encourage and facilitate growth of the GCV Endowment and the Common Wealth Award Fund.

Online Chairman and Webmaster Nina Mustard followed with reviews of training workshops and Journal articles; website progress; and increasing responsibilities with the President’s Message, Journal mailings and the GCV Register. In response to a question of two-year goals, an Online Committee member suggested the committee offer only 20-minute goals, given the rapidly changing technology. Nina stated, “In reality, we can offer to support, educate, facilitate, communicate and commiserate. Mostly, we can offer to shine the spotlight on all the wonderful activities of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Meg Clement noted the 2006-2007 GCV Register had been expanded to include formal names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and social names of every member of the GCV. It also included GCV Bylaws, standing rules, flower show awards, restoration projects and web pages that identify local, state and federal government representatives. She pointed out that every member of the GCV should have received a copy.

Public Relations Chairman Linda Consolvo apologized and sought forgiveness for her incessant “wants” -- I want a nice smile, I want your newspaper articles, I want your club photos and more. Symposium Chairman Mina Wood described plans in progress for the first GCV Symposium, and the Speakers Series Committee announced that Ken Druse is the 2007 featured speaker.

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The GCV Board of Directors met January 16, 2007, at the Kent-Valentine House. Sally Guy summarized accomplishments in moving forward with strategic plan implementation and expressed appreciation to board members.

Second Vice President Kim Nash advised liaisons to encourage their committees to discuss each proposed change thoroughly, adding, “We do not need to cause confusion and angst by stumbling over that threshold in a big rush to catch up.”

Treasurer Dianne Spence summarized accounts and noted that, for the first time, dues notices would be sent electronically. Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin and Dianne discussed a proposal to change the GCV fiscal year from April 1 – March 31 to July 1 – June 30, primarily to better reflect the GCV calendar. They provided a detailed plan to make the transition that included tax and reporting requirements. The board approved a motion by Anne to implement the change.

Development Committee liaison Catherine Whitham reported progress in donations to each fund and described development initiatives to increase donations within the membership that would include an annual publication and the placement of remittance envelopes in all Journals. The board recommended that the Strategic Planning Committee reconvene to discuss funding of the initiatives.

Recording Secretary Ann Gordon Evans provided a recap and the meeting was adjourned.

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Photos

The eighty-seventh Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Hampton Roads Garden Club on May 8-10, 2007, at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Newport News, chaired by Anne Harrison Harris and Sally Harris.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at the home of Martha Kelly for a delicious luncheon prior to the meeting.

In continuing the Strategic Plan implementation, the Board of Directors approved status changes to the Communications and Outlook committees. Second Vice President Kim Nash referenced a widely held belief that the Garden Club of Virginia's future based on the Strategic Plan, should be “built, not bought,” and cautioned board members to recognize that substantial construction costs are involved in the GCV renovation.

Cocktails and the Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night were held a short walk from the Marriott at the Red Star Tavern.

Sally Guy called the business meeting to order Wednesday morning and introduced Hampton Roads president Joanne Prillaman. Joanne talked of “excitement in the air in our part of the state as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.” Sally Harris, co-chairman of the meeting, introduced Mary Lou Hatten who provided an entertaining history of the 75-year-old club. Mary Lou, who, as a child lived near the club’s founder, “Miss Lizzie, vividly remembered her looking like Miss Minerva. She described early projects ranging from Yorktown onion research to wartime assistance in the 1940s and 1950s; and a disastrous Historic Garden Week when a powerful nor'easter blew in, forcing evacuation of the entire tour area as flood waters rose with alarming speed. She laughed when saying that club members wrote so many letters to Congressman Thomas N. Downing, in support of or in opposition to environmental issues, he began referring to them as his pen pals. In closing she described the club's latest projects -- donating a wetlands garden to Christopher Newport University, funding thousands of daffodil bulbs and Scotch broom for Highway Department planting along roadways and planning restoration work in the churchyard at St. John’s Church in Hampton.

Sally Guy introduced GCV Honorary Member Dudley Brown, who thanked the members for honoring him and expressed his appreciation for the good work of the GCV.

She then reported that in the year since taking the gavel “with trembling hands,” the GCV membership had been working diligently to implement the Strategic Plan. She reviewed members’ suggestions that were incorporated into the plan, assuring attendees that the board reports and committee reports that followed would “knock your socks off.”

First Vice President Cabell West announced that the Communications Committee is to become the latest Standing Committee and described changes already in place. Of particular importance, the Historic Garden Week Guidebook cover, beginning 2007, will now give credit to the Garden Club of Virginia for sponsoring the event, a glaring oversight revealed during strategic planning.

Second Vice President Kim Nash announced that the Outlook Committee, an evolution of the ad hoc Strategic Plan Committee, is to become a Special Committee for an initial term of four years. She stressed the importance of building a regional network for communication and education within the GCV membership, citing the benefits seen by Historic Garden Week in using a similar, regional framework. Corresponding Secretary Mary Bruce Glaize reported that plans to welcome new GCV members with a letter from the GCV President were pending receipt of a complete list of names, and that a committee was being formed to plan New Member Orientation meetings within a regional framework.

Director at Large Anne Cross read a letter from the General Assembly of Virginia and the Virginia Capitol Foundation in appreciation of the Garden Club of Virginia’s involvement in providing floral arrangements for the Rededication of the Capitol, the black-tie gala and the visit of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Hampton Roads Garden Club member Midge Eason introduced speaker Bly Straube, Senior Curator of the Jamestown Rediscovery project of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. She, along with archeologists Bill Kelso and Nick Lucketti, discovered the irregular footprint of the James Fort in 1996, previously thought to have been washed into the James River. She was quoted in the Daily Press, “Each artifact has a story to tell about the past. I was given the task of giving them a voice. With one million artifacts, it is like being in a room of screaming people. I can’t use them all; I have to pick the ones that tell the story the best.” Bly presented a fascinating slide lecture focused on the Jamestown Rediscovery Project.

Luncheon followed in Hampton Roads member homes, after which buses transported attendees to Northrup Grumman Newport News Shipyard for a windshield tour of the shipyard and a private, “hard hat” tour of CVN 77 George H.W. Bush Aircraft Carrier, the tenth and final NIMITZ class nuclear aircraft carrier.

The black-tie awards banquet was held Wednesday night at Christopher Newport University David Student Union Ballroom.

Journal reports from Gail Braxton, Peggy Federhart and Betsy Agelasto summarized administrative changes made during "year one of the saga of reinventing the Journal,” and the newly acquired ability to use online file sharing for more efficient editing.

Attendees learned that the Kent-Valentine House was used for a photoshoot in the April 2007 issue of Virginia Livingmagazine and Chairman Missy Buckingham encouraged members to use the house for club meetings, and for personal use at reduced rental rates. She also noted that a search was in progress for a GCV Executive Director and for a HGW Administrator.

Before moving to approve the 2007-2008 budget, Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin reminded attendees that it reflected the fiscal year change from April 1–March 31 to July 1–June 30 as approved by the Board of Directors in January. She also reported on a change to the SEED Fund description, “This fund may be spent in its entirety excluding any restricted funds or unused portion thereof.”

Development Chairman Karen Jamison reported on the efforts and progress of the committee as it focused on strategies to educate, encourage and engage members in giving gifts to the Garden Club of Virginia, adding that Journal articles and remittance envelopes would be continued. She described the planned publication, GCV Year in Review, that will highlight accomplishments in areas of education, conservation and restoration and will be designed to inform membership in order to “build pride in being part of the organization.” It will include a list of donors to the GCV.

Editor of the Register Meg Clement reported that the odd-year GCV Supplement to the Register would no longer be printed, adding that odd year changes to club officers are now available on the GCV website.

Horticulture Chairman Kay Van Allen announced the 2007 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Mary Eades, Rivanna Garden Club; Rachel Hollis, the Spotswood Garden Club; and Eleanor Towers, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton.

Online Chairman and Webmaster Nina Mustard reported on website updates and announced that Closerware had been selected to provide future website software. The company is known for its support of nonprofit and member-based organizations and is current host to more than 80 Junior League chapters around the nation.

Nominations Chairman Mary Hart Darden presented three names for election as Directors at Large: Peggy Bowditch, the Garden Club of Gloucester; Di Cook, Leesburg Garden Club and Glenna Graves, the Spotswood Garden Club. Mary Hart’s motion to accept the slate carried.

Ann Gordon Evans followed business reports with a tribute to the Hampton Roads Garden Club and the meeting was adjourned.

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The 2007 summer Board of Directors meeting was held July 20 at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach.

Sally Guy announced the resignation of Peggy Federhart as Editor of the Journal and that Jeanette Cadwallender would assume the position in 2008. Laurie Starke served as interim editor.

Second Vice President Kim Nash reported interesting results of an exit survey taken at the 2007 Annual Meeting: Drop the blacktie at the awards dinner; encourage shorter committee reports; and schedule more time for shopping on Wednesday afternoon. Corresponding Secretary Mary Bruce Glaize detailed plans for upcoming new member orientations.

Following up previous board discussions, Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin moved that GCV annual dues be raised from $25 to $40, effective with the February 1 mailing. Motion carried.

Board members learned that the recently established Conservation Fund had received a $25,000 gift from a former GCV President to kick off a major fundraising effort. Following financial reports, board members requested more complete HGW financial accounting in future reports to the board and expressed interest in improving HGW marketing strategies.

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Photos

The eighty-eighth meeting of the Board of Governors was hosted by the Blue Ridge Garden Club in Lexington at the Hampton Inn Col Alto, chaired by Julie MacKinlay, Julie Grover and Edith Prillaman.

The Board of Directors met October 9, 2007, at the Reeves Center on the Washington and Lee University campus. Sally Guy welcomed board members and thanked Margery Couper and the Associate members of the Blue Ridge Garden Club for the elegant luncheon prior to the meeting.

Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin presented a lengthy board report noting the following: the Public Relations and Horticulture committees had requested extra funding from the Reserve for Contingences; the Flower Shows consultant had requested additional funds for travel expenses; and the Restoration Committee funds had been moved to Darrell & King in Charlottesville.

Conservation Chairman Marsha Merrell reported that she and Catharine Gilliam were two of the “environmental stakeholders” working on the Citizen Board Consolidation Bill. GCV opposed the initial bill that sought to consolidate several citizen conservation boards, thus reducing citizen input.

Marsha then moved to join support for a Virginia Conservation Network letter to Senator John Warner regarding legislation he is set to propose on global warming. Motion carried.

Outlook Committee Chairman Kim Nash described logistical and legal complexities of any type of board restructure, as recommended by the Strategic Plan. As a result, she reported the committee was moving forward with great care and deliberation before recommending any changes.

The Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night was a "barn casual" affair with live bluegrass music, hosted by Ed and Julie MacKinlay in the grand barn at their "River Forks" farm.

President Sally Guy Brown called the Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday morning.

Blue Ridge President Julie Mackinlay welcomed attendees and urged everyone to read the club’s history in the printed program, written by Suzanne Carmichael. Note: A GCV decision to eliminate club history presentations at meetings was based on member suggestions to reduce the number and the length of reports at Annual and BOG meetings.

Morning reports focused on updates to strategic plan implementation.

Common Wealth Award Chairman Nancy Lowry called on Nansemond River Garden Club president Pat House to provide an update of her club’s 2006 Common Wealth Award “The Cedar Hill Project: Heritage Garden.”

Historic Garden Week Chairman Tricia Sauer and Historic Garden Week Executive Director Suzanne Munson provided 2008 tour updates and reminded attendees that the upcoming GCV Symposium would focus on historic restorations, honoring past HGW tour chairmen. Tricia was pleased to announce that color options had been expanded for Guidebook advertisers. At the close of the HGW report, Tricia presented Suzanne Munson with fifteen roses, signifying her fifteen years as Historic Garden Week Executive Director.

Holding up plastic grocery bags, Conservation Chairman Marsha Merrell asked, “Do you know what these are?” She continued, “These are ‘witches britches.’ You see them in trees mostly in winter,” and announced that the James River Garden Club was issuing a challenge to all clubs to encourage all members to stop using them.

Lunch for attendees was held in Moody Hall on the VMI campus, overlooking the Parade Ground. Following lunch, attendees were offered a choice of two tours -- Roots & Shoots Intergenerational School Garden and Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden or Woods Creek Restoration Project and Roots & Shoots.

The 2007 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Spotswood Garden Club at the awards banquet for the "Healing Garden at Camp Still Meadows" in Rockingham County. The camp provides year-round therapeutic activities for children and adults with mental retardation and/or physical disabilities in a safe, creative environment.

Sally Guy reconvened the meeting on Thursday morning, and Online Chairman and Webmaster Nina Mustard conducted a website training session for attendees. Following business reports, attendees were offered two choices of three seminars: Conservation conducted by Marsha Merrell; Restoration conducted by Mary Lou Seilheimer; and Development conducted by Karen Jamison and Catherine Whitham.

Deedy Bumgardner offered a tribute to the Blue Ridge Garden Club, after which attendees enjoyed a photo slide review of 2006-2007 GCV events with photos by Linda Consolvo and presentation by Nina Mustard.

Blue Ridge president Julie MacKinlay then introduced speaker Philip Coulling, Director of Nature Camp in Vesuvius, who informed attendees about the camp’s activities and thanked Garden Club of Virginia members for their loyal support. Following adjournment, guests were invited to picnic at Nature Camp.

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The eighty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton in Richmond on May 13-15, 2008, at the Jefferson Hotel.  “Tradition in Transition” was chaired by Martha Moore and Joanie Robins.

Cabell West hosted the Board of Directors for lunch prior to the board meeting on May 13 at her home.

The Dutch treat dinner was hosted al fresco by Sue and Tad Thompson and family at their historic Tuckahoe Plantation.

President Sally Guy Brown called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and called on Tuckahoe Garden Club president Cabell West, who welcomed attendees.

Sally Guy summed up her presidency in terms of strategic planning accomplishments. She closed, “all of these changes and the implementation of the strategic plan could not have been accomplished without the dedication, talent, energy and great spirit of fun and friendship that is the GCV. What a fabulous group you are. Just like my recent ride in the pace car on the Martinsville Speedway, this has been a most thrilling and wonderful ride, and I cannot thank you enough.”

First Vice President Cabell West and Second Vice President Kim Nash announced that the Communications Committee would be eliminated, with the Second Vice President and the Corresponding Secretary being asked to oversee external communications (including finance) and internal communications, respectively. Directors at Large have been asked to serve as liaisons to remaining committees. These changes are designed to unify the different voices of the GCV and are not intended to change the work of individual committees.

Corresponding Secretary Mary Bruce Glaize described successful member orientation meetings organized within the newly established regional framework: District 1 meeting in Richmond at the Kent-Valentine House, led by Candy Carden; District 2 meeting at Elk Hill Farm in Nelson County, led by Laura Dansby; District 3 and District 4 meeting at the Moses Myers House in Norfolk, led by Betty Power; and District 5 meeting at Oatlands in Leesburg, led by Kim Nash.

Following morning reports, Tuckahoe Garden Club member Sue Thompson introduced renowned landscape architect and founder of the Southern Garden History Society, Ben Page. He is a principal at Ben Page and Associates and has been published in Southern Accents, Gardens Illustrated, House and Garden, Southern Living, Veranda and House Beautiful.His slide lecture featured his work that included landscape plans ranging from four acres adjacent to the residence of the Vice President of the United States to a 96-acre university campus in Memphis.

The meeting was adjourned for the afternoon and attendees were treated to luncheon in the newly renovated Capitol, made possible by Clerk of Senate Susan Clarke Schaar. Afternoon tours of the Capitol, the Executive Mansion and grounds, and the Library of Virginia followed lunch. Afternoon tea was held at the Kent-Valentine House.

The awards banquet was held Wednesday night at the Jefferson Hotel.

Sally Guy reconvened the meeting Thursday morning and congratulated award recipients.

GCV Online Chairman and Webmaster Nina Mustard then presented an online workshop, “The GCV Website in a Nutshell.” Mary Bruce followed the workshop by reading a GCV resolution honoring Nina for her work, adding, “Nina is our WWW: our wonderful, winning, webmaster.”

Horticulture Chairman Kay Van Allen announced 2008 Horticulture Award of Merit recipient Mary Ann Gibbons, a member of Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club and, “an avid conservationist and a zealous advocate of native plants.”

Mary Bruce followed the Journal reports from Chairman Gail Braxton, Editor Jeanette Cadwallender, and Advertising by reading a GCV resolution honoring Laurie Starke, Journal Editor Pro Tem in the absence of Peggy Federhart.

Nominations Chairman Mary Hart Darden presented the Slate of Officers in nomination for 2008-2010.

Tributes to Sally Guy Brown

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. First, you have to know what you want. Women have long known what they wanted and became famous for doing it first. Sally Guy Brown joins an illustrious list of women in history. She will probably not be published in record books, but surely, she will be recorded in the history of the Garden Club of Virginia as setting the state for many firsts.” A slide presentation followed that listed a few of her “firsts” – first world-class fly fisherman as GCV President, leader of first GCV Symposium, first GCV President to say "charge it' and many more.

Sally Guy introduced new GCV President Cabell West who adjourned the eighty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia.

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Chairman Lynn Beeler, The Martinsville Garden Club

Calder Loth, proposed by the Garden Club of the Northern Neck and endorsed by the James River Garden Club, was invited to become an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Newport News. Former GCV President Helen Murphy introduced him, having had the privilege of working with him on numerous projects. Serving as the Senior Architectural Historian of the Commonwealth, Helen described him as a “dedicated advocate of historic easements and preservation of landscapes, as well as old buildings.” Calder thanked the Garden Club of Virginia for the honor bestowed upon him and acknowledged the wonderful work of the GCV.

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Chairman Marsha Merrell, The James River Garden Club

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Marsha Merrell represented the Garden Club of Virginia at the opening of the James River segment of the Captain John Smith Trail on October 2, 2006, at Westover and announced plans to attend “Cooling the Commonwealth,” an event for legislators to be hosted by the Virginia Conservation Network in November. She followed with updates on recent and upcoming events – Conservation Workshop, Conservation Forum and Legislative Day.

After receiving a request from David Whitehurst, Wildlife Diversity Division Director, the Garden Club of Virginia Board of Directors voted to join “Teaming with Wildlife Coalition,” to participate in building support for funding of the State Wildlife Grants program. Created in 2001 by Congress to keep wildlife from becoming endangered, 2007 funding for the program had been cut by $18.5 million. Virginia’s Wildlife Action Plan identified 111 species as threatened or endangered.

The 2006 Conservation Workshop was held September 11, chaired by Penny Dart of the Warrenton Garden Club. “Can You Hear Me Now?” focused on effective communication with membership and included “Care and Feeding of Your Legislator,” using the GCV website and email courtesy. After struggling with an “alien computer” and viewing its images, lopsided, Marsha recommended that GCV budget for a laptop with PowerPoint software and a proper audio/visual cart.

The 48th Annual Conservation Forum, “Energy, What is the Future?” was held November 8-9, 2006, at Stratford Hall, co-chaired by Margaret South and Anne Beals. The event was a huge success with 230 attendees (the expectation was 100). Attendees toured Stratford Hall on Wednesday with an emphasis on energy-saving devices used in building the historic home.

Thursday’s first speaker was Dr. Thomas D. Peterson, Executive Director of the Center for Climate Strategies, Senior Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at Pennsylvania State University. He discussed causes of global warming and their impact on our landscape and water resources. Dr. Peterson served with the White House Climate Change Task Force as a congressional liaison and contact for natural resource issues and has assisted several states with the development of climate change action plans and policies.

The second speaker was Dr. James L. Kelly, Professor Emeritus of the Nuclear Engineering Department at UVA. Dr. Kelly has worked for Kaiser Aluminum, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Duke Power Company, and VEPCO. He discussed various aspects of nuclear power, including safety, environmental hazards and waste disposal.

The 2006 Dugdale Award for Conservation was presented to Miranda (Randi) Bryant Strutton for her work in creating and preserving the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, a 142-acre living laboratory. Randi is Executive Director of the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation, which focuses on helping children make connections to their environment. She organizes bird walks, volunteer workdays, Earth Day programs, interactive programs and field trips.

Note: Given the difficult logistics of waiting to announce the recipient at the Conservation Forum, the committee voted to notify future Dugdale recipients in advance, providing an opportunity for family and friends to attend the presentation.

Legislative Day was held January 22, 2007, chaired by Eleanor Towers. In spite of snow, sleet and rain over most of the Commonwealth, the event drew 70 attendees. Conservation and Beautification Chairman Marsha Merrell added, “Getting up close and personal with our elected officials is far more rewarding that simply pulling a lever and waiting for the next election.” Attendees delivered energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs to delegates and senators with a note on energy conservation from the Garden Club of Virginia.

GCV opposed the early designation of a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIET Corridor) that would transect highly protected areas in Clarke, Warren, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties. GCV endorsed legislation to provide a tax-free week for purchases of “energy star” appliances and light bulbs.

Marsha moved that the board accept the recommendations for Legislative Day as stated below.

The committee held an annual retreat in Williamsburg on March 29-30, 2007, organized by Merry Outlaw, to establish plans for accomplishing two-year goals: create and distribute a manual for club conservation chairmen; create a slide presentation titled The Work of the Garden Club of Virginia in Conservation; and increase the Conservation Fund and establish grant guidelines. The committee was treated to a “behind-the-scenes” tour of the APVA archeology laboratory at Jamestown, providing an opportunity for committee members to see and touch items used by the early settlers.

The 2007 Conservation Workshop, “Make an Impact in Your Community,” was held September 10 at the Kent-Valentine House. Chaired by Eleanor Towers, a new slide presentation showing the conservation work of GCV was shown, and attendees were given a copy of the newly printed manual for club conservation chairman. Breakout sessions followed the presentations.

Merry Outlaw, Katya Spicuzza, Lynne Caldwell and Marsha Merrell represented GCV at the Virginia Environment Assembly in Williamsburg on October 6, 2007. The Virginia Conservation Network hosts the annual assembly at locations around the state.

The 48th Annual Conservation Forum was held November 7-8, 2007, on Chincoteague and Assateague islands. “Competition and Cooperation on Virginia’s Eastern Shore” was chaired by Anne Doyle and featured speakers Bob Bloxom, the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Karen Terwilliger, former head of Endangered Species and Wildlife Diversity for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; and Alice Baird for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Program. The Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award was presented to the Union Bank and Trust branch office at 2151 Barracks Road in Charlottesville, nominated by Rivanna Garden Club for the great attention paid to design and building while being sensitive to the environment and habitat of wildlife on the site.

Legislative Day 2008 was held on January 21, 2008, chaired by Anne Doyle. For the first time, GCV combined this event with VCN’s Lobby Day. Marsha Merrell presented a legislative scorecard to 2008 Annual Meeting attendees, particularly pleased that the Citizen Air and Water Boards was saved from consolidation, and that bills for farm best management practices had survived.

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Chairman Charlotte Benjamin, The Garden Club of Fairfax

The 64th Annual Lily Show was hosted for the second year by the Garden Study Club on June 21-22, 2006, at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville. "My Fair Lily," chaired by Barbara Holland and Susan Critz, featured 68 artistic arrangements, 177 horticulture stems and 111 exhibitors.

Flower Arranging School was held on September 19, 2006, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Lee Snyder of Harborfront Garden Club led a record number of attendees skillfully through the “Nuts and Bolts of Flower Arranging.”

The GCV Lily Committee hosted a lily program at the Kent-Valentine House on September 27, 2006. Laura Anne Brooks of the Middle Peninsula Garden Club presented a program on “Growing, Showing and Arranging Lilies.” David Diller showed his slide collection to illustrate classification.

The 2006 Rose Show, “River Reflections,” was hosted by the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula on October 4-5 at Christchurch School, chaired by Anne Bland and Lexi Byers. The show reported 138 exhibitors, 351 stems and 71 artistic arrangements. Virginia Guild was on hand to present the first Virginia Brown Guild Perpetual Award to the best artistic arrangement in the show.

A lovely, antique silver plate was presented to GCV at the 2006 fall Board of Governors in memory of Decca Gilmer Frackelton. The plate, given by her family and the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, will be known as the Decca Gilmer Frackelton Award and will be presented annually for the best arrangement in a GCV Daffodil Show.

The 2007 Daffodil Show was hosted by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club on April 4-5 at the University of Mary Washington Jepson Alumni Center. Co-chairmen Kitty Lee Wafle and Jeanette Cadwallender reported 2281 stems and 14 InterClub daffodil collections.

Charlotte reported at the 2007 Annual Meeting that the Boxwood Garden Club and the family of former Boxwood president Anne Miller Anderson Stuckey had made a memorial gift designated to underwrite the cost of a speaker at Flower Arranging School for ten years.

When the Garden Club of Virginia received a request to provide floral arrangements for the 2007 rededication of the Capitol, the black-tie gala and the visit by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, GCV floral arrangers gathered in force for two weeks. Mary Nelson Thompson described the experience.

“The classic Roman temple edifice, designed by Thomas Jefferson as our state house, sparkled in its splendor. Many experts skillfully restored the old section and added a new addition to incorporate modern technology and infrastructure. It is truly the crown jewel of the Commonwealth.

Providing floral arrangements worthy of such a masterpiece was quite an awesome challenge, particularly since the timing was during and immediately following Historic Garden Week. Construction and cleaning were ongoing up to the last minute. More than five carloads of containers had to be selected for placement and transported to the Capitol. Designs were chosen, flowers ordered, and auxiliary materials cut and conditioned. Complicated mechanics were overcome. All of this was completed under the restraints of ultra-tight security.

These arrangements included a 15-foot centerpiece placed on a granite cube, which was completed by the construction crew just three hours before the guests arrived. Twelve of us worked with ladders in the midst of guards and dogs brought in to detect possible explosives. When almost one-hundred period and contemporary designs were completed, the committee felt exhilarated with accomplishment."

A Rose education program was held on September 19, 2007, at the Kent-Valentine House.

A Flower Arranging Workshop was held at Lewis Ginter in March 2007. Led by Lee Snyder, each participant created an Early American and a Late Colonial design to take home.

The 65th Annual Lily Show, “Wonders of Our World,” was hosted by the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club June 20-21, 2007, at Millwood Station, chaired by Susan Clayton and Jean Gilpin. In spite of inclement weather, the show reported 191 horticulture entries and 45 artistic InterClub arrangements. In conjunction with the show, a two-day lily judging school was offered at Blandy Education Center on June 18-19, the first of a two-year program.

Flower Arranging School at Lewis Ginter, September 18, 2007, with Julia Clevett, an internationally known floral design instructor and arranger. Her arrangements were auctioned off to membership and a beautiful, Victorian bronze container was donated anonymously for a silent auction. For the first year, a portion of the Millie Stuckey memorial donation was used to help defray speaker costs. (The Boxwood Garden Club donation was made in honor of former Boxwood president Anne Miller Anderson Stuckey and stipulated that the GCV Treasurer be allowed to take approximately 10% of the amount each year to underwrite the cost of a speaker at Flower Arranging School until the entire amount was used.)

The Rose Committee held a meeting and workshop at the Kent-Valentine House on September 19, 2007, to choose the 2008 rose collection and to share tips for successfully exhibiting roses.

The 69th annual Rose Show was hosted on October 3-4, 2007, by the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula at Christchurch School, chaired by Lexi Byers and Anne Bland. They reported 106 exhibitors, 215 stems and 64 flower arrangements.

The 2008 Daffodil Show was hosted by the Garden Club of the Northern Neck on April 2-3 at White Stone Church of the Nazarene featuring 1654 blooms. The Pat Lawson Memorial Trophy, given in memory of Roanoke Valley Garden Club member Pat Lawson by her family, was awarded for the first time at the 2008 Daffodil Show for the best single stem in Division 7.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Charlotte Benjamin reviewed committee strategic planning accomplishments at the spring 2008 Annual Meeting. One intangible goal, “to review flower shows,” was tackled with the help of an outside consultant and included assessing the amount of time and money spent on flower shows by host clubs, and by investigating the idea that flower shows could benefit from GCV state-level marketing and financial support. The idea of GCV support would also include assistance with speakers and programs for each show.

Charlotte called on Lucy Huff of Rivanna Garden Club to announce the Mary Jean Prince Rose Trophy, a beautiful silver vase given in her honor by Rivanna Garden Club, to be awarded for the first time at the 2008 Rose Show for the best blue ribbon in Section III, Class 30, the GCV Member Club Rose Collection.

Charlotte closed her report and presented the 2009 Garden Club of Virginia InterClub Artistic Award to the Virginia Beach Garden Club.

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2007 Tour Chairman Muff Nolde, The Boxwood Garden Club

2008 Tour Chairman Tricia Sauer, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

2007 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2008 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2007 Historic Garden Week featured Northern Neck's “Peace of Pocahontas” on the Guidebook cover in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

Chairman Muff Nolde and HGW Director Suzanne Munson reported large crowds and excellent weather for most of the tours.

They followed with tributes to HGW Administrator Susan Flowers, who had earlier announced her plans to retire, effective the end of May 2007 after twenty years in that position. Susan began in the Kent-Valentine House HGW headquarters in 1987 with an IBM Selectric typewriter – no computer, no copy machine, no fax and phones old enough to have rotary dials. She kept books using handwritten ledgers. Susan has seen the HGW office through major construction and through the transition into today’s world of computer technology. Susan was presented with a lovely painting of flowers by one of her favorite artists, Julie Ross, and was given a lifetime, statewide pass, signed by the President of the Garden Club of Virginia.

The HGW Committee held the first marketing and public relations workshop at the Kent-Valentine House on October 30, 2007, for all 2008 HGW publicity chairmen.

Tricia Sauer became Historic Garden Week Chairman in 2008, celebrating the event’s 75th anniversary. Fredericksburg’s Kenmore, the Garden Club of Virginia’s first restoration project, was featured on the Guidebook cover. Tricia and HGW Director Suzanne Munson reported at the spring 2008 Annual Meeting that internet tickets sales for the 2008 tour had tripled and revenue had topped $800,000 for the first time in history. International acclaim came from Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany and France and included mention on a British list of “Hip and Historic” places to visit. Virginia Living magazine featured HGW with the headline, “Ladies Who Launch,” and a Richmond Times Dispatch op-ed by Calder Loth was titled, “Celebrating 75 Years: Historic Garden Week Reflects Happiness."

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Chairman Kay Van Allen, The Lynchburg Garden Club

May 17-18, 2006, Horticulture Field Day featured the gardens of the Roanoke Valley.

The 2006 Fall Board of Governors horticulture exhibit, “My Favorite Gardening Tool,” included sources, favorite catalogs and favorite gardening tips.

At the request of the Horticulture Committee, the Board of Directors directed President Sally Guy Brown to write a letter of support for the Flora and Fauna of Virginia project, to be used in the project’s grant request packet. A similar letter had been written in July 2003.

The horticulture exhibit at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Newport News was created by Linda Pinkham and Libbey Oliver and, in keeping with the 400^th anniversary celebration, featured an exhibit of plants that the first settlers would have encountered when they landed at Jamestown.

2007 Horticulture Field Day was held on May 17-18 in Charlottesville, featuring Whilton, Bird Hill, Waterperry Farm, Tautkus and Taylor gardens.

The horticulture exhibit at the 2007 fall Board of Governors meeting in Lexington featured tussie-mussies and nosegays, arranged in nosegay holders or paper doilies.

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Chairman Deedy Bumgardner, The Augusta Garden Club

By spring of 2007, her committee was tasked with replacing two employees. GCV Executive Director Pat Bryant left in April, and GCV was fortunate that Mary Harvard Nolde stepped into the position until a replacement could be hired. That news was followed with Historic Garden Week Administrator Susan Flowers announcing her retirement, effective at the end of May 2007.

Deedy’s committee interviewed candidates and, by the end of May, GCV had two new employees. Rose Marie Tronge was hired to replace Executive Director Pat Bryant, and Christine Harris was hired to replace Susan Flowers. Rose Marie was introduced at the 2007 Board of Governors meeting and described her numerous job responsibilities.

Deedy admitted her role as Personnel Chairman had been challenging -- learning the “how to” of human resources, reviewing and revising job descriptions, creating an Employee’s Handbook and filling two staff positions – but rewarding, in view of her accomplishments as she introduced the GCV staff at the 2008 Annual Meeting.

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Chairman Mary Lou Seilheimer, The Warrenton Garden Club

Summer and fall 2006 Restoration Committee visits included Belle Grove, Blandy Experimental Farm, Burwell Morgan Mill and John Handley High School in the Winchester area; Belmont, the Mary Washington Monument, the Mary Washington House and Kenmore in Fredericksburg; and Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

John Handley High School, a privately endowed school built in 1923, had requested that GCV consider a restoration of the original Olmstead Brothers' landscape in front of the school. This park was planned and executed in the 1920s soon after the school was built. Trees and plants had died, inappropriate plantings had been introduced and student activities have taken over some of the spaces. The committee directed Will Rieley to undertake a thorough research of the Olmstead plans and to determine the current needs of the school for athletic space within the park. The Mary Washington Monument landscape had been last restored in 1937 and the steps, walkways and the surrounding brick wall were heaving and crumbling. The committee voted to restore the work at the monument.

New works and works in progress during summer and fall of 2006 included restoring the 1920s garden at Yeardley House on Jamestown Island, replacing the elm allee at Maymont in Richmond, landscaping the churchyard and grounds of the visitor center at Historic St. Luke’s Church in Smithfield, repairing and refurbishing the storm-damaged Pavilion VI garden at UVA and phase two of restoring the federal period garden at the Moses Meyers House in Norfolk. Will Rieley was continuing oversight of T-21 construction at Dodona Manor.

The Beale Memorial Garden at Hollins University was presented on October 18, 2006, during the Board of Governors meeting in Roanoke. Chairman Mary Lou Seilheimer explained that most presentations take place when a restored garden has time to “settle in and grow a little,” but with the Board of Governors in Roanoke “we bent the rules…you will see a very new but very special landscape.” The day was picture perfect and, according to Mary Lou, “The view from the chapel terrace revealed new walks, stone walls, two exquisitely crafted bridges over the stream, lovely trees and other plantings.”

In 2005, the Restoration Committee had pledged $5,000 each year to the GCV Endowment for five years. Two payments had been made when the Board of Directors voted in 2006 that $500,000 from Historic Garden Week funds be directed to the GCV Endowment over a period of five years. As a result, the Restoration Committee voted to rescind their 2005 pledge.

Winter and spring 2007 Restoration Committee visits included Richmond properties Wilton, the Kent-Valentine House, the Executive Mansion, St. John’s Mews and the Grace Arents garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Work in progress included the T-21 restoration project at Dodona Manor that Landscape Architect was overseeing. The original plan included a stockade fence, and building permits had been obtained. At some point, a Leesburg citizen objected to the fence and brought to the attention of the Town of Leesburg that the permit for building the fence had expired, even though work had been ongoing. For eleven months the Restoration Committee, the Dodona board and Will Rieley worked to revive the permit.

Will was also busy developing a landscape plan for Sandusky, a 19th-century property in Lynchburg that recently received a TEA-21 grant to landscape its new visitor center; finishing research for a landscape plan at John Handley High School; and developing a plan for pathways, lighting and the entrance at Lee Hall.

Chairman Mary Lou Seilheimer had reported in late 2006 that a prison was being built behind pre-Revolutionary Fincastle Church in Botetourt County, despoiling the pastoral setting. The Garden Club of Virginia had restored the churchyard landscape in 1942, and the committee directed Will Rieley to draw a tree planting plan in an attempt to block out the view. The plan was approved, and the committee agreed to purchase and plant the trees.

The Restoration Committee’s biennial Maintenance Workshop was held on February 7, 2007, at Maymont. The event, organized by Gale Roberts, featured speakers Peggy Singlemann, Manager of Horticulture at Maymont; Rollin Woolley, Colonial Williamsburg Landscape Supervisor; and Denise Adams, plant historian, horticulturist and author of Restoring American Gardens: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants 1640-1940.

Summer and fall 2007 Restoration Committee visits in Lynchburg and Staunton included Sandusky, Sweet Briar College and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. The committee noted the decline of a section of garden behind the Smith Education Center and agreed to renovate the area.

The presentation of St. Luke’s Church in Isle of Wight County was held on September 25, 2007. The GCV planted trees and shrubs to screen the oldest gothic church in America from encroaching development. The plan also included improvements to brick walkways and parking areas and added plantings and a wrought iron fence.

The committee met the following day in Smithfield for visits to Bacon’s Castle and Smith’s Fort Plantation. Committee reports included updates about ongoing work at the Mary Washington Monument and the UVA Pavilion VI garden. The committee approved plans to refurbish a declining garden at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton and to replace the gazebo roof and restore the 1960s Griswold plan at St. John’s Mews in Richmond.

Then on September 27, the Yeardley House garden at Historic Jamestowne was presented to the APVA. The garden, a reinterpretation of a 1920s garden, was originally filled with 48 roses representing each state. Landscape Architect Will Rieley designed a simple oval of grass, bordered by a new brick walk and surrounded by plantings of native trees and shrubs. Large boxwoods were brought in and two custom-built metal bowers were designed to support climbing roses surrounding the original sundial.

In March 2008, the Restoration Committee visited the well-tended colonial kitchen garden and fencing at Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg; the year-old Beale garden at Hollins University in Roanoke and the screening trees and shrubs that will soon hide a neighboring prison at Fincastle Presbyterian Church. In Lexington, the committee visited the Washington and Lee University campus where members noted the Lee House garden needed refurbishment and marveled at the timeless brick wall and terrace designed by Ralph Griswold in 1977 at Lee Chapel. Chairman Mary Lou reported that new “restorations of restoration” being considered included Centre Hill in Petersburg and Pavilion X garden at UVA.

Mary Lou brought news of a new restoration project at the 2008 Annual Meeting. The restoration of the landscape at John Handley High School in Winchester had been under consideration for 18 months, and the Restoration Committee, the Handley Board of Trustees and the School Board of the City of Winchester had developed a plan and reached an agreement for a three-stage collaboration. Will Rieley followed Mary Lou's report with a slide presentation that included recent projects and the proposed Handley project. Attendees enthusiastically endorsed the proposed collaborative project at John Handley High School.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

2006 Garden Club of Virginia Fellow Zachary Rutz researched and documented the gardens at Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg. His research included the 18th-century garden designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, but also a history of the property from the 18th century and its early landscapes.

Carrie Trebil, was selected as the 2007 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow to research and document the grounds at Bloomsbury. The 1722 home of James Taylor in Orange County, Bloomsbury is the ancestral home of two Presidents of the United States – James Madison and Zachary Taylor.

Hannah Warfield was selected as the 2008 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow to work at Tuckahoe Plantation near Richmond. In making the announcement, Mary Lou added, “Tuckahoe Plantation, built in the early 18th century on the banks of the James River west of Richmond, is considered one of the most complete existing plantation layouts in North America. The gardens have been an integral part of the plantation since its construction and include a Colonial-era garden, terraces, and a twentieth century addition designed by Charles Gillette. Hanna Warfield’s academic background in Cultural Anthropology and her firsthand experience at Tuckahoe make her an ideal candidate to complete the research and documentation of the great American landscape.”

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Chairman Betsy Worthington, The Lynchburg Garden Club

The 2007 Speakers Series was held January 15 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Ken Druse, nationally acclaimed garden expert and author of The Natural Garden, and The Natural Shade Garden, The Passion for Gardening, among others was the guest speaker and entertained nearly 200 attendees with his slides and his humorous antidotes, as well as his gardening experience.

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Chairman Mina Wood, The Lynchburg Garden Club

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I want to thank all 47 garden clubs for extending to me a kind invitation to speak to their membership. I was only snowed out once! The blessings of a garden are the gift not only of the flowers you grow but also of the friendships you cultivate. I treasure each friendship that I have made while being your President. Thank you for a wonderful two years.

~ Cabell West, May 2010

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President Cabell West held her first Board of Directors meeting at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton on July 26, 2008. Special guests were Horticulture Chairman Mary Eades and Flower Shows Chairman Betty Michaelson. Development Chairman Martha Wertz was invited as a special guest but was unable to attend.

Cabell opened the board meeting with plans for two years of “Tradition in Transition,” continuing the theme of the recent spring Annual Meeting. She commended Immediate Past President Sally Guy Brown and her board members for launching implementation of the Strategic Plan and stated, “They got us launched and now our charge is to try to bring closure to the plan. All of you are very talented and great cheerleaders of the Garden Club of Virginia or you would not have been asked to be on the board. I know you are up to this huge task.”

Cabell then distributed an organizational chart illustrating the communication relationships between GCV Board members and committee chairmen.

Corresponding Secretary Meg Clement reported that inconsistency seemed to be a common problem in communications with formatting, typesetting and wording listed most frequently. As a result, responsibility was assigned to the Public Relations Committee for developing a style sheet and for serving as a clearinghouse for all communication pieces.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz reported excellent progress in fundraising goals and credited the GCV Board of Directors, Immediate Past President Sally Guy Brown and past Development Chairmen Catherine Whitham and Karen Jamison. Her committee plans to continue solicitation efforts and will work to establish professional methods for recording and acknowledging gifts.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Tricia Sauer announced a record-setting revenue of $814,300 for the 75th HGW Anniversary tour in 2008, attributing the success to blockbuster tours, marketing and celebratory events throughout the state. She also discussed the possibility of providing space on the HGW website for advertisers in the future.

Additional reports and discussions included Kent-Valentine House maintenance issues, Journal updates; implementation of new software to facilitate communication, including Flickr (cloud storage for photos) and Constant Contact to facilitate email communication and event registration; new procedures and training sessions for club database managers; changes to GCV bylaws and logistics concerning e-meetings and conference call meetings; and suggestions for Directors at Large in meeting the needs of their liaison clubs. Board members also discussed plans to honor retiring house manager Roberta Hughes.

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Photos

The eighty-ninth meeting of the Board of Governors was hosted by the Elizabeth River Garden Club on October 14-16, 2008, at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth, chaired by Tricia Halstead and Judy Perry.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 14 at the home of Pam Kloeppel for a lovely luncheon prior to the board meeting.

Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell reported on immediate needs of the Kent-Valentine House: ongoing moisture problems; roof leaks; deteriorated balusters, newel posts and bottom rail section of back porch stairs and window sashes; updates to phone and security systems. The committee will meet on January 22, 2009, to discuss how best to present the GCV budget, as the current method "only addresses the use of our dues and does not present a true picture." Marsha suggested that GCV consider integrating the Kent-Valentine House and GCV budgets. Development Chairman Martha Wertz presented a comprehensive report of plans for the Campaign to Grow the GCV Endowment.

GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard reported that while our attempt with Closerware was unsuccessful in managing the database, it did allow us to move forward in several important areas: the use of PayPal for online registrations, the use of Constant Contact for the concept of "email and click to register," and learning the logistics of shared web mastering.

Attendees enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Elizabeth River aboard the “Carrie B.” with cocktails and Dutch treat dinner.

Cabell West called the Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday morning and introduced Elizabeth River Garden Club President Sharon Knowles, who welcomed attendees and pointed out the lightship “Portsmouth,” adjacent to the hotel with its beacon of light welcoming all.

Former GCV President Helen Murphy provided a moving tribute to Bessie Bocock Carter, GCV President 1998-2000. Bessie served as Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman and Restoration Committee Chairman, receiving both the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement and the de Lacy Gray Memorial Medal for Conservation. Bessie had a passion for conservation which she inherited from her mother who saved everything, including what she labeled “string too short to use.” She was a member of the Conservation Council of the Garden Club of America, served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy and Piedmont Environmental Council, and was a founding member of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

Bessie worked closely with GCV Landscape Architect Rudy J. Favretti who responded, "Sometimes I would send Bessie a message in the form of a limerick; she loved it, so here goes:" Helen closed her tribute with “Farewell to our glorious friend, Bessie.”

President Cabell West talked about “Tradition in Transition,” as it related to ongoing changes brought about by the 2006 Strategic Plan. She announced a new ad hoc Policies and Procedures Committee, chaired by Dianne Spence, and reminded attendees that in the current volatile market, “GCV will have to be prudent and conservative with finances, not only with GCV expenses, but with Flower Shows, BOG meetings, the Annual Meetings and individual club expenses.”

Development Chairman Martha Wertz described a gap between the cost to run the organization -- what is covered by dues and what is needed to cover all the expenses. She announced a June 2012 fundraising goal of $1,000,000 for the Campaign to Grow the GCV Endowment.

Judy Perry then introduced Randi Strutton, founder and Executive Director of the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, who presented a program about the preserve and conservation of our natural resources.

The meeting was adjourned for the afternoon and attendees were invited to club members’ homes for lunch, followed by a tour of Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Beautiful floral centerpieces were cleverly designed to feature sports equipment.

The Brunswick Garden Club received the 2008 Common Wealth Award for “A Fort Called Christanna and Its Trading Center.” The funds will be used to create a teaching/seating lecture site for visitors. Native Americans will be beneficiaries of an authentic and sacred setting for annual ceremonies to honor their ancestors. Diane Wagner, president of the Brunswick Garden Club, accepted the award.

Business reports that followed included plans for new member orientations. Chairman of the Outlook Special Committee Dianne Spence, charged with oversight of the Strategic Plan implementation, introduced round-table discussions that focused on the “Strategic Directions of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

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The GCV Board of Directors met January 6, 2009, at the Kent-Valentine House. President Cabell West commended board members on Strategic Plan implementation progress and summarized recent electronic vote board actions.

Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell reported that a recall of fire sprinkler heads at the Kent-Valentine House had created near panic when a contractor specified drilling 12-inch holes in the ceilings at GCV's expense. Fortunately, a simpler solution was found and disaster was averted.

At Cabell's request, Conservation and Beautification Chairman Anne Doyle presented a briefing on how GCV effects change in Virginia’s environmental policies.

"I would say that our greatest legacies are conservation of natural resource conservation and protection of open space. The publication, Conserving the Commonwealth, documents this. In the past, our access to decision makers fueled our success. Today though, our credibility within Virginia’s environmental community comes from our ability to mobilize educated, articulate volunteers -- our membership. Our efforts, however, are limited by our minimal access to information. We don’t have full-time lobbyists and we don’t have attorneys on staff who can write legislation. We must instead rely on information from organizations like the Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV), which writes the invaluable Legislative Scorecard and the Briefing Book, and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) before we can formulate our focus during the General Assembly. Otherwise, we risk wasting the valuable time and effort of our members. I fully believe that by showing greater monetary support of these organizations, we will increase our access to information and can thereby more effectively formulate successful legislative strategies."

Jane White of Hillside Garden Club was invited into the board meeting and presented GCV with a copy of The Book of Attributes, a detailed description of the topography and plantings of the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, a former Common Wealth Award winner.

Flower Shows Chairman Betty Michelson reported that her committee had rejected an offer of a silver trophy to be awarded at a flower show to the best photograph of a Historic Garden Week arrangement, feeling unqualified to judge photography.

Remaining business included a discussion on whether the GCV should allow sponsors for our websites, with the HGW Committee directed to investigate the possibility; plans to reduce the number of printed Guidebooks by 10,000 - 15,000 in response to a decrease in advertising revenue; an update on maintenance projects at the Kent-Valentine House; Outlook Committee plans to review suggestions for redistricting clubs to allow for cluster meetings; Personnel Committee plans to update the GCV Employee Handbook; a discussion of electronic voting policy; and plans to establish an Executive Committee.

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Photos

The eighty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Virginia Beach Garden Club on May 12-14, 2009, at the Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel. “Tidewater Treasures” was chaired by Molly Rueger and Joan Lyons.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 12 at the home of Susan Wynne for lunch, followed by the board meeting.

President Cabell West commended board members for meeting challenges and changes presented by the Strategic Plan and the economic downturn.

A review of recent, electronic board votes included approval, at the request of the Blue Ridge Garden Club, to send a resolution to Governor Timothy Kaine calling for full public review process on whether and how the plans announced by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America would impact the Maury River, wildlife habitat, natural and cultural features and public recreation and peace of Goshen Pass and the surrounding area.

Financial reports included confirmation that GCV checking accounts had been moved to Union Bank and Trust; approval of the 2009-2010 budget; a decision to exempt the PR Chairman from registration fees for all GCV events except Board of Governors and Annual Meeting; and approval for the Development Committee to investigate the establishment of an Annual Fund for unrestricted operating needs.

In a break with long-standing tradition, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation by the editorial board of the Journal that the use of the uppercase “T” before the title of the Garden Club of Virginia be eliminated, stating, “The lowercase “t” should be used with the name of the club (the GCV or the Garden Club of Virginia) in running text.”

President Cabell West called the Annual Meeting to order Wednesday afternoon, May 13, 2009, at the Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel, thanking members of the Virginia Beach Garden Club for their hospitality. Prior to the meeting, attendees had been offered optional tours of the Contemporary Art Center, First Landing State Park, the Virginia Aquarium, the DeWitt Cottage, the Life Saving Museum and four members’ gardens.

Cabell called on Conservation and Beautification Chairman Anne Doyle who announced the establishment of the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award.

“With great gratitude for the gracious memorial from her family, the Garden Club of Virginia hereby establishes the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award. The award will fund implementation of a conservation project that will serve as a catalyst for community action. It is a monetary award for natural resource conservation or environmental protection within the Commonwealth."

Bessie's son Dr. Jack Carter then accepted the award on behalf of his family and thanked the members of the Garden Club of Virginia for honoring his mother and her legacy in the field of conservation.

Cabell reported on a board vote to realign HGW and GCV districts to strengthen communication between clubs, and shared her plans to assign a Director at Large to each club district.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Mary Eades announced 2009 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Augusta Pollard Watson, The Blue Ridge Garden Club; Lucy Rhame von Raab, The Hunting Creek Garden Club; Vickie Fuquay, The Garden Club of Danville; Mary Jac Meadows, Chatham Garden Club; Uta Rowe, The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Julie Patterson, Rivanna Garden Club; Susan Lindsey, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck; and Mary Lou Brown, The Ashland Garden Club.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held Wednesday evening at the Princess Anne Country Club.

Cabell reconvened the meeting Thursday morning and congratulated award recipients. She then called on Virginia Beach President Mac Houfec, who introduced speaker Gordon Heyward, nationally recognized garden designer, writer and lecturer who presented, “Art and Your Garden.”

Business reports resumed with the announcement that Colophon New Media had been selected to replace the aging GCV website and database, scheduled for completion June. GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard then presented a PowerPoint overview of social media tools.

With only one application received, Linda Consolvo announced Hillside Garden Club as the recipient of the 2009 for the Common Wealth Award for the Anne Spencer Garden in Lynchburg. The amount of the award would be announced at the fall Board of Governors in October.

Attendees then approved a motion by Nominations Chairman Deedy Bumgardner to accept the nominations presented for 2009-2011 Directors at Large: Charlotte Benjamin, The Garden Club of Fairfax; Julie Grover, The Blue Ridge Garden Club; and Louise Tayloe, Rivanna Garden Club.

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The Board of Directors met for an informal board discussion on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at the VCU Rice Rivers Center in Charles City County, and continued Friday with the board meeting in Richmond at the Kent-Valentine House.

Joanie and Randy Robins hosted board members and spouses for cocktails and dinner at her lovely home and garden in Richmond.

President Cabell West distributed a Board of Directors Quick Reference Manual that included the goals of the President: to bring to closure our Strategic Plan; to spread the word about the good works of the GCV; to update all job descriptions in the GCV Directory and Handbook; and to have 100% board giving to our Annual Fund. She emphasized the importance of Board attendance at GCV events.

Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell presented a comprehensive update of concerns regarding financial audits. Discussions with several accounting firms indicated that GCV should have a bookkeeper and all accounts should be combined, primarily due to lack of controls. The board agreed to hire a professional individual or firm to set up a consolidated accounting of GCV funds. The board also agreed that Marsha should continue her investigation of auditing firms and, in conjunction with members of the Finance Committee, choose and employ a new auditor. Marsha then led a detailed discussion on how HGW funds are used. It was generally agreed that the members of the GCV do not have an accurate picture of the amount that is given to the Restoration Committee and assume that gross proceeds are available for restoration projects.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz reported notable gifts in 2009 and, on behalf of the Development Committee, recommended that the GCV add an annual fund drive to its fundraising activities, asking every member to consider an annual unrestricted gift to be used for the GCV’s general operating expenses. With the presumption that solicitation for endowment gifts would continue as appropriate, development efforts in 2010 would focus on the implementation of an annual fund, to include hiring a part-time GCV Director of Development.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Anne Doyle was disappointed to report that her committee received no applications for the Dugdale Conservation Award, given each year to a non-GCV member. It was agreed that the GCV membership needs a greater awareness of the Dugdale Award.

GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard reported a successful launch of the new website in early July with new interfaces to Wordpress conservation and horticulture blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Survey Monkey and EventBrite.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Martha Ware Bryan reported than 44% of all tickets were purchased in advance, and included $2,000 in season pass tickets, offered for the first time.

Remaining business discussions included reports from the Kent-Valentine House Committee; approval for funds to develop a marketing plan; and reports from Directors at Large that revealed strong support for the streamlined meeting formats and repeated concerns over flower show demands. It was determined that round-table topics for the fall Board of Governors would include a presentation of the newly established annual fund and a discussion of flower shows.

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Photos

The 90th Board of Governors Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Warrenton Garden Club on October 13-15, 2009, at the North Wales Estate, chaired by Betty Lawrence and Sherry Twining.

Kim Nash hosted the Board of Directors for lunch and meeting at her home on Tuesday, October 13. Present Cabell West called the meeting to order and thanked board members for 100 percent participation in giving to the Annual Fund.

She asked committee chairmen and liaisons to begin diligently tracking progress of initiatives -- to determine what works and what does not, and to measure the success of GCV marketing initiatives. She also asked that committee chairmen and liaisons investigate the possibility of holding district meetings when appropriate.

The ad hoc Marketing Committee, formed May 2009 to review a strategy for branding the Garden Club of Virginia, selected the Flores Shop in Ashland, Virginia, to prepare a GCV marketing plan.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz reported that Karmen Payne Gustin had been hired as the first Director of Development of the GCV, beginning September 1. A graduate of the University of Richmond with a BA in English literature, Karmen has 10 years of fundraising and management experience, with a proven record in building increased annual fund and grants income. Karmen last served as Associate Director of Development and Director of the Annual Fund for the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation. In addition to the establishment of an Annual Fund for the GCV, Karmen will be seeking grant funds for the GCV as a part of her duties and will also work with major gifts and planned giving.

The Admissions Committee submitted two names for GCV Honorary Membership: J. Dean Norton, proposed by the Alexandria Garden Club and endorsed by the Hunting Creek Garden Club; and Peter Hatch, proposed by Albemarle Garden Club and endorsed by the Charlottesville Garden Club and the Rivanna Garden Club.

The board approved a gift to William Booker as a token of the GCV’s appreciation and in honor of his retirement after eight years of service at the Kent-Valentine House.

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Garden Club of Virginia, submitted by Hunton & Williams, LLP and presented by Parliamentarian Dianne Spence, received approved, as were changes to GCV bylaws that included Voting at Meetings and Action Without a Meeting. After discussion, the board concurred that chairmen of Flower Shows, Horticulture and Development committees should be members of the Board of Directors. The vote to expand the Board of Directors will take place at the January board meeting. Dianne noted that Roberts Rules states, “an ex-officio member may be counted in a quorum but should not be counted as a member.” President Cabell West called the 90th meeting of the GCV Board of Governors to order and thanked Penny Dart, president of the Warrenton Garden Club; Betty Lawrence and Sherry Twining, chairmen of the BOG meeting; and the members of the Warrenton Garden Club for hosting the delightful dinner at the home of Bibi de Heller on Tuesday night. She also thanked Kim Nash for hosting the luncheon and Board of Directors meeting at her home on Tuesday afternoon.

Personnel Chairman Missy Buckingham thanked staff members: Rose Marie Tronge, Executive Director of the Garden Club of Virginia; Suzanne Munson, Executive Director of Historic Garden Week; Christine Harris, Assistant to the Executive Director of Historic Garden Week; Theresa Blackwell Thomas, Kent Valentine House Manager; and Don Tronge, Maintenance Supervisor. She then introduced newest staff member Karmen Payne Gustin, Director of Development. An experienced development professional, Karmen has worked in Richmond for the Virginia Home for Boys, United Way, the Massey Cancer Center and most recently, she served as the Director of the Annual Fund and the Associate Director of Development at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Corresponding Secretary Meg Clement announced that, at the recommendation of the ad hoc Marketing Committee, GCV had retained a marketing firm to help ensure “that our voices will all come together as one choir to sing the song of the GCV.”

Online Chairman Nina Mustard was pleased to report the new website was up and running smoothly, with new graphics, clear navigation and the addition of an email module, social networking tools and blogs. Database administration has been centralized with Rose Marie Tronge at headquarters to better coordinate Journal mailings, Constant Contact emails and training for club online chairmen. Nina followed by announcing the launch of a new website, www.kentvalentinehouse.com, aimed directly at prospective rental clients. She closed with, “The GCV Online Committee is now in the enviable position of meeting, not to solve problems, but to dream about the future. We invite you to offer suggestions.”

Directors at Large then reported on club activities. Historian Judy Kidd summarized a meeting of club historians on September 24, 2009, at the Kent-Valentine House with Lee Shepherd from the Virginia Historical Society. Lee emphasized the importance of preserving our records and shared ideas for archival storage tools. He reminded attendees that Restoration Committee files from selected projects are now housed at the Virginia Historical Society and encouraged all clubs to think about the Virginia Historical Society as a place for their valuable archives.

Prior to afternoon adjournment of the Board of Governors, Common Wealth Award Chairman Linda Consolvo introduced Brunswick Garden Club President Diane Wagner, who shared a PowerPoint presentation update of their 2008 Commonwealth Award project, Fort Christanna.

Following adjournment, attendees enjoyed cocktails at North Wales Estate, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Prentiss, followed by the awards banquet at Fauquier Springs Country Club. Janet Hickman, president of the Hillside Garden Club, accepted the Common Wealth Award in the amount of $10,000 for her club’s project, the Anne Spencer Garden.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz began the meeting Thursday morning by announcing the establishment of the GCV Annual Fund and called the following forward to assist with the announcement: Karen Jamison, Williamsburg; Mina Wood, Lynchburg; Catherine Whitman, Three Chopt; Barbara Luton, Blue Ridge; Sally Guy Brown, Alexandria; Marsha Merrell, James River; and Karmen Gustin, Director of Development. She then introduced Lee Switz of Richmond who has served as a consultant to the GCV and assisted with the Strategic Plan. Presentations followed to explain the “whys and hows” of the fund, and encouraged attendees to be ambassadors to the Annual Fund.

Attendees then gathered in discussion groups by districts. The topics were: Questions about the Annual Fund; How to energize members; How to encourage members to use the revised website; and How to make our flower shows even better.

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The Board of Directors meeting was held January 18-19, 2010, at the Kent-Valentine House.

Board members gathered at the Kent-Valentine on Monday afternoon, January 18, for a presentation of new branding proposals by the Flores Shop. Following the presentation, President Cabell West called the meeting to order and began the afternoon discussion by asking, “Where has a year and a half gone? I am sure each of you realizes that we are on the downhill slide of our term. We are not lame ducks and we have more to accomplish before we take our final bow.”

Parliamentarian Dianne Spence presented a Conflict of Interest policy, prepared for GCV by attorney John O’Neill, at which time the policy was adopted.

Cabell then read a letter from the president of the Elizabeth River Garden Club, expressing concern that by placing styles of flower arranging within the GCV Flower Shows Handbook on the website, available at no charge, it creates competition with her club’s primary source of funding, The Styles of Flower Arranging: A Primer by The Elizabeth River Garden Club. Suggestions included ideas for promoting their publication more actively.

The meeting recessed and Cabell hosted a delightful dinner for the board at her home.

First on the agenda when the meeting reconvened on Tuesday morning was approval of the logo prepared and presented by the Flores Shop the previous afternoon.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz provided an Annual Fund status report, crediting Cabell for providing the vision; Nina Mustard for developing the Green Gifts database; Marsha Merrell and Joanie Robins for putting financial record keeping and structures in place; Catherine Whitham for her support of the GCV Development Committee and board members for willingness to participate. Martha then recommended that GCV consider having the supervision of the Director of Development fall to the Executive Director of the GCV, assuming that the Executive Director is knowledgeable about fundraising.

Board members learned from a survey that responses were overwhelmingly positive regarding the preference for the newly shortened meeting schedules, specifically referring to time commitment and reduced cost to both attendees and host clubs. But the question of how best to present committee reports remained unanswered; the membership wants to be informed but does not want to spend an inordinate amount of time listening to reports.

Noting that Legislative Day had occurred prior to the board meeting, Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Anne Doyle described the GCV dependence on Virginia Conservation Network for assistance in sorting through the myriad of legislative items. The organization was co-founded by GCV with a handful of conservation nonprofits during Tayloe Murphy’s administration as Secretary of Natural Resources and has grown to represent more than 100 nonprofits working together for public policy research and advocacy. This year, VCN is considering 141 legislative items. Marsha Merrell then suggested that future January board meetings be held prior to Legislative Day to allow motions to be passed by the GCV Board.

Flower Shows Chairman Betty Michelson initiated a discussion about the challenges her committee has faced with everyday concerns of flower shows, as well as issues regarding the online publication of our handbook and the many concerns voiced at the BOG round-table discussions.

Following business reports, Parliamentarian Dianne Spence moved that the Board of Directors of the Garden Club of Virginia be expanded to include the chairmen of the Development, Flower Shows, and Horticulture committees which would bring the total membership to twenty. Motion carried.

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Photos

The 90th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Three Chopt Garden Club in Richmond on May 11-13, 2010, at the Jefferson Hotel, chaired by Susan Hamill and Lila Putney.

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the Kent-Valentine House.

The meeting began with a review of minutes from a March 24 called meeting of the Board of Directors that included three topics of importance. First, Restoration Committee members and moderator Lee Switz were invited to the meeting for discussion of committee policies and procedures, and it was determined that an ad hoc committee should be created for continued study. Guests departed and the board meeting continued. Next, at the recommendation of Development Committee Chairman Martha Wertz, the board voted to accept an invitation from the Community Foundation of Richmond to list the GCV publicly on its website as an approved recipient for consideration and support by its contributors. And finally, Ken Flores of The Flores Shop and Missy Ryan, member of the Marketing Committee were invited to the meeting to present the GCV logo and tag line, “Growing Tomorrow, Today.” A lengthy discussion ended without consensus and the board agreed that The Flores Shop should be asked to produce other tag line options for board consideration.

Following review and approval of the March Board of Directors meeting minutes, the May 11 board meeting resumed. President Cabell West described her recents visits with John’s Island Garden Club, Lake Minnetonka Garden Club, the Garden Club of Dallas and the Garden Club of Toronto. She thanked board members for their dedication and professionalism during her term, adding that the Strategic Plan has been a great guide for each of us and, “now we pass the torch to Kim Nash and her new Board of Directors,” to bring closure to this plan.

Corresponding Secretary Meg Clement shared marketing templates prepared by the Flores Shop for GCV printed material. GCV bumper stickers with the new logo were distributed, to be provided to all members at the Annual Meeting.

In financial matters, Treasurer Joanie Robins presented financial reports, explaining new formats for consolidated accounts, and Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell addressed audit concerns and budget approval. The board approved donations to Nature Camp and Scenic Virginia, each for up to $1,000. Development Chairman Martha Wertz was pleased to report the Annual Fund goal had been exceeded then recommended that the GCV Board of Directors review policies concerning annual donations. On behalf of the Annual and Board of Governors Meeting Committee, a motion was presented and approved to accept streamlined schedules for both meeting. Parliamentarian Dianne Spence provided details involved in creating the GCV Executive Committee and it was decided to pass the information along to the incoming Board of Directors for discussion. On behalf of the Personnel Committeea:  motion was presented and approved to go forward with a restructure of the staff organization of the Garden Club of Virginia; a motion was presented and approved to retain an outside consultant to work with the committee to evaluate the current GCV administrative structure and make recommendations as to its restructuring; and funds were approved to a consultant.

Business reports and reports of the Directors at Large followed.

Before adjournment, the Board of Directors thanked Cabell West for her leadership over the past two years and presented her with a crystal bowl etched with the new GCV logo.

Cabell called the 90th Annual Meeting to order and thanked Jeannette McKittrick, president of Three Chopt Garden Club, and Susan Hamill and Lila Putney, chairmen of the Annual Meeting and all the members of Three Chopt Garden Club for hosting the 2010 GCV Annual Meeting. She then thanked Francine Brown, Alice Goodwin and Carol Price for providing a tour of their homes and gardens prior to the meeting. A special thank you was given to Alice Siegel for hosting Annual Meeting attendees for lunch at her beautiful home and garden.

Cabell called on Jane Cowles, president of the Boxwood Garden Club, who offered a tribute to Mary Frances Flowers, former President of the Garden Club of Virginia (1970-1972).

Admissions Committee Chairman Boo Compton introduced GCV Honorary members J. Dean Norton, Peter Hatch and Charles McDaniel.

President Cabell West, looking back to the beginning of her presidency, said that when asked the meaning of her theme, “Tradition in Transition," she felt it was appropriate for the transition that GCV was going through because of the recently adopted Strategic Plan. She added that her Board of Directors, Chairmen of Standing Committees, and Chairmen of Ad Hoc Committees worked tirelessly to implement the changes suggested by membership in a 2005 survey.

Cabell then recognized the generous financial support of a heretofore anonymous donor, the E.V. Williams Estate, both for our most recent Symposium and for our first symposium in Fredericksburg. Through the efforts of Julie MacKinlay, these funds will help support future symposia.

She closed by thanking the membership for a wonderful two years.

Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell described a transition that began with six accounts and four treasurers – GCV, Kent-Valentine House, Historic Garden Week and Restoration. By the end of May 2010, all GCV accounts will be consolidated, a bookkeeper hired and a policy and procedures manual in place to guide the treasurers who will have oversight. She then presented the 2010-2011 budget and brought attention to a $500 increase in the amount given to clubs hosting flower shows, bringing the amount to $3,500 per show. She also pointed out funding for two restoration fellowships, the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award and the Common Wealth Award.

The recipients of the 2010 Horticulture Awards of Merit were Mabel S. Baldwin, Three Chopt; Donna Eure, Virginia Beach; Mary Lawrence Harrell, Nansemond River; Fran Jones, Willliamsburg; Margaret Milam, Danville; Sue Perrin, Gloucester; Grace Rice, Augusta; Gay Savage, Harborfront; and Carol Yetzer, Spotswood. Symposium Chairman Julie MacKinlay’s report began, “Cabell likes reports to be short so here goes. It didn’t snow. The Homestead was an outstanding venue and outdid itself in southern hospitality. The speakers and tours were fabulous as were the vendors. Even the husbands, and maybe especially the husbands, had a great time. And finally, Joanie has just sent me a profit and loss statement that says that Symposium 2010 had a net income of $1,794.78. My deepest thanks to my committee and to all who came.”

Public Relations Chairman Lea Shuba reported that her position kept her so busy that “two people will replace me.” In fact, Lea had recommended to the board that photography and PR be split, given the fact that the skills required for each are vastly different.

Journal Chairman Ninie Lang reported that her committee’s name has been changed to Journal Business Manager, providing a more accurate description of duties. She described a Journal sponsored workshop in February featuring speaker, Anna Billingsley, Director of Publications at the University of Mary Washington, who gave concrete advice on writing in an amusing and helpful way.

GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard reported that club online chairmen would be renamed database managers, providing a more descriptive title. She also reported the elimination of need for the GCV Online Committee, to be replaced by a webmaster and database managers.

Following reports of Directors at Large, Nominations Chairman Deedy Bumgardner presented the slate of officers in nomination for 2010-2012. Before adjournment for the day, Mina Wood gave a tribute to Symposium Chairman Julie MacKinlay.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held at the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The beautiful flower arrangements from the banquet and breakfast were donated to the Virginia Home and Westminster-Canterbury.

The first annual Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award in the amount of $5000 was presented to the Boxwood Garden Club, the James River Garden Club, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton, and Three Chopt Garden Club for their joint Richmond Tree project. Read more.

Cabell West called the morning session to order and began by thanking Three Chopt Garden Club for the beautiful banquet at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and congratulating award recipients.

Jeannette McKittrick, president of Three Chopt Garden Club, introduced Rachel Flynn, Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review for the City of Richmond, as the keynote speaker of the Annual Meeting. Ms. Flynn gave an informative and interesting slide presentation on city planning and preservation.

Ad Hoc Marketing Committee Chairman Missy Ryan then presented a slide presentation depicting the new logo for the Garden Club of Virginia.

Cabell thanked the members of Three Chopt Garden Club for sharing their treasures with the GCV, adding, “It has been a pleasure to serve the GCV as your President and now I would like to introduce to you the 46th President of the Garden Club of Virginia, Kim Nash of the Warrenton Garden Club. “

Kim has served the GCV in many capacities. She has served on the Restoration Committee, Recording Secretary, First and Second Vice Presidents, and Chairman of the Outlook Committee. She is a former president of the Warrenton Garden Club.

After describing Kim’s accomplishments, community activities and interests, Cabell worried that her Kim's GCV Presidency would interfere with her passion for foxhunting. At that, she presented Kim with a toy riding horse. She wished Kim and her team the best of luck in bringing the Strategic Plan to a close and presented her with the keys to the Kent-Valentine House, the beautiful brooch which was a gift to the GCV from former Garden Club of Fairfax member Mrs. Clayton Etheridge and the gavel made from the last remaining horse chestnut tree which George Washington planted at Kenmore.

Kim accepted the gifts of office from Cabell and presented the following tribute to her.

Tribute to Cabell

"Four years ago, you, the membership, decreed that it was time for the Garden Club of Virginia to scrape the barnacles off and set sail on a voyage to reach the goals of the Strategic Plan. Sally Guy Brown commanded our launch into uncharted waters and two years ago Cabell West took over the helm. Captain Cabell has navigated the Good Ship Garden Club around a few shoals and through some stormy seas. She has run a tight ship and has kept the engines turning.

Now we have almost reached our goals. Our captain has kept her eye on the horizon and read the stars correctly. She has steered us safely. As we approach the harbor, it is time for me, as the pilot, to come aboard to direct the ship into the anchorage. I salute you, Cabell, for a job well done."

Kim then adjourned the 90th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia.

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Chairman Boo Compton, Gabriella Garden Club

J. Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture at Mount Vernon, began working at Mount Vernon in 1960, starting as a part-time groundskeeper helper when in the 10th grade. Upon graduation from Clemson University, with a degree in ornamental horticulture, he began his full-time career as Mount Vernon’s boxwood gardener; in 1980, he was named horticulturist. He is responsible for applying the latest plant science and management to horticulture in this historic setting. Mr. Norton has devoted considerable time in researching 18th-century gardens and gardening practices and has become an accomplished speaker. The list of his speaking engagements is extensive; he was a recent speaker at the Restoration Committee’s Maintenance Workshop and was one of the featured speakers at the 2010 GCV Symposium.

Mr. Norton worked with the Restoration Committee and Rudy Favretti to install plantings along the oval walkway in front of Mount Vernon. He is working with Will Rieley to design landscape features for the gardens as described by George Washington in his diaries.

Peter Hatch, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello, is responsible for the maintenance, interpretation and restoration of the 2,000-acre landscape since 1977. Maintaining and restoring the vegetable gardens, vineyards and orchards are also his responsibility. Using Thomas Jefferson’s extensive Garden Journal, sketches and letters, Mr. Hatch and a team of scholars, historians, architects, archaeologists and horticulturists recreated and rebuilt orchards, vineyards, nursery, flower beds, vegetable gardens and garden walls at Monticello. A poet, horticulturist and author of such books as The Gardens of Monticello and The Fruit Trees of Monticello, Peter Hatch is known as a leader in historical garden restoration, and he graciously shares his experiences and knowledge with others through numerous lectures, educational programs and garden tours.

The esteemed author David McCullough, wrote, “not since Jefferson himself has anyone combined such love and knowledge of all that blooms and grows and bears fruit at Monticello, as does Peter Hatch. Indeed, were Jefferson to return, I doubt there would be anyone he would more enjoy talking to than Peter Hatch.”

Peter Hatch’s extensive speaking engagements include the Restoration Committee's Maintenance Workshop of the GCV and the 2010 GCV Symposium.

Charles G. McDaniel, Chairman of the Hilldrup Companies, is indeed a longtime friend to the GCV. A graduate of the School of Business Administration at the University of Richmond, he is active in many cultural and civic aspects of the City of Fredericksburg, and has been very active within the United Van Lines and UniGroup, Inc. organizations. Not only has Mr. McDaniel supported his wife, Mary Wynn, in her work in the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, he has extended that support to the work of the GCV. Ten years ago, the need for a permanent storage facility for the GCV flower shows properties for all three shows led to his offer to store them at Hilldrup storage facilities without charge. In addition, he offered to transport the properties to and from each show regardless of the location within the state. For those clubs which have hosted shows, this has been of invaluable logistical and financial assistance. If this assistance were not generous enough, he donated the use of trolleys for the tours in downtown Fredericksburg and to Belmont during the 2008 GCV Symposium held in Fredericksburg; and this year, he has made another offer to store items for the GCV Restoration Committee.”

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Chairman Anne Doyle, The Garden Club of Norfolk

A Conservation Workshop was held September 8, 2008, at the Kent-Valentine House. “Connect the Dots: Sharing Resources for Greater Effectiveness,” was chaired by Lynne Caldwell. Delegate Albert Pollard, 99th district, offered advice on effective communication with lawmakers; Nathan Lott, Executive Director of Virginia Conservation Network, spoke about Virginia’s environmental community; and Marsha Merrell showed how GCV can effect positive change, by presenting  a case study on the Citizen Board legislation.

The 2008 Conservation Forum, “Mountaintop Removal and Coal-Fired Power: What Every Virginian Should Know,” was held November 6-7, 2008, in Martinsville. Chaired by Merry Outlaw and Karen Jones, events were held at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Dinner the evening before included entertainment by musicians Robin and Linda Williams, who perform on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. The forum’s internationally known speakers were Jeff Barrie, author of the film documentary Kilowatt Ours, and Mary Ann Hitt, Executive Director of Appalachian Voices. Photos

January 19, 2009, GCV Legislative Day in Richmond was chaired by Sarah Chiffriller of the Boxwood Garden Club and was co-sponsored for the second year with Virginia Conservation Network. Photos

A Conservation Workshop was held on September 14, 2009, at the Kent-Valentine House, chaired by Sarah Chiffriller. Delegate Albert Pollard provided advice for effecting legislation.

November 5-6, 2009, Conservation Forum was held in Charlottesville at UVA’s Darden School of Business, chaired by Karen Jones. “Building Sustainable Communities” encompassed smart growth infrastructure, green buildings, and healthy local food. Thursday afternoon options included: an insider’s tour of Monticello, a visit to an organic farm, or a conservation hike. Leaders representing academia, government and conservation groups offered creative strategies for municipalities to reduce their ecological footprint and included Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth; Rachel Flynn, Director of Community Development for the City of Richmond; and Chris Miller, President of Piedmont Environmental Council. Photos

2010 Legislative Day was held on January 18, 2010. GCV endorsed the Chesapeake Clean Water Act, currently before both houses of Congress. This legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to address pollution from all sources and provides the authority and resources to make sure it gets done. Most importantly, it focuses on storm water runoff that feeds pollutants into Virginia waters that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. Photos

Conservation and Beautification Committee accomplishments during this period were impressive.

Its members developed the Conservation and Beautification Speakers Bureau in 2009, spearheaded by Sallie Sebrell of the Nansemond River Garden Club, creating “Global Warning: A Virginian’s Guide to Climate Change," based on the National Wildlife Foundation's PowerPoint presentation, “A Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming.” The Pew Charitable Trust funded a projector for the project. Nine committee members received training from NWF in August 2009 and began sharing the presentation with garden clubs in September. At the end of the year, the PowerPoint had been presented to 24 GCV and GCA clubs around the state.

Committee member Karen Jones began to research guidelines for holding environmentally friendly conferences and adopted green meeting standards at the 2009 Conservation Forum.

In response to the Strategic Plan, the Conservation and Beautification Committee recommended a collaboration with Scenic Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Nature Camp. Chairman Anne Doyle noted that collaboration with these organizations would include being co-signatories to letters, joint event announcements, and other non-monetary displays of support, but would not include endorsement of legislation or adoption of resolutions.

The committee’s “Virginia Bags the Bags” campaign was an offshoot of a James River Garden Club project. Committee members met with other stakeholders in Virginia to explore the possibility of introducing legislation and to organize an educational campaign. Leighton Powell of Scenic Virginia served as advisor to the committee. Club conservation chairmen were interested in the subject, and Nadia Stanfield from Fauquier and Loudoun agreed to chair a sub-committee.

Given GCV 's long history of preserving Goshen Pass, the committee felt that environmental studies were needed before a permanent venue of the magnitude of the National Scout Jamboree was allowed to be established in the area. As a result, a GCV resolution in support of protecting Goshen Pass from development was approved and sent in January to Governor Kaine, Secretary Bryant, Secretary Gottschalk, DEQ Director David Paylor and Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Joseph Maroon. Chairman Anne Doyle credited the Blue Ridge Garden Club and, in particular, Catharine Gilliam, for the groundswell of interest in preserving the natural resources of Goshen Pass and suggested that next steps may include recasting the resolution as a press release and speaking before the public forums of government agencies.

The committee was instrumental in establishing the GCV Position Statement on Climate Change.

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Chairman Betty Michelson, The Princess Anne Garden Club

June 17-19, 2008, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club hosted the Lily Show, “Ex Libris,” chaired by Jean Gilpin and Susan Claytor, who reported 150 stems, 62 arrangements and 114 exhibitors. Photos

The Board of Directors approved a plan, in July 2008, to allow flower show host clubs to include fundraising activities in conjunction with the shows for a trial period of four years, to be overseen by the Flower Shows Committee.

Flower Arranging School was held on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The sold-out event featured Julia Clevett, who demonstrated modern arrangements. Frances Lee-Vandell of Albemarle Garden Club won the point scoring mini-show blue ribbon, receiving the first Elizabeth A. M. Booker Award given by the Charlottesville Garden Club in memory of Mrs. Booker, a noted Charlottesville arranger. The beautiful silver cup was presented by Mrs. Booker’s daughter, Betty Morriss, a writer and former journalist with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Photos

The 2008 Rose Show was hosted by the Franklin Garden Club on October 1-2 at the Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Center. “Restoration and Roses” was chaired and beautifully orchestrated by Jane Beale and Mary Nelson Thompson. The Rose Show boasted spectacular blooms, as 130 exhibitors entered 398 stems in the horticulture division and 82 arrangements in the artistic division. Photos

On Oct. 9, 2008, the GCV Lily Committee hosted a workshop for club chairmen and interested members at the Kent-Valentine House. David and Genie Diller, Spotswood Garden Club, opened the program with a beautiful PowerPoint presentation on the nine divisions of the genus Lilium. Mary Queitzsch, Dolley Madison Garden Club, demonstrated techniques for grooming, placing and judging the entries. Tricia Kincheloe, Garden Club of Fairfax, reviewed the responsibilities of club lily chairmen, and Sandy Aman, also of the Garden Club of Fairfax, shared hints on successfully using lilies in floral designs.

Julia Clevett conducted a workshop for judges, student judges and perspective judges on March 23, 2009, at the Kent-Valentine House. Joyce Moorman of the Lynchburg Garden Club had put together a great day. Her program was titled, “I am in my ELEMENT, working on my PRINCIPLES.”

The 2009 Daffodil Show, "Celebrate the Northern Neck," was hosted by the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, April 1-2, 2009, chaired by Candy Carden and Suzanne LaPrade, who reported 1981 stems entered by 182 exhibitors. The Lockwood and Gale Frizzell Award and the Pat Lawson Memorial Trophy were presented for the first time. Photos

The 2009 Garden Club of Virginia InterClub Artistic Award was presented to the Little Garden Club of Winchester.

The 2009 Lily Show, “Petersburg: A City Under Siege," was hosted June 17-18 at historic Union Train Station, hosted by the Petersburg Garden Club and chaired by Elizabeth Johnson and Suzanne Wright, who reported 222 stems in horticulture and 63 artistic designs. The Ronald J. Chiabotta Trophy was awarded for the first time. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held September 22, 2009, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden featuring Massachusetts floral designer Tony Todesco, contributor to Designing by Types, published by the National Garden Clubs in 2008. He also conducted a sold-out, hands-on workshop in the afternoon. Photos

The 2009 Rose Show, "Restorations and Roses," was hosted on September 30 – October 1, again by the Franklin Garden Club. Chaired by Jane Beale and Mary Nelson Thompson at the Workforce Center, the show boasted spectacular blooms, as 114 exhibitors entered 353 stems in the horticulture division and 82 arrangements in the artistic division. Photos

The 2010 Daffodil Show, "The James Runs Through It," was hosted by Hillside Garden Club, chaired by Melanie Christian and Becky O’Brian on April 7-8 at Sweet Briar College. A new class, Floor Designs, was introduced. The show reported 111 horticulture exhibitors and 1861 horticulture stems. This count included 862 exhibits, of which 16 were the club collections. The Anne Duvall Miller Massie Perpetual Trophy was awarded for the first time this year. Photos

The 2010 Garden Club of Virginia InterClub Artistic Award was presented to Roanoke Valley Garden Club.

The Garden Club of Virginia approved six awards presented by the Lily Committee in 2009 -- the David Diller Award for the Best Martagon Lily; the Vicki Bowen Award for the Best Trumpet Lily; the Sara Ann Lindsey Award for the Best Oriental Lily; the James A. McKenney Award for the best Longiflorum/Asiatic Hybrid Lily; the Eugenia Diller award for the Best Oriental/Trumpet Hybrid Lily; the Lily Committee Interdivisional Hybrid Lily Cup for the best Longiflorum/Oriental Hybrid Lily – to be awarded for the first time at the 2010 Lily Show. The board also approved a daffodil award, presented by the Daffodil Committee -- the Anne Duvall Miller Massie Perpetual Trophy, to be awarded for the first time at the 2010 Daffodil Show.

The Board of Directors voted at its January 2010 meeting to require member clubs to enter only two flower shows each year on an assigned rotating basis, beginning with the Lily Show in 2011. The decision became known as the “opt out” decision.

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2009 Tour Chairman Tricia Sauer, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

2010 Tour Chairman Martha Ware Bryan, The James River Garden Club

2009 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2010 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

The 2009 Historic Garden Week Guidebook cover featured Coles Hill near Chatham.

Chairman Tricia Sauer announced that Guidebook advertising income would cover printing and shipping costs, with an estimated profit at $15,000.

For the first time, a statewide pass for all Historic Garden Week tours was offered. It was also suggested that tours consider providing educational opportunities for guests. In another first, Guidebook advertisers were offered the option of posting their ads on the HGW website.

The 2010 Historic Garden Week Guidebook cover featured Mount Sharon in Orange. New Historic Garden Week Chairman Martha Ware Bryan reported that going forward, district chairmen will serve two-year terms. The committee also voted to rotate the HGW chairmanship position among members outside of the Richmond area. The two incoming chairmen will come from Ashland and Petersburg, with future chairman possibly coming from member clubs throughout Virginia.

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Chairman Mary Eades, Rivanna Garden Club

Horticulture Field Day was held May 8, 2008, in Leesburg. View photos.

Linda Pinkham of the Horticulture Committee contributed an article on the Beautiful Gardens Program for publication in the September Journal, and was in charge of an exhibit at the Board of Governors in October 2008. The exhibit showcased information on the Beautiful Gardens Program, which supports discovering and promoting new plant introductions for the nursery trade in our region.

Horticulture Field Day was held on May 28-29, 2009, in Orange County, chaired by Suzanne Aiello with assistance from Dolley Madison Garden Club members.  View photos. Montpelier was featured on the first day and included the newly restored mansion, the Annie duPont formal garden, the Big Woods Walk with old growth trees and native flora and the Oriental Garden, an early American adaptation of a Japanese garden that is being restored.

The second day featured Mount Sharon Farm, Retreat Farm and Summer Duck Wood. Mount Sharon was a king’s grant to the Taliaferro family in 1724, and Charles and Mary Lou Seilheimer have created a series of distinctive but related “garden rooms,” using century-old boxwood to frame their creation. Retreat Farm is a 570-acre farm dating back to 1780. Current owners, Porter and Mariel Goss, use sustainable gardening methods. The tour, given by their farm manager, featured the techniques for raising free range chickens, Karakul sheep and cattle.

The two groups reunited at Summer Duck Wood for a garden tour and al fresco buffet luncheon, generously donated by the owners, Jamie and Mary McConnell. Summer Duck Wood is a 1,600-acre hunting park managed for wildlife habitat. The central stone courtyard is planted with flowering perennials, trees and shrubs. Two stone pergolas frame a water garden.

The 2009 BOG horticulture exhibit featured a horseshoe-shaped wreath decorated with ribbons, twine, raffia, seed pods, dried flowers, sprigs of berries, small pine cones and dried herbs, to be displayed on a wall of the historic North Wales Barn.

The fall Horticulture Workshop was held on Sept. 28, 2009, at Bon Air Christian Church in Richmond. Committee members Julie Patterson and Archer Hunt gave presentations to the club chairmen. Norie Burnet, known as the Moss Lady, was the featured speaker, and following the meeting and lunch, the 54 attendees visited Norie’s beautiful moss garden.

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Chairman Mary Hart Darden, The Nansemond River Garden Club

Restoration Chairman Mary Hart Darden provided an overview of committee responsibilities to the Board of Directors at its July 2008 meeting, explaining that the committee currently has 23 properties in a “revisit” status. The committee visited Winchester, Clarke County and Leesburg earlier in the summer.

She presented a list of revisits during summer and fall of 2008 to Board of Governors attendees that included Belmont in Fredericksburg; Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library at his birthplace in Staunton; Historic Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg; the Kent-Valentine House, our headquarters in Richmond; Montpelier near Orange; and the Executive Mansion, Capitol Square, in Richmond. She also noted that many more properties had received replacement plantings, and added that new property brochures have been provided to 14 restorations.

She reported that the committee shared concerns that committee visits revealed a surprising loss of plants, shrubs and trees -- lost not to storm, heat or cold, but lack of water.

At the 2009 Annual Meeting, Restoration Committee Chairman Mary Hart Darden introduced Margaret Bemiss, author of Historic Virginia Gardens, Preservation Work of The Garden Club of Virginia 1975-2007; Roxanne Brouse, Managing Partner of Rieley & Associates; Will Rieley, Principal of Rieley & Associates. President Cabell West then presented Roxanne and Will with a resolution of recognition and commendation for their extraordinary contributions to Historic Virginia Gardens, Preservation Work of The Garden Club of Virginia 1975-2007.

Margaret Bemiss, author of Historic Virginia Gardens Preservation Works of the Garden Club of Virginia 1975-2007, shared a PowerPoint presentation that traced the publication from beginning to end.

Mary Hart then presented a comprehensive list of work accomplished since the 2008 Annual Meeting: new trellises at Bacon’s Castle; replacement shade trees at Belle Grove; commission of putto at Belmont; fence repairs at Danville Museum; replacement of original American Holly at the Executive Mansion; new sign and wrought iron finials at KVH; entrance updates at Ker Place; replanting at Portsmouth Courthouse; repairs to bower at Mary Washington House; addition of handrails to stairs at Montpelier; tree removal at Rolfe-Warren House at Smith’s Fort; replacement of trees at Sweet Briar; repairs to brick walkways and plants at Wilton; provided conceptual plan and repaired brick walkways at Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library; and designed a fence for Yeardley House.

At the October 2009 Board of Governors meeting, Mary Hart listed three contractual requirements between GCV and each restoration property:

• The property agrees to maintain at an acceptable level, and at their expense, the gift of the design and planting of the landscape or garden.
• The property agrees not to change any part of the gift without permission from the landscape architect of the GCV.
• The property must be open to the public on a regular basis.

She then reported that, for varying reasons, Gunston Hall in Fairfax County; Scotchtown in Hanover County; Yeardley House on Jamestown Island; and Historic Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg were unable to fulfill these obligations. Therefore, with board approval, the Restoration Committee offered contractual releases, each property agreeing to accept the offer in the best interest of both parties.

A discussion of the property releases was continued at the Board of Directors meeting in January 2010, with particular concern for the communication process when properties are considered for release. With plans in place to release Lee House on the campus of Washington and Lee University, a meeting was called to provide an opportunity for the Board of Directors and the Restoration Committee to discuss a path forward. Following the called meeting, an ad hoc committee chaired by Gail Braxton was formed to evaluate policies and procedures of the Restoration Committee. It was suggested that all GCV committees could benefit from that same evaluation.

Mary Hart reported at the 2010 Annual Meeting that, in the past year, the Restoration Committee concentrated on revisiting our current properties. We have new projects on the horizon, but none have been vetted sufficiently to be presented at this time. Briefly, she reported on some of our work at the revisited properties.

• Belle Grove, Middletown: will remove one tree, plant two large trees and three small bladdernuts
• Belmont, Falmouth: repaired the pedestal on which the exact replica of the repaired putto resides
• Beale Garden, Hollins University: repaired steps down to the garden
• Danville Museum, Danville: repair of fence and access new wood product
• St. John’s Mews, Richmond: completed roof repair of tool house, repainting of cast iron fence sections and replacing some plantings.
• Kent-Valentine House, Richmond: repair and repaint wrought iron fence, repaired one cast iron urn, pruned the trees, removed the Japanese maple, repaired brick paving in parking area
• Ker Place, Onancock on the Eastern Shore: design and building of fences and gate in progress
• Mary Washington House, Fredericksburg: approved the rebuilding of the back fence and arbor
• Montpelier, Orange: repair the steps at the rear entrance to the garden and begin an assessment of the repair of parts of the garden wall. This will be a joint venture with Montpelier.
• Moses Myers House, Norfolk: Joint venture with Friends of Moses Myers to rebuild the privacy fence
• Smith’s Fort, Surry County: following archeology by Preservation Virginia, remove and replace soil under lost black walnut tree. Replant boxwood in that area.
• Stratford Hall Plantation, Stratford: authorized repair of steps
• Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar: replaced the weeping hemlock
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville: authorized Mr. Rieley to draw up landscape plans for Pavilion X
• Wilton, Richmond: remove diseased ivy and replant liriope on the James River side of the house.

Work in Progress, John Handley High School, Winchester: planted the top of the bowl and requested Mr. Rieley to develop a master plan for the area known as the Park.

Will Rieley presented a slide presentation of the Restoration Committee’s project at Belmont to replace an irreparably damaged putto, which had been the centerpiece of the Melchers' garden.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

Restoration Chairman Mary Hart Darden announced to the membership at the 2009 Annual Meeting, “In the wee hours of the morning Sunday, January 4, 2009, the Garden Club of Virginia’s new Restoration Fellowship website went live, and it is wonderful. The world now knows of our two offerings.”

The Favretti Fellowship is awarded to execute measured drawings of historic gardens in private ownership. This year that property is Frascati in Orange County, to be documented by Michael Painton from Ball State University.

The Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship is awarded to research and document historic gardens not held privately. In 2009, the Garden Club of Virginia Fellowship was renamed the William D. Rieley Fellowship.

Will Rieley, Landscape Architect for the Garden Club of Virginia, announced the recipients of the 2010 Restoration fellowships at the 2010 Annual Meeting: 2010 William D. Rieley Fellowship: Sonia Brenner and 2010 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship: Maria Debye-Saxinger. Karen Kennedy, recipient of the 2009 William D. Rieley Fellowship, presented slides of her work at Morven Park.

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Chairman Julie MacKinlay, The Virginia Beach Garden Club

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Over the last two years, the organization of the GCV has moved forward with remarkable speed. This is not to say that the headway was entirely smooth. There were hiccups, panic attacks, stalling maneuvers, earthquakes and all sorts of delay. We have adjusted some venerated attitudes and updated some antiquated procedures. We now have a reliable staff to “watch our backs” and we can turn to face our second century with confidence. At this meeting, you will hear the reports from our officers, staff and committees. I invite you to ponder all that you have accomplished.

~Kim Nash, May 2012

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President Kim Nash held her summer Board of Directors meeting on July 17 at the home of Janet Dennis. Kim welcomed attendees and continued,

“As I face the enormity of the responsibilities in front of me, I am grateful and reassured that each of you has agreed to be part of Team Garden Club. We are a formidable group who, by working together, can further the legacy of action for which our organization is known. The happy irony is that we can accomplish all kinds of great things and have fun in the process. I am confident that each of us respects the strengths that the others bring to this table. Likewise, I am sure that if each of us opens her mind to the wonders of the others’ interests, we will broaden not only our collective vision, but also the base from which we shall lead.”

Recording Secretary Jeanette Cadwallender noted she would be digitally recording the meeting and using her laptop to take minutes, pointing out that Robert’s Rules do not require the details currently reported in GCV minutes.

A motion by Treasurer Anne Baldwin to appoint Joanie Robins as Assistant Treasurer 2010-2012 was approved. Anne then provided a brief explanation for the consolidation of multiple accounts into a single operating account and reported that a bookkeeper, Kathy Knollmann, had been hired.

Finance Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported progress in consolidation of the budgets of the Kent-Valentine House, Historic Garden Week and Restoration Committee. The GCV operating account was converted to an interest-bearing account for nonprofits, and bookkeeper Kathy Knollmann would be preparing checks on this account to cover payroll and Kent-Valentine House, Historic Garden Week and Restoration Committee expenses. Julie noted that the Restoration Committee would keep an investment account with Darryl & King, and the Garden Club of Virginia’s endowment would continue to be managed by Investment Management of Virginia.

Development Chairman Barbara Luton provided an overview of donations for the fiscal year 2009-2010 and reported a three-fold increase in the number of gifts received. The launch of the newly created Annual Fund exceeded the income goal by 62%, allowing GCV to increase financial support to each club hosting flower shows and to reduce the draw on the endowment. Custom gift-management software, GreenGifts, created by Nina Mustard, was used to record, report and acknowledge all donations.

President Kim Nash expressed her gratitude to former president, Cabell West, for her role in launching the Annual Fund.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported that, in the absence of an Executive Director, Jody Branch, Catherine Whitham and she, with assistance from Molly Hood, had assumed responsibility for general house operations and maintenance. Plans were being considered to create two working office spaces in the front southeast room.

Parliamentarian Betty Michelson led a lengthy discussion of proposed changes to GCV bylaws, including the removal of job descriptions and establishment of an Executive Committee to meet between board meetings with limited authority to conduct business. The committee was to be given responsibility for marketing and personnel.

Betty’s motion to honor Former GCV President Mary Frances Buchanan Flowers as lifetime Honorary Garden Club of Virginia President pased unanimously.

The meeting recessed for lunch, hosted by Julie MacKinlay at her home, where the meeting continued.

A Personnel Committee report from Chairman Catherine Whitham followed and included a report from Warren Whitney & Sherwood that recommended GCV hire a full-time Executive Director to carry more authority than in the past. A motion to proceed with the recommendation passed. Read WW&S Executive Summary.

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Photos

The 2010 fall Board of Governors meeting was held October 12-14 at the Omni Hotel and Conference Center in Charlottesville, hosted by Albemarle Garden Club and chaired by Trina English and Kathy Parker.

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, October 12 at Oak Hill, the home of Liza and Bill Edgerton. President Kim Nash welcomed board members and introduced new GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin reviewed bank accounts and reported on activities of the new bookkeeper, Kathy Knollman. Finance Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported progress on the consolidation of budgets and the completion of funding transfers to the endowment and the Common Wealth Award Fund. On behalf of the Finance Committee, Julie moved to approve the hiring of a Communications Coordinator. Motion carried.

Development Committee Chairman Barbara Luton reported a significant increase in the number of gifts in the past year, with 48% of the gifts from first-time donors. She announced a $60,000 Annual Fund goal for 2010-2011, but pointed out that the ongoing issue of coordinating multiple fundraising efforts (i.e., Annual Fund, Symposium, Historic Garden Week, Endowment) would be studied by Executive Director Lynn McCashin and Director of Development Karmen Gustin in order to recommend and establish priorities and to ensure a unified approach.

Tuesday arrivals were given recommendations for dinner options. Wednesday morning tours included a choice of the new Visitors’ Center at Monticello, the South Lawn at the University of Virginia or a walking tour of the downtown mall. Following the tours a beautiful al fresco luncheon was held at Carr’s Hill, home of the President of the University of Virginia.

Kim called the Board of Governors meeting to order at the Omni Wednesday afternoon. Albemarle Garden Club president Candy Crosby welcomed attendees and recognized Trina English and Kathy Parker, co-chairman of the meeting.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin summarized recent changes in GCV financial procedures that included consolidation of HGW, Restoration and Kent-Valentine House accounts and the employment of part-time bookkeeper Kathy Knollmann. Anne gratefully acknowledged the work of past GCV Treasurer Joanie Robins, and past Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell, and Kathy.

Finance Chairman Julie MacKinlay described the budget consolidation of five major activity centers - the Journal, the Kent-Valentine House, Development, Historic Garden Week and Restoration. She noted that, even with increased payroll, the Finance Committee was able to balance the budget by taking a minimum 4% of a three-year averaged value of the endowment as a draw.

Committee business reports followed.

Public Relations Chairman Clarkie Eppes and Photographer Casey Rice, “A couple of chicks: tweet-twitting and chick clicking,” provided hilarious entertainment as they navigated the language of new technology.

Development Chairman Barbara Luton reported that the May 2010 Annual Fund appeal (the message was printed on card stock embedded with flower seeds) brought in an additional 293 gifts.

The meeting was adjourned following late afternoon reports of Directors at Large.

Attendees were invited for cocktails at Cherry Hill, the lovely home of Anne and Gene Fife. The awards banquet followed in the Omni’s East Jefferson ballroom where the 2010 Common Wealth Award was presented to Harborfront Garden Club for their project, the Butterfly and Sensory garden at St. Mary’s Infant Home for Disabled Children. The award check for $10,500 was to be used to complete a courtyard garden that will enable the physically and mentally disabled children who live at the home the opportunity to observe and learn about plants, butterflies and nature.

The business meeting reconvened Thursday morning with additional reports by Directors at Large.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Betsy Worthington introduced Janet Hickman, president of Hillside Garden Club, who gave an informative presentation about the 2009 Common Wealth Award project at the Anne Spencer Garden. Her presentation included poetry by Mrs. Spencer, a noted poet of the Harlem Renaissance, and shared details of Mrs. Spencer’s life and garden in Lynchburg. Learn more.

Following a report by Restoration Committee Chairman Deedy Bumgardner, attendees gathered for roundtable discussions: Attracting New Members; Involvement with the GCV; and How to Be an Effective President. Read roundtable summary.

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Prior to the winter meeting of the Board of Directors, President Kim Nash called a meeting of the Executive Committee on January 13, 2011, to hear recommendations of the Conservation and Beautification Committee in preparation for 2011 Legislative Day. The committee voted to support legislation to require state agencies and institutions to purchase Virginia-grown food products; to support regulation of fertilizer application and labeling; and to support paper and plastic bag fees. Support for the Green Public Buildings Act was denied.

The regular meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia Board of Directors was held January 27, 2011, at the Kent-Valentine House.

President Kim Nash welcomed guests Catherine Whitham, chairman of the Personnel Committee, and Katherine Whitney of Warren Whitney & Sherwood to the meeting. Katherine provided a brief overview of the work done by her firm which has resulted in the new organizational structure for the GCV. She stressed the need for communication at all levels, thanked the members of the board for their participation, answered questions and reviewed the current staffing structure.

Guests were excused and business reports continued. Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Chairman, Maria Tufts requested, through her liaison Jeanette Cadwallender, that the board consider a request from the Charlottesville Garden Club to begin the 2013 Annual Meeting on a Sunday. The board denied the request after thoughtful discussion.

On behalf of the Nominations Committee, Ann Gordon Evans presented the following slate for 2011-2013 Directors at Large: Catherine Madden, the Lynchburg Garden Club; Jean Gilpin, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club; and Linda Consolvo, the Nansemond River Garden Club.

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Photos

The 91st Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Roanoke Valley Garden Club on May 11-12, 2011, at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, chaired by Denise Revercomb and Julie Perry.

The GCV Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 9 in the hotel’s Shenandoah Room. Following review and approval of January 2011 BOD motions, President Kim Nash distributed correspondence received and provided a brief overview of the April Executive Committee meeting.

Financial reports followed and the board adopted the preliminary 2011-12 budget. After Historic Garden Week Chairman Martha Ware Bryan reported that 2014 Historic Garden Week would fall on Easter week, the board voted to hold the tour April 26-May 3, 2014.

A comprehensive proposal for Kent-Valentine House rental fees was presented and, with minor changes, approved.

Prior to adjournment, Parliamentarian Betty Michelson circulated a non-conflict of interest statement for signatures and as Outlook Committee Chairman, she noted that as a Special Committee created for a five-year term, the committee had completed its five-year commitment.

Attendees were hosted by Kelly and Russell Ellis for Dutch treat dinner at their lovely home Tuesday night.

President Kim Nash called the 91st Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia to order at the Hotel Roanoke on Wednesday afternoon, May 10. Kim thanked the Roanoke Valley Garden Club members under the leadership of their President Becky Austin and Annual Meeting  Co-Chairmen, Julie Perry and Denise Revercomb. She complimented them on the wonderful morning tour of the Taubman Museum of Art and Historic Roanoke City Market, and a tour and lunch at the O. Winston Link Museum of Transportation. Kim continued,

“Few of us had any idea how many adjustments would be made to ‘the way things are done’ when we embarked upon a strategic plan five years ago. Today we have new professional staff in place at our headquarters, updated financial management practices, streamlined meeting agendas, and our messages launched into cyberspace. All these changes have been designed to carry our beloved organization along into the 21st century. In today’s world, the technological, legal and time requirements of GCV management are far more than most of us volunteers can handle, certainly without losing sight of the reasons we joined. We may experience some growing pains, but please be assured that our focus on our vision, values and mission is clear and will continue firm and unshaken.”

Financial reports followed and the 2011-2012 budget was approved.

Kent-Valentine House Chairman Bebe Luck reported that, with the addition of new personnel, an evaluation of job responsibilities was made as they related to the space needs of each individual within the KVH. It was determined that the second floor would be devoted to staff operations. As a result, the Executive Director was moved into the library to allow for expansion of duties and easier access to other personnel. Plans are underway to move the library to the third floor for greater use by club members. Bebe also announced that a comprehensive fee schedule for Kent-Valentine House rentals had been established.

Personnel Chairman Catherine Whitham and Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported sweeping organizational changes in the fiscal year that began in July 2010 with the staffing model recommended by Warren Whitney & Sherwood. Five new staff members had been hired: Executive Director Lynn McCashin; part-time Bookkeeper Kathy Knollmann; Communications Coordinator Ann Heller; part-time custodian Leonard Booker; and Director of Historic Garden Week Karen Miller. They join part-time Director of Development Karmen Gustin and part time Historic Garden Week Administrative Assistant Christine Harris.

Before introducing Conservation and Beautification, Horticulture, Flower Shows and Symposium committees, Second Vice President Meg Clement reminded attendees, "... these functions and events go well beyond our mission statement. Quite plainly, they contribute to and impact the economic base, quality of life and fiber of communities around our Commonwealth. Local restaurants, service stations, antique shops, boutiques and hotels put out their welcome mats in full flair knowing that GCV members and tourists alike may be crossing the threshold of their establishment, whether they be in Martinsville, the Eastern Shore or the Northern Neck. The revenues generated by these patrons, particularly in these economic times, benefit not only the individual merchant and his family but the community as a whole."

Flower Shows Chairman Lynn Gas and President Kim Nash presented the 2010 InterClub Artistic Award the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton. The trophy was accepted by Martha Moore. When Rose Chairman Rachel Hollis was called upon to give her report, she concluded with special thanks to Pat Taylor, former Rose Chairman, and to Kim Nash, who “took a chance and didn’t pay any attention to me when I told her I couldn’t take the position because I didn’t have any clothes to wear.”

Horticulture Committee Chairman Lea Shuba announced the following recipients of the 2011 Horticulture Award of Merit: Marie Bundy, the Garden Club of Norfolk; Nan Freed, the Garden Club of Danville; Margaret Ford, the James River Garden Club; Susan Gentry, the Virginia Beach Garden Club; Minouche Robinson, the Williamsburg Garden Club; Betty Steele, the Petersburg Garden Club; Mary Wick, Three Chopt Garden Club; and Cam Williams, the Garden Club of Gloucester.

Corresponding Secretary Nina Mustard discussed the changing secretarial role in recent years, noting that reminders, memos, schedules and agendas can be sent out electronically with lightning speed and professional precision, sometimes by the corresponding secretary -- more often not. She complimented Ann Heller and Lynn McCashin who continue to improve the website and are moving forward into the realm of social media. She then introduced chairmen of Historic Garden Week, Media Relations, Photography and Development.

Journal Editor Jeanette Cadwallender announced her retirement after four years and thanked members of the separate Journal committees for maintaining high standards of excellence in bringing the Journal to a full-color publication. She then introduced the new editor, Jeanette McKittrick, of Three Chopt Garden Club who affectionately became known as Jeanette II.

Following reports of Directors at Large the meeting was adjourned for the day.

The awards banquet was held Wednesday night in the hotel's ballroom.

A resolution honoring Suzanne Munson, retiring Executive Director of Historic Garden Week, Suzanne Munson was read. The Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award was presented to the Garden Club of Norfolk for a rain garden that they will design in partnership with the Hermitage Museum and Gardens.

The Annual Meeting reconvened Thursday morning when President Kim Nash recognized those who had received awards at the banquet the previous night and called on Directors at Large for completion of their reports.

Nina Mustard then led attendees through an informative tour of the Garden Club of Virginia website with particular attention to the online directory and the facility with which one can send email messages to groups within the club.

Jeanette McKittrick, president of the Three Chopt Garden Club and representing the four Richmond GCV clubs, gave a report on the progress of the Capital Trees Project, winner of the 2010 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award.

The following slate was presented by Nominations Committee Chairman Sally Guy Brown and approved by attendees as 2011-2013 Directors at Large: Linda Consolvo, Nansemond River Garden Club; Jean Gilpin, Winchester Clarke Garden Club; and Catherine Madden, Lynchburg Garden Club.

Chairman of Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Maria Tufts introduced Carrie Darracott, President of the Augusta Garden Club, and Ann Milliman, President of the Williamsburg Garden Club, who issued invitations to the 2011 BOG in Staunton and the 2012 Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, respectively.

Kim offered closing remarks and the meeting was adjourned.

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The 2011 summer Board of Directors meeting was held in Wintergreen on July 16. The “spouses included” weekend began on Friday night with a “Virginia Country Barbecue” cookout on the patio. Board members met Saturday followed by cocktails and dinner in the conference center.

President Kim Nash began by noting the presence of Executive Director Lynn McCashin as “proof positive of our first giant strides” in the past year, and thanking Lynn by saying, “In many ways, it is because of Lynn that I really don’t have a report.”

Treasurer Anne Baldwin presented her report and distributed charts and financial reports.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin described her daily activities as they related to Finance, Development, Kent-Valentine House and Personnel committees, and her work with Catherine Whitham on staff performance reviews. She listed KVH income-producing events, meetings and workshops, and summed up by saying, “My involvement in the committees and activities is so important in having the total perspective of the GCV and the knowledge of how we are holding the vision true for this organization. It is my job to be there, observe, comment when it is pertinent, understand how we fulfill the mission -- and how we take care of our resources.”

Personnel Chairman Catherine Whitham reported that the main work of the Personnel Committee since the last board meeting had been conducting staff reviews. Staff came prepared with their own assessment of their performance and the way their job is unfolding. In every case, the job is changing because the GCV is changing. Lynn has revised the Employee Handbook and everyone has signed a page indicating they understand the policies.

Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay marked the completion of GCV’s first fiscal year with its new consolidated budget, stating, ‘We now have more financial information which gives us a more accurate picture of where we are, and we have improved the consistency of our reporting. All this is in the support of greater sustainability and stability.”

Julie reported that the 2011-2012 Operating Budget had been reformatted based on the current environment and thinking, and that expense allocations would be based on percentage of use. She reminded board members that “expense allocation is a best practice procedure in the non-profit world to allocate administrative expenses to programs, ensuring that a nonprofit’s ratio of program expense, management and general expense, and fundraising expense are in line with industry norms.” She distributed comprehensive handouts showing budget changes and expense allocations.

The board approved the revised GCV Budget, to be presented at the 2011 fall Board of Governors for approval.

Development Committee Chairman Barbara Luton reported a 326% increase in the number of gifts since 2008-09, the year before instituting the first GCV Annual Fund campaign, adding that Symposium sponsorship had been obtained and that the committee was seeking a title sponsor for the 2011 fall Conservation Forum. Plans were underway to seek foundation grants for KVH capital needs and for procuring major gifts to the Endowment.

Admissions Committee Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize reported inquiries from the Blacksburg area, Hume and Hopewell. The board approved a motion to give the committee supervision to assist and/or direct club dissolution.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Anne Cross distributed a report detailing 2011 income and expenses for member clubs and headquarters and noted that HGW income from this point forward would be reported as net. The net income for 2011 increased 5% over 2010, while expenses increased 32%.

Anne also reported that HGW Executive Director Karen Miller was compiling Suzanne Munson’s notes into An Insider’s Guide to Historic Garden Week: HGW 101, and that recent changes have led to cost savings in the HGW website, as well as the ability to quickly provide updates to the website.

Horticulture Chairman Lea Shuba announced plans for Horticulture Workshop on October 18, 2011, featuring Doug Tallamy from the University of Delaware, who will speak on the importance of native plantings for the purpose of preservation of threatened wildlife. Horticulture Field Day was tentatively scheduled for May 23-24 in Richmond.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck was soliciting bids to repoint the bricks at the top of the chimney which should eliminate leaks in the third-floor ceiling. To accommodate the move of the library to the third floor, a second estimate for new shelving was obtained. While the second estimate was much more reasonable than the first, it was decided that the move would have to be postponed until sufficient funds were available.

Bebe then summarized conclusions of an ad hoc committee meeting on June 30 to discuss responsibilities of the Restoration, Kent-Valentine House and Development committees regarding the upkeep of the GCV headquarters. (The KVH is the only non-landscape restoration property of the Restoration Committee and it has assisted with various maintenance projects over the years.) It was agreed that all exterior maintenance of the house and the grounds would be covered by Restoration funds. The interior maintenance would remain the responsibility of the KVH Committee. Any extraordinary needs of the KVH would also be considered by the Restoration Committee, but the ad hoc committee was reassured that the GCV Development Committee and staff would be diligent in exploring funding sources from appropriate foundations to underwrite the capital needs of KVH.

Before adjournment, Kim read a letter to the board with suggestions to improve the Annual Meeting. Discussion followed and the meeting was adjourned.

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Photos

The 2011 fall Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Augusta Garden Club on October 10-12, chaired by Deedy Bumgardner and Grace Rice.

Prior to the Board of Directors meeting in Staunton, the Executive Committee met on September 7 at the Kent-Valentine House.

The committee reviewed materials prepared for the upcoming Conservation Forum and made changes to align them with the graphic standards adopted in 2010. The following motion carried: The Executive Committee reserves the right to review any communication produced in the name of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Three topics for the roundtable discussions at the Board of Governors meeting were chosen: Membership; Fun-raising Activities; and Keeping HGW Expenses Down.

President Kim Nash stated that, with the addition Communications Coordinator Ann Heller, there is no work for the Media Relations committee chairman to do. She recommended not filling that position in the future. The committee concurred.

A six-year rotation of assignments that fairly distributes the opting-out option for participation in flower shows was prepared by Dr. Julie Clark, Professor and Chairman, Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Hollins University. Kim will share the document with the Flower Shows Committee.

The final topic of discussion ruled that blogs on the GCV website should include a disclaimer and should not include a reference to GCV in their titles.

The Board of Directors met October 10, 2011, at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Research Center.

On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the board approved a motion to eliminate the Media Relations Committee.

Following reports from Treasurer Anne Baldwin and Finance Chairman Julie MacKinlay, the board discussed a motion by Julie, on behalf of the Finance Committee, that $3,500 be given to the clubs hosting the Annual and Board of Governors meetings. The initial recommendation came from the Development Committee and was a stated goal of the 2006 Strategic Plan. The board then approved the motion with the caveat that host clubs are to acknowledge the GCV’s donation for a specific aspect of their meeting.

Admissions Committee Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize reported concerns from the Brunswick Garden Club about their declining membership. She reported no further communication from clubs in Blacksburg and Hume which had expressed prior interest in GCV. She has received an email from a garden club in Mineral with questions about membership. The Admissions Committee is planning new member orientations to be held in each of the Historic Garden Week districts and suggests that they be held at a GCV Restoration Property or at the KVH when possible. Mary Bruce provided a draft agenda.

On behalf of the Conservation and Beautification Committee, Karen Jones moved that a draft letter be sent to the Virginia Legislature from the GCV Board of Directors, asking the legislature to give ample time for public input and study after the release of the study and analysis of uranium mining in Virginia and that they withhold a decision on the issue until 2013, so that the public can weigh in on those results. The motion passed unanimously.

Flower Shows Chairman Lynn Gas read a proposal that the flower show opt-out policy be reviewed. A thorough discussion followed. The matter was tabled until after the results of participation in the 2012 Daffodil Show could be reviewed. The board will revisit the topic in May.

Committee reports followed.

Prior to adjournment, two motions were presented. Director at Large Dianne Spence moved to increase the registration fee from $125 to $130 for participants attending the Annual and Board of Governors meetings. Motion carried. And Recording Secretary Jeanette Cadwallender moved to approve a request from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for email addresses of GCV club presidents to ask for participation in the VMFA Fine Arts & Flowers exhibition next October. Motion carried.

The Dutch treat dinner was hosted on Tuesday night by Sarah James at her lovely home in Staunton's historic district.

Optional activities on Wednesday morning included a tour of the American Frontier Culture Museum and a Historic Staunton Foundation walking tour to include Stuart House, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Blackfriars Playhouse at the American Shakespeare Center. Lunch was offered to attendees at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

President Kim Nash called the meeting to order at the Blackfriars Playhouse on Wednesday afternoon. She recognized BOG co-chairmen Deedy Bumgardner and Grace Rice and called club president Carrie Darracott forward, who announced a gift to the GCV Annual Fund from the Augusta Garden Club.

Kim looked back on her first year as GCV President, “We have covered a lot of ground, but each step has been deliberate, and the Garden Club is situated on solid footing. Our finances are handled in accordance with the best practices for a nonprofit organization. We are doing our best to keep all the lines of communication open in our storied GCV network, and we are well positioned to preserve the legacy of the Garden Club of Virginia. In addition, as you will hear, our committees are focused on their responsibilities and are working with renewed vigor to enrich all aspects of the GCV, both within the club and throughout the Commonwealth. I thank you all for the patience and support that we have needed to reach this point.”

Reports from GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin, Treasurer Anne Baldwin, Development Committee Chairman Barbara Luton, Director of Development Karmen Gustin, Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay and Investment Committee Chairman Sugie Battin followed.

Kim Nash announced that, thanks to the generous response from members to the Annual Fund appeal, GCV can check off another of the goals set in the 2006 Strategic Plan. In keeping with the stated goal to create funding from the GCV for Annual and Board of Governors meetings, the Augusta Garden Club would receive the first check in the amount of $3,500 for meeting expenses. She added it was the wish of the board that these funds would be used to offset a specific feature or event which will enhance the meeting for those attending.

Eleven clubs were then recognized for significant contributions to the Annual Fund.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported that, in addition to club meetings and committee meetings, “we experienced an earthquake and a hurricane.” During the hurricane, a wedding was forced to be moved from its original location to the KVH. The earthquake did not appear to create any major damage to the house; however, there was evidence of minimal cracks in some walls and ceilings. She described progress on chimney and 1st Street wall repairs and landscaping maintenance and reported that no tenant has been secured for the Carriage House.

Business reports continued.

Historian Heidi James reported that she had completed a report on the history of the GCV Conservation Committee from 1920 to the present. She then encouraged club presidents to update their club boxes with yearbooks and histories.

Media Relations Chairman Clarkie Eppes reported that in sharing public relations responsibilities with Photographer Casey Rice, the lion’s share of PR was rooted in photography. Casey and Journal Editor Jeanette McKittrick emphasized the importance of sending articles and photos for publication.

Following reports of Directors at Large, the meeting adjourned for the day.

Attendees were invited for cocktails at the R. R. Smith Center for History & Art. The awards banquet was held at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel ballroom. The 2011 Common Wealth Award was presented at the banquet to Rivanna Garden Club for their project, Hatton Ferry.

President Kim Nash reconvened the meeting at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on Thursday morning and Directors at Large continued their reports.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Betsy Worthington introduced Betsy Murphy of Harborfront Garden Club who shared a PowerPoint presentation of the butterfly and sensory garden at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, recipient of the 2010 Common Wealth Award.

Reports from Historic Garden Week, Restoration and Restoration Fellowships followed. GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided updates on current work of the Restoration Committee that included Historic Henry County Courthouse, Poplar Forest, Hampden-Sydney College and the Green Spring Gardens.

Members then recessed to participate in roundtable discussions. Read summary of discussions.

Maria Tufts, Chairman of the Annual and Board of Governors meetings, thanked the Augusta club for a wonderful meeting. She commented that the updated handbook is now online and then introduced Ann Milliman, president of the Williamsburg Garden Club, who invited the GCV to the Annual Meeting, May 15-17, 2012. Pat House, of the Nansemond River Garden Club, issued an invitation to the next Board of Governors meeting, October 9-11, 2012. Kim added her words of appreciation and thanks for the work by the Augusta Garden Club and adjourned the meeting.

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President Kim Nash called the meeting of the GCV Board of Directors to order at the Kent-Valentine House on January 19, 2012. Recording Secretary Jeanette Cadwallender read the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting, December 9, 2011.

Jane White of Hillside Garden Club presented a copy of the book, Lessons Learned from a Poet’s Garden, The Restoration of the Historic Garden of Harlem Renaissance Poet Anne Spencer to the Garden Club of Virginia and acknowledged the support from the Common Wealth Award in making the work in the garden possible.

Jane also made a gift of a recording and script from the 1979 Annual Meeting performance of the GCV in music. This was presented as a tribute to the GCV by Mary Morris Booth. The CD of the musical will be kept in the library.

Betsy Agelasto of the Virginia Beach Garden Club, as a representative from the Conservation and Beautification Committee, presented the issues coming before the 2012 General Assembly of Virginia

Parliamentarian Betty Michelson reminded the board that a member with a Conflict of Interest cannot be denied an opportunity to vote but may abstain from voting. She then presented a comprehensive and informative explanation of her role as Parliamentarian.

Kim reported that she and Lynn McCashin met with attorney John O’Neill. He states that we may give money to other organizations if the other groups' missions falls within the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia This will not affect our 501(c)(3) status. We should always consider how the gift will further our charitable purposes.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin reported that Assistant Treasurer Joanie Robins had engaged Dominion Payroll Services, a local company that will provide employees access to their records online. Anne is continuing to hear frustration from clubs concerning the dues payable calculation based on a club’s constitutional membership.

Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported that all GCV budget holders are within parameters except for the funds needed for the Kent-Valentine Carriage House's unanticipated repairs, noting that GCV has sources for the estimated $50,000 needed.

At the suggestion of Development, Julie has asked IMVA to start tracking separately the E. V. Williams Estate gift of $110,000, which was made in support of GCV Symposia and which has been held in endowment since the gifts were made in 2008 and 2010. This money will continue to be held in endowment but will be accounted for separately, as is done with the Common Wealth Award and Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award funds. The Finance Committee will determine guidelines about how this money, principal and/or interest, may be drawn down on for future Symposia at its spring meeting.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck provided the following comprehensive report:

"Over the past few months, the primary focus involving the Kent-Valentine House has been to obtain a tenant for the Carriage House. Our realtor, Gareth O. Jones of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., brought BOB Architects as a potential tenant. At that point, it was determined that the Carriage House needed extensive renovations to make it acceptable to any client. Bobby Garland of Taylor & Parrish was contacted, and the GCV was referred to Mark Longenderfer of Balustrade Construction. After discussions and negotiations, the construction was approved. BOB Architects has agreed to rent the Carriage House and a seven-year lease is currently being drawn up. Necessary permits have been applied for with the City of Richmond, and construction is due to begin as soon as the permits are approved.

"November and December found the KVH decorated beautifully for the Christmas season; however, it was a time to reflect on the condition and the future needs of the interior. Preston Gomer, KVH Committee member for Antiques and Interiors, gave a number of recommendations and helped to prioritize the needs of the house. Preston has agreed to obtain estimates for the most urgent items which will be reported at a later date. Preston was able to inform the KVH staff on how best to clean the chandeliers without hiring a professional cleaning service. Leonard Booker is now in the process of cleaning the chandeliers with much success.

"Inquiries for weddings, parties and small business meetings have increased significantly over the past few months. With these inquiries, it has been determined that the KVH needs a comprehensive approach to publicity and marketing of the house as a viable destination for such events, which will be pursued in the near future. With the addition of staff over the past year at the KVH, it is felt that the duties of the members of the KVH Committee need to be reevaluated in terms of how best they can serve the GCV and support the staff members. This process will begin over the next few months."

The meeting was adjourned following administrative business.

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Photos

The 92nd Annual Meeting on May 15-17, 2012, was hosted by the Williamsburg Garden Club at the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center, chaired by Sherrie Chappell, Lynn Ford and Dianne Spence.

President Kim Nash thanked the board, adding, “The organization of the GCV has been shored up with a responsible, professional staff; we have revamped our financial practices to put us on sound footing in that department; and we have improved communications with the membership. We have lots to celebrate but, most of all, I want to celebrate the fact that we have accomplished all this with mutual respect, cooperation and humor.”

Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay presented the 2012-2013 budget and noted proposed changes to the cost of insurance benefits to three eligible employees, effective today. The benefits include health insurance, dental and vision insurance, and disability and life insurance. The GCV will pay 80% of the premium cost and the employee will pay 20%.

The Finance Committee considered how to distribute funds from the E.V. Williams Fund for the benefit of GCV Symposia. The board approved a motion from the Finance Committee to distribute 4% to 5% of the value of the E.V. Williams Fund, which is held in the GCV Endowment, to each future Symposium Committee at its inception to be a lead sponsor of all Symposia.

Development Committee Chairman Barbara Luton presented her report and distributed copies of the most recent letter from President Kim Nash for the Spring Annual Fund appeal.

Jeanette Cadwallender read a report from Maria Tufts, Chairman of Annual and Board of Governors meetings, that included a list of upcoming host clubs through 2018 and proposed updates to the Planning Guide for Hosting Annual and Board of Governors Meetings.

The board approved a motion from the Journal Editor to eliminate the position of Journal Business Manager as the duties have been assumed by the GCV staff.

Before adjourning, the board discussed reporting procedures and concluded that it was beneficial to have board reports in advance, to be distributed by the Recording Secretary. The Annual and Board of Governors reports from committee chairmen do not need to be sent in advance.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, First Vice President Ann Gordon Evans congratulated Kim for her many accomplishments as President of the Garden Club of Virginia and expressed appreciation for her dedication. She then presented Kim with an original Nancy Thomas painting.

Attendees were treated on Tuesday night to "Blue Jeans and Bluegrass" -- a casual evening on Jamestown Island featuring a tour of the "dig" by archaeologist Dr. William Kelso, behind-the-scenes stories told by Archaerium architect and artist Carlton Abbott, and dinner by the river as Dr. Kelso grabbed his banjo and played bluegrass music with his band, "Whoever Shows Up."

Following Wednesday morning's escorted walking tours of Colonial Williamsburg gardens, attendees enjoyed a picnic in a lovely Colonial garden setting, then headed across the street for the afternoon meeting at the Lodge.

President Kim Nash called the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia to order and began by referencing Tom Christopher, the gardening and environmental author, who wrote, "Like most gardeners, I have an abiding mistrust of progress." She cleverly noted that "gardeners must not be ill-disposed to that cousin of progress called Change, since there is no garden anywhere that does not change."

Treasurer Anne Baldwin and Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported a favorable cash position in the GCV operating account. Julie pointed out the new cost in the budget for an insurance benefit package -- health, disability and life – for three eligible employees. Going forward, Julie reported, “I see our biggest challenges to be the compensation of our staff, the financial support of our programs and, over time, meeting the needs of the Kent- Valentine House. This is particularly challenging in light of our commitment to pass through to the Restoration Committee for its work all of the net profit from Historic Garden Week each year. The solution to the challenge is, I believe, twofold. First, all sectors of GCV operations need to submit well considered budgets to the Finance Committee, and they must be committed to stick to them. Second, we, together with the Development Committee, need to figure out how to enlarge the pie of the funds we all share to operate and that we need to assure the sustainability of our organization.”

Investment Committee Chairman Sugie Battin presented a comprehensive report.

“The Investment Committee is responsible for overseeing the investment of the Garden Club of Virginia monies. The GCV has four funds, described in your GCV Directory and Handbook. The funds from the GCV Endowment, the Conservation Fund, the Common Wealth Award Fund and the Symposia Fund are pooled together, and the Seed Fund is held in a separate account. Since 2000, the funds have been managed professionally by Investment Management of Virginia. We have a formal investment policy with objectives of preserving capital and achieving long-term growth, while providing cash to meet the GCV’s needs. In late 2011, we completed the five-year review of investment managers and, after extensive analysis, recommended that IMVA continue to handle our funds.

"The Investment Committee is mindful of the importance of the growth of these GCV funds. The Common Wealth Award fund and the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award fund are drawn from these investments. Also, we take a quarterly draw to meet our operating costs. We expect sustained growth as the economy hopefully strengthens.

"The GCV Restoration Funds are invested with Darrell & King. Unlike the GCV funds, these funds could be withdrawn in their entirety as they are monies for restoration projects across Virginia."

At this point in the meeting, “Thomas Jefferson” addressed the meeting and issued a warm welcome from Colonial Williamsburg.

Business reports continued.

The 2012 Horticulture Awards of Merit recipients were Jane Cheadle, Mill Mountain Garden Club; Carrie Darracott, the Augusta Garden Club; Kathleen Glass, the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club; Cynthia D. Hall, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore; Joyce Moorman, the Brunswick Garden Club; Dana Parker, the Virginia Beach Garden Club; Nancy Cann Purcell, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton; Jennifer N. Rinehart, Albemarle Garden Club; Patsy Smith, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club; Myra Stegall, the Garden Study Club; Lorraine Warren Strickler, the Spotswood Garden Club; and Susan Wright, Hillside Garden Club.

Journal Editor Jeanette McKittrick reported increased submissions to the Journal since the first full-color cover published in December 2011. She reminded attendees that the Journal is not only for your pleasure and education, but also for the generations to come. Historians routinely consult the Journal, which had its origins in 1925.

The Admissions Committee conducted four new member orientation meetings during the year. With the assistance and support of Directors at Large, meetings for the newest members of the GCV were held at restoration properties across the state, including the Kent-Valentine House, Poplar Forest, the Historic Henry County Courthouse and Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum. The committee worked closely with the GCV board and committee chairmen to conduct the meetings.

Following reports of Directors at Large, the meeting was adjourned for the day.

Colonial Williamsburg’s Fife and Drum Corps led attendees from the Lodge to the Williamsburg Inn for cocktails on the patio prior to the Awards Banquet in the Regency Room.

The Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award was given to the Garden Club of the Northern Neck who are partnering with the Northern Neck Land Conservancy to protect the habitat at Cat Point Creek Watershed. Read more.

The meeting was reconvened Thursday morning by President Kim Nash.

In opening remarks, Kim recognized the award winners from the banquet the previous night.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck shared a PowerPoint presentation featuring a lovely collection KVH images.

Pam Reed, the Garden Club of Norfolk, reported on the 2011 recipient of the Bessie Bocock Carter Award in which the Garden Club of Norfolk partnered with the Hermitage Museum and Gardens. She credited Emma Ramsey for her leadership in this endeavor.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Betsy Worthington announced three finalists for the 2013 award: the Lynchburg Garden Club for its project at the Miller Claytor Garden; the Garden Club of Norfolk and the Elizabeth River Garden Club for their joint project at the Paradise Creek Nature Park; and the Princess Anne Garden Club for its project at First Landing State Park.

Historian Heidi James held a meeting for all GCV member club historians on November 8-9, 2011 where she presented information on how to prepare scrapbooks and videos online to replace scrapbooks. Club historians in attendance updated their member club boxes.

Heidi was asked to research the stained-glass window, a gift of the Garden Club of Virginia in 1926 to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, England. The window honors John Tradescant the Younger (1608-1662) who traveled to Virginia between 1628-1637 to collect plant specimens to take back to England. Heidi shared a photo of the window that features the coat of arms of the Tradescant family and a wreath of green leaves with the violet blossoms of the Virginia spiderwort. The museum curator at Oxford asked the Garden Club of Virginia to donate the window and the club raised $354.00 to fulfill the request. A formal unveiling of the window took place on November 26, 1926, by Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Nominations Committee Chairman Sally Guy Brown presented the slate of officers in nomination for 2012-2014.

Chairman of Annual and Board of Governors meetings Maria Tufts thanked meeting chairmen Sherrie Chappell, Lynn Ford and Dianne Spence and all the members of the Williamsburg Garden Club for a truly wonderful, fun and informative meeting. She then introduced Sara Ann Johnson, president of the Nansemond River Garden Club, who issued the invitation for the Board of Governors meeting October 9-11, 2012, in Suffolk. Betsy Casteen, president of the Charlottesville Garden Club, then came forward and invited the members to the 93rd Annual Meeting, to be held May 6-8, 2013, in Charlottesville, noting that the meeting begins on Monday.

Historian Heidi James and Photographer Casey Rice shared a video tribute to Kim and presented her with a book of photographs from the video. Kim then handed the gavel to Ann Gordon Evans.

Upon accepting the gavel, Ann Gordon Evans became the 46th president of the Garden Club of Virginia. Her remarks included two questions for each member to ponder, “Why did you join your garden club?” and “Why have you stayed?” She gave her answers to these questions and challenged all members to ponder as we set goals for the Garden Club of Virginia and plan for the future.  She then adjourned the meeting.

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Chairman Karen Jones, The Martinsville Garden Club

The 2010 Conservation Workshop was held September 13 at the Kent-Valentine House. “Back to Basics,” attracted a full house with 78 attendees. Republican Senator Richard Stuart and Democrat Delegate Albert Pollard entertained attendees with examples of how they work together toward the same conservation goals, emphasizing the importance of clean air and water. They encouraged active letter writing and phone campaigns in defense of the environment and assured attendees of the effectiveness of those campaigns. Following the exchange with legislators, the 2010 recipient of the Bessie Bocock Carter Comservation Award, the four Richmond garden clubs, described how they worked together and with the city on restoring trees to the urban landscape. The workshop wrapped up with three GCV clubs presenting their popular conservation projects during breakout luncheon sessions.

The 52nd Annual Conservation Forum was held at William & Mary’s Sadler Center on November 5, 2010. The event, “Beneath the Surface,” was chaired by Marilyn South and Chamie Valentine and featured keynote speaker, Vikki Spruill, president and CEO of the Ocean Conservancy. The forum focused on the health of the ocean, pollution, dead zones and sustainable fishing. An afternoon field trip to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Yorktown was led by widely acclaimed marine biologists and oceanographers. Photos

The 2010 Dugdale Award was presented to Lipton Tea of Suffolk and generated enthusiasm for the sustainability program initiated by this outstanding corporate citizen.

Legislative Day was held January 17, 2011, facilitated by the Virginia Conservation Network. The new venue at Center Stage was a great improvement and eliminated the need for van transportation to the Capitol. Marsha Merrell, Catharine Gilliam and Betsy Agelasto studied conservation legislation and presented recommendations to the Executive Committee for approval. Photos

The 2011 Conservation Workshop was held September 26 at KVH, chaired by Hollis Stauber, was was attended by 68 members. “Conservation in Virginia - What is Working?” featured keynote Robert Lee, director of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and Doug Domenech, Secretary of Natural Resources. Members from the Augusta Garden Club, Rivanna Garden Club and the Garden Club of Norfolk led breakout sessions during lunch to discuss their water quality projects. Photos

The 2011 Conservation Forum was held November 3 at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Center. “Uranium: What Should Virginia Do?” The forum featured fourteen speakers and panelists from related fields who represented a broad range of viewpoints and attracted media and legislative attention. The forum prompted the Garden Club of Virginia to adopt its Uranium Mining Position Statement the following summer. The 2011 Dugdale Award was presented to the Alliance to Save the Mattaponi. Photos

Betsy Agelasto of the Virginia Beach Garden Club presented the issues coming before the 2012 General Assembly of Virginia to the Board of Directors at its 2010 January meeting.  She handed out a document of the 2012 GCV Legislative Agenda prepared by her committee. Issues coming before the General Assembly were:

• Uranium mining -- no legislation will be presented on this topic.
• Soil and Water Boards -- support the amendment to restore dedicated funding for these established programs in the budget.
• Renewable Energy through Portfolio standards -- support HB 657, HB 69 and HB 312.
• Invasive Plants -- support HB 396 to control invasive plants.
• Sea Level Rise -- support the title and intent of a bill calling for the study of relative sea-level rise in Tidewater Virginia.
• Navigable waters -- oppose HB67 that would redefine navigable waters and may weaken the protection of wetlands.

Discussion followed concerning our votes for numbered bills. They often change and, hence, Deedy Bumgardner made the following motion: Motion: Deedy Bumgardner moved that we support the title and intent of bills we endorse. Motion was seconded and passed.

Legislative Day 2012 was held January 23, 2012, chaired by Betsy Agelasto and Catharine Gilliam with the help of Nancy Kyler. The forum was again held in partnership with the Virginia Conservation Network with Anne Beals acting as liaison. Each legislator was given a copy of Historic Gardens of Virginia – a reminder of the preservation work the Garden Club of Virginia has provided for the state throughout the decades. Photos

The Garden Club of Virginia was awarded the inaugural Thomas Jefferson Medal for Conservation by the Virginia Natural History Museum on February 9, 2012. Presented in recognition of significant conservation efforts in Virginia, the medal was accepted by President Kim Nash on behalf of the club at the Library of Virginia.

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Chairman Lynn Gas, The Hunting Creek Garden Club

The 2010 Lily Show, “All Aboard,” was hosted by the Petersburg Garden Club on June 16-17 at Union Train Station. Chaired by Elizabeth Johnson and Suzanne Wright, the show was a huge success, with 244 horticultural exhibits and 63 arrangements. Six lovely new award goblets were proudly presented for horticulture. Photos

2010 Flower Arranging School, an early sellout, was held on September 21 featuring speaker and designer Ron Morgan from Northern California. A beautiful container was offered by Mary Lloyd Lay for a silent auction. Photos

The 72nd Annual Rose Show was hosted by Harborfront Garden Club on October 5-7, 2010. “Gateway to the Garden” was held at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Chairmen Lee Snyder and Casey Rice reported 83 artistic arrangements, 55 exhibitors and 268 horticulture stems. Photos

A lily workshop, “Back to Basics,” was held at the Kent-Valentine House on November 17, 2010.

An artistic judges' workshop led by Julia Clevett was held at the Kent-Valentine House on March 17, and focused on point scoring for judges and basic mechanics. Six Judges were asked to bring arrangements, which Julia then point scored before transforming each arrangement into a blue ribbon winner. Photos

The 77th Annual Daffodil Show, “Everything Old is New Again,” was hosted by Hillside Garden Club at the Lynchburg Holiday Inn on April 6-7, 2011. Chairmen Melanie Christian and Becky O’Brian reported 817 exhibits, 107 exhibitors and 1811 stems. Artistic design included 67 exhibits. In describing the magnificent scene, Daffodil Chairman Lucy Rhame declared, “And if that was not enough to make you smile, the pimento cheese sandwiches were not bad either!" Photos

The 2011 Lily Show was hosted by the Garden Club of Fairfax on June 22-23 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke. “Green Spaces in Busy Places” was chaired by Tricia Kincheloe and Anna Fortune, who reported 54 horticulture exhibitors and 154 stems in the show. There were 56 artistic arrangements. Photos

2011 Flower Arranging School was held at Lewis Ginter on September 20. Speaker Hitomi Gilliam, an internationally acclaimed arranger and author of Artflor, focused on mechanics and new techniques used in more modern styles of arranging.  Flower Shows Committee Chairman Lynn Gas reported that the expense of hiring a company to provide AV equipment was well worth the expense, noting that the sold-out event was profitable. Photos

The 2011 Rose Show was held on October 5-6 at Norfolk Botanical Garden, hosted for the second year by Harborfront Garden Club and chaired by Casey Rice and Lee Snyder, who reported 66 arrangements, 333 stems of horticulture and a total of 93 exhibitors. Peter Beale, rosarian and author, and Caroline Holmes, landscape architect, presented lectures during judging. Photos

An artistic judges’ workshop was held at the Kent-Valentine House on March 15, 2012, led by Julia Clevett. Photos

The 2012 Daffodil Show was hosted by the Garden Club of Gloucester at the Ware School on March 28-30, chaired by Petie Matheson and Betty Barr Ould, who reported 2130 stems entered by 187 exhibitors in 1046 exhibits – perhaps the largest daffodil show in 2012. Photos

Miscellaneous Flower Shows News

The GCV Board of Directors voted at its 2010 summer meeting to rename the GCV Mini Flora Award (rose) to the Pat Taylor Mini Flora Award in honor of the past Rose Chairman; and to award the North American Lily Society regional medal for distinguished service to Mary Nelson Thompson, retiring GCV Lily Chairman.

Artistic Judges Chairman, Vicky Alexander started a blog for GCV judges where photos of arrangements were posted with instructional material.

The 2011 recipient of the InterClub Artistic Award was the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton.

Daffodil Chairman Lucy Rhame announced at the 2011 Fall Board of Governors that because of the logistics of handling and transporting this many bulbs, starting in 2012, each club will be responsible for ordering their club collections themselves. She also reported plans to send each daffodil chairman a CD produced by the American Daffodil Society titled “Let’s Grow Daffodils.” Carol White, Garden Club of Gloucester, invited all to the 78th 2012 Daffodil Show and gave out bulbs for each member attending the meeting.

The 2012 recipient of the InterClub Artistic Award was the Charlottesville Garden Club.

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2011 Tour Chairman Martha Ware Bryan, The James River Garden Club

2012 Tour Chairman Anne Geddy Cross, The Ashland Garden Club

2011 Historic Garden Week Preview and Business Report

2012 Historic Garden Week Preview

The 2011 Guidebook cover featured Agecroft in Richmond. Chairman Martha Ware Bryan reported that guests from around the country and abroad included garden club tours from Toronto, Natchez, Minnesota, North Carolina and others. The Dallas Garden Club was so pleased with their Historic Garden Week experience that they sent a generous donation afterward, with a thank-you letter via Suzanne Munson. The Garden Club of Bermuda received a special welcome to Virginia by the Williamsburg Garden Club when they visited the Williamsburg tour on April 19. 2011 Guidebook

2011 HGW net income was reported at $380,511. The Dolley Madison Club enjoyed its best year in history, attributed to the exquisite gardens of Mount Sharon that were featured in Virginia Living. With credit to advertising sales and cost containment by staff, the Guidebook generated income for the first time in memory. Income was also generated through website advertising.

Suzanne Munson announced her retirement in 2011, after nineteen years as Executive Director of Historic Garden Week. Karen Cauthen Miller was hired and mentored by Suzanne, providing a seamless transition for GCV members and HGW visitors.

A marketing meeting was held at the Kent-Valentine House on October 25 and featured speakers Jonah Holland, social media consultant; Kara Cox, winner of an Emma Award in NonProfit Excellence in Marketing and last year’s publicity chairman for the Charlottesville tour; and Tamara Talmadge Anderson, Director of Public Relations at Virginia Tourism.

The 2012 Guidebook cover featured the Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk. Historic Garden Week Chairman Anne Cross highlighted the achievements of Karen Miller’s first tour as Director of HGW: advertising revenue increased; a Living Social promotion offered statewide passes for 50% off; Eventbrite was chosen for online ticket sales, which saw an increase of 62.5%; road sign expenses were cut by half; other expenses decreased by 10%; color was added to every page in the Guidebook; a new map of GCV restorations was included; watercolors replaced drawings of a house from each tour; media kits including statewide passes were sent to media outlets across the country; and, ,just prior to the 2012 tour, Karen was interviewed on Martha Stewart radio, prompting immediate calls from potential visitors from Beverly Hills, California. 2012 Guidebook

Anne Cross reported a 35% increase in revenue over 2011, a 10% decrease in expenses, and the HGW and GCV websites were coordinated following the 2011 tour, resulting in a 70% increase in website visits.

Anne then provided a progress report on plans for the Historic Garden Week 80th Anniversary tour in 2013, saying the celebration would focus attention on the GCV’s mission and the restoration work funded by HGW tours. Restoration sites would be encouraged to host events during the celebration, which was selected by the American Bus Association as a top 100 event for 2013.

Finally, Anne reported that London Ray had been hired as Assistant to Historic Garden Week and would be working on HGW 2013 Guidebook layout, to be done in-house for the first time.

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Chairman Léa Shuba, The Hunting Creek Garden Club

The 2010 fall Horticulture Workshop was held Monday, October 18 at Kent-Valentine House and focused on assisting clubs with staging and judging monthly horticulture exhibits. Featured speaker was Kay Shifflett of the Virginia Beach Garden Club, a trained and certified Garden Club of America horticulture judge. For an added surprise, she brought along two fellow judges, half her garden, her discerning eye and her fabulous sense of humor.

2011 Horticulture Field Day was held in the Middleburg area on May 18-19. Attendees gathered Wednesday at Oatlands Historic House & Gardens for box lunches and tours of the gardens, followed by tours of three additional gardens in the afternoon that included spectacular formal gardens, parterres, garden sculptures and garden rooms of mixed borders, herbs, shrubbery and perennials. Thursday morning offered four additional gardens with rural landscaping, woodland streams, a striking outdoor amphitheater and English-style garden rooms displaying romantic mixtures of color and texture.  Photos

The 2011 Horticulture Workshop was held at the KVH on October 18 and featured renowned speaker and author Doug Tallamy, Chairman of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware.

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Chairman Catherine Whitham, Three Chopt Garden Club

A staffing assessment from Warren Whitney & Sherwood completed in summer 2010 pointed to the need for a new management model for the GCV -- one with a strong Executive Director to coordinate the many volunteer-driven committees. Lynn McCashin came on board in this capacity on September 8, 2010, and has hardly caught her breath since. She immediately began attending committee meetings, working closely with chairmen and officers and visiting restoration sites.

The WW&S assessment had also pointed out the need to review Best Practices for Nonprofits, which included moving certain tasks from volunteers to staff. Acting in anticipation of such recommendations, and upon the advice of an accounting firm, the GCV hired a part-time bookkeeper, Kathy Knollmann, who manages all the cost centers.

Leonard Booker was hired in summer of 2010, as Kent-Valentine House custodian to fill Theresa Blackwell’s position, left vacant in late summer. Leonard is the nephew of William Booker, a longtime friend of the GCV whom many will remember assisted in extra cleaning and set up at the Kent-Valentine House until his retirement several years ago.

The next step in the staffing plan was to create a part-time position to manage the daily operations of the GCV website, including online event registration and communication with clubs and members. Nina Mustard had been serving as both webmaster and technical assistant for the past five years with ever increasing responsibilities. Lynn McCashin was asked to develop a job description for a Communications Coordinator which addressed the multiple areas Nina had been handling, as well as other key communications responsibilities.

Two significant events took place in the fall of 2010: Ann Heller was hired part-time in December 2010 as Communications Coordinator, and Suzanne Munson announced her retirement effective June 30, 2011. Ann  was given responsibility for setting up and managing all GCV event registrations, coordinating with club liaisons on a multitude of matters, editing and designing information for the website, managing the online meeting calendar, as well as a host of other communications-related activities.

Karen Miller was hired as Director of Historic Garden Week and began on April 18, 2011, working closely with Suzanne Munson through the 2011 tour logistics.

HGW Assistant Christine Harris resigned in October of 2011, and London Ray was hired to work part-time until the Guidebook went to press.

Ongoing tasks before the Personnel Committee included revising the Employee Handbook and putting in place a more formal procedure for reviewing staff and recommending salary increases.

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Chairman Deedy Bumgardner, The Augusta Garden Club

The Restoration Committee met June 7-8, 2010, and visited Lee Hall in Newport News, Historic St. Luke’s Church in Isle of Wight County, Bacon’s Castle and Smith’s Fort in Surry County and Bruton Parish churchyard in Williamsburg. Elizabeth Kostelny and Louis Malon from Preservation Virginia joined the committee for tours of Bacon’s Castle and Smith’s Fort. The committee reviewed the following requests:

• landscape design for columbarium at Fincastle Presbyterian
• landscape design for UVA Pavilion VI garden to add protection for the Merton Spire
• repair crumbling wall at Montpelier
• remove dead trees at Belle Grove, Kenmore and St. Luke’s
• replace fence and trellis at Mary Washington

Upon removal of a dead walnut tree and dying boxwood at Smith’s Fort, a palisade trench and probably a grave were uncovered. Preservation Virginia conducted minimal archaeological work and the findings were considered significant. Due to lack of funds and time, the recommended course of action was to conduct no further digging, cover the area with a protective piece of filter fabric, put top soil and ground cover over the covering, and to not replace any other planting.

The committee met September 14-15, 2010 and visited the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Sweet Briar College in Amherst, Point of Honor in Lynchburg, Poplar Forest near Lynchburg, Hollins University’s Beale Garden, and Fincastle Presbyterian Church.

The committee reviewed the following requests:

• design tree screening to mitigate the view of the nearby large quarry, to restore a lilac hedge, and to replant several trees at Belle Grove
• replace dying Liberty Elm trees planted 15 years ago at Maymont with Princeton Elms
• plant a serviceberry tree, add more plum yews, and replace one of the pencil boxwoods at the Kent-Valentine House
• replace a tree and some boxwood at Belmont
• continue repairing and replacing the garden steps at Stratford Hall
• work with Laurie Ossman, Director at Woodlawn, to implement the idea of growing organic vegetables and fruits in the Hopkins design
• replace dying boxwood with a more sun-tolerant Justin Brouwers at Wilton

Chairman Deedy Bumgardner reported at the 2010 fall Board of Governors that revisions to the Maintenance Manual were in progress, that the digitization project being done by the Virginia Historical Society was proceeding slowly and then reminded attendees that the Restoration Committee has a PowerPoint program about GCV restorations and would love to give it. Landscape architect Will Rieley shared an informative history of Poplar Forest and the project for landscape restoration. Attendees voiced overwhelming support for the project.

Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat near Lynchburg, has been described as part architectural masterpiece, part engineering marvel and part work of art. It is the living embodiment of Jefferson’s genius, blending landscape and architecture. After years of restoring the house, Poplar Forest is ready to start the first phase of landscape restoration that begins with restoring the west allee of paper mulberry trees -- linking the octagonal house to the earthen mound -- illuminating Jefferson’s blending of architecture and plantings to interpret Palladian architecture. This allee balances the wing of offices on the east side of the house. His records showed that trees were planted in November 1812, but the details were lacking.

A grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services facilitated archeological work that revealed details about four tree “clumps” that Jefferson planted around the house, placing two such groupings of trees at the front of the house and two at the back. The research also revealed that he planted three oval planting beds in the front of the house. The tree clumps contained Athenian and balsam poplars, intermixed with black locust, Kentucky coffee trees, redbuds, dogwoods, calycanthus and Liriodendron. The oval beds were planted with different kinds of roses and shrubs.

Poplar Forest first approached the GCV Restoration Committee and proposed a three-phase restoration – Phase I to restore the west allee of paper mulberries; Phase II to restore two tree clumps and two of the three oval beds; and Phase III to restore the carriage turnaround and to restore the third and final oval bed. Phases I and II were endorsed by membership at the 2010 fall Board of Governors and Phase III at the 2012 spring Annual Meeting.

Phase I was completed in December 2011 as work on Phases II and III continued. Photos

The Restoration Committee met at the office of Rieley & Associates in Charlottesville on January 18-19, 2011, for a comprehensive review and update of its policies and procedures that included general policies, lighting archeology, maintenance, project costs, design ownership, signs, plaques, labels and graphic material and watering.

The committee’s Maintenance Workshop was held February 15, 2011, at Belmont, chaired by Charlotte Benjamin and Kay Van Allen. The workshop was attended by an unusually large number of representatives from numerous properties. The revised Maintenance Manual was distributed and attendees expressed appreciation that the informative talks covered topics of interest and they benefitted from the networking. The workshop is free and held every two years by the Restoration Committee for the benefit of the gardeners and workers at the restoration properties.

The landscape restoration at John Handley High School was presented by the Garden Club of Virginia on March 23, 2011. Photos

Deedy reported at the 2011 spring Annual Meeting on progress of Phase II restorations at the Moses Myers House in Norfolk to complete the restoration originally planned but never fully implemented. Will Rieley and liaison Judy Perry met with the retiring Deputy Director of the Chrysler Museum and the person who will be taking responsibility for the Moses Myers House to review the proposed plan.  They are currently reviewing it and, when officially approved, we will begin work on construction documents.

GCV Landscape Architect William D. Rieley, gave an informative slide presentation about recent restoration work and highlighted the Historic Henry County Courthouse in Martinsville. Attendees endorsed the project unanimously.

History Henry County Courthouse, first constructed in 1793, is an historic landmark in Martinsville. The Restoration Committee received an application for landscape restoration in August 2010. At its September meeting the committee considered the request and a fact-finding delegation visited the site early in November. After that initial visit, Will Rieley began working with the representatives and developed a design that was approved by both sides. At the March 2011 meeting the committee endorsed the project -- to develop the grounds as a green space in front of the Historic Henry County Courthouse, which is owned by the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society. The Historical Society has completed work restoring the building, and the City of Martinsville has been most cooperative and is working closely with GCV, since a portion of the land that is being included in the renovation belongs to the city. The representatives from the Historical Society have also asked the Harvest Foundation to join in paying for certain parts of the new landscaping, which they have agreed to do.

The Restoration Committee met June 7-8, 2011, and toured the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Monticello and the ten Pavilion gardens at UVA in Charlottesville, and Montpelier in Orange.

The committee met in September 2011 and toured the Grace Arents Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond and Centre Hill Mansion in Petersburg, where an extensive drainage system was being installed.

Deedy announced at the 2011 Board of Governors that the committee and the Board of Directors have accepted the withdrawal of the Lee House Garden at Washington and Lee University as a Garden Club of Virginia restoration after two years of discussion. The 1992 GCV garden will serve as backbone for the significant renovations that are planned to accommodate changes in the use of the area. Deedy emphasized that neither party has plans to suggest changes to the existing relationship concerning Lee Chapel.

She further reported that Phase I of a digitization project in partnership with the Virginia Historical Society has been completed, detailing the work of twenty GCV restoration projects.

She outlined some of the major requests that had recently been approved for existing properties, adding that her committee anticipated additional requests after the damage from Hurrican Irene was assessed:

• replace rotting trellises at Belmont
• grade landscaping at new entrance gate at Ker Place, replace gravel walkways, and repair disabled-access walkway
• continue replacing/repairing of the sets of steps until all are repaired at Stratford Hall
• replace two rose arbors and gazebo at the Grace Arents Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
• continue to work with John Handley High School, the Handley Trust and the Winchester School Board in developing the master plan for the park and area surrounding the school
• repair to exterior walls, chimneys, garden wall, and columns at the Kent-Valentine House.

Will Rieley then shared updates on current work at the Historic Henry County Courthouse, Poplar Forest, Hampden-Sydney College and the Green Spring Gardens. The Green Spring project and the gift to Hampden-Sydney College were endorsed by membership.

Green Spring Gardens is a public garden and historic site operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. The site is listed on the National Register for Historic Places, the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register and accredited by the Association of American Museums. The mission is to preserve, protect, maintain and interpret the horticultural, historic and natural resources of the site and to provide for the educational and inspirational use of the resources by citizens of and visitors to Fairfax County, Virginia. It is a 31-acre site open to the public seven days a week that has demonstration gardens of many types, natural and planted areas, two historical farm ponds, and conducts horticultural education programs to all ages. There is a historic house (circa 1784) on part of the site. The final owners of the home commissioned Beatrix Farrand to landscape the grounds behind the house. Ms. Farrand is recognized as a pioneer of American landscape design and was the only female among the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects. In 1942, she visited Green Spring and drew up a preliminary garden design. Green Spring was Farrand’s only documented garden in Virginia, and it was also one of the last commissions of her career. The key elements of her landscape design behind the house remain but there is a need for repair and restoration. The garden has a distinctive curved stone wall with boxwood and a flower bed above and in front of the wall.

Hampden-Sydney College is a distinguished, liberal arts, all-male college near Farmville. The plantation office at Slate Hill, built in the 1870s, was the site where plans were finalized to open the college. In the 1940s, the owners of Slate Hill donated the little building to the college. Known as “The Birthplace,” it is located behind Atkinson Hall which houses the offices of the President, Provost and Dean of Faculty. The college renovated ‘The Birthplace” in 2000, and it is now furnished and used for conferences. Because its backdrop is a parking area, utility building and power lines, the college approached the Garden Club of Virginia about undertaking this area as a project. Will Rieley designed a simple functional design with paths to be straightened, a walkway added to connect a parking area to the terrace at the end of Atkinson Hall, plantings to screen large overhead lines and a few other trees and shrubs to make the area more attractive. Membership approved a motion at the 2011 spring Annual Meeting to give as a special gift to Hampden-Sydney College, the design and its implementation for the area around Atkinson Hall and “The Birthplace.”

The Restoration Committee met in January in Charlottesville at the offices of Rieley & Associates. In  March 2012, the committee met and toured Ker Place on the Eastern Shore, Christ Church in Lancaster and Stratford Hall on the Northern Neck. Deedy reported at the 2012 spring Annual Meeting that the committee continued to discuss the ten pavilion gardens at UVA with current focus on the long-range plans for Pavilion X, and consideration of Pavilion I which has issues with disabled access. She reported that Roger Foley had been hired to photograph several restoration sites, and announced that the Maintenance Manual had been reformatted for professional printing and would be offered in CD-format as well.

Will Rieley shared a PowerPoint presentation that included updates on restoration projects that are currently being undertaken: Green Spring, Handley High School, Henry County Courthouse and Poplar Forest.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

The GCV Fellowships Program, the brainchild of Former GCV President Helen Murphy, was first implemented in 1996. It was begun in a continuing effort to build a comprehensive record of historic gardens in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The William D. Rieley Fellow documents and researches historic landscapes that are not privately held Rudy J. Favretti Fellow documents historic landscapes that are privately owned.

GCV Landscape Architect William D. Rieley, oversees this program and guides the students throughout the summer. The Garden Club of Virginia provides housing and mileage for these young scholars over the summer and, when they complete their work and submit final reports, they are given a stipend. Funding comes from the profits from Historic Garden Week.

Ashley Allis was selected for the 2011 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship. She has a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and is currently studying for her Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia. Ashley documented the landscape at the Old Western State Hospital in Staunton, now owned by a private foundation which is turning the old buildings into condos and eventually a luxury hotel. She uncovered historical documents and descriptions of the hospital which will be invaluable to the new owners as they plan their new site. This was where the first “healing garden” was considered therapy for the inmates. However, Ashley informed us that only the men were allowed to be engaged in this therapeutic gardening activity. The ladies were given sewing and ironing as their therapy.

Emily Peterson was selected for the 2011 William D. Rieley Fellowship. She has a BA in English and Studio Art and is a candidate for a Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Virginia. She documented the Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden at Springsbury in Millwood. This property is now owned by the Casey Tree Foundation and is used as their tree farm. Emily was able to visit Cornell University, which is the repository for Shipman’s original plans and drawings. She uncovered many heretofore unknown documents and photographs which are invaluable to the present plans. She presented members of the Restoration Committee, the Fellowship Committee, and the GCV board with a PowerPoint showing her documentary of the landscape and her findings.

Gardner Burg was selected for the 2012 Favretti Fellowship and will document historic Keister House in Blacksburg. He has an undergraduate degree from Ball State University in Landscape Architecture and is now in an Advanced Master of Landscape Architecture at Virginia Tech. While the house is historic, this natural landscape is the creation of David and Lindsay West. Gardner is documenting the plantings as they relate to the natural systems of the site, as well as the native reintroductions and management by the Wests over time.

Kelly Halpin was selected for the 2012 William D. Rieley Fellowship and will document Shack Mountain in Charlottesville. She has an undergraduate degree in history from Temple University and is working on a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver.This delightful house and garden were designed by Sydney Fiske Kimball, Director of the Philadelphia Museum and preeminent architectural historian. It was Kimball who established Jefferson’s reputation as an architect and Shack Mountain is tangible representation of Kimball’s regard for Jeffersonian design. Fellow Kelly Halpin has broken new ground in her research of Fiske and Marie Kimball and the design of both the house and the landscape, as well as the additions and stewardship of subsequent owners, Jane and Bedford Moore.

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Chairman Elaine Burden, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club

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Take a moment to reflect on what you have accomplished in your club as you hear the many accomplishments of the work of GCV committees. As we plan, we continue to focus on the GCV mission to restore historic gardens and landscapes, to conserve Virginia’s natural resources, to inspire a love of gardening and to provide education for our members and the general public. Our beacon now is the GCV’s Centennial in 2020. How will we celebrate our past 100 years leading up to May 2020? What has the GCV been known for during that time? How do we plan for the next 100 years? You are here, at this meeting, representing your communities, your clubs and your committees. You are the heartbeat of the GCV. I am so very appreciative of your service.

~Ann Gordon Evans, May 2014

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Prior to her first Board of Directors meeting, President Ann Gordon Evans called a meeting of the Executive Committee on June 13, 2012, at the Kent-Valentine House.

After discussion of a recommendation from the Investment Committee, First Vice President Jeanette Cadwallender moved on behalf of the committee, “That the role of the Investment Committee be assumed by the Finance Committee with a designated member to oversee investments.” Motion passed, to be presented at the July meeting of the Board of Directors.

Second Vice President Nina Mustard reviewed the "opt-out" policy and implementation for flower shows. On behalf of the Flower Shows Committee she moved, “In accordance with the Garden Club of Virginia’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, Article III, every member club is encouraged to endorse and to participate in InterClub horticulture and artistic aspects of each of the GCV Flower Shows. While the Garden Club of Virginia expects all clubs to participate in horticulture and artistic classes, it recognizes the need for any club to be excused when extenuating circumstances make participation difficult. Upon such occasion, the president of the member club should communicate directly with the Flower Shows Chairman.” Motion passed, to be presented at the July meeting of the Board of Directors.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin announced that she had hired a new house manager, Lee Mondesir, to replace Leonard Booker.

Historic Garden Week Director Karen Miller joined the Executive Committee to discuss the 80th anniversary of Historic Garden Week. She suggested the possibility of clustering tours to make the whole event more attractive to guests.

The annual summer gathering of the GCV Board of Directors and spouses was held July 20-22 in Fredericksburg. A Dutch treat dinner was offered Friday night at Belmont. Board members met Saturday for lunch and meeting at Kenmore while spouses participated in planned activities.

President Ann Gordon Evans called the meeting to order and called on board members to provide educational presentations to review GCV awards and review parliamentary procedures. She followed with a clarification of ex-officio, “persons are members of a committee by virtue of some other office or position that they hold and have the same rights as do all other members including the right to vote."

Her focus for her two-year term will be the future -- to look forward and to begin making plans for GCV’s 100th anniversary in 2020.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin and Finance Committee Chairman Barbara Luton reviewed financial reports and presented an amended budget, to be presented at the BOG for approval. Barbara pointed out the dissolution of the Investment Committee with the responsibility assigned to the Finance Committee.

Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Chairman Julie Grover posed the following questions to the Board:

Question: What liability insurance information should be in the Planning Guide for Hosting Annual or Board of Governors Meetings? Answer: Mrs. McCashin reported that the KVH, GCV events and club events sanctioned by GCV are covered, but there are some gray areas that may need additional coverage by the clubs.

Question: Who bears the cost of the champagne toast for award winners? Who bears the cost of family members attending the banquet? Answer: Cost of a champagne toast, after the banquet and away from the dinner tables, should be built into the event budget. Everyone is invited (not everyone will come) to participate in this time of celebration. It is not necessary for the host club to rent additional space, a designated corner of the room or some similar area is appropriate. The amount of champagne opened and poured should be carefully controlled. Family members of the winners are invited to the banquet at their expense.

Question: Number of future host club chairmen invited to Annual and BOG meetings? Answer: Co-chairmen of the following year’s meetings must be invited. Additional guests may be invited by host club.

Question: Will BOD provide topics for BOG? Answer: Yes.

Ann Gordon described the role of Special Committee Staff Liaison. As part of the professional model that the GCV adopted, the Executive Director oversees the paid professional staff. However, volunteer involvement is needed, as well. Ann Gordon gave a brief description of that volunteer. “She is a trusted intermediary who investigates and addresses complaints, she becomes familiar with the staff and their responsibilities and she reports to the GCV President.” Ann Gordon appointed Martha Ware Bryan as Staff Liaison.

The Directors at Large reported their decision to report only at Annual Meetings. They will not report at BOD or BOG meetings unless there is a particular issue that needs attention. Ann Gordon reminded the Directors at Large to maintain contact with their presidents, communicating important and appropriate BOD information, stating this relationship is our strongest link with member clubs.

Ann Gordon stressed the importance of thinking and planning long range, saying that the Garden Club of Virginia Centennial in 2020 provides an opportunity to unveil our future while celebrating our past. Catherine Whitham is to serve as Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee.

Ann Gordon entertained a motion from the floor to open discussion of a future symposium. A motion passed to hold a symposium in 2014.

Following adjournment, attendees and spouses enjoyed cocktails at the Mary Washington House, followed by dinner at La Petite Auberge.

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The 93rd Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Nansemond River Garden Club October 9-11, 2012, at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront in Suffolk, chaired by Sharyn Flintoff and Pat House. Photos

Prior to the 2012 fall Board of Governors meeting, President Ann Gordon Evans called a meeting of the Executive Committee September 5, 2012, at the Kent-Valentine House. Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham presented goals of her committee and a schedule for completion of goals. Following her presentation, the Board discussed Centennial funding, and the Executive Committee agreed that a Centennial Chairman and committee should be selected soon. Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported on the recent visit to the Kent-Valentine House by the Department of Historic Resources and the meeting adjourned without action.

The Board of Directors met on October 9, 2012, at the Hilton Garden Inn. President Ann Gordon Evans called the meeting to order and thanked Linda Consolvo for hosting Board members for lunch at her beautiful home prior to the meeting, and for bringing extra cookies to the board meeting.

She then introduced Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham, who described the process and goals of the Long-Range Planning Committee for the upcoming two years.

Ann Gordon announced that Anne Cross will serve as the chairman of the Centennial Celebration in 2020.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin and Finance Committee Chairman Barbara Luton reviewed finances and investments. Barbara reported on a recent presentation to the committee by Ben Tompkins, President of Virginia Commonwealth Corporation, who gave a full overview of all GCV insurance coverage including property, general liability, workers’ compensation and umbrella policies. All GCV-sanctioned events are covered but individual clubs’ events are not covered by GCV insurance.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported on Annual Fund giving and credited Director of Development Karmen Gustin with producing the much acclaimed Year in Review. The Development Committee drafted a Gift Acceptance Policy that was adopted by the Board.

Common Wealth Award Committee liaison Charlotte Benjamin and Betsy Worthington reported concerns about club finalists soliciting, lobbying and emailing in order to seek support for their projects. The Board unanimously agreed that finalists should not overtly or covertly seek support for their projects. The guidelines about solicitation need to be strengthened to discourage these activities.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported on activity at the Kent-Valentine House. The house has a historic easement which triggered a recent visit from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. An architect and photographer documented the house and grounds and reviewed the easement and deed. The large magnolias were of interest to them and, if replacement ever becomes necessary, there are specific requirements for their replacements. The documents are very specific about what can or cannot be done. Lynn has the documentation report on file. Megan Melinat, DHR, was complimentary about GCV stewardship of the property. The chimneys have been restored, the drywall and leaks repaired so currently the house is in good shape. The Board will visit the Carriage House on January 17, 2013. The check for the first month’s rental of the Carriage House has arrived, and there have been numerous inquiries for renting KVH.

Parliamentarian Meg Clement presented a first reading of two proposed changes to GCV Bylaws:

1. Add the following statement to Article V: Officers, Section 5.7. “The Treasurer is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Budget.”
2. Add the following statement to Article VI: Committees, Section 6.2. “The Executive Committee reserves the right to review any communication produced in the name of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Prior to adjournment, Directors at Large reported they will not report at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting but will meet with their club presidents at lunch prior to the meeting.

Attendees were invited to attend a Dutch treat dinner Tuesday night at Mosaic in the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, former Suffolk High School.

President, Ann Gordon Evans called the 93rd Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday, October 10, 2012, at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront.

Ellen Godwin, former Garden Club of Virginia President and Nansemond River Garden Club member, offered the prayer, and Betty Schutte read a tribute to the 35th President of the Garden Club of Virginia, Nancy St. Clair Talley.

President Ann Gordon Evans welcomed attendees and shared opening remarks to inspire member engagement in planning the future of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported that interior and exterior renovations to the Carriage House were complete and the commercial tenants were in residence. She announced a pending visit from the Catesby Commemorative Trust.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Bettie Guthrie announced that the Garden Club of Virginia InterClub Artistic Award would be renamed the Garden Club of Virginia Annabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award.

Journal Editor Jeanette McKittrick described the new colorful Journal covers, reflecting GCV energy throughout the publication with more photographs, graphics and artwork by members.

Following adjournment for the day, attendees were hosted for cocktails by Jane and Dwight Schaubach at their beautiful home on the Nansemond River. Ann Gordon arrived in style, driven by Dwight in one of his antique cars. The awards banquet followed at the Cedar Point Country Club where tables featured exquisite flower arrangements. The 2012 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Lynchburg Garden Club for their project, “Renovation of the Miller-Claytor House Garden in Riverside Park.”

Thursday morning business began with a slide presentation by Mary Eades, on behalf of Rivanna Garden Club, recipient of the 2011 Common Wealth Award for their project at Hatton Ferry, the last pole-operated ferry in America, on the James River near Scottsville. The award check in the amount of $10,500 was used to assist in replacing the information kiosk, to install substantial picnic tables and trash receptacles, and to provide new landscaping. The club identified plantings to add beauty and erosion mitigation and included river birch, sumac, buttonbush, yucca, St John’s wort, witch hazel, Virginia bluebells, various hollies and ferns.

Following reports from chairmen of the Historic Garden Week Committee and the Restoration Committee, meeting chairman Pat House introduced featured speaker, Michael Boone, who presented a slide lecture on Unilever’s Lipton Tea Company’s Zero-Landfill Facility and recipient of the 2010 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation.

Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Meetings Committee Chairman Julie Grover reminded attendees that the Garden Club of Virginia Handbook for Planning the Annual & Board of Governors Meeting was available on the GCV website. Julie then called on Betsy Casteen, president of the Charlottesville Garden Club, host of the 2013 Annual Meeting, and Kris Carbone, president of the Garden Club of Danville, host of the 2013 Board of Governors Meeting.

Director at Large Jean Gilpin provided a recap and the meeting was adjourned.

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The Board of Directors met January 17, 2013, at the Kent-Valentine House. Prior to the meeting, Board members toured the Carriage House and met the new tenants. Afterward, Sally Guy Brown presented a video showing the Edgar Allan Poe Museum gardens, a potential Restoration project.

Ann Gordon noted the large inventory of Historic Virginia Gardens -- 1,159 books on hand -- and encouraged Board members to think of additional ways to reduce the inventory.

She also reminded the Board that GCV activities or events, such as Legislative Day, Horticulture Field Day and workshops should not be fundraisers. It is GCV policy to make sure these events are self-sufficient. The per person fee should cover all event expenses, and she asked the Board liaisons to communicate this policy to their committee chairmen.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay announced that a generous gift of stock was made to the Garden Club of Virginia by Janet Jackson Dennis in December 2012. The gift is to be held in the Endowment Fund and the interest from the principal is to be used for the benefit of the Kent-Valentine House.

On behalf of the Admissions Committee, liaison Betsy Worthington proposed the names of two outstanding individuals for GCV Honorary Membership: Nancy Ross Hugo, proposed by Three Chopt Garden Club and seconded by the Ashland Garden Club; and Frank L. Robinson, proposed by the Boxwood Garden Club and seconded by the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton. The Board approved both proposals.

Board members divided into two Long-Range Planning Focus Groups -- one led by Catherine Whitham, Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman and the other led by Executive Director Lynn McCashin. The following questions were discussed in both groups: What will the GCV be best known for? How will the GCV continue to make a difference in the Commonwealth? How can the GCV change with the times while still maintaining its essence?

The Annual and Board of Governors Committee expressed concern about space limitation at the 2013 Board of Governors Meeting in Danville if roundtable discussions are on the agenda. Further discussion was suggested.

Upon the resignation of Journal Editor Jeanette McKittrick, Jeanette Cadwallender volunteered to edit the upcoming two editions and made plans to add members to the Editorial Board, suggesting that former teachers would be good candidates. She requested the Board’s help in finding a replacement editor as soon as possible.

Lynn McCashin reported Kent-Valentine House maintenance issues involving the kitchen floor tiles, second floor windows and gutters. She also reported that vandals had ripped off a copper downspout on the east corner by the tower addition. Sadly, the west magnolia is diseased and will need to be replaced. Several tree specialists have examined the tree in hopes of saving it, and DHR has been alerted. From the original deed and easement document, “The two magnolia trees on the front aspect of the East Franklin Street side shall not be removed unless damaged or diseased in which case they shall be replaced with two magnolia trees of at least six (6) feet in height.” And finally, Lynn reported that Carriage House rental income began in the fall at $1506.79 a month and will increase by 3% each year on October 1.

The Board approved the following slate to serve 2013-2015, presented by Nominations Committee Chairman Kim Nash: District 2: DeLane Porter, Dolley Madison Garden Club; District 5: Lynn Gas, the Hunting Creek Garden Club; and District 6: Susan Wight, the Princess Anne Garden Club. The slate is to be presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting for approval.

Parliamentarian Meg Clement presented a second reading of two proposed changes to GCV bylaws and moved for approval:

Article VI, Section 6.2, Add: “The Executive Committee reserves the right to review any communication produced in the name of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Article V, Section 5.7. Add: “The Treasurer is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Budget.”

The motion passed without objection.

Restoration Committee Chairman Sally Guy Brown reported that four of the current Restoration projects are nearing completion: Historic Henry County Courthouse, Green Spring Gardens, Poplar Forest and John Handley High School. Several committee members visited Monticello, noting that plans for the restoration of a part of Jefferson’s original landscape are moving forward with work to begin in July. The Board then approved the restoration of the gardens at the Poe Museum in Richmond.

Directors at Large expressed concern from their districts about printing the GCV Directory & Handbook for all GCV members but the Board was unclear if the concern was based on conservation, finances or lack of interest. Following discussion, it was suggested that the Long-Range Planning Committee should consider this concern with all GCV printed publications and marketing tools.

The Board approved a motion to postpone the Symposium to 2015 with time and location yet to be determined.

Due to deteriorating weather, the rest of the meeting was curtailed.

Prior to adjournment, Ann Gordon announced that Meg Clement will serve as Assistant Chairman of Historic Garden Week for 2013-2015 and will be Chairman of Historic Garden Week from 2015-2017.

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The 93rd Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Charlottesville Garden Club on May 6-8, 2013, at the Boar’s Head Inn, chaired by Trish Burton, Renee Grisham and Elizabeth Neff. Photos

The Board of Directors met Monday, May 6, hosted by Peggy Quayle and Jane Maddux at Peggy's lovely hilltop home in Farmington for luncheon and meeting.

President Ann Gordon called the meeting to order and introduced guest Catherine Whitham, Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman, who reported, "Since the last update in January 2013, the Long-Range Planning Committee has completed all focus groups, both internal and external, and in just the past two weeks conducted an electronic survey of the membership. Internal Focus Groups covered all six GCV Districts, the Board of Directors, Past Presidents and staff."

Treasurer Anne Baldwin provided a brief history of GCV investments and funds. On behalf of the Finance Committee, she proposed the following two changes that were approved by the Board:

• The Garden Club of Virginia Endowment was established in 1998 for long-term investment to provide a portion of the Garden Club of Virginia’s operating expenses, as well as for significant needs of the GCV and our headquarters, the Kent-Valentine House.
• The SEED Fund was established in 2002. Funds in this account are used for the general purposes of the Garden Club of Virginia including, but not limited to, special events, special projects, and the special needs of the Garden Club of Virginia Committees. Surplus funds from Garden Club of Virginia events are deposited in the SEED Fund. This fund may be spent in its entirety, excluding any restricted funds or unused portion thereof. The Finance Committee is recommending that we eliminate this Fund and move the current balance to the GCV Endowment Fund.

Additional proposals from the Investment Committee for changes were sent back to Standing Committees for review.

Journal Editor Jeanette Cadwallender reported that Karla MacKimmie, the Warrenton Garden Club, will assume the role of editor after the Annual Meeting. Ann Heller, GCV Communications Coordinator, has joined the Editorial Board and Jeanette McKittrick will take on a new role as art editor. She will help primarily with cover art. The March issue was produced and delivered on time.

Ann Gordon Evans, Nina Mustard, Dianne Spence and Lynn McCashin met in January with leadership of Journey Through Hallowed Ground to hear about its mission. The organization is interested in forming a strategic partnership with the Garden Club of Virginia.

Prior to adjournment, the Board voted to acknowledge the Garden Club of America’s centennial with a donation of $500 to its project at New York City Central Park, and to present the organization with a resolution acknowledging its significant anniversary.

President, Ann Gordon Evans convened the Executive Committee immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed Bacon’s Castle brochure, a joint effort of the GCV and Preservation Virginia. On behalf of the Restoration Committee, Chairman Sally Guy Brown asked for approval of the brochure as presented. Prior to this meeting, the Executive Committee had several opportunities to review the brochure via email. The committee expressed considerable concern about the layout, the position, size and color of the GCV logo and the placement and size of the GCV seal. The consensus of the Executive Committee was that the brochure needed design attention and review by Dale Edmondson, graphic designer.

Attendees were invited to a wine reception Monday night at the historic Paramount Theater on the downtown mall. With drinks in hand attendees toured the beautifully restored theater and watched a video introduced by Barbara Sieg that highlighted the history of the Paramount and its revival. Dutch treat dinner followed at Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar and featured a tasty spring-inspired menu.

Catherine Madden described Tuesday morning activities, “Tuesday morning arrived a little soggy, but that didn’t dissuade our intrepid group from venturing forth to first tour the fascinating home and garden of Barbara Sieg. Barbara graciously invited us inside to Flordon, which started its life as a hunting lodge in the early 1900s and was later enlarged in 1936 by noted architect Marshall Swain Wells. We also admired the formal gardens originally designed by Charles Gillette, including a charming secret garden tucked in beside the house. Then we were off to Fran and Andrew Boninti’s wonderful never-ending garden where we were amazed at the extensive and varied plant material that clearly demonstrates a passion for horticulture and a really green thumb.”

Prior to the afternoon meeting, lunch was served at the Boar’s Head where member club presidents dined with their Directors at Large in the Patio Room while others met up with new friends and old in the Hearth and Arbor rooms.

Garden Club of Virginia President Ann Gordon Evans called the 93rd Annual Meeting to order Tuesday afternoon. She remarked, “The Annual Meeting gives us the opportunity to review the year’s activities, to learn of future plans and events of the GCV, to review financial information and, as the bylaws state, to elect future leadership.” She reminded attendees, “to reflect on accomplishments in your club as you hear the many accomplishments of the work of GCV committees,” and to continue to focus on the GCV’s mission to restore historic gardens, to conserve Virginia's natural resources, to inspire a love of gardening and to provide education for our members and the general public.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay described a new brochure, “GCV’s 93-Year Investment: Changing the Landscape of Virginia” that addresses current needs, our development mission and ways to give. The addition of response envelopes in the March Journal with a first-time article about development helped increase the number of March and April donations by 69%.

Nominations Committee Chairman Kim Nash presented the following slate, approved by the Board of Directors at its January meeting, to serve as Directors at Large 2013-2015: District 2: DeLane Porter, Dolley Madison Garden Club; District 5: Lynn Gas, the Hunting Creek Garden Club; and District 6: Susan Wight, the Princess Anne Garden Club. With no nominations from the floor, the slate was approved as presented.

Admissions Committee Chairman Martha Moore introduced two new Honorary Members of the Garden Club of Virginia.  Frank Robinson was proposed by the Boxwood Garden Club and seconded by the Tuckahoe Garden Club. Nancy Ross Hugo was proposed by the Three Chopt Garden Club and seconded by the Ashland Garden Club. Read more.

Horticulture Committee Chairman announced 2013 Horticulture Awards of Merit: Katherine Beale, Harborfront Garden Club; Cecilia Brown, The Garden Club of Gloucester; Molly Brown (Mrs. Dirck Brown), The Blue Ridge Garden Club; Romayne Byrum, The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Meg French, The Virginia Beach Garden Club; Beth Holt, the Princess Anne Garden Club; Mercer O’Hara, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck; Dianne Pfizenmayer, the Augusta Garden Club; Joyce Rice, Roanoke Valley Garden Club; and Kay Wray, The Petersburg Garden Club.

Two announcements were "hot off the press." Symposium Committee Liaison Nina Mustard announced that Terry Buntrock of the Williamsburg Garden Club has accepted Ann Gordon Evans’ invitation to serve as chairman of the next GCV Symposium, to be held in Colonial Williamsburg in late January or early February of 2015 at the Williamsburg Lodge. Misti Spong, also of the Williamsburg Garden Club, will serve as Terry’s co-chairman. Invitations have been extended to Nancy Campbell (first lady of Colonial Williamsburg) and Helen Reveley (first lady of William & Mary) to serve as honorary co-chairmen. And acting Journal Editor Jeanette Cadwallender also announced that Karla MacKimmie of the Warrenton Garden Club will assume the job of Journal Editor after this meeting.

Following announcements, the meeting was adjourned for the evening.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held in the ballroom Tuesday evening. Attendees were thrilled to be serenaded by the Virginia Gentlemen during cocktails, especially with their rendition of The Good Old Song.

President Ann Gordon reconvened the Annual Meeting Wednesday morning and congratulated award winners.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported on landscaping work at the Kent-Valentine House. Broken limbs were removed from two trees and, after much discussion and evaluations from several arborists, it was determined that the west front magnolia needed to be removed for safety reasons. Because the original deed and historic easement agreement stipulates that two magnolias will always be in the front of the KVH, a suitable replacement was sought. A beautiful new tree was planted the very next day. She continued, “Brick work on the rear wall and First Street wall was completed; graffiti was removed; the slate path was redone and set in concrete; a taller, screening fence replaced the old, dilapidated one on the west property line, and the lawn was rejuvenated with compost and grass seed. We thank Will Rieley & Associates and the Restoration Committee for helping with most of the exterior work.” Donations to the house included a tea cup collection, silver pieces and flower arranging.

Renee Grisham introduced speaker Sam Abell, noted National Geographic photographer, author and artist. He shared his “Seeing Gardens” slide presentation and his guiding words throughout his career, “compose the picture and wait," adding that sometimes the wait was short and sometimes very long! He also revealed that his two favorite places to make photographs are Tolstoy’s estate in Russia and "just about any place in Virginia." Tolstoy’s garden is a garden with all native Russian plants and is a joy to be in. Virginia has a wealth of gardens and plants to photograph, from interesting places on the University of Virginia grounds to a special spot away from the crowds.

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The “spouses included” summer Board retreat was held in Lynchburg July 12-14, 2013. Friday evening began with Dutch treat cocktails and dinner at Oakwood Country Club.

President Ann Gordon Evans called the Board of Directors Meeting to order Saturday morning and welcomed new Board members. Following her remarks, she read a note from the Garden Club of America thanking the Garden Club of Virginia for the gift to the GCA 100th anniversary project.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin and First Vice President Jeanette Cadwallender met with Keep Virginia Beautiful Director Mike Baum to discuss that organization’s mission. Lynn distributed handouts describing the history and mission of Keep Virginia Beautiful with a description of its planned 60th Anniversary activities. Discussion followed and the board voted enthusiastically to support Keep Virginia Beautiful in its 60th anniversary celebration efforts.

Lynn next provided an update of GCV involvement with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and its advocacy role as the voice for business in Virginia. It is developing a statewide economic development plan and gathering data from all areas of Virginia as it engages partners and stakeholders. The plan will be completed in time to be shared with the governor-elect in November 2013 and is designed to ensure Virginia's economic prosperity through at least two gubernatorial terms. Lynn and Meg Clement interviewed Barry DuVal during the Long-Range Plan Focus Groups’ activities and were invited to join the Blueprint Virginia effort as a stakeholder and to participate in the Quality of Life Council discussions. Lynn reported that she, along with Ann Gordon Evans, Catherine Whitham, Meg Clement and Jeanette Cadwallender, attended a presentation about Blueprint Virginia in May. She distributed a letter from Mr. Duval describing the Blueprint Virginia initiative and discussion followed. The Board enthusiastically supported the GCV’s participation, asking Lynn to represent GCV at the upcoming discussions and to keep the Board informed of its activities.

Finally, Lynn reported on meeting with Karen Miller and Elizabeth McLaughlin, researcher at Virginia Tourism, about a partnership to conduct a small survey that would lead to a broader discussion of an economic impact study for GCV as a whole. Elizabeth was interested in both aspects of a partnership and offered to look at the HGW guests who bought tickets through Eventbrite online ticketing. She explained that they were very interested in what she called the "cultural tourist" and how they spent their time and money while attending an event in the Commonwealth. Lynn presented highlights of the survey results:

Previous proposals to change the descriptions of the GCV Conservation Fund and to clarify donations to Restoration were validated by committees and were approved by the Board as follows:

The Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Fund: Established in 2007, the Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Fund is designated for long-term growth to fund the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award on an annual basis and other Club conservation projects.

Restoration: Along with the proceeds from Historic Garden Week, donations will be used for the restoration of historic gardens open to the public throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay described the newly created Green Arrow Society, a group of loyal members and friends who are supporting the GCV’s future with planned gifts.

Admissions Committee Liaison Betsy Worthington reported that Anne Cross met with Karen Lange to discuss involvement of a club in New Kent County with GCV that might lead to GCV membership. Karen was interested in the idea of having the Ashland Garden Club mentor them. Anne suggested they consider getting some members from eastern Hanover, Mechanicsville, and Old Church. Betsy reported that some of the ladies in the area had supported Ashland Garden Club tours for Historic Garden Week with houses and hostesses, and Anne thinks there is room for growth in these areas.

Lynn McCashin reported on Kent-Valentine House exterior maintenance work: Painting has been completed on the soffits and columns and the bannisters are in the process of being painted; second-floor windows have been repaired; copper downspouts have been replaced with aluminum look-alikes; and columns on the sunporch have been stripped and will be repainted. These renovations depleted the 2012-2013 budget for these purposes and further projects will come under the new budget.

Symposium Committee Liaison Nina Mustard reported that Nancy Campbell and Helen Reveley, Williamsburg’s two First Ladies, have accepted an invitation to serve as Honorary Co-Chairmen for the 2015 Symposium, to be held February 2- 4, 2015, at the Williamsburg Lodge.

Following announcements, the meeting was adjourned.

While board members were meeting at Poplar Forest, spouses spent the morning touring the D-Day Memorial, followed by a Dutch treat lunch at Liberty Station. They then joined Board members mid-afternoon for a guided tour of Poplar Forest. Cocktails followed at the Miller-Claytor House Garden in Riverside Park, recipient of the 2012 GCV Common Wealth Award, and the Dutch treat dinner at Main Street Eatery.

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The 94th Board of Governors Meeting was hosted by the Garden Club of Danville on October 15-17, 2013, at the Comfort Inn, chaired by Anne Foster and Sue Lea. Read A Bit of History: The Garden Club of Danville written by club member Nan Freed for the Board of Governors brochure. Photos

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, October 15, 2013, for lunch at Santanas, followed by the business meeting. First on the agenda was a review of actions taken at an Executive Committee meeting that was held August 8, 2013, at the Kent-Valentine House. At that meeting, Ann Gordon introduced graphic designer Dale Edmondson, who reviewed the GCV graphic standards, including the proper use of the GCV logo and seal. He described the logo as the visual representation or, “the face of GCV.” It is a dynamic feature, not permanent, and could be changed at some time in the future. On the other hand, he said the seal represents the history, charter and legacy of the Garden Club of Virginia. It is static, permanent and constant. Dale was asked to draft a design that combines the GCV seal and the GCV mission statement. He was also asked to give the Virginia Historical Society the GCV logo for the VHS Digitization project and to communicate the appropriate use of the logo. Meg Clement and Margaret Bemiss will ask the VHS to replace the GCV seal with the GCV logo. Brief business discussions followed, and the Executive Committee meeting was adjourned.

After review, the Board of Directors approved minutes of previous meetings and moved on to current business. Financial discussions revealed member club confusion in reporting HGW income and expenses to the IRS. The Finance Committee agreed to develop guidelines for financial reporting and to clarify insurance coverage. The following statement was added to Policies and Procedures for member clubs, “Membership in the Garden Club of Virginia does not entitle member clubs to use the employer identification number (EIN) assigned by the IRS to the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported the irony that, in the past, the staff supported the efforts of the KVH Committee as it ran the operations of the house, but now the KVH Committee supports the staff that runs the house. She then recommended changes to the committee: eliminate KVH treasurer; eliminate maintenance; add hostess; change accessions to interiors; and hire a historic preservation interior designer when decorative changes are to be made. She reported plans to obtain estimates for the cost of the furniture appraisal with those costs to be incorporated into the 2014-2015 budget. Finally, she reported that the kitchen is in need of renovation.

A recap provided by District 3 Director at Large Candy Carden, the Garden Club of the Northern Neck, described the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning activities,

"Later in the afternoon we boarded lovely buses to what would be a magical evening for Boots and BBQ down on the farm, the Gentry Farm, for a toe-tapping, finger-licking good time with plenty of cheer to keep the GCV chatter at a roar. The Danville girls’ magical powers did not stop there; they have husbands extraordinaire! These charming men served us wine, beer and punch then performed a Broadway-worthy production, “We Got This,” that was over the top. They even gave us a new name -- GDGCV, which I am sure stands for Great Dames of the Garden Club of Virginia!

"Wednesday morning came early but our buses were awaiting and off for a tour of Danville. 'The Wreck of the Old 97' on your right, the city of churches surrounded our buses and the loveliest homes provided us a view of old Danville but "the future" was at our first stop -- IALR, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The future indeed! Propagation, breeding, tissue cultures and words I cannot spell, much less pronounce, but it was truly where education is growing in forms that allow us to see the future for Danville and the world.

"Our next stop brought us to the loveliest rose garden at the Museum of Fine Arts and History at the Sutherlin Mansion which we could tour, followed by a delicious lunch. This magnificent mansion was the last capital of the Confederacy and a GCV Restoration site.

"Finally, time to get down to business. We were all sincerely happy to see Ann Gordon who greeted us warmly, as usual, and Jo Silvers, the president of the Garden Club of Danville who officially welcomed us as if we did not already feel welcomed!"

President Ann Gordon Evans called the Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday afternoon and welcomed attendees. Executive Director Lynn McCashin presented a comprehensive review of GCV graphic standards. Read report.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin reported on the GCV interest-bearing operating accounting and the money market account and reported that GCV keeps Annual Fund monies from our last fiscal year in the money market account to use in meeting the operating needs of this current fiscal year. She then presented a clear description of GCV investments.

The GCV has funds that are managed and invested by Investment Management of Virginia with adherence to the GCV investment policy. The GCV no longer has a separate Investment Committee, so the responsibility for the oversight of these investments is handled by the Finance Committee. The members of the Finance Committee receive quarterly reports from IMVA and meet with them once a year to review our accounts. With the consolidation of our accounts, we found that we no longer had a need for the SEED Fund and the Board voted to move these funds at the fiscal year end into our GCV Endowment Fund.

We now have the GCV Endowment Fund, the GCV Conservation Fund and the Common Wealth Award Fund. The monies in these three funds are pooled for investment purposes, along with two restricted donations: a Symposia Fund and the Kent-Valentine House Fund.

Restoration has a separate investment account that is managed by Darrell & King in Charlottesville. Again, the Finance Committee receives quarterly reports from Darrell & King and meets with them once a year to review our account. The funds in this account are the proceeds from Historic Garden Week, in addition to donations, and are invested for use on current and future Restoration projects.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay noted the “very handsome Green Arrow cards” placed at each attendee’s seat to describe a planned-giving program. She discussed continuing efforts to obtain sponsorships for GCV events and announced that Bartlett Tree Experts would be a sponsor for Historic Garden Week for the upcoming two years. Finally, she thanked attendees for exceeding the Annual Fund goal and singled out those clubs with outstanding participation.

The Lynchburg Garden Club president, May May Gay, gave a progress update on her club’s project at the Historic Miller Claytor House Garden Restoration in Riverside Park, recipient of the 2012 Common Wealth Award. She added, "Thanks to the Common Wealth Award, the Lynchburg Garden Club was able to breathe life back into the garden as well as Riverside Park! The house and garden have become an active venue for community events and private celebrations. This project has ignited a rediscovery and rejuvenation of Lynchburg’s Riverside Park.”

Historian and Custodian of Records Penny Dart announced an upcoming meeting for club historians at the Kent-Valentine House on November 13, 2013, with speaker Lee Shepard of the Virginia Historical Society.

The Gentrys, familiar to attendees following Tuesday night’s Boots and Barbeque at the Gentrys' Farm, hosted attendees again Wednesday night, this time at their fabulous city home for cocktails. Then, a short ride to the Danville Golf Club where the dining room was shimmering with candles, beautiful tables and a delicious dinner, with the Danville husbands serving wine. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2013 Common Wealth Award winner, the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club for its project at the Chatham Manor Garden, a historic home and garden in Stafford County. The award check in the amount of $6,500 will be used to restore and maintain the formal gardens designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman in the early 1920s and to repair statuary. The second-place award was presented to the Princess Anne Garden Club for its native plant landscaping project and exhibit updates at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

Thursday reports included a presentation by landscape architect Will Rieley, who described how old techniques are used in modern landscapes; updates from Centennial Chairman Anne Cross and Long-Range Planning Chairman Catherine Whitham; an announcement that Albemarle Garden Club garnered the win for the ugliest plant in the ugliest container; and finally, a delightful presentation by guest speaker Dr. Charles Stallard, President of the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens, whose mission is, “To develop garden projects in a way that will allow local citizens to collaborate with us in their creation.” His organization is seeking partnerships with communities and organizations throughout this region. Dr. Stallard is a passionate gardener, educator, writer, fundraiser and an enthusiastic salesman. He is actively promoting a gardening lifestyle for everyone and public green spaces for every community.

On behalf of the Garden Club of Virginia, President Ann Gordon expressed thanks to Jo Silvers and the members of the Garden Club of Danville for hosting the 94th Board of Governors Meeting, chaired by Anne Foster and Sue Lea. She also thanked the members of Gabriella Garden Club for the box lunches and the Chatham Garden Club for the lovely flower arrangements throughout the hotel.

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The Garden Club of Virginia Board of Directors met January 16, 2014, at the Kent-Valentine House.

First on the agenda was a recap of a December 16, 2013, Executive Committee meeting at which a new member orientation video was viewed and approved as presented.

Following review of the Executive Committee minutes, Ann Gordon reviewed the spring schedule of events: Legislative Day, January 27, at Center Stage in Richmond; New Member Orientations in January and February, held in each of the six districts; Daffodil Show, April 1 and 2, hosted by the Little Garden Club of Winchester; Historic Garden Week, April 26 through May 3; Annual Meeting, May 13-15, hosted by Leesburg Garden Club; Horticulture Field Day, May 21 at Pharsalia in Nelson County, the farm of GCV member Foxie Morgan, The Lynchburg Garden Club; and Lily Show, hosted by the Spotswood Garden Club, June 18-19.

She thanked Board members for their loyal service and closed with, “Our friendships will last a lifetime.”

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that job descriptions for the officers, Board and committee chairmen were being updated to conform to a consistent outline with words that incorporate current staffing and the working relationships and revised to reflect the results of the strategic plan and ongoing long-range planning.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin reported the best audit ever with Dixon Hughes Goodman.

Admissions Committee Chairman Martha Moore reported on plans for New Member Orientations to be held in January and February 2014, including format, guest lists, activities and speakers. Ann Gordon invited GCV committee chairmen to attend and speak at each event. A new video created by Missy Janes and Martha Moore, viewed by Board members will be featured at each of the orientations. Watch video.

Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Committee Chairman Julie Grover reported that the James River Garden Club has accepted the GCV’s invitation to host the Centennial 2020 Annual Meeting.

Julie proposed several changes to the Planning Guide for Hosting Annual or Board of Governors Meeting, primarily related to A/V needs at future meetings and clarification concerning awards banquet arrangements. Funding for A/V needs was sent to the Finance Committee for discussion.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay reported the completion of major objectives as follows:

• Planned giving society established, introduced at the BOG in October 2013 and featured for the first time in the Journal
• Secured two years of corporate support for the Conservation Forum
• Secured HGW’s first corporate sponsorship, providing funding through 2015, and meeting organizational goals including the ability to secure vital economic impact analysis
• Raised funds to help augment GCV’s constituency base through a first-time appeal to HGW attendees via the Guidebook. This move is meant to enhance future Annual Fund revenue and to provide a first-time connection to HGW attendees in-between events
• Published a successful Year in Review edition with a first time Treasurer’s report that lays the foundation for GCV’s case for planned giving
• Created and implemented Development webpages
• Printed presentation materials and distributed them (GCV’s 93-Year Investment brochure)
• Enhanced stewardship by implementing handwritten note/calls to every single GCV donor in 2013-2014; increased AF income by 16% within a 12-month period
• Created sponsorship guidelines to be included in the GCV’s Gift Acceptance Policy.

She then introduced Guidelines for GCV Sponsorship that were approved as an addendum to the GCV’s Gift Acceptance Policy. 

The Board approved a motion of behalf of the Finance Committee Chairman to draw 4% from the Commonwealth Award Fund and the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Fund for awards and 4% from the Symposium Fund.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported that two French 17th-century chairs were presented to the Garden Club of Virginia by the Estate of Mavis Bayles. The needlepoint covering the chairs was created by the Royal School of Needlework from a 17th-century pattern and completed by Mavis. The chairs are currently housed in the Executive Director's office.

She also reported a large number of donations to the GCV Library, currently being cataloged by committee member Anne Cross.

Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham and Matt Thornhill from the Boomer Project, joined the Board meeting following lunch. Catherine introduced Matt, Director of the Boomer Project, a generational think tank. He talked about the generation dynamics the Garden Club of Virginia should be aware of as it plans for the future and suggested the overarching question for GCV is, "Who should we be targeting as new members?" The demographic trend is a coming-of-age shift. Therefore, GCV should plan for older members but expect more competition for new younger members. Societally, prospective members are looking more for self-purpose than organizational purpose. Culturally, they are looking for significance more than success. They ask, “Why are you doing it?” and then need to know the how.

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The 94th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Leesburg Garden Club at the Belmont Country Club May 13-15, 2014, co-chaired by Jill Beach and Kate Williams.

The Board of Directors attended a luncheon at Belmont Country Club’s Lee Mansion prior to the Board meeting at Fairfax Hunt Board Room.

President Ann Gordon welcomed Board members and thanked them for their hard work, their devotion to the Garden Club of Virginia and, most of all, their loyal support, saying that she "treasured every moment of my service with you." She then presented each Board member with a lovely gift, a unique Nancy Thomas painting depicting their birth month.

Tribute to Ann Gordon

Prior to the Board meeting, First Vice President Jeanette Cadwallender had given each member a slip of paper with a descriptive adjective. Each member inserted her adjective at the appropriate time during Jeanette’s tribute that follows:

“I’m not certain of the miles she put on her car during her term but, for many of them, Rusty was her capable chauffeur. We have a small present for Rusty as the official GCV chauffeur.

“In describing Ann Gordon, I would use the following adjectives: tall, blonde, organized, dynamic, consistent, good listener, capable and also, steadfast, loyal, strong, soft-spoken, attractive, courageous, graceful, smart, patient and thorough. These two years have been ones of good work for our organization. You all know that our vision remains strong and our programming supportive of what our mission says. This doesn’t happen by accident. Ann Gordon has reminded us of these important points all along the way. I’m grateful for her leadership.

“Why did you join your garden club and why did you stay? These were her questions to each of us two years ago in Williamsburg. Well, each of us has a slightly different answer to these questions, but all of us are glad we’ve stayed and gotten to work with YOU, Ann Gordon. You have shown us the value of these friendships we treasure in the Garden Club of Virginia.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to present this token of our appreciation to you.”

She then presented Ann Gordon with a beautiful, engraved crystal bowl from Tiffany’s.

Ann Gordon introduced Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham. Catherine reviewed the work of her committee that began in 2012, “listening to various constituencies within the GCV about the direction the organization should take over the next five years and changes that need to be addressed.

Catherine then reported on her committee’s work in bringing a final recommendation for a centennial project to the Board of Directors -- a partnership with Virginia State Parks. In January 2014, Director of Virginia State Parks Joe Elton met with several LRP Committee members to explore an unusual partnership opportunity. He was well prepared to speak about the GCV’s long association with Virginia State Parks and outlined a proposal whereby GCV could make a significant impact at the state level while meeting the parameters of the centennial project. He presented a compelling case for the GCV to support new interactive exhibits in visitor centers that are being designed to tell the story of the natural world and the cultural history of each specific park. The GCV would be a partner with other groups to see these exhibits come together. While the monetary contribution has not been determined, the GCV would be recognized on the donor panel for those exhibits we support.

Catherine then presented additional key initiatives: Funding a graduate research scholarship in environmental studies at a Virginia college or university and endorsing the presentation of a gift to each club (to be determined) to beautify their own communities in commemoration of the centennial of the GCV. On behalf of the Long-Range Planning Committee, Jeanette Cadwallender presented three motions that passed without objection.

• that the GCV partner with Virginia State Parks to support interactive exhibits in visitor centers that are being designed specifically to tell the story of the natural world and the cultural history of each specific park.
• that the GCV fund a graduate level research scholarship in environmental studies at a Virginia college or university.
• that the GCV give to each GCV club a gift to enhance the beautification of their community in commemoration of the centennial.

Lynn reported improvements to KVH internet service and replacement of an ancient boiler and furnace. She spent two days at Charleston’s Festival of Homes and Gardens, meeting with the foundation’s president and marketing director. They do not have a ready membership which produces the tours, but rather recruit volunteers from the community, many of whom have served for 10 to 20 years. Attendance averages 15,000 visitors. The marketing office works with the College of Charleston Tourism Analysis office to conduct an economic impact study every year because of the competition for tourism and advertising dollars.

First Vice President Jeanette Cadwallender reported that she met with incoming Board members and committee chairmen in early April to discuss some initiatives and to learn about Board roles and responsibilities. She also reported a meeting with Nelson Lankford of the Virginia Historical Society to discuss a GCV 2020 VHS exhibit. She and Deedy Bumgardner will attend a ceremony on May 12 to transfer Natural Bridge from the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund to the state of Virginia as our newest state park.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin presented definitions for GCV funds and the wording for Restoration donations to be given to auditors. She then reviewed the complete budget that was approved by the Board.

Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Chairman Julie Grover reported changes to the Planning Guide for Hosting the Annual or Board of Governors Meeting (revised April 2014), “The spouse of the award recipient will be the guest of the GCV; other family members must pay for their own dinner.” Julie then provided financial reports from Annual Meeting and Board of Governors meetings during her term.

A meeting of the Conservation and Beautification Committee was held on January 26 to discuss issues involving legislation that centered mainly upon clean water, recurring flooding, and plastic bags. Leighton Powell of Scenic Virginia spoke to the committee about various legislative issues, as well as the lower James viewshed and fracking. It was the sense of the committee that the GCV should develop a position on fracking in the near future, and the committee has repeatedly discussed the usefulness of spearheading a grassroots effort to control the use of plastic bags.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay described Annual Fund growth in its five years of existence and the resulting impact on GCV finances. She outlined strategic plans that will culminate with recommendations to the Board regarding capital campaign planning in advance of 2020.

On behalf of the Rose Committee, Flower Shows Committee Chairman Bettie Guthrie moved that the GCV Board of Directors approve a perpetual award given by Dolley Madison Garden Club in honor of Bernice Walker for Section II, Challenge Classes, Class 26-Hi-Lo Challenge. The Board approved the award, to be given for the first time at the 2014 Rose Show.

Attendees boarded trolleys Tuesday evening from Lansdowne Resort for a Dutch treat dinner at Murray Hill, the lovely home of Peggy and John Rust. The glorious evening on the Potomac was highlighted by delicious Italian cuisine and Italian opera.

Wednesday morning tours included a visit to Oatlands Plantation and its spectacular gardens, or a self-guided walking tour of the historic town. Lunch followed at Belmont Country Club’s Lee Mansion where Directors at Large met with presidents from their districts.

President Ann Gordon Evans called the Annual Meeting to order Wednesday afternoon and introduced Leesburg president June Hambrick who welcomed attendees.

Ann Gordon remarked that the Annual Meeting gives us the opportunity to review the year’s activities, to learn of future plans and events of the GCV, to review financial information, and, as the bylaws state, to elect future leadership. We look forward to these two days as we hear annual reports and as we give thought to plans for 2014-2016.

Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham reported that after quite a bit of research, she was pleased to announce a centennial project that the Board approved unanimously yesterday. After relating a remarkable story, Catherine announced a partnership with Virginia State Parks -- a partnership to strengthen visitors' experiences and support implementation of innovative technology in visitor centers. She continued that Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton had outlined an unusual partnership opportunity whereby the GCV can make a significant impact while meeting the parameters of the centennial project -- visibility at state level; involvement at club level; and incorporating conservation, education, and beautification. Catherine then introduced Mr. Elton who narrated a video that revealed the power of interactive technology and explained how a partnership with the GCV can make such a difference.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin provided a comprehensive report, first describing the results of a spring 2013 survey of online HGW ticket buyers that showed this group was mostly female, from Virginia and across the country, age 55-70 with income of $100K or more. Typical spending was $132 per day or $1200 if here for more than one day. They are incredibly loyal, love the gardens a little more than the houses and are appreciative supporters. Lynn pointed out that the information was used to leverage transportation, forge new partnerships, secure parking and to show city officials how member clubs and Historic Garden Week help the local economy.

Treasurer Anne Baldwin provided a detailed financial update on operating accounts and investments. She then provided a condensed version of the 12-page annual budget.

She pointed out that membership dues, Annual Fund donations and Historic Garden Week proceeds are carried forward from the previous year. The Finance Committee and the Board of Directors approve a draw from the Endowment if additional funds are needed to balance the budget. She explained that higher than usual program expenses should be offset by Symposium revenue. The budget was approved as presented.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay asked the questions, “What is the Annual Fund doing for GCV? How is it being used? What has changed since it was established five years ago?” She answered all three questions with one answer, “A LOT.”

She explained that gifts to the Annual Fund strengthen the GCV network of 47 clubs in a fundamental way by underwriting statewide operations and keeping dues low; by helping defray expenditure for clubs hosting flower shows and meetings; supporting excellent GCV programming like Horticulture Field Day, Symposium and Flower Arranging School; by enhancing our ability to educate and communicate with one another and our Virginia communities; by adding professional resources to aid a tireless volunteer workforce; and by enriching this union of 47 clubs and developing a culture of philanthropy on which to build. She closed with, “Historic Garden Week is part of what we do together for Virginia. The Annual Fund is part of what we do to support one another.”

Executive Director Lynn McCashin noted that wear and tear on the Kent-Valentine House kitchen from increased usage has necessitated the replacement of the icemaker and that other appliances, cabinets and floor are not far behind. Preliminary plans for remodeling the kitchen are in the works but were temporarily put on hold when an aging heating system and boiler had to be replaced. Major rugs are being sent out for repair and cleaning on a rotating basis. Several of our larger rugs need to be replaced.

Lynn then announced that the Huntington Garden Club under the leadership of Lynn Hutchens has donated a pair of 19th-century Chinese vases fashioned into table lamps in honor of their member and Garden Club of Virginia President Ann Gordon Evans. The lamps are displayed in the Georgian parlor at the KVH.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Dianne Spence announced 2014 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Tyra Freed, Hampton Roads; Kris Lloyd, Hillside; Wanda Russo, Elizabeth River; Dorothy Tompkins, Albemarle; Judie Wine, Spotswood; and Mary Queitzsch Zocchi, Dolley Madison.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Kathryn Knopf announced two finalists for the 2014 award, to be presented at the 2014 fall Board of Governors meeting: The Ashland Garden Club for the Ashland Train Station-Ashland/Hanover Visitors Center and the four Richmond garden clubs for Capital Trees for Canal Walk at Great Shiplock Park.

Historian and Custodian of Records Penny Dart reported that 22 club historians gathered in November 2013 to hear Lee Shepard, Vice President of Collections at the Virginia Historical Society, present a program entitled, “Putting Your Historical House in Order.” He stressed the importance of using archival materials, of making hard copies to back up digital records and of the importance of correct storage of materials.

Admissions Committee Chairman Martha Moore described three primary objectives during her term: to review and propose GCV Honorary Members; to address any inquiries about membership for potential new clubs; and to plan and organize six New Member Orientations. Mission accomplished! Nancy Ross Hugo and Frank Robinson became Honorary Members of the Garden Club of Virginia in 2013, inquiries were fielded from clubs with potential for GCV membership, and the six New Member Orientations were a resounding success serving 150 new members and 170 “seasoned” members. The orientations were welcoming and exposed the newest GCV members to the many resources and offerings of our statewide organization. Dedicated GCV committee chairmen attended and described the nuts and bolts of the organization. The orientations were enhanced by hands-on activities that included flower arranging demonstrations, horticulture lessons, website demonstrations, seed stations, conservation information and even a costumed plant sleuth who explained the joys of learning about plants, sharing them in their clubs and learning what special plants are in their friends' gardens. A new video was created, thanks to the creativity and talent of Missy Janes from Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club, who tirelessly interviewed, edited and created the video, “GCV: A Legacy of Purpose; an Atmosphere of Pride.”

The meeting was adjourned for the day and attendees boarded trolleys for the awards banquet in the Grand Ballroom at Belmont Country Club.

The Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award was presented to Albemarle Garden Club for Interpreting the Bog Garden: Where Conservation, Horticulture and Civic Projects Meet.

The Annual Meeting continued Thursday morning with the reports of the Directors at Large, followed by the presentation of the 2014-2016 slate of officers by Nominations Committee Chairman Kim Nash. There being no nominations from the floor, the slate was approved as presented.

President Ann Gordon Evans, unable to stay at the meeting for the remaining reports, came forward with closing remarks that were accompanied by a slide presentation.

She described her presidency as the experience of a lifetime and thanked members, staff and former GCV Presidents for their loyal support.

Throughout her two years as president, Ann Gordon often asked the question, “What would Virginia look like without the efforts of the Garden Club of Virginia?” She remarked that, thanks to your efforts, the GCV continues to make its mark all over the Commonwealth with the restoration of public historic properties.

Adding that she would soon join former GCV Presidents on the front row, she introduced Jeanette Rowe Cadwallender and said, "Seven years ago at this very meeting, the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia, held in Newport News and hosted by our sister club, the Hampton Roads Garden Club, Jeanette and I entered the beautifully decorated banquet hall at Christopher Newport University looking like twins." She expressed indebtedness to Jeanette for fulfilling her GCV obligations, speaking to the clubs, attending GCV events and committee meetings and, all the time, “keeping me fully up-to-date during the fall of 2013.” She then passed the gavel to the 48th President of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Jeanette thanked Ann Gordon for her kind introduction and added, “Thank you for keeping our club on a steady course -- remaining true to our mission. We have heard such great reports in the past two days that reflect the vibrancy of our organization. Ann Gordon, your steadfastness, bravery and courage in what has been a challenging year have been exemplary.”

Speaker Cate Magnesia Wyatt, president of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, gave a compelling presentation about a 180-mile-long by 150-mile-wide swath of land that stretches from Monticello to Gettysburg. Not only is it a land of beauty but a land of leadership, a land of conflict and reunification. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the unparalleled history of the region.

Jeanette closed by saying, "It is a true reflection of the Garden Club of Virginia that our centennial project is one of future action and not a monument to our past achievements. As important as how we commemorate our past is how we move into our next century and, as any gardener knows, the cultivation begins now." She declared the 94th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia adjourned.

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Chairman Anne Beals, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

The Board of Directors approved the following Uranium Mining Position Statement at its Board meeting on July 21, 2012.

“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. The Garden Club of Virginia supports the continuation of the moratorium on uranium mining until the Commonwealth is assured that the mining can be done safely, and that financial resources are available to fund a sufficiently long-term regulatory oversight system to conserve and protect Virginia’s natural resources.”

The Conservation Workshop, “Conservation in Virginia,” was held at the Kent-Valentine House on September 24, 2012. Club conservation chairmen and presidents learned how the uranium issue will be treated politically, and how to effectively communicate with our elected representatives on the topic.

The 2012 Conservation Forum, “Pesticides and Our Health,” was held on November 12 at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center, chaired by Chamie Valentine. On the evening prior to the forum, speakers were invited for dinner at the Kent-Valentine House.

Legislative Day was held January 28, 2013, chaired by Betsy Agelasto. Read GCV approved positions on 2013 legislative issues.

The first ever joint workshop of the Conservation and Beautification Committee and the Horticulture Committee was held on September 23, 2013, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, was a huge success. The event was chaired by Zan Thomas, representing the Conservation and Beautification Committee, and Dorothy Tompkins, representing the Horticulture Committee. Attendance approached 170 and speakers Cole Burrell, garden designer and award-winning author, and Kevin Heffernan, Virginia Natural Heritage Stewardship Biologist, presented lively programs with slides that made a lasting impression on the audience. Dorothy coordinated a display of invasive native and non-native plants in the Virginia garden, and members of the Horticulture Committee were on hand to answer questions and give advice.

The Conservation Forum was held October 30, 2013, at Montalto in Charlottesville. “Adapting to Climate Change in Virginia” was chaired by Anne Irving and Tuckie Westfall. Bay Disposal and Recycling generously sponsored this forum and the 2014 forum with a gift of $10,000.

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Chairman Bettie Guthrie, The Petersburg Garden Club

The 70th annual GCV Lily Show was hosted June 20-21, 2012 by the Garden Club of Fairfax, co-chaired by Anna Fortune and Tricia Kincheloe, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke. Washington Post garden editor Adrian Higgins interviewed Tricia and published an outstanding article with photos in the Post’s Local Living section. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held September 18, 2012, at the University of Richmond’s Robins Pavilion with featured designer Tasha Tobin. Nearly 300 attendees enjoyed Tasha’s down-to-earth approach to flower arranging, her container techniques and, most of all, her humor. The recipient of the Elizabeth A.M. Booker Cup was Teggie Smith, Hunting Creek Garden Club. Photos

The 74th Annual GCV Rose Show was hosted October 3-4, 2012, by the Boxwood Garden Club in Richmond, co-chaired by Molly Hood and Ann Sanders. Photos

A Lily Workshop was held November 7, 2012, at the Kent-Valentine House and featured Marianne Casey, Second Vice President of the North American Lily Society, who provided useful information about growing, showing, holding lilies for a show, and types of lilies that grow best in Virginia.

Artistic Judging School was held March 4, 2013, at the Kent-Valentine House, led by Julia Clevett.

The 79th Annual GCV Daffodil Show was hosted by the Garden Club of Gloucester at Ware Neck Academy on March 27-28, 2013, co-chaired by Petie Matheson and Betty Barr Ould. Daffodil Chairman Lucy Rhame reported, ''that despite the fact that Old Man Winter tried to wreak havoc on our spring this year by blanketing the countryside of Virginia with snow, the show went on with 115 exhibitors displaying 1211 stems."

The 71st Annual GCV Lily Show was hosted on June 19-20, 2013, by the Spotswood Garden Club at the Skyline Middle School, co-chaired by Sandy Hodge and Joyce Overby, who reported 47 InterClub artistic arrangements, 65 horticulture exhibitors and 328 horticulture stems. Photos

The 75th Annual GCV Rose Show was hosted on October 2-3, 2013, by the Boxwood Garden Club at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Molly Hood and Ann Sanders co-chaired the event and reported 47 InterClub arrangements, 36 horticulture exhibitors, 69 arrangements and 229 stems of horticulture. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held October 25, 2013 at the University of Richmond's Jepson Center and featured Jane Godshalk, AIFD. Jane holds certificates in floral design in Europe and the United States. She is an artistic judge for the Garden Club of America and has received the GCA National Medal for "consistently innovative floral design." The American Horticultural Society has awarded her the Frances Jones Poetker Award for outstanding contributions to floral design education. She was a presenter for the 2011 World Association of Flower Arrangers Show in Boston and is currently on the faculty of Longwood Gardens in their floral design program. It's no surprise that Flower Arranging School attracted 300+ attendees. Photos

A Judges' Workshop was held on March 21, 2014, and featured Julia Clevett on point scoring.

The 80th Annual GCV Daffodil Show was hosted April 1-2, 2014, by the Little Garden Club of Winchester at Millwood Station. Co-chairmen Diane Kelly and Susie Oliver reported 491 stems entered by 71 exhibitors and seven club collections, in spite of a seemingly endless cold and severe winter. Photos

A Lily Workshop, previously scheduled for March 5, 2014, was postposed to April because of snowstorms. A slide presentation, “More Than You Need To Know about Lilies,” was followed by discussions and included critter-control suggestions.

Miscellaneous Flower Shows News

• 52 Lily pedestals were reduced in height from 52" to 42" and 11" square tops replaced with 12" tops to be uniform with the Daffodil and Rose pedestals. Each pedestal was caulked, primed and painted.
• 9000 new award cards were ordered with price reduced from $2.00 to $0.31 each, without compromising the quality of the cards.
• New pewter award cups were order with price reduced from $42.95 to $32.00 each, without compromising the quality of the cups.
• A new cabinet and shelving were purchased to organize the inventory of award cards, registration cards, pewter award cups, and numerous other items.
• Fifty 6’ tables and two 5’ round table were purchased for use by the three flower shows, eliminating the use of rentals.
• Cloth bags with GCV logos were purchased, to be used at all flower shows for transporting silver.
• Two sets of GCV table cloths with logo were ordered, and used for the first time at the 2014 Daffodil Show in Winchester.
• Committee members worked diligently to review, edit and organize flower shows records dating back to 1934.
• Responsibility for Daffodil and Lily collection orders was handed over to member clubs.
• Daffodil Committee Chairman Lucy Rhame distributed an American Daffodil Society CD, “Growing and Showing Daffodils,” to member clubs.
• Sets of two award risers (4' x 24") were donated for each of the three flower shows.
• President Ann Gordon Evans, Executive Director Lynn McCashin and Flower Shows Chairman Bettie Guthrie visited Hilldrup Moving and Storage to survey the huge amount of space being used by the Garden Club of Virginia for flower shows properties.

The GCV Annabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award

In 2012, the GCV InterClub Artistic Award was renamed the GCV Annabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award in memory of Annabel Josephs, deceased former GCV First Vice President. The trophy is awarded to the member club accumulating the greatest number of award points in the Artistic InterClub Class within the past year.

Annabel Josephs’ daughters, Johanna Carrington and Sarah Hellewell, were on hand at the 2013 Annual Meeting to present the 2013 award to tied recipients, the Dolley Madison Garden Club and the Martinsville Garden Club.

The 2014 GCV Annabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award was presented to clubs in a four-way tie: the Garden Club of Danville, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club, the Garden Club of Gloucester, and Rivanna Garden Club.

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2013 Tour Chairman Anne Geddy Cross, The Ashland Garden Club

2014 Tour Chairman Alice Martin, The Petersburg Garden Club

Historic Garden Week celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2013, and what a celebration it was. The Guidebook was produced in-house and featured Tuckahoe Plantation on the cover. Publicity included coverage in Southern Living, Early American Home, Flower Magazine, US Airways inflight magazine, Virginia Living, Virginia Sportsman and the Boxwood Journal, among others. Veritas Winery created a special label wine, and GCV’s Restoration sites offered special events throughout the week. The anniversary tour was Historic Garden Week’s most financially successful in its 80-year history grossing over $1 million. 2013 Guidebook

The 2014 Guidebook cover featured the Anne Spencer Garden in Lynchburg, the retreat of the famed poet and gardener and twice the recipient of the Garden Club of Virginia’s Common Wealth Award. The tour was a huge success, despite significant rain affecting more than a third of the tours. Excellent publicity played a big part in this success. Coverage included Southern Living, Virginia Living, New York Times, Washington Post, numerous local newspapers, and a great interview with MayLily Lee on WVTF with Karen Miller, Sue Thompson and Peter Hatch. The Guidebook was a huge hit with a new size, better organized content using icons instead of redundant verbiage, color coordinating and a pull-out map to help plan itineraries. Online sales increased by $13,000 in 2014. 2014 Guidebook

The first GCV Boot Camp, aka “The Insider’s Guide Comes to Life,” was held August 20-21, 2013 in preparation for HGW in 2014. Fifty-eight attendees from member clubs, representing 26 out of 31 tours, walked into the Kent-Valentine House to find agendas and information sheets sticking out of wonderful Slogger boots, setting the tone for an informative and fun two days. Karen Miller and London Ray started things off with a plethora of useful information, former tour chairmen offered helpful hints, Will Rieley talked about the importance of GCV restorations, and attendees were offered an opportunity to tour historic Wilton House and gardens. Special guests included Anne Howard Spencer, daughter-in-law of the poet Anne Spencer, and her daughter Shaun Spencer-Hester.

The HGW marketing meeting was held on October 24 for 2014 tour chairmen, co-chairmen and publicity chairmen.

HGW Economic Impact

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported at the 2014 Annual Meeting that a Virginia Tourism 2013 survey of online ticket buyers showed that this group was mostly female, from Virginia and all across the country, age 55-70 with income over $100K or more. Typical spending was $132 per day or $1200 if here for more than one day. The group is incredibly loyal and loves the gardens a little more than the houses. This information was a huge resource for all tours and tour chairmen. The data was scooped up at Boot Camp and used all over the state to leverage transportation, forge new partnerships, secure parking and show city officials how member clubs and HGW help the local economy. The numbers are important and impressive.

Buoyed by this experience and financially supported by a Bartlett Tree Experts partnership, the GCV has  embarked on a truly comprehensive study of Historic Garden Week and its economic impact on Virginia. Chmura Economics and Analytics, a highly respected firm, has been hired to develop the survey instruments and crunch the numbers. Several methods of data gathering are being used, including person-to-person interviews, electronic surveys and even old-fashioned pen and paper surveys. GCV wants to have a number that reflects not only the spending of visitors and homeowners, but also what the implications are for businesses and for jobs. This, combined with basic HGW expense from the local and state level, should provide a broad and descriptive picture.

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Chairman Dianne Spence, The Williamsburg Garden Club

2012 Horticulture Field Day was held May 23-24 and featured James River gardens in Richmond, from Tuckahoe to Maymont, with a variety of garden styles including stately Gillette gardens and relatively new ones, never before open to the public. Wednesday afternoon tours included Sue and Tad Thompson’s Tuckahoe Plantation and the gardens of Ann and Charles Reed, Carol and Ted Price, and Susan and Edwin Estes. An optional Dutch treat dinner was offered Wednesday night. Thursday morning tours included the gardens of Peggy and Henry Valentine, Lissy and Stewart Bryan, Anne and Roger Boeve, and Maymont. Photos

A Horticulture Workshop was held on October 15, 2012, at the Kent-Valentine House and featured Julia Clevett, who led a workshop on judging club horticulture exhibits from berried branches to flowers. Photos

The horticulture exhibit at the 2012 fall Board of Governors was “Edible Flowers in the Garden,” along with a recipe using the flowers which were then collected into Edible Flower Recipes. Photos

2013 Annual Meeting exhibit featured companion plants, based on the concept that some garden plants work well together to provide a mutual benefit while others do not work well together. Photos and  Journal article

2013 Horticulture Field Day was held June 5-6, 2013, in Virginia Beach. “Gardeners in their Gardens -- The Pearl Homes of Virginia Beach” featured gardens that have earned the Lynnhaven River NOW designation of a Pearl Home which meets conservation and preservation criteria. The event was a huge success; the weather was perfect and the gardens were breathtaking. Photos

The first ever joint workshop of the Conservation and Beautification Committee and the Horticulture Committee was held on September 23, 2013, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden highlighting native and not-native invasive plants. The event was chaired by Zan Thomas, representing the Conservation and Beautification Committee, and Dorothy Tompkins, representing the Horticulture Committee. Attendance approached 170, and speakers Cole Burrell, garden designer and award-winning author, and Kevin Heffernan, Virginia Natural Heritage Stewardship biologist, presented lively programs with slides that made a lasting impression on the audience. Dorothy coordinated a display of invasive native and non-native plants in the Virginia garden, and members of the Horticulture Committee were on hand to answer questions and give advice. Photos

The 2013 Board of Governors horticulture featured native and non-native invasive plants, continuing the theme of the September joint workshop and the September Journal article. Just for fun, the committee threw in the requirement that it be exhibited in the ugliest container they could find. “Ugly Plants in an Ugly Container” was a bit hit with attendees who voted for the ugliest exhibit. Albemarle Garden Club was the grand winner and received a copy of Cole Burrell’s book, Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants. Photos

The 2014 Annual Meeting exhibit featured an exhibit of pollinators. Photos and Journal article

Looking forward, Foxie Morgan invited the Horticulture Committee to visit Pharsalia to consider hosting 2014 Horticulture Field Day at the 200-year-old family farm in Nelson County. The committee enthusiastically agreed and set the date for May 21, 2014. Planning began immediately and the event was open for registration in the weeks leading up to the 2014 Annual Meeting when nearly 300 members had signed up to attend.

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Chairman Catherine Whitham, Three Chopt Garden Club

At her first Board of Directors meeting in 2012, President Ann Gordon Evans stressed the importance of thinking and planning long range, saying, “the Garden Club of Virginia Centennial in 2020 provides an opportunity to unveil our future while celebrating our past.” She announced the creation of a Long-Range Planning Committee with Catherine Whitham to serve as chairman of the committee.

The Long-Range Planning Committee began gathering information from the membership about what the GCV will be best known for and how we can make a difference in the Commonwealth. To that end, focus groups met in each of the six GCV districts, as well as with the Board, Former GCV Presidents and staff to seek observations and insights. The committee also developed questions for a special external focus group of local business leaders and heads of selected local and statewide organizations to see how aware they are of the GCV and its work across the Commonwealth. In April, the committee conducted an electronic survey for all GCV members.

Preliminary findings revealed there is considerable interest to support a statewide project to commemorate the Centennial and, disappointingly, that the GCV is not well known outside the membership.

The committee engaged Katherine Whitney with Warren Whitney, a management consulting firm specializing in non-profits, to begin a yearlong process of developing a Centennial Vision 2020 that will coincide with the end of Ann Gordon's term. The yearlong process will involve conversations with GCV leadership, staff and various key stakeholders, such as club presidents and committee chairmen, some of which has already begun.

Throughout the fall of 2013 and winter of 2014, workshops and conversations took place. Katherine led spirited discussions with GCV club presidents that resulted in numerous possibilities for a capstone project.

The committee spent much of the fall analyzing the possibilities to determine which projects or combinations are most viable and will produce the most visible impact for the GCV. The committee also expanded its vision and talked with local and state officials who might provide ideas for a capstone project that was not considered by members.

The committee reviewed comments from the 2013 survey about changing demographics and the “world view” of our younger members. In order to better understand the impact that changing demographics are having on GCV membership, the Long-Range Planning Committee engaged Matt Thornhill, Director of the Boomer Project in Richmond, who gave a short presentation to the Board on Directors talking about demographic, societal and cultural trends and how an organization like the GCV needs to position itself for the future.

At the 2014 spring Annual Meeting, Long-Range Planning Committee Chairman Catherine Whitham was pleased to announce the Board-approved centennial project, but before revealing the project, Catherine read the following:

“This is a story of Connections. Who would have thought that the state organization with whom we recommend a partnership would be one with which the GCV already had an 80-year history? Furthermore, who would have remembered that in the 1960s the late FitzGerald Bemiss, husband of Margaret and Honorary member of the GCV, would chair the Virginia Outdoor Recreation Study Commission, which created the blueprint for managing this state organization today? And finally, could we have imagined that the director of this state organization already knew the GCV well, having worked with members of the Princess Anne Garden Club on the acclaimed First Landing State Park project in Virginia Beach? Astonishing connections were coming together in a serendipitous way. What is this state organization? It is the Virginia State Parks.”

The Long-Range Planning Committee proposed a partnership with Virginia State Parks to strengthen visitors' experiences and support implementation of innovative technology in visitor centers to introduce a new generation of Virginians to the rich natural and cultural history of our Commonwealth. Catherine introduced Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton who narrated a video explaining how GCV can make a difference.

Catherine continued, “This recommendation, however, represents only the second half of the work of the committee over the course of 2012-2014. The first year was spent listening to various constituencies within the GCV about the direction the organization should take over the next five years and changes that need to be addressed."

She concluded, “The strategic directions developed in 2006 have, for the most part, been accomplished. New strategic directions must be developed if the GCV is to grow toward its Centennial celebration and beyond.”

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Chairman Sally Guy Brown, The Alexandria Garden Club

The Restoration Committee had a busy summer in 2012 with visits to Danville, Roanoke and Lynchburg, and liaison and delegation visits to Mount Vernon, Oatlands, Woodlawn, Monticello (new gardener), Moses Myers House (new gardener), Poe Museum in Richmond, the Reynolds Estate in Critz and Blandford Church in Petersburg.

Summer and fall restoration work included tree removal at Fincastle Presbyterian Church; replanting a failed bed and planting a screen at the Beale Garden at Holllins University; replacing boxwoods at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library; replacing the worn-out summerhouse and arbors at the Grace Arents Garden in Richmond; maintenance at the Mary Washington House garden in Fredericksburg; Christ Church in Lancaster and Poplar Forest in Lynchburg. Poplar Forest work continued with the mulberry plantings, the clumps, and the carriage turnaround; as well as constructing new entrance gates. Digitization of records continued.

By fall of 2012, the Restoration Committee was wrapping up at the Historic Henry Country Court House in Martinsville, John Handley High School in Winchester and the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Green Spring in Fairfax County. New walkways were installed at Hampden-Sydney College’s “Birthplace” historic site, and plantings were underway.

Restoration Committee Chairman Sally Guy Brown announced approval for two new restoration projects: restoration of the Melchers' original 1920s tree planting design on the western side of Belmont; and restoration of Jefferson’s original mountaintop roadway system and viewshed, the “Kitchen Road Project.”

Work was set to begin at the Poe Museum, and upcoming projects included the  the restoration of George Washington’s wilderness plantings at Mount Vernon.

Committee member Candy Crosby chaired a successful Maintenance Workshop at the Kent-Valentine House in February, where lectures were led by Will Rieley, Jack Gary, Peggy Cornett, and Peggy Singlemann.

After careful deliberation and discussion with the National Trust in Washington, a mutual decision was made to release Woodlawn from their contract with GCV. The original GCV garden designed by Alden Hopkins had been overplanted with vegetables under their new mission to grow organic food for local restaurants and residents.

Summer and fall Restoration Committee visits included the Portsmouth Courthouse, Moses Myers House garden, and Ker Place on the Eastern Shore to see those landscapes which we have restored over the years and our recent additions to that work.

The Restoration Committee endorsed the removal of the boxwoods in the carriage turnaround at Poplar Forest.

The Garden Club of Virginia was honored by Belmont on September 29, 2013. Belmont director David Berreth applauded the work of the GCV and led attendees on a tour of the house and studio. Belmont horticulturist Beate Jenson then led a tour of the gardens. The lovely event was followed by a tented dinner at the home of Kitty Lee and Ben Wafle.

In December, the GCV was honored for their work at Poplar Forest with a reception and celebrated the plantings of the clumps for all to see just as they had been when Jefferson designed and planted them more than 200 years ago.

Chairman Sally Guy Brown reported at the 2014 Annual Meeting, “We are beginning work on the restoration of Jefferson’s original mountaintop landscape and kitchen road at Monticello. We are nearing completion of the restoration of the original Jeffersonian landscape at Poplar Forest. In December, there was a celebration of the planting of the tree clumps in the exact location that Jefferson planted them 200 years ago. We have completed the planting and restoration of the Beatrix Farrand garden at Green Spring. We have begun work on the charming garden rooms at the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond. The City of Martinsville’s portion of the Historic Henry County Courthouse project is nearing completion, and we are excited about the completion of this centerpiece project for Uptown Martinsville. These are just some of the projects we are working on.”

She then introduced Will Rieley, the official landscape architect for the Garden Club of Virginia since 1998, saying, “he has the uncanny ability to work well with more than three thousand ladies.”

Will Rieley gave an interesting PowerPoint presentation highlighting GCV work -- mysteries solved by archeology, old drawings with notes and plain old deduction.

Research Fellowships

Fellowship Committee Chairman Kim Nash reported at the 2012 Board of Governors, “Our Research Fellowship program, begun by Helen Murphy 17 years ago, has blossomed into one of our most important undertakings. The Garden Club of Virginia now awards two fellowships each year to graduate students in landscape architecture. The Rudy J. Favretti Fellow researches historic gardens held in private hands within the Commonwealth. Since 2005, the William D. Rieley Fellows have been documenting historic landscapes that are open to the public.

The 2013 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow at Carter Hall in Millwood is Megan Turner. As a graduate student at the University of Georgia, Megan is working toward her Master of Landscape Architecture degree with a Certificate in Historic Landscape Preservation. Her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin is in Anthropology. Ms. Turner received archaeology and environmental anthropology field training in both Sicily and the Solomon Islands. As the graduate assistant for the University of Georgia's Cultural Landscape Lab, she comes with experience in historic Virginia landscapes via the lab's extensive project at Stratford Hall.

Carter Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the home of Col. Nathanial Burwell, who completed the original plantation house in 1797. Both Union and Confederate armies camped on the grounds during the Civil War and the last resident Burwell descendent sold the property to Gerald Lambert in the late 1920s. Mr. Lambert, a successful entrepreneur (best known as the Listerine King), remodeled and expanded the house and engaged the Olmsted Brothers to design a complementary formal garden.

The 2013 William D. Rieley Fellow at Reynolds Homestead in Critz is Matthew Traucht. He will be graduating from the University of Minnesota this spring with his Master of Landscape Architecture degree. He earned his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. Matthew served two years in the Peace Corps in Gambia, West Africa, promoting agricultural and forestry improvements to subsistence farmers, students and NGOs. In addition to his professional background in cartographic surveying, photography and videography, Mr. Traucht also worked as an archaeologist at the Museum of New Mexico for a number of years, and briefly operated an organic farm in Tijeras, New Mexico.

The Reynolds Homestead was deeded to Virginia Tech in 1969 by Nancy Susan Reynolds. Traversed by the important Norfolk-Bristol Turnpike, the original plantation was purchased by Abraham Reynolds in 1814 and is situated at the foot of No Business Mountain, which is somewhat ironic as members of the Reynolds family established some of the most prominent businesses in the South, including Reynolds Tobacco and Reynolds Metals. The brick 1843 house has been restored to its 19th-century state, but little is known about the landscape of the time. While research may uncover heretofore unknown information, this Fellowship also provides an opportunity to interpret a historical agricultural site, which straddles the Piedmont region and the Blue Ridge Plateau.

The 2014 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow is Cheryl Miller who will be studying the gardens and grounds of Belvoir in The Plains. She has earned many academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Chicago, a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Certificate of Landscape Design from Harvard’s Landscape Institute. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s Program in Historic Preservation at Boston Architectural College. In 2013, Ms. Miller was awarded the James R. Cothran Scholarship by the Southern Garden History Society.

Over the years, Belvoir has been home to prominent businessmen and political figures, photographed by Frances Benjamin Johnston, and recently featured in "J. Edgar," starring Leonardo diCaprio. The Colonial Revival mansion was expanded to its present size in the early 1900s by Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax Harrison -- he a Southern Railway president and northern Virginia historian; she a major force in historic preservation work throughout the Commonwealth, as well as in the Garden Club of Virginia. It is timely for a study because the present gardener has been employed on the property since 1962 and is a source of a wealth of information, and Ms. Miller is uniquely qualified to research the elaborate garden. While most of the plants have been lost, the rich photographic record should be useful in reconstructing the general design framework, if not a comprehensive list of plantings. The surviving walls, pergolas, teahouse, monopteros, steps, surviving bed outlines, and landform will be interesting elements to document, evaluate and place within their historic context.

The 2014 William D. Rieley Fellow is James Carroll, a graduate of the State University of New York with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. He also holds a Certificate in Sustainable Landscape Design & Maintenance from the Queens Botanical Garden/ LaGuardia Community College, and is a Master’s of Landscape Architecture candidate at the City College of New York. Raised in New York City, he has years of experience in gardening and restoration work throughout the NYC metro area.

Mr. Carroll will document the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, the most prominent structure in Alexandria as it overlooks the seaport from atop Shuter's Hill at the head of King Street. The Olmsted Brothers Firm was intimately involved in the master plan for the grounds of the colossal memorial, which included a winding drive, an elaborate series of terraced walks, steps and retaining walls stretching from the top of the hill down to King Street. Construction of the Olmsted landscape began in earnest in 1922 and was mostly complete prior to the cornerstone dedication the following fall. Not only will Mr. Carroll be working on site in Alexandria, he will also dig through archives and correspondence at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, MA, as well as at the Library of Congress.

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We have much to celebrate today. The work of two years together has seen us challenge our traditional ways of doing things with an eye towards making the GCV relevant and successful. All committees have risen to this challenge. Listen to what has happened and how change will frame the future. In my speech to member clubs, I reminded them that we have a tendency to bow to tradition when our predecessors were cutting-edge, risk takers. “The way we’ve always done it” can be a fortress that makes it impossible for new ideas to penetrate an esteemed institution. We have shown our traditions can be enhanced with a fresh look and a critical eye.

~Jeanette Cadwallender, May 2016

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Jeanette Cadwallender held her first Board meeting and retreat with spouses on July 11-13, 2014, at Stratford Hall. Attendees enjoyed cocktails at Cheek House on Friday night, followed by casual dinner in the dining room.

The Board met Saturday at the Council House and Jeanette welcomed guest Katherine Whitney of management consulting firm Warren Whitney, who presented Shared Leadership and Communications. The discussion focused on the role of Garden club of Virginia Board members, committee chairmen and executive director.

Jeanette presented recent requests from organizations for Board consideration. The Board agreed to join the “Virginia No Child Left Inside Coalition” to encourage the governor to enact a commission on Environmental Literacy; and to be a social media partner with no expenditure for the Cultural Landscape Foundation‘s “What’s Out There Weekend Richmond” tours on October 25-26, 2014.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that Board and committee chairmen job descriptions had been updated and revised to provide a consistent structure. Staff liaison Bebe Luck, former Personnel Chairman Catherine Whitham and management consultant Katherine Whitney helped evaluate the positions.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington provided financial updates and Development Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin summarized the accomplishments of the committee in past years that focused on creating a strong Annual Fund, communication and sponsorships for GCV events -- citing the Conservation Forum, the Symposium, and most recently, Historic Garden Week as examples. She added GCV would likely need to invest in software and professional resources in moving forward.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross discussed the partnership with Virginia State Parks; a proposed exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society and related programs; publications; merchandise; gifts to GCV clubs; the Annual Meeting and special celebrations.

Corresponding Secretary Linda Consolvo suggested that an hoc committee be created to discuss how the website may better meet the needs of the membership. She also stressed the importance of member clubs keeping their websites up-to-date, and Directors at Large were asked to remind their clubs to do so. She stressed the importance of graphic standards for printed materials produced by committees, especially for events open to the public.

The Board meeting was adjourned following committee reports. Spouses returned from touring historic sites in the area and joined Board members for cocktails in the East Garden, followed by a lovely dinner in the duPont Library.

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The 95th Garden Club of Virginia Board of Governors meeting was held October 14-16 at Montpelier, hosted by Dolley Madison Garden Club and co-chaired by Pamela Hudson and Alice Smith. Photos

The Board of Directors was welcomed on Tuesday, October 14 for a tour of The Inn at Willow Grove and luncheon prior to the Board meeting.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the board meeting to order and reported, “The car and I have attended meetings of most all committees, as well as the Conservation Workshop, Flower Arranging School and Rose Show. I've delivered my inaugural ‘on tour’ speech to a tri-club meeting. I am grateful for the support that you have all shown one another by participating in events; supporting one another is one of our greatest strengths. Sandwiched in between have been meetings and phone calls related to our Centennial project, Partnership for Parks, with the Virginia Association for Parks to benefit the State Parks.”

Executive Director Lynn McCashin distributed copies of the Economic Impact Study by Chmura, and she presented a detailed slide show of the report.

Following business reports that primarily summarized reports to be presented at the Board of Governors meeting, the meeting was adjourned.

BOG attendees were invited for cocktails and Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night at the Market at Grelen. During dessert, owner Dan Grelen presented “Agritourism, Field to Feast, Open Space -- How Each Plays a Role in Virginia’s Economic Development.”

Optional tours on Wednesday morning included the Montpelier Oriental Garden or the Annie duPont Garden and Mansion and were followed by lunch at Palladio with a warm welcome from Mr. Luca Paschina of Barboursville Vineyards.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday afternoon at Montpelier’s duPont Gallery and summarized her first few months, “on the job,” attending fun and stimulating events and helping frame Partnership for Parks.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin introduced Xiaobing Shuai, Director of Research & Senior Economist at Chmura Economics and Analytics, the consulting firm selected to conduct an economic impact study of Historic Garden Week. His talk included the impact of spending by homeowners, clubs and HGW visitors. Chmura’s survey of restoration recipients showed that GCV funding was crucial to their garden restorations and, without GCV contributions, many preservation projects would remain incomplete. The respondents also stressed that a relationship with GCV has provided value in many other ways. The study estimated cumulative economic impact from 1969 to 2014 at $425 million.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington reviewed GCV accounts. Union First Market Bank in Richmond holds two accounts – an interest-bearing operating account and a money market account. The GCV Endowment Fund, the GCV Conservation Fund and the Common Wealth Award Fund are included in the Investment Management of Virginia accounts. The monies in these three funds are pooled for investment purposes along with two restricted donations -- a Symposia Fund and a Kent-Valentine House Fund. Investment funds, overseen by the Finance Committee, are managed by Investment Management of Virginia, located in Richmond, and Darrell & King, located in Charlottesville. The funds for GCV Restoration projects are managed by Darrell & King in Charlottesville. The funds in this account are the proceeds from Historic Garden Week, in addition to donations, and are invested for use on current and future Restoration projects. Betsy closed by explaining that GCV dues are to be based on dues-paying members of member clubs, replacing the term constitutional membership.

Development Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin recognized ten member clubs for outstanding contributions to the Annual Fund and followed with sponsorship updates for the 2015 Symposium and Historic Garden Week at state and local levels. She reported significant gifts to the Conservation and Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Fund from the Robert and Bessie Carter Foundation in the previous spring and the Beirne Carter Foundation in early September.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Kay Tyler reported kitchen and pantry renovation by Balustrade Construction Company are slated to begin November 2014 and completed before the spring 2015 event season. She added that donations and gifts are gratefully accepted and extended an invitation to all garden club members to consider donating appropriate furnishings and decorative items to GCV. An exquisite Limoges 12-piece dinner and serving pieces was recently given by Williamsburg resident Betty Lewis.

The Awards Committee, chaired by Katherine Knopf, was created by the Board of Directors at its summer Board meeting to incorporate the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, the Common Wealth Award, the de Lacy Gray Conservation Medal, the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation, and the Massie Medal Garden Club of Virginia Awards under one umbrella. Katherine reported that the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, the de Lacy Gray Conservation Medal, and the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation are all reviewed by one subcommittee with a conservation focus while the Common Wealth Award and the Massie Medal have their own committees with members who have strengths in those areas.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross discussed plans to partner with Virginia State Parks, the culmination of ideas presented to the Long-Range Planning Committee and shared a video highlighting the “Partnership for Parks.” She described subcommittees for the Centennial, including the partnership, VHS exhibit, publications, merchandise, club gifts and celebrations. Thirty members of the Partnership for Parks met in Richmond on September 9 with Jeanette Cadwallender, Anne Cross, Mary Bruce Glaize, Susan Robertson, Mary Anne Schmidt and Kim Nash representing the GCV. It was announced that the Governor and his wife would serve as Honorary Chairmen. Following the meeting, attendees were invited to lunch at the Executive Mansion to celebrate the partnership.

The meeting was adjourned for the day and attendees boarded buses and headed back to Montpelier for cocktails and the awards banquet. The Common Wealth Award was awarded to the Ashland Garden Club for the Ashland Train Station project in the amount of $8,500. Second place, in the amount of $4500, was awarded to the four Richmond Clubs -- the Boxwood Garden Club, the James River Garden Club, Three Chopt Garden Club and the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton for the Canal Walk in Shiplock Park.

Corresponding Secretary Linda Consolvo reported on meetings to discuss the role of the Corresponding Secretary, redefining the position to encompass communications, the website, proofreading communications and communicating with the club presidents and to discuss the website needs for HGW and Development, with interactive data retrieval for names of HGW visitors or GCV donors considered a high priority. Historic Garden Week’s new site is in progress and will enable portable device users a more easily accessible and readable site with formatting to scroll on the site for information.

A “GCV Tech Summit” held on September 10, 2014, and included James Eastman of Colophon New Media and graphic designer Dale Edmondson. The discussions included how best to build a site that will allow for growth; have a design that is current (the present site is eight years old); how to design the site to recognize that users want quick access to a topic; and how to best utilize the myriad of types of software, social media links, technologies that are available. These discussions led to the service needs of having adequate wiring for the KVH to accommodate the multiple portable devices that interfere with the staff’s computer systems.

Awards Committee Chairman Katherine Knopf congratulated 2014 Common Wealth Award recipient, the Ashland Garden Club, before introducing Rappahannock Valley Garden Club president Tricia Garner, who provided an update on Chatham Manor Gardens, recipient of the 2013 Common Wealth Award. Chatham Manor was built in 1769 and was on the first HGW tour, as well as the 2013 tour. Notable visitors over the years included George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee. The gardens were designed by landscape architects Ellen Biddle Shipman and Charles Gillette. Many of Shipman’s gardens no longer exist, making this restoration important to the many visitors to the gardens. The National Park Service acquired Chatham Manor Gardens in 1976. Prior to the 2013 tour, the gardens appeared neglected and much work was to be done to get ready for HGW. The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club partnered with Friends of Chatham and the Fredericksburg Rotary Club. The three groups continued to work together and persuaded the Park Service to provide a gardener as they continued to provide volunteers for mulching, planting bulbs and weeding. With the funds from the Common Wealth Award, 430 boxwoods were purchased and planted and the beds were mulched. The Park Service brought in specialists to plant the boxwoods and created a training video of the planting to help other Park Service staff with site preparation and planting techniques. Much work remains to be done, and the remaining funds will be used to plant trees and shrubs. She thanked the members of GCV on behalf of her club for this wonderful gift.

Following reports from the Restoration Committee and the Restoration Fellowship subcommittee, GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley presented a slide lecture on current projects Green Spring, Poplar Forest and Monticello.

Following adjournment, attendees were invited to enjoy boxed lunches at Mount Sharon, the home and garden of Mary Lou and Charles Seilheimer. The Seilheimers worked with landscape architect Charles Stick for three years to design, craft and build an impressive classical garden.

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The Board of Directors met at the Kent-Valentine House on January 22, 2015.

President Jeanette Cadwallender offered opening remarks before introducing Katherine Whitney of Warren Whitney who led a discussion on shared leadership and strategic direction for GCV. The Board approved a motion to initiate a Strategic Plan with an expected completion by January 2016. The Strategic Planning Committee will be chaired by First Vice President Nina Mustard.

Development Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin and Director of Development Karmen Gustin introduced Stuart Blain and Jack Catlett of Union First Market Bank, who provided valuable information about planned giving. The Development Committee also reported progress in obtaining HGW sponsorships and in building a list of individuals and organizations outside of the Garden Club of Virginia. Jean reported that the upcoming Symposium offers an opportunity to host sponsors at the opening reception and Reveley dinner afterward.

Lastly, Betsy reported that she, with assistance from Lynn McCashin, Kathy Knollman, Sugie Battin and Jeannette Cadwallender, is finishing up a 14-20 page manual of financial management guidelines for member club treasurers that offers suggestions on how to handle the finance, tax and insurance needs.

The Board approved a Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship as follows:

PURPOSE: The Fellowship will support research on the conservation of natural resources and/or environmental studies concerning flora, fauna or community (cultural practices) that directly impact the Commonwealth.

FUNDING: The GCV has endorsed an initial grant of $4,000 to initiate the Fellowship. We anticipate this will grow significantly once Development becomes involved.

ELIGIBLITY AND PROCESS: Undergraduate and graduate students will be eligible for the fellowship. Applications will be submitted online. GCV staff is providing support and an email address has been established for receipt of applications. Upon announcement of the Fellowship by the GCV, information will be provided to a database of all the Chairs of appropriate departments at all Virginia schools. They will then make the opportunity known to their students. The Conservation Committee would like to award the inaugural grant for research in 2015.

SELECTION: Candidates will be selected by a committee comprised of the President of the GCV, Chairman of the Conservation Committee, an at-large member of the GCV and a university faculty member in a related field.

On behalf of the Nominations Committee the following names were approved to be placed on the slate for 2015-2017 Directors at Large: District 2: Emily Reed, The Augusta Garden Club; District 5: Kate Williams, Leesburg Garden Club; and District 6: Pam Combs, The Garden Club of Norfolk.

The Board approved a motion by Anne Cross, Chairman of the Centennial Committee, to make a gift of $500,000 to the Partnership for Parks. The gift is to be made over five years in increments of $100,000 per year starting in July 2015. It will be funded from the net proceeds of Historic Garden Week. The gift has been recommended by the Finance Committee and endorsed by the Restoration Committee.

Corresponding Secretary Linda Consolvo reported that a database workshop will be held on March 5, led by Ann Heller and Nina Mustard who will present information on maintaining the database and how to produce a successful club newsletter, among other topics.

Admissions Committee Chairman Kris Carbone presented a request to the Board on behalf of the Admissions Committee that the committee be renamed the Membership Committee. Because the request requires a change to GCV bylaws, the request will be presented for a second reading at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

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The Ninety-fifth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Garden Club of Norfolk May 12-14, 2015, at the Waterside Marriott Hotel, chaired by Pam Combs and Pam Reid. Photos

The Board of Directors luncheon and meeting were held Tuesday afternoon at the Marriott. President Jeanette Cadwallender called the Board meeting to order and introduced the guest speaker, Katherine Whitney of Warren Whitney, who discussed the strategic plan, which began six weeks ago. Katherine has spoken to 41 club presidents, to date, and shared feedback from those she has heard from. The process will take another six-to-eight months with a report expected in January. She then answered questions regarding our strategic plan.

Jeanette urged Board members to remember the Annual Fund in supporting the GCV and one another, adding that the GCV needs our financial commitment. Strategic planning is the way to our future and how we operate towards and through 2020.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin provided a comprehensive list of recent and scheduled activities and events at the Kent-Valentine House, remarking that kitchen renovations had little impact, and summarized meetings with Partnership for Parks and Keep Virginia Beautiful. She also reported that recent staff evaluations had revealed a pressing need to update staff job descriptions, as well as the employee handbook.

Development Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin reported the committee has coordinated a first grant application to Virginia Wine Board for $10,000 in support of a kick-off event in the fall of 2015 for HGW’s wine industry initiative. The committee continues to work closely with Bartlett Tree Experts in developing their partnership. Key company representatives receive regular updates of GCV activities and events that take place because of their sponsorship, and those that benefit from their sponsorship, and they are often hosted by the committee members at these events to discuss our shared mission. The committee will also continue to coordinate with Partnerships For Parks and Ruth Modlin Ellett.

Karmen Gustin presented the results of the Development Committee’s research into development software. GCV fundraising efforts have outgrown simple spreadsheet record keeping and, in order to continue to grow and to be effective, need donor software. Raiser’s Edge, a BlackBaud product, was selected as the best product for the GCV and the committee endorsed this selection.

Corresponding Secretary Linda Consolvo summarized pending updates to the GCV website layout that will include links to Centennial activities.

Admissions Committee Chairman Kris Carbone reported on a meeting in March at the Kent-Valentine House with Carolyn Wilkinson from New Kent County. Carolyn is enthusiastically starting a new garden club in her area. It is the committee’s hope that we can mentor this potential club into becoming a GCV member. Carolyn has hosted at earlier Historic Garden Week tours and, more recently, worked with Ashland Garden Club members. Another conversation occurred with a garden club member from the Shenandoah Valley who plans to present the idea to her club and will reconnect with the Admissions Committee if there is any interest. And lastly, plans are underway to reach out to garden clubs in Farmville and Buchanan.

Linda Consolvo moved on behalf of the Admissions Committee that the name of the Admissions Committee be changed to the Membership Committee to better reflect their work. The motion required no second and passed without objection.

Historian and Custodian of Records Janet Rosser reported she was exploring expedient and economical methods of converting GCV archives into digital format. With digitization of the Follow the Green Arrow volumes complete, she hopes to get our Historic Garden Week Guidebooks converted as well so that they will be easily accessible.

Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Committee Chairman Betsy Casteen reported gaps in the schedule where clubs responded they could not host a meeting, primarily being too small or lacking an appropriate venue. Jeanette remarked that as a statewide club, it is important that we travel across the state to visit areas represented by GCV clubs. Consideration will be taken as to how to help smaller clubs host events and meetings.

Attendees gathered Tuesday evening for cocktails and Dutch treat dinners at the Glass Studio of the Chrysler Museum of Art. Glassblowers demonstrated their skills throughout the evening as they created an exquisite vase adorned with a dogwood branch, gifted to the Garden Club of Virginia by the Chrysler Museum and the Garden Club of Norfolk in honor of its Centennial.

Wednesday morning activities included a tour of the Norfolk Zoo led by Marie Butler, horticulturist and landscape coordinator; a workshop at the Chrysler Museum led by Peter Breed of Orchid Classics; or a self-guided, "mini-mermaid" walking tour following the Cannonball Trail.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the meeting to order Wednesday afternoon and introduced the Garden Club of Norfolk president Gillian Cady, who offered welcoming remarks, “We have been honored to be affiliated with the GCV since 1920 and can now acknowledge that a fourth generation of GCN members is now proud to work with this great organization. Hosting this conference is the highlight of our centennial year’s celebrations. So, thank you to GCV for giving us the opportunity to host this meeting.”

Jeanette thanked attendees for their commitment in finding ways to make the old, new -- for looking at new initiatives and evaluating the way we do business, saying, “the way we’ve always done it” must be defended or changed.

Following financial reports, Treasurer Betsy Worthington noted that the GCV cash and investment accounts represent almost 80% of our assets. The remaining 20% of our assets is the Kent-Valentine House. She then presented the new Handbook for GCV Member Club Treasurers.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Alice Martin reported 2015 tour increases in ad revenue, online ticket sales and overall attendance from 2014. After providing tour details, she closed with a quote from the May/June issue of Antiques Magazine.

"Garden tours are common enough, but none on the scale of Virginia's Historic Garden Week, when volunteerism rises to the level of activism. Thirty-four hundred volunteers from garden clubs across the state come together for eight days every spring to coordinate 30+ separate tours that open some 250 of the state's most exceptional gardens and residences to the public. For the garden lover this event is an unparalleled feast. For the state's heritage it is a lifeline, as the proceeds are devoted to the preservation and restoration of historic public landscapes."

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Kay Tyler reported that the kitchen and butler’s pantry renovation, begun in early February, is nearing completion, and provided an overview of recent and scheduled interior maintenance projects. She met with Lynn McCashin, Anne Cross and librarians Virginia Cherry and Joan Pollard to discuss ways to make the library more functional and accessible for GCV members. Among their recommendations was a plan to move the library to the third floor, a proposal initially considered in May 2011 when the operations offices were moved to the second floor.

The following slate for 2015-2017 Directors at Large was presented by Nominations Committee Chairman Dianne Spence: District 2: Emily Reed, The Augusta Garden Club; District 5: Kate Williams, Leesburg Garden Club; and District 6: Pam Combs, The Garden Club of Norfolk. As there were no other nominations from the floor, a motion to approve the slate was passed.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Tuckie Westfall announced receipt of the first applications for the GCV Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship, with selection to take place on June 15. She then provided an update on the Dominion Power proposal to build towers across the James River.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Lea Shuba read a heartfelt plea for members to be more supportive of flower shows, emphasizing the committee’s hard work in making improvements to shows and in finding ways to stimulate interest. She reminded attendees that the upcoming Lily Show, to be hosted by Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club, will offer an additional horticulture schedule that does not include lilies! She then announced the Ashland Garden Club as the recipient of the 2015 Annabel Josephs Inter Club Artistic Award.

Awards Chairman Katherine Knopf announced two 2015 Common Wealth Award finalists to be voted upon in September: The Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center, submitted by the Charlottesville and Rivanna Garden Clubs, and the Discovery Museum Green Roof Top, submitted by the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club.

Journal Editor Karla MacKimmie reported that a well-attended workshop was held on an April 2. Featured speaker Bland Crowder, Executive Director of the Flora of Virginia Project and editor of Flora of Virginia presented, “When You Publish: Mission, Audiences, Quality & Feelings.” His presentation proved not only educational, but also humorous, as Karla noted, “Perhaps the title of Mr. Crowder’s column in Virginia Living magazine, ‘Odd Dominion,’ best exemplifies his sense of humor."

Attendees gathered Wednesday evening for cocktails and the awards banquet in the Hampton Roads Ballroom.

The Bessie Bocock Carter Award for Conservation was awarded to The Mill Mountain Garden Club for their Scoop the Poop project.

On Thursday morning the guest speaker, Christine Morris of the Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Cities Project was introduced. She presented a slide lecture featuring selected resilient cities and how cities can adapt to the many stresses they face. Sixty-seven cities have been selected globally with another 33 to be named, enabling those cites to be eligible for funding. The city of Norfolk has water in places it has never had water before, and she discussed the focus on coastal, economic and neighborhood resilience in the face of rising sea levels.

Garden Club of Virginia landscape architect Will Rieley followed with a presentation on the agreements between Garden Club of Virginia and restoration properties regarding maintenance, lighting and guidelines that must be agreed upon.

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The “spouses included” weekend retreat was held at Fort Lewis Lodge in Millboro on July 17-19, 2015. Attendees gathered Friday evening for cocktails in the pavilion, followed by dinner in the dining room.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the meeting to order Saturday morning and welcomed guest Katherine Whitney for a strategic planning discussion. Katherine presented a draft plan that included key focus areas -- member clubs, Centennial, governance, programs and communication.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross provided a comprehensive update on plans for an exhibition at Virginia Historical Society, estimated to cost $40,000. The VHS will assign a staff member to this project in the summer of 2016. By 2017, the GCV Exhibits Committee headed by Johanna Catron and including Heidi James, Janet Rosser, Elizabeth Bickford and Margaret Bemiss, will determine the themes of the exhibition and issue a call to the membership for items for the exhibition. The call for exhibition items itself could be a prelude to the 2020 Celebration. Unofficially the themes emerging are obvious -- conservation, restoration, beautification and exceptional women making a difference. The working title mentioned by the VHS president at our first meeting is “Virginia: A Landscape Saved.”

Anne then presented developments with the Partnership for Parks, noting that the GCV collaboration with two agencies – the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Association for Parks presents complications. She addressed confusion concerning the overall cost of the Partnership for Parks project, explaining the GCV is committed to only $500,000. The GCV has hired part-time consultant Ruth Ellett to guide the partnership in putting together a credible campaign at the grassroots level. Anne then gave status reports from individual parks requesting funds. She concluded by saying, thus far, the partnership has been guided by the letter of intent signed by Jeanette Cadwallender and then Director of State Parks Joe Elton when we informed them of the GCV pledge. Now we are working with Clyde Cristman, Director of DCR; new Director of State Parks Craig Seaver; consultant Ruth Ellett and Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward to ensure success of the collaboration.

The Historic Garden Week Committee proposed a statewide advertising opportunity to partner with Virginia wineries during HGW 2016. The proposal was supported by references to numerous individual tour partnerships with local wineries in past HGW Guidebooks. Director of Development Karmen Gustin collaborated with Laurie Aldrich, Executive Director of the Virginia Wine Association, and submitted a $10,000 grant request to the Virginia Wine Marketing Board. The grant was fully funded. In the meantime, two member clubs shared strong objections to the partnership. Following a lengthy and difficult Board discussion, a decision was made to cancel the partnership.

The Development Committee met on June 2 at KVH. Ruth Modlin Ellett, fundraising consultant for the Partnership for Parks, was introduced. She framed the campaign phases for this public/private statewide partnership. The Development Committee has decided to put off any capital fundraising for GCV until the results of the Strategic Planning Committee are complete. The committee also decided that member club donations to the Annual Fund would no longer be compared competitively. Committee chairman Jean Gilpin reported an increase in Annual Fund giving, even though member club giving has decreased. Karmen made a presentation to HGW’s Boot Camp on how to secure and manage tour sponsorships. She composed a chapter for inclusion in HGW’s Insider’s Guide publication, which addresses how clubs might handle quid pro quo contributions. New guidelines specify that clubs seeking sponsorships over $5,000 must work with Karmen to coordinate the request. The change has sparked discussions with member clubs but, thus far, she has received requests from four tours seeking support.

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation will host an exhibition entitled "In the Pursuit of Useful Knowledge: Clayton, Catesby, and the Natural History of Virginia" at Jamestown Settlement for six weeks, beginning November 2016. The Foundation has requested the loan of 16 Garden Club of Virginia Catesby engravings for the exhibition. Bland Crowder, Executive Director of the Flora Virginia Project and curator of the exhibition, along with Peter Armstrong, Director of Museums for Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; Jane Hohensee, Registrar, Curatorial, for Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; and Terry Buntrock, member, Williamsburg Garden Club and Arts Coordinator for the Historic Triangle, visited the Kent-Valentine House June 4 and selected the sixteen engravings that represent native plants of the tidewater region.

The Garden Club of Virginia will be given special credit for the loan as part of the exhibition. As with past agreements of this nature, GCV staff will oversee logistics to guarantee safe handling of the art. After reviewing logistics, the Board approved a motion to lend 16 Catesby engravings to the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation for display in the museum at Jamestown Settlement as part of the museum’s exhibition.

Denise Revercomb and her husband graciously hosted attendees for cocktails and dinner at their lovely cabin retreat in Millboro on Saturday night. An optional trip to Douthat State Park was offered on Sunday.

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The 2015 fall Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Martinsville Garden Club on October 13-15, 2015, at the New College Institute, co-chaired by Nancy Moore and Sue Rosser. Photos

The Board of Directors met Tuesday afternoon for lunch at the home of Susan and Will Pannill, followed by the meeting at the Hampton Inn.

Lynn McCashin reported that the UCI Road World Championships took place in Richmond on September 19-27, 2015, and left the staff feeling disconnected, as the Kent-Valentine House was closed due to parking and traffic restrictions. She added that a search has begun for a replacement Director of Development, a job that has grown to a full-time position, stating that a Blackbaud consultant will be providing technical assistance for the Raiser’s Edge conversion in the interim.

Development Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin invited Jeanette Cadwallender, Lynn McCashin and Anne Cross to a meeting of the Development Committee on September 17 at the Kent-Valentine House for discussions, including updates to Director of Development job description; the search for Karmen’s replacement; HGW sponsorships; the recently canceled wine initiative; and Partnership for Parks. Jean was pleased to learn that Bartlett Tree Experts will once again be a state sponsor for the 2016 HGW Guidebook and state brochure, and that IMVA has agreed to sponsor the 2015 GCV Conservation Forum.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Meg Clement was pleased to report that Bartlett Trees will continue to partner with the Garden Club of Virginia, sponsoring the 2016 HGW Guidebook for the fourth consecutive year, and that Directors at Large were added to the committee to provide a stronger link between Historic Garden Week and member club presidents.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Lea Shuba reported that her committee met with upcoming flower show host clubs to address concerns, with finances being a top priority. Lea did extensive research on past show expenses and presented a comprehensive report to address the most pressing financial problems: facility rental, box lunches, judges’ dinner, printing, postage, aprons, properties and flowers. In discussing each cost area, Lea’s report offered viable solutions. Her report also included ideas for combining shows to reduce manpower requirements. Lea moved that host clubs for the Daffodil Show be given an additional $1,500, bringing the total to $5,000. After a lengthy discussion, the Board voted to expand funding to give all flower show hosts clubs an additional $1,500.

The meeting was adjourned and executive session followed.

Tuesday arrivals gathered for a lively evening of cocktails and Dutch treat dinner at Hamlet Vineyards. Optional tours on Wednesday morning included visits to Fairy Stone State Park or recent Restoration site Historic Henry County Courthouse.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the Board of Governors meeting to order Wednesday afternoon and introduced Martinsville Garden Club President Becky Farrar. Becky called upon MGC past president Lucy Wilson to "continue our welcome as only Lucy can do!"

Lucy began,

"Hello pretty ladies and you do really look great! I wish you could see what I’m seeing. Not only does the Martinsville Garden Club welcome you, but also the City of Martinsville. This city started out as a little village farming mostly tobacco, but we were successful at that with several tobacco companies. Then the founding fathers realized our many hardwood forests could provide needed lumber for building, so sawmills were started. It wasn’t long before these same men realized we could build furniture right here so a number of large furniture factories opened up. You might have read the best seller, Factory Man, which took place nearby in Bassett. Then the women wanted to work outside the home so textile mills opened. The first two items made were long johns and bloomers! But then the magic word appeared, “fleece.” If you have ever had a sweatshirt in the past, it probably was made in Martinsville, which became “the sweatshirt capital of the world.” Our former duPont plant even made the nylon for parachutes for World War II. All these things have changed now, but we are rebuilding with new companies. There is one commodity that never has changed here. It’s the intangible factor of hospitality. We’ve had it for generations so it is my hope for you that you feel welcomed and are having a good time here with us. Thank you."

Jeanette opened by repeating remarks from her visits to member clubs that describe the women who founded the GCV in 1920. "These women were intelligent, well-educated women who cared deeply about the public well-being. They found a voice that was stronger than their individual voice; they found that by working together they could improve their communities. The descendants of these women are here today."

In closing, Jeanette said, "Tomorrow has been declared Garden Club of Virginia Day in Henry County and the town of Martinsville. Tomorrow’s agenda will commence after our opening speaker, Craig Seaver, Director of Virginia State Parks, and must conclude in time for the presentation at the Historic Henry County Courthouse."

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Kay Tyler reported on maintenance projects: floor replaced in the new kitchen at no cost because incorrect adhesive was used; sporadically working ice machine repaired; chairs in third-floor meeting room reupholstered. She also reported that a Richmond Regional Energy Alliance (RREA) energy audit has been completed and shared with Taylor & Parrish for their annual walk through of buildings and grounds.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Tuckie Westfall provided updates on the Dominion Power-proposed power lines across the James River; proposals to run pipelines through the southwestern Virginia mountains, forests and private properties; and proposed development of Fones Cliffs in Richmond County. Tuckie then introduced Nikki Andresen, the first recipient of the GCV Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship, and her professor, Bonnie Brown of Virginia Commonwealth University. Nikki gave an in-depth presentation of her research on the endangered yellow pitcher plant.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Lea Shuba expressed concern about the future of GCV flower shows. A strategic planning survey of club presidents had shown tremendous support for flower arranging and artistic design, with Flower Arranging School being one of GCV’s most well-attended events. But the same survey showed very little support for flower shows, and a stunning lack of support in hosting flower shows, with high cost and lack of manpower being the biggest hurdles. Lea stated that her committee was not charged with determining the future of flower shows, but rather with ensuring the success of each one. She envisioned a bright future for flowers shows, but not without a lot of work. Her committee is working with the current flower show format, but she noted that changes had been made based on comments from members and host clubs. Lea continued, "When this club was founded almost a hundred years ago, they did not choose to name it the Conservation or Flower Arranging Club of Virginia, because it is so much more than these are. They chose to call it the Garden Club, and from there they had the vision to consider it from multiple aspects -- how to preserve gardens, restore them, glorify them and educate themselves and others about all of these aspects. This vision has produced a club that is almost unique in its appeal to women with many different interests, but all of us cherish most the fact that it gives us a place to interact with like-minded individuals. I know that not everyone sitting here is a flower arranger, but I also know that if you wish to become one, we provide you the means.”

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross read from the Richmond Times Dispatch of December 18, 1929, “Resolutions calling for the establishment of a system of State Parks and a system of State Forests and urging the 1930 General Assembly to appropriate at least $50,000 for each year of the next biennium for the park system, were adopted yesterday at a meeting of representatives of civic organizations from all parts of the Old Dominion, held in the Capitol, under the auspices of the Virginia Academy of Science, the Garden Club of Virginia and the Association of Izaak Walton League Chapters of Virginia.” She reminded attendees that the GCV Board of Directors had approved a challenge grant gift in January 2014, of $500,000 payable in increments of $100,000 over five years to the Partnership for Parks and listed the first-year applicants: Natural Bridge, Mason Neck, Caledon, Belle Isle and False Cape. She added that members of the VHS exhibition subcommittee are searching for GCV records at the Library of Virginia, the Virginia Historical Society, Alderman Library at UVA and the Kent-Valentine House. Volumes of Follow the Green Arrow have been digitalized and are available online, but those volumes do not document anything beyond 1995. The idea of updating Follow the Green Arrow is still viable, but the consideration of print versus digital remains in question. Anne requested assistance from the Development Committee to work with Jo Catron and Andrew Talkov as the exhibition outline developed over the summer to assist with writing grant applications as needed. The cost of the exhibition is estimated at $40,000.

Following business reports, attendees broke for roundtable discussions, with each attendee attending selecting two of the following:

• Membership: attracting members and categories of membership, led by Kris Carbone
• Partnering with State Parks: finding ways to get involved in local parks, led by Mary Bruce Glaize
• Technology: what works for club websites and newsletters, led by Nina Mustard

Cocktails were served Wednesday night at the home of Karen and David Jones, followed by the awards banquet at Chatmoss Country Club. The 2015 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Charlottesville and Rivanna garden clubs for their joint project: the gardens at the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center in the amount of $10,000. Second place was awarded to the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club in the amount of $4,000 for the rooftop gardens at the Discovery Museum.

The business meeting continued Thursday morning and Anne Cross introduced Craig Seaver, Director of Virginia State Parks. He spoke about the connections between Virginia State Parks and the Garden Club of Virginia and mentioned recent initiatives: President Obama's Every Kid in Every Park; Capital Campout at the Governor's residence; and a partnership with AmeriCorps to develop youth programming.

Awards Committee Chairman Katherine Knopf then introduced Buffy Bickford, president of the Ashland Garden Club, recipient of the 2014 Common Wealth Award, to give an update on their project.

“A brief history of Ashland; the train lies at the heart of the town and to its history. Ashland is a town that continues to be tied to the railroad. The original plot of land on which the town was constructed was purchased by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad (RF&P). The town of Ashland was established in 1858. Ten years later, Randolph-Macon College was moved from Boydton, Virginia, because of Ashland’s link to the RF&P. Students could travel to Ashland by train, which was an enormous advantage. Students were not the only travelers, as families, business people, horse-racing enthusiasts and others came and went via the RF&P depot in Ashland. An early wooden frame train station was constructed in 1866. Now Ashland was truly a railroad town. The new train station, a Dutch Colonial-revival structure, was designed by Ashland native son and prominent Richmond architect, W. Duncan Lee. It was built in 1922-23. Each year, the station welcomes 20,000 plus visitors to Ashland and Hanover County. The Ashland Garden club would like to thank the Garden Club of Virginia for helping us make our beloved train station so hospitable to so many.”

Buffy followed with a slide presentation that highlighted irrigation improvements, new pavers, picnic tables and benches placed along a new walkway and beds planted by Randolph-Macon student volunteers.

Katherine then introduced Carol Carter of Albemarle Garden Club, to give an update on the 2014 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award.

"Albemarle Garden Club has remained committed to the Bog Garden for more than 14 years and has made sustained progress toward our goal of a haven for wildlife and pollinators and a venue for education about rain gardens, runoff containment and the plants that thrive in “wet feet.” The BBCC Award infused new resources and energy into this ongoing effort in 2014. We have periodic workdays in the garden to work to eradicate the invasive plants, primarily English ivy and oriental bittersweet, that have taken a strong foothold. Truckloads of the bad stuff have been removed but, after many club members were laid low by poison ivy, we decided to hire help for a massive cleanup this past summer ($1100). We plan to reserve our member skills for smaller weeding projects, plant identification and planting of new native plants. We have purchased and installed large signs to identify the three distinct habitats in the garden ($1650) and interactive PlantsMap labels for many of the plants ($200). Additional interactive labels will be ordered as our plant research continues. AGC horticulture committee members are researching the individual plants to provide landscape and ecological information to load into the interactive labels. These labels, we hope, will go far in engaging visitors, especially the 'device happy' younger generation. An information kiosk is planned for inserting seasonal educational information for the casual park user to view. We have engaged a local teacher to work with us and our Master Gardener partners to develop a curriculum package that will fit the local schools' science needs ($1000). Several middle school teachers made a trip to evaluate the teaching opportunities at the Bog Garden and last week (Oct 7, 2015) 70 middle school students came to study the pH and unique microenvironment. These teachers and students also plan to participate in a workday in the spring of 2016. AGC conservation committee members are designing a pollinator hotel to install in the center of the garden. This will be a provocative educational piece, as well as being a haven for native pollinators and amphibians and a beautiful sculptural addition to the park. In a storm this summer a large, black willow tree fell down and damaged the boardwalk. The city is committed to repair and to cleaning and sealing it with ecologically safe materials. The city staff has been a wonderful partner in tree pruning and providing manpower and vehicles to carry away the invasive material when it is removed. As with any garden, it is dynamic. Some plants overtake others. We are constantly editing and learning as we improve this venue for education. The Bessie Bobock Carter Conservation Award is intended for worthy projects that are a catalyst for conservation activity and education in your communities. I urge you to identify projects and apply for this wonderful award that carries on Bessie Bocock Carter's conservation vision."

President Jeanette Cadwallender thanked the Martinsville Garden Club for their hospitality and adjourned the meeting. She then invited everyone to attend the presentation of the restoration of the historic Henry County Courthouse to the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society.

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The GCV Board of Directors met Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at the Kent-Valentine House.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the meeting to order and introduced Molly Joseph Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mrs. Ward thanked the GCV for all it does in terms of restoration and conservation across the state. She discussed her assessment of the Partnership for Parks and how best to move forward in determining how the GCV can benefit the parks with our gift. Mrs. Ward recommended dissolving the partnership with the Virginia Association for Parks. She discussed the Natural Preserves areas, as well as the proposal by Governor McAuliffe for a $140 million bond initiative for Virginia State Parks. A lengthy discussion followed, and Mrs. Ward will continue to communicate with Jeanette Cadwallender and Anne Cross.

Jeanette gave her remarks, stating that when visiting the Garden Club of Norfolk, Harborfront and the two Virginia Beach clubs recently, a fun flower-arranging demonstration was interspersed within the meeting. The topic was how to use a store-bought bouquet that may be brought to your door for a dinner party or other event. Meredith Lauter of the host club said, “All you need is a great container and some good branches.” Jeanette said she was struck by the quote as a metaphor, saying, “The GCV is that great container, our clubs and committees are the good branches.”

Executive Director Lynn McCashin expressed hope to hire a Director of Development before Historic Garden Week. Staff is now actively training online to use Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge software.

Following recommendations by Treasurer Betsy Worthington, the Board approved motions to award $12,000 for the 2016 Common Wealth Award, $4,000 for the 2016 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award and $4,000 for the 2016 Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship.

Restoration Committee Chairman Kim Nash announced that the Garden Club of America will present its Historic Preservation Medal to William D. Rieley. Since 1973, this medal has been awarded for outstanding work in the field of preservation and/or restoration of historic gardens or buildings of national importance. Past winners include the Garden Conservancy (2012), Peter Hatch (2011), Mount Vernon Ladies Association (2010), Dr. William Seale, Jr. (2004) Rudy J. Favretti (1990) and the Garden Club of Virginia (1986).

Kim presented a comprehensive report on an alarming situation at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, stating that the boxwood in the Bowknot Garden had begun to decline dramatically and, at the beginning of this year, tests for boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium, buxicola or Calonectria pseudonaviculata) came back positive. The Restoration Committee has voted to recommend the removal of all the box at the WWPL, but such action is contingent upon agreement by the owners of the property. The Board voted to send information regarding boxwood blight to all club presidents and horticulture chairmen.

Jeanette then introduced attorneys John O’Neill and Bill Gray of Hunton & Williams who provided answers to questions concerning GCV’s 501(c)(3) status. For example: How much educational programming is required to maintain status? Is there a percentage of our programming that should be open to the public? Does any advocacy with other non-profits or the legislature jeopardize our status? And do partnerships with other non-profits jeopardize our status? A lengthy discussion that allowed the attorneys to answer these questions and more. The Board was assured that GCV is well within the guidelines for maintaining its 501(c)(3) status. The attorneys recommended that GCV draft a formal agreement between GCV and member clubs addressing what is expected from member clubs regarding Historic Garden Week. They also noted that member clubs are agents of GCV and Historic Garden Week.

First Vice President Nina Mustard and Katherine Whitney presented the 2016 Strategic Plan, accompanied by a plan for implementation. The documents will be presented at the Annual Meeting in May. Katherine provided insight into her discussions with 45 club presidents to assess the needs of member clubs. On behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee, Nina moved that the GCV Board of Directors adopt the Strategic Plan 2016 as presented, with the knowledge that implementation will begin immediately with suggestions provided by the committee. The motion was seconded and passed without objection.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Lea Shuba reported that a spirited November committee meeting included an introduction to the new focus on paperless schedules and invitations, and the concept of charging for the judges' dinner, noting it was difficult for host clubs to balance their need for spending less with their ideas of hospitality. The future of flower shows was discussed and led to enthusiastic and flexible ideas for currently perceived problems. Committee members shared concerns that many of the 45 club presidents surveyed during strategic planning may have been new members who had never attended a GCV flower show.

The Membership Committee reported they continued to work with Carolyn Wilkinson to form a new club in New Kent County called Three Rivers Garden Club. The Ashland Garden Club has volunteered to mentor the club under the leadership of Janet Rosser.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington reported that auditors have again recommended that tracking Restoration project expenses be modified. These expenditures have been tracked on a total project basis and primary approval of the invoices has been by the GCV Landscape Architect William D. Rieley. The auditors have recommended that GCV require the landscape architect to provide detailed project budgets with pricing for the individual line items. This would enable the GCV to specifically track expenditures according to the individual line items as quoted and identify when the project is off budget by line item rather than in total. Anne Baldwin, Restoration Committee Treasurer, continues to address this and has begun implementing some of the procedures suggested above.

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The 96th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Garden Club of Alexandria at the Old Town Hilton on May 9-11, 2016, co-chaired by Catherine Bolton and Jennifer Kelley. Photos

The GCV Board of Directors met Monday, May 9 at the Hilton Hotel. President Jeanette Cadwallender welcomed Board members and noted accomplishments and milestones.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that data conversion for Raiser’s Edge NXT was completed in mid-April, and three staff members completed 18 hours of online training and spent two days with a data conversion specialist from Raiser’s Edge. Newly hired Director of Development Lexie Haglund begins her job on May 16.

Lynn reported the KVH Committee is discussing house appraisal (replacement vs. reproduction values) that have an impact on insurance, depending on how GCV wants to be insured. Short- and long-term maintenance and repair plans were also under review by the committee. A priority list of work will be created that will allow the Development Committee to explore funding options.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington presented the 2016-2017 budget and summarized performance of investment accounts.

She continued, “As you know, we consolidated all of the GCV accounts about eight years ago and, at the time of consolidation, we had a surplus of funds that we knew would be depleted over time. The time has come. “Our operating budget is dependent upon the income from membership dues, Annual Fund and a draw on the Endowment not to exceed 5%.

“The bottom line is that our operating expenses are increasing while our income is stagnant or decreasing. There are several possible solutions to the problem, not all of which can be addressed today, or for that matter, by the Finance Committee.” Betsy then listed some possibilities: increase our dues; increase Annual Fund donations; take a 5% draw instead of the usual 4-4 ½% draw this year to meet the proposed budget; decrease program spending; explore income-producing events such as flower shows or workshops; explore travel programs to produce income; and review staffing and salaries. The Finance Committee looked at the budget line by line, made some changes and cuts to budget requests, and voted to approve up to a 5% draw to produce a balanced budget. The proposed budget was approved by the Board as presented.

Second Vice President Anne Cross reported that a new Parks Committee has been created, to be chaired by Jeanette Cadwallender -- a result of the dissolution of the “Partnership for Parks” by Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward in January. Rather than work through the partnership with a goal of providing interactive exhibits at certain state parks, the GCV will work directly with Virginia State Parks and use our gift of $100,000 a year for five years from the proceeds of HGW to make gifts to projects at parks anywhere in the state. Clubs may bring the projects to the attention of the committee or requests may come directly from a park where there is no nearby club.

Following business reports, the meeting was adjourned.

Attendees gathered Monday night at Mount Vernon for cocktails, a tour of the gardens led by Dean Norton and Dutch treat dinner.

Tuesday morning optional tours included Green Spring Gardens.

President Jeanette Cadwallender called the Annual Meeting to order Tuesday afternoon and introduced Lisa Mountcastle, president of the Garden Club of Alexandria, who began, “Welcome! I know I'm in Alexandria but I almost want to say welcome to Seattle. It has rained nonstop here for three weeks! But we feel so lucky that the rains held off for our tour at Mount Vernon last night and again at Green Spring Gardens this morning. Mother Nature heard our prayers! We are thrilled to have you all here in Alexandria.”

Jeanette began, “The 2020 vision that is guiding us towards our Centennial celebration is not simply a way to celebrate who we have been as a club since 1920, but establishing the club we will be for our next 100 years. In no way does this diminish the work we do. We remain guided by a very strong mission statement, ‘to celebrate the beauty of the land, to conserve the gifts of nature, and to challenge future generations to build upon this heritage’. I remain grateful to all of you, the members of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that Lexie Haglund has been hired as Director of Development and will begin on May 16. Lexie has been a Development Officer with St. John’s College, Santa Fe campus. She has served as a database manager, has experience with Raiser’s Edge and will be able to lead us going forward. Three staff have cross-trained on basic elements of Raiser’s Edge, which included 18 hours of online training. Lynn was pleased to report that data conversion to the new system was completed in April.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington noted in the budget that dues income shows little change from year-to-year as dues have remained at $40 per member since 2008. This year, we had a nice surprise -- ‐an unexpected profit of $10,400 from the GCV trip to India. In addition, the Finance Committee and Board approved a draw of up to 5% from the Endowment fund to provide the additional funds needed to produce a balanced budget.

Jeanette then called on former President Helen Murphy who gave a lovely tribute to Virginia Guild, GCV President 1990-1992.

Chairman of the Development Committee Jean Gilpin was asked to explain where money goes when someone contributes to the Annual Fund. Her report follows:

"I want to talk for a moment about our Annual Fund. Our spring appeal for the 2015-­‐2016 campaign will be in your mailbox soon. I was asked recently to explain where your money goes when you contribute to the Annual Fund. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to respond.

"The Annual Fund supports our operating budget. But what does that mean? It means that member clubs who are hosting flower shows receive financial support from GCV. It means that member clubs who are hosting Board of Governor and Annual Meetings receive support from GCV. It means that cost overruns from programs and workshops are covered by GCV. It means that we are able to continue communicating with our members through our website, as well as through our exceptional publications, the Handbook, the Journal and the Year in Review. It means that ongoing preservation and maintenance of Kent-Valentine House is made possible through help from the Annual Fund. It means that GCV has not had to raise dues to member clubs for nina years. In addition, we have a staff that relieves the pressure on our members. They handle the details, the registrations, the day-today operations. They make it possible for us to have the time to do what we love to do -- restoration projects, gardening, horticulture and conservation events, and flower arranging. The Annual Fund contributes to all of this, and more. It helps to protect our Endowment and ensure that Garden Club of Virginia will be strong and viable for the next generation of leaders in our Commonwealth.

"I urge you to take this message back to your clubs, and to consider making a gift before our fiscal year ends on June 30."

Jean then announced that in an effort to get to know our supporters on a more personal level, the GCV Board of Directors is hosting an appreciation reception to honor our major donors. This event, A Toast to You, will take place at the Kent-Valentine House on May 22, 2016.

First Vice President Nina Mustard presented the Strategic Plan and discussed implementation.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Meg Clement reported preliminary figures were unavailable before describing three issues that have potential impact on HGW in a changing world.

First, a recent study conducted by researchers from Decide Smart and Richmond’s Future revealed that those communities encouraging outdoor and healthy lifestyle activities -- hiking, biking, gardening -- increase a region’s strength economically and culturally more than ever before. She was pleased that three 2016 tours encouraged biking as a means of transportation.

Secondly, she noted that our 2014 economic impact study revealed that our visitors enjoy patronizing restaurants and cultural attractions in our local communities. Nineteen restaurants advertised in the 2016 Guidebook, and numerous ads in local brochures were a source of income for local tours.

Finally, she said that every residence on the Virginia Beach 2016 tour was a Lynnhaven River Pearl Home, an award that reflects the homeowners’ commitment to protecting the Lynnhaven River watershed by utilizing rain barrels, native plants, composting grass and leaves and limiting the use of fertilizers.

She concluded by saying that HGW relevancy in local communities is more pronounced than ever before and that HGW staff and committee will continue to work hard to stay connected to these and other trends, encouraging clubs to do the same.

Restoration Committee Chairman Kim Nash began with brief summaries of major Restoration projects completed in the past year by the Garden Club of Virginia, notably the restoration of the grounds of the Historic Henry County Courthouse and the Kitchen Road project at Monticello.

She added that at its March 2016 meeting, in response to a request from the Director of the Executive Mansion, the Restoration Committee authorized Mr. Rieley to design a simple, welcoming garden to include commemorative information celebrating those who lived there and worked at the mansion during the governorship of David Campbell of Abingdon (1837-1840). It is to be called the Valentine-Jackson Garden because of letters which were discovered from two of the slaves who lived there to their families back in Southwest Virginia. Mr. Rieley’s reinterpretation of an original Gillette plan was a special gift from the Garden Club of Virginia. The work was carried out by the staff at the Executive Mansion, and the Restoration Committee will not be responsible for its oversight.

On Monday, the GCV Board of Directors voted to release Historic Saint Luke’s from its obligations as a restoration of the Garden Club of Virginia. Kim remarked,

"This lamentable decision has been a long time coming. We were honored to work with the property to create a parklike setting to protect the nation’s only surviving original Gothic building from the encroachment of the 21st century. However, it has become clear that the expectations of the Garden Club of Virginia and church board’s plans for the property have diverged beyond any hope of reasonable realignment. The delegation from the Restoration Committee who met with the representatives of the administration of St. Luke’s recognized our discussion as cordial, frank and levelheaded. We applaud the positive enthusiasm of the board of Historic St. Luke’s but understand that they have no wish to be constrained by the agreement signed with us in 2006. In sum, all recognized that the time had come for us to part ways. Historic St. Luke’s assured us that they would continue to support the local GCV clubs as they assume full responsibility for the stewardship of this important site.”

The Research Fellowship subcommittee selected two outstanding sites for research and documentation for the 2016 program. The William D. Rieley site was Westover Plantation where research had been initiated by a 2015 fellow. The committee agreed that the wealth of material there provided potential for further research which should be continued. Eyre Hall, in Northumberland County on the Eastern Shore, was selected as the Rudy J. Favretti site. Unfortunately, when the subcommittee met to evaluate applications, it was decided that the particular strengths of the applicants did not adequately lend themselves to the needs of the properties. Therefore, the committee will focus its attention on the Historic Research Fellowship program for 2017.

Kim then introduced GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley, who presented a slideshow featuring an overview of all restoration projects since 1929, which includes more than fifty projects.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross repeated the Strategic Plan goal, “to create a celebration which is visible and lasting; is statewide in its nature; unites member clubs and garners statewide publicity,” and reminded attendees that the Centennial will be a multifaceted celebration with an exhibition at the prestigious VHS and a publication about the Garden Club of Virginia and its work, nationally known speakers, parties and events -- as well as the $500,000 gift to Virginia State Parks.

The awards banquet was held Tuesday evening in the beautiful Potomac Ballroom.

Business reports continued Wednesday morning. Nina Mustard presented an overview of the new website and explained the importance of responsive website design in viewing the site from mobile devices and in finding information using Google search engines.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Beth DeBergh announced recipients of the 2016 Horticulture Award of Merit: Nancy Dickerson, The Princess Anne Garden Club; Tamara Gibson, The Spotswood Garden Club; Janet Hickman, Hillside Garden Club; Missy Janes, The Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club; Helen Junkin, The Princess Anne Garden Club; Linda Patten, the Elizabeth River Garden Club; Ann Reamy, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club; and Casey Rice, Harborfront Garden Club.

Chairman of the Nominations Committee Dianne Spence presented the 2016-2018 slate of officers.

Tribute to Jeanette

Jeanette's two years as GCV president were marked with astonishing accomplishments.

Under her leadership, major initiatives were outlined for a Centennial celebration that supported our mission and honored our history with Virginia State Parks; the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship was created; the Conservation Educator Award was established; the 2016 Strategic Plan was adopted; a new, responsive design website was launched; "Admissions" became "Membership," to reflect a stronger focus on members; orientations welcomed new members and steps were taken to nurture a potential new member club; staff policies and procedures were formalized; host clubs were encouraged to streamline procedures and received increased financial support; Raiser’s Edge development software was implemented; and three Restoration projects were presented.

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Chairman Tuckie Westfall, The Garden Club of Alexandria

A Conservation Workshop, “Thinking Outside the Bag,” was held at the Kent-Valentine House on September 29, 2014. The workshop was chaired by Elizabeth Christeller and included a virtual flower show presented by Peyton Wells; Pearl Homes by Tina Minter and Wendy Vaughn; A to Z Green Guide by Sarah Hellewell; and Go Native, Grow Native by Jane Pawlukiewicz. Photos

The 56th Conservation Forum, “Trees: Virginia’s Remarkable Renewable Resource” was held on November 12, 2014, at Old Dominion University. Forum chairman, Anne Beals, who has a lifetime of expertise in timber farming and the timber industry, put together a stimulating and educational program. Attendees were inspired by four remarkable speakers including Dr. Lytton Musselman, Professor of Botany, ODU; Bettina Ring, the first woman to head Virginia’s Department of Forestry; Dr. Richard Olsen, lead scientist for urban tree breeding at the U.S. National Arboretum; and Nancy Ross Hugo, acclaimed author, on her second book, Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secret Lives of Everyday Trees. The forum was sponsored for the second year by Waste Management. Photos

The 2014 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation was presented to Paul E. Bugas, Regional Manager of the Virginia Department of Inland Fisheries. He has dedicated his life and profession to the preservation of local fisheries and the correct management of these natural habitats. He oversees habitats in 29 counties.

Legislative Day was held at Center Stage in Richmond on January 26, 2015, co-chaired by Leesie Leake and Wendy Vaughn.

A joint Conservation and Horticulture Workshop, “Edible Landscaping for Wildlife and Humans,” was held on September 28, 2015, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The workshop featured two speakers: Cabell Cox, landscape architect with the Grow Company; and Tanya Denckla Cobb, a writer and environmental mediator at the University of Virginia's Institute for Environmental Negotiation. Luncheon included a viewing of Charles Guggenheim’s award-winning film “A Life: The Story of Lady Bird Johnson." Photos

The 57th Conservation Forum, “Film Festival on the Fourth,” was held November 4, 2015, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, co-chaired by Sarah Hellewell and Zan Thomas. Chris Miller of the Piedmont Environmental Council moderated the films which included documentaries on uranium, fracking, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, the Great Yard Clean-Up, the Life Cycle of the Plastic Bag, and the Rappahannock River (produced by the Friends of the Rappahannock). The Forum was sponsored by Investment Management of Virginia (IMVA) for $2,500. Photos

The 2015 Dugdale Award for Conservation was presented to Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute. These two institutions of higher learning have demonstrated a commitment to conservation and energy responsibility. VMI’s most noticeable project is its stewardship of the Chessie Nature Trail, a seven-mile “Rail to Trail” project along the Maury River. Washington and Lee has created an Office of Sustainability, Initiatives and Education and is making remarkable progress toward energy efficiency and conservation. Most prominent is W&L’s installation of solar panels on both the law school and parking garage.

2016 Legislative Day was scheduled for Monday, January 25, with attendees invited to the Kent-Valentine House on Sunday, January 24 for issues briefings and Lobbying 101. Lt. Governor Ralph Northam was among the scheduled speakers, and a reception was to be held on Sunday evening at the Kent-Valentine House for legislators and government officials. Unfortunately, between 11 and 16 inches of snow fell in the metro Richmond area on Saturday and led to cancellation of events.

Read 2016 Legislative Issues of Interest and Concern

Conservation and Beautification Committee Topics 2014-2016

Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines

The Garden Club of Virginia is concerned that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is not undertaking a serious, comprehensive evaluation of the need for new interstate pipeline capacity in our region in its review of the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. The Garden Club of Virginia believes that this evaluation must be the cornerstone of the commission’s review process for these projects to avoid unnecessary and negative ecological and economic impacts to our communities, our national forests, and our national resources and waterways. GCV will request a programmatic environmental impact statement by FERC, will encourage co-location for all pipelines in the Commonwealth and to have them considered as a regional network, not separately.

Opposition to Surry-Skiffes Creek Transmission Line

Led by the Conservation and Beautification Committee, the Garden Club of Virginia became an active member of an alliance to oppose Dominion Virginia Power’s effort to construct the Surry-Skiffes Creek transmission line across the James River. As chairman of the committee, Tuckie Westfall spent untold hours following the actions of Dominion, the Army Corps of Engineers, the SCC and the courts. She reported that the GCV’s support of the coalition opposing the towers caught the attention and praise of environmental and historic organizations, including the Garden Club of America which announced its opposition to the proposal. Discussions continued long after Jeanette’s two-year GCV presidency.

https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SkiffesCreekPowerLine.aspx

https://www.dominionenergy.com/projects-and-facilities/electric-projects/power-line-projects/skiffes-creek

Fones Cliffs

The Garden Club of Alexandria approached the Conservation and Beautificationn Committee, requesting that GCV send a letter to the Richmond County Board of Supervisors in opposition to the proposed development of Fones Cliffs on the Rappahannock River in Richmond County. President Cadwallender contacted Johanna Carrington, president of the Garden Club of the Northern Neck which has Richmond County in its membership, and to Anne Bland of the Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula. She also spoke to Helen Murphy, former President of the GCV as well as others in the adjacent area. All supported GCV writing the Board of Supervisors. The letter was written and approved by the Executive Committee and sent on October 1, 2015.

Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Tuckie Westfall reported that the single biggest achievement of her committee was the establishment of the GCV Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship. Approved at the January 2015 Board meeting, it is only the third GCV Fellowship and supports research having to do with the conservation of natural resources. Candidates are selected by a committee composed of the GCV President, Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman, one at-large GCV member and a faculty member of a university in a related field. A committee member mentors the fellow for the year.

VCU senior Nikki Andresen was selected as the inaugural fellow, who worked to define the rhizosphere metagenome of the native pitcher plant. She and Phil Sheridan of Meadow View Biologic Research Station collected samples from sites where pitcher plants used to grow, but no longer do; from a natural site where they grow in the wild; and from where they have been reintroduced. They have “sequenced their extracted DNA on the Ion Torrent and created libraries which will tell them which species are present in the rhizosphere. They have generated 4 million DNA reads from each of the four sites they collected from.” She will report on her progress at the BOG 2015 meeting.

Kent-Valentine House Green Story

The Garden Club of Virginia engaged the Richmond Regional Energy Alliance (RREA) to perform an energy audit of the Kent-Valentine House. The audit was shared with Taylor & Parrish for their annual walk-through and recommendations are being referred to the Kent-Valentine House Committee.

The new Conservation Educator Award was created to recognize teachers dedicated to conservation education, to be awarded for the first time at the 2016 Conservation Forum.

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Flower Shows, Chairman Lea Shuba, The Hunting Creek Garden Club

The 72nd Annual Lily Show, “Oh Shenandoah,” was hosted by the Spotswood Garden Club on June 18-19, 2014, at the Skyline Middle School in Harrisonburg, co-chaired by Sandy Hodge and Joyce Overby, who reported 66 artistic arrangements and 268 horticulture stems. A lovely evening in historic Port Republic prior to the event included history lessons, music appreciation and wonderful food and hospitality. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held September 23, 2014, at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Center and featured internationally known arranger from Longwood Gardens, Crescentia Moti. Emphasis was placed on teaching our club members how to successfully navigate the many new flower arranging styles in the ever-expanding online handbook. Artistic Judging Chairman Gladys Lewis presided over a judges’ testing session at the end of the program where Martha Lyn of the Leesburg Garden Club received the A.M. Booker Award. Photos

The 76th Annual Rose Show,“Rose Notes,” was hosted by Gabriella Garden Club on October 1-2, 2014, at the Institute of Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. Artistic arrangements interpreted songs about roses that played in the background throughout the show. Co-chairmen Margaret Scott and Sharon Scott reported 117 horticulture exhibits and 66 artistic arrangements. David Pike from Witherspoon Rose Culture presented a “Lunch and Learn” seminar during judging. Visiting artistic judges, Rose Show Committee members and members of the Board of Directors were treated to cocktails in the Sutherlin Mansion’s spectacular rose garden on the evening preceding the show. A gourmet dinner followed that was prepared by the Gabriellas in the adjacent church and served on rose medallion china. Husbands transported the hot food from the church to the mansion. Photos

Flower Shows Chairman Lea Shuba, GCV President Jeanette Cadwallender and Annie Vanderwarker hosted a program in the fall of 2014, designed to introduce young women to some tricks and tips for holiday arranging, and to open them to the possibility of future involvement with the GCV. It was a huge success with multiple requests to take similar programs around the state.

The 81st Annual Daffodil Show, “Winchester on Parade,” was hosted by the Little Garden Club of Winchester at Millwood Station on March 31-April 1, 2015, co-chaired by Diane Kelly and Suzy Oliver, who reported 441 horticulture entries and 64 artistic arrangements. The Board approved a motion in January 2015 on behalf of the Daffodil Committee to rename the GCV Member Sweepstakes Award to the Elizabeth Clopton Brown Member Sweepstakes Award. A new member orientation was held during judging on March 30. Photos

Flower Shows Chairman Lea Shuba noted the 2015 American Daffodil Society held its national convention in Williamsburg on April 9-12 and with GCV member Dianne Spence taking home Best in Show with her bloom, ‘Pax Romana.’

The 73rd Annual Lily Show, “Lions and Tigers and Bears -- Oh My,” was hosted by Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club in Middleburg on June 17-18, 2015, at Foxcroft School, co-chaired by Lucy Rhame and Elaine Burden. For the first time, the lily horticulture and artistic divisions shared the space with the first judged GCV general horticulture show, “Growing Green,” and an artistic design class that that did not include lilies. Photos

The 2015 Anabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award was presented to the Ashland Garden Club.

The 77th Annual Rose Show, “The Poetic Rose,” was hosted again by Gabriella Garden Club at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville on September 29-30, 2015. Co-chairmen Margaret Scott and Sharon Scott reported 69 artistic arrangements and 94 horticulture exhibits with four InterClub exhibitors and 23 individual exhibitors. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held October 7, 2015 at the Country Club of Virginia featuring speaker Laura Dowling, former White House florist with extensive training and background in French styles. Monitors and A/V equipment were brought in to accommodate the capacity crowd. A prospective judges’ class followed the program, with a testing session for student judges. Photos

The 82nd Annual GCV Daffodil Show, “From the Sea to the Stars,” was hosted by the Huntington Garden Club at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton on March 30-31, 2016. Co-chairmen Rebecca Fass and BoBo Smith reported 121 horticulture exhibitors with 1803 stems and 65 artistic arrangements. The Daffodil Committee hosted an American Daffodil Society Judging School Part 1 at the show site Tuesday, March 29 -- the first step in qualifying as a daffodil horticulture judge and a refresher for existing daffodil judges. Three ADS instructors provided a morning of education on the culture, identification and judging of daffodils. Photos

The 2016 Anabel Josephs InterClub Artistic Award was presented to the Hunting Creek Garden Club.

Other Flower Shows News

The Strategic Planning survey of club presidents in 2015 had shown tremendous support for flower arranging and artistic design, with Flower Arranging School being one of GCV’s most well-attended events. The same survey and subsequent conversations with club presidents showed very little support for GCV flower shows, and a stunning lack of support for hosting flower shows, with high cost, lack of manpower and lack of attendance being the biggest hurdles. Chairman Lea Shuba shared concerns about the future of GCV flower shows.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting, Lea reported how her committee had spent countless hours over the past two years trying to improve the flower show experience for guests and hosts: prepared sample cost-cutting budgets for host clubs and successfully led efforts to significantly increase GCV funding for each show; redid documents guiding the host clubs and for individuals entering a show; streamlined tabulation and awards procedures; reached out to the host clubs with one-on-one assistance; fine-tuned many arranging definitions; and added to the GCV photo albums. She added that the judges' program continued to be robust and artistic design schedules continued to push the envelope, encouraging confidence and innovation in arrangers.

Lee continued, “What has excited me the most during my tenure is all the innovations that have taken place at our shows. They have become a meeting place for members with shared interests. In horticulture, lily judging school has been offered, as has daffodil judging for the first time at Huntington. Fauquier and Loudoun pioneered a “Going Green” horticulture schedule, which capitalized on showing what is growing in our gardens to compliment the lilies. Gabriella offered classes in both horticulture and arranging in their “Lunch and Learn” programs, which filled dead time between judging and the show opening. Several shows featured vendors, notably Spotswood and Gabriella -- wonderful growers and garden craftsmen filled the corridors and, while attracting many interested buyers, they also helped to defray show costs. These clubs also used members as chefs, servers and entertainers, which greatly added to the pleasure at judges’ dinners, while saving money for clubs. The recent Daffodil Show hosted a new member orientation, a real win-win idea. Many clubs used ideas like this to attract a larger audience. Fauquier and Loudoun invited their neighbors and nearby clubs for cocktails, and then provided informal lectures about arranging and judging standards in both the artistic and horticulture classes. Providing information like this, in attractive settings, to our communities, continues to be a vital part of our mission.”

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2015 Tour Chairman Alice Martin, The Petersburg Garden Club

2016 Tour Chairman Meg Clement, Three Chopt Garden Club

In preparation for 2015 Historic Garden Week, Committee Chairman Alice Martin reported that 70 members attended Boot Camp on June 24-25, 2014, representing 38 clubs. London Ray left GCV following Boot Camp and, after reviewing more than 70 applications, Tori Brock was hired as a full-time employee.

Rose Hill, a beautiful 18th-century plantation in Fredericksburg overlooking the Rappahannock Valley, graced the cover of the 2015 Historic Garden Week Guidebook. Owners John and Billings Cay purchased Rose Hill in 2008 from Preservation Virginia and have meticulously restored and decorated this home. It was featured in Architectural Digest in June 2013. Landscaping was done by William D. Rieley. Catriona Tudor Erler, Albemarle Garden Club photographed the cover. 2015 Guidebook.

Chairman Alice Martin announced at the 2015 spring Annual Meeting that advertising revenue was up 18%, Living Social sales doubled, EventBrite sales increased and overall state attendance was up from last year at 26,633 visitors. Facebook likes and Instagram followers tripled, and Twitter grew by 16%. A website upgrade included responsive design to increase Google search ranking worlwide.

She reported that plans for 2016 Historic Garden Week included a new collaboration between HGW and Virginia's wine industry. In response to objections from two members clubs, the Board of Directors voted at its July meeting to withdraw from the collaboration.

Boot Camp in preparation for 2016 HGW was held June 23-24, 2015, at the Kent-Valentine House when the 2016 Guidebook and state brochure front covers featuring Fort Monroe in Hampton were unveiled by HGW Committee Chairman Meg Clement. Fort Monroe became a National Monument in 2011 and is the site of the largest stone fort ever built in the United States, c. 1834. It became a symbolic site of freedom for the enslaved during the Civil War. Ben Greenberg, whose book Natural Virginia was recently published, shot the cover. The 2016 marketing materials will feature the 'Flame Creeper' azalea. 2015 Guidebook.

2016 Tour Chairman Meg Clement reported at the 2016 Spring Annual Meeting that early receipts showed a significant increase in revenue over the 2015 tour. Advertising income for the Guidebook came in higher than expected – a notable income producer for us again this year. Online ticket sales for the state increased by 7% with attendance estimated at 26,000.

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Chairman Beth DeBergh, The Garden Club of Warren County

Horticulture Field Day was held on May 21 2014, at Pharsalia, the 200-year-old family farm of Foxie Morgan in Nelson County. The event was amazingly successful. View details. View Photos.

The horticulture exhibits, “Bountiful Harvest” at the 2014 Board of Governors hosted by Dolley Madison were displayed at Montpelier and available for public viewing. The display called for a cucurbit creation using pumpkins, gourds  or squash to construct a container for a centerpiece to be filled with autumn plant material that has been gathered -- grasses, seeds, nuts, berries, leaves, fall flowers, sprigs of bittersweet, etc. that are appropriate to the “Field to Feast” theme of the meeting.

The Horticulture Workshop was held on October 30, 2014 at the Kent-Valentine House, chaired by Dorothy Tompkins. Fifty-five club horticulture chairmen and club presidents were welcomed with a brief orientation. Featured speaker, Carol Heiser, Habitat Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, focused her program on “Pollinators” and “Backyard Habitats.” Milkweed seed packets were given out at the meeting to recognize the decline of the monarch butterflies and to encourage planting milkweed.

The horticulture exhibit for the 2015 Annual Meeting in Norfolk was “Grandmother’s Garden: Heirloom Seeds and Bulbs.” Club horticulture chairmen were asked in advance to start collecting seeds for this heirloom seed packet exchange. Each exhibit included growing conditions, planting instructions, hardiness zones and a little bit about the plant on the seed packet or bulb bag. Many clubs also included the seeds origin, old photos, special memories, etc.

The 2015 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients were Maggie Sue Creamer, The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Betsy Eggleston, The Spotswood Garden Club; and Louise LaBarca, The Garden Club of Warren County.

Horticulture Field Day was held May 27-28, 2015, in Winchester and Clarke County. Attendees registered at Glen Burnie on May 27 with tours of the gardens and museum and a box lunch. Private tours began after lunch and included the “green roof” of the Discovery Museum and private tours of the gardens of Patsy Smith, Jo Ann Larson, Kathleen Quarles and Peter G. Bullough. Guests are also invited to take a self-guided tour of the garden at Handley High School -- a GCV Restoration site. The second day, Clarke County tours included the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy and the private gardens of Carolyn Farouki, Tressa Borland Reuling, Ilona Benham and Elizabeth Locke. Departure and box lunches were distributed at Burwell-Morgan Mill, another GCV Restoration site, where visitors could see the mill in operation. Photos

A joint Horticulture and Conservation Workshop was held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on September 28, 2015. The topic was “Edible Landscaping for Wildlife and Humans.” The featured speakers were Cabell Cox, Principle and Founder of The Grow Company, Charlottesville; and Tanya Cobb, author, teacher and professional environmental mediator at the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation. Tanya is the author of The Gardener's A to Z Guide to Growing Organic Food and Reclaiming Our Food: How the Grassroots Food Movement is Changing What We Eat. The workshop was open to club horticulture chairmen, club conservation chairmen, club presidents or their representatives, GCV board members and GCV Horticulture and Conservation Committee members. Photos

The horticulture exhibit for the October 2015 Board of Governors meeting in Martinsville “REstore, REcreate, REcycle,” called for the following: “Construct a floral container from something recycled for a centerpiece to be filled with the succulents that you have chosen. Using recycled items as containers creates originality, making the usual containers seem boring! Think outside the box on what type of container can be utilized for your succulent display. Unleash your imagination and allow yourself to have fun with simple and ecofriendly materials. Remember one of the rules of garden design--plant in groups of three.”

The horticulture exhibit for the 2016 Annual Meeting in Alexandria was, “Alexandria, Where History Grows: Vegetables and Flowers for a Colonial Garden.” Horticulture chairmen were asked to construct a grouping of three Colonial herbs in a complementary container. In addition, for those true horticulturists wanting a challenge, there was an optional garden project -- growing “Colonial-era” plants outdoors by seed in the winter in a bell jar or plastic milk jug.

The 2016 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients were Nancy Dickerson, The Princess Anne Garden Club; Tamara Gibson, The Spotswood Garden Club; Janet Hickman, Hillside Garden Club; Missy Janes, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club; Helen Junkin, The Princess Anne Garden Club; Linda Patten, The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Ann Reamy, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club; and Casey Rice, Harborfront Garden Club.

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Chairman Kim Nash, The Warrenton Garden Club

Restoration Committee visits during the summer and fall of 2014 included Oatlands in Leesburg, John Handley High School in Winchester, Burwell-Morgan Mill and the Virginia State Arboretum's Dogwood Lane in Clarke County and Belle Grove in Middletown.

Work continued on the Historic Henry County Courthouse project in Martinsville, the Beatrix Farrand-inspired garden at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax County, Poplar Forest near Lynchburg and the Kitchen Road portion of the Mountaintop Project at Monticello. Chairman Kim Nash reported, “At the behest of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, known as ‘the nation’s largest and most valuable nonprofit source of information about our nation’s historic landscape’ GCV members will welcome visitors to the Kent-Valentine House during the foundation’s What’s Out There Weekend Richmond on Saturday, October 25. GCV Restoration work is featured in the newly conceived Richmond Garden Trail. Along with well-known Lewis Ginter and Maymont, the Enchanted Garden at the Poe Museum is included on the list of eight sites and is described as a ‘hidden gem.’”

GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley was authorized to draw up a conceptual plan for the restoration of the East Garden at Stratford Hall, the first step towards a rewarding renewal of the long-standing relationship between the GCV and the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association.

Work continued throughout the winter and spring of 2015 on the Historic Henry County Courthouse, the dignified centerpiece of Martinsville’s uptown. Kim reported, “The Garden Club of Virginia has worked closely with the City of Martinsville and the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society to enhance the surrounding plaza, and the Martinsville Garden Club and the Garden Study Club smoothed out any number of bumps on the way to the finish line. Now Martinsville’s residents will be able to enjoy a welcoming, revitalized community space.”

The Mountaintop Project at Monticello was nearing completion when the committee visited the project in March, reporting that the recreated Kitchen Road “will burnish the GCV reputation in any number of academic and horticultural circles.” Kim added, “Workers at Poplar Forest continue to uncover significant clues about Mr. Jefferson’s unique landscape at his retreat, and Mr. Rieley continues to put those pieces of the puzzle in place. In addition to the expected high standards of workmanship associated with any project undertaken by the Garden Club of Virginia, Poplar Forest has benefitted by Mr. Rieley’s profoundly scholarly research which has informed our work there.”

Work continued at the Enchanted Garden of the Poe Museum where its design and plantings were created to enable visitors to reflect on the work of Edgar Allan Poe.

Lastly, at the request of the Clarke County Historical Society, the committee agreed to revisit the Burrell-Morgan Mill in Clarke County to rework the design of the forecourt to alleviate severe drainage issues.

Summer and fall 2015 committee visits included Mount Vernon, the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Green Spring, Kenmore, the Mary Washington House and the Mary Washington Monument in Fredericksburg and Stratford Hall on the Northern Neck.

The Garden Club of Virginia presented the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Historic Green Spring to the Fairfax County Park Authority in Fairfax on June 10. Kim described the event, “Rieley and Associates has brought back to life the only documented garden in Virginia designed by Beatrix Farrand, the only female founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. This 1942 garden is a wonderful example of her country place residential design and its half-acre is an important component within the larger public park which showcases a wide range of gardening styles, demonstration gardens and naturalized areas.” She added, “The 640 different kinds of plants in the perennial border reflect the fondness of the autodidactic designer for the Impressionist palette.” Among the 80+ guests were county officials, as well as GCV members from Fairfax, Hunting Creek and Alexandria garden club. Photos

Immediately following the 2015 fall Board of Governors, the Garden Club of Virginia presented the restoration of the grounds of the Historic Henry County Courthouse.

The Restoration Committee approved a plan to replace a pathway at Oatlands and to repair the structures privy and well house in the Mary Washington House Garden. Work was nearing completion on the Eastern Shore to refurbish the entrance apron and walkways at Ker Place, a 200-year-old Federal dwelling.

Plans were underway in Clarke County to renovate the entrance court of the Burwell-Morgan Mill.

The Low Country Garden at the Poe Museum in Richmond was completed. The garden, inspired by the author’s story, The Gold Bug, which is set on Sullivan’s Island and on the mainland near Charleston, features banana shrubs and Sago and Needle Palms.

Poplar Forest continued to present challenges when the restoration of the carriage turnaround posed questions of authenticity versus the current standards of safety and accessibility.

The Kitchen Road Project at Monticello was all but finished.

Kim announced the approval of a new project at Lynchburg’s Point of Honor. The Restoration Committee had been approached earlier by the Lynchburg Museum about renovating the existing garden behind the house that was designed by Rudy Favretti, independently of the Garden Club of Virginia. Maintenance funding and staff had been greatly reduced, rendering upkeep of the area untenable. At the direction of the Restoration Committee, and working with the buseum board, Mr. Rieley drew a conceptual plan for a garden appropriate to the period, which will be much easier to manage and allow for event use.

Restoration Committee visits in the winter and spring of 2016 included St. John’s Mews and the Poe Museum in Richmond, Ker Place on the Eastern Shore, Historic Portsmouth Courthouse and the Moses Myers House in Norfolk.

In response to a request from the Director of Virginia’s Executive Mansion, the Restoration Committee authorized Mr. Rieley to design a simple, welcoming garden to include commemorative information celebrating those who lived there and worked at the mansion during the governorship of David Campbell of Abingdon (1837-1840). It was called the Valentine-Jackson Garden after letters written to family back in home Southwest Virginia by Valentine and Jackson, two enslaved residents, were discovered. Mr. Rieley’s reinterpretation of an original Gillette plan was a special gift from the Garden Club of Virginia. The work was carried out by the staff at the Executive Mansion, and the Restoration Committee was not responsible for its oversight.

On April 8, 2016, the Garden Club of Virginia presented the restored Kitchen Road at Monticello.

In January of 2016, Kim reported to the Board of Directors that she sent a letter to Historic St. Luke’s, expressing dismay over the years of disregard for its obligation to preserve the work done by the Garden Club of Virginia. She noted that a delegation from the Restoration Committee would meet with the new president of Historic St. Luke’s later in the winter in hopes of finding solutions. A cordial meeting with St. Luke’s administration on March 9 made it clear to both parties that GCV expectations and Historic St. Luke’s plans for future development of the property had diverged beyond any hope of realignment. Historic St. Luke’s president David Hare stressed that HSL harbors no ill will towards the GCV, but rather is appreciative of the work done there and will continue to be supportive of the local clubs. The Restoration Committee resolved at its March meeting to recommend that Historic Saint Luke’s be withdrawn from its portfolio of active Restoration properties.

The GCV Board of Directors voted to release Historic Saint Luke’s from its obligations, stating that GCV was honored to work with the property to create park-like setting to protect the nation’s only surviving original Gothic building from the encroachment of the 21st century. Historic Saint Luke’s administration assured GCV that they would continue to support the local GCV clubs as they assume full responsibility for the stewardship of this important site.

Boxwood Blight

In early 2015, the boxwood in the Bowknot Garden at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library began to decline dramatically and tests for boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium, buxicola or Calonectria pseudonaviculata) came back positive. Numerous efforts to stop the decline throughout the summer and fall were unsuccessful, and the garden was closed to the public in October 2015. After reviewing suggested remedies, the Restoration Committee voted in January 2016 to recommend the removal of all the boxwood at WWPL, contingent upon agreement by the owners of the property. The Restoration Committee set aside funds to cover the removal.

The committee felt at this point it was imperative that information about boxwood blight be disseminated to a wide audience throughout the Commonwealth. Sue Thompson wrote an article for the March 2016 Journal, to be distributed to club presidents for discussion among the entire membership. Realizing the spread of boxwood blight has tremendous ramifications not only for classic garden design in Virginia, but also for Historic Garden Week, the Restoration Committee urged the Garden Club of Virginia to stand on the front lines of efforts to contain this highly contagious fungus. Read Best Management Practices for Boxwood Blight.

Research Fellowships

View Fellowship Research Archives

The 2015 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship was awarded to Wenling Li, graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at Harvard University. Her research site was Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County. The William D. Rieley Fellowship was awarded to Amanda Goodman, a student in the Master of Landscape Architecture program in Urban & Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia. Her research site was Westover Plantation adjacent to Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County.

On Friday, August 21, 2015, both fellows presented the results of their summer research to a gathering of about 50 GCV members and other interested individuals at Berkeley Plantation. After a welcome greeting by Mr. Jamieson, owner of Berkeley, and his daughter, Cary, Mr. Rieley introduced Wenling Li. With a well-designed PowerPoint presentation, she gave an overview of Berkeley. The landscape provides a dramatic vista through boxwood gardens, across five expansive, grassed terraces toward a James River entry known as Harrison’s Landing, celebrated as the site of the first Thanksgiving. Wenling discovered documents previously unknown to the property and produced important geometric assessments of the landscape.

Amanda’s presentation of Westover focused on how the grounds and gardens evolved, not from a formal master plan but as planting progressed over time. War and the various owners who succeeded the William Byrd family (I, II -- founder of the city of Richmond -- and III) wrought changes in the property, as well as the home. One significant change Amanda noted in particular was the relocation of the huge, handsome, 18th-century wrought iron entry gates. She also addressed the question of the placement of William Byrd II’s tombstone in the center of the garden.

Tours of both properties were led by the fellows and the respective property owners, Andrea Erda and Cary Jamison. We were welcomed inside the plantation homes as well as throughout the grounds.

Perhaps the most insightful observation of the day was the one made by Cary Jamieson’s five-year-old son. When asked how he felt about Berkeley, his family’s property, he responded, “If we lose it, we’ll forget our history.”

After careful consideration, the Research Fellowship Committee selected two outstanding sites for research and documentation for the 2016 program. The William D. Rieley site was Westover Plantation where research had been initiated by a 2015 fellow. The committee agreed that the wealth of material there provided potential for further research which should be continued. Eyre Hall, in Northumberland County on the Eastern Shore, was selected as the Rudy J. Favretti site.

When the committee met to evaluate applications, it was decided, as has been true in the past, that the particular strengths of the applicants did not adequately lend themselves to the needs of the properties. The material that is ultimately archived by the Garden Club of Virginia at the conclusion of each fellowship includes measure drawings, detailed documentation and historical narrative. These requirements entail a unique balance of analytical ability and creative talents.

When the Fellowships were established, it was understood that they may not be awarded each year. The committee decided that 2016 should be such a year and is focusing its attention on the Historic Research Fellowship program for 2017.

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Symposium Chairman Terry Buntrock reported a successful Garden Club of Virginia Symposium 2015 in Williamsburg with 315 attendees, 37 committee members representing every district and 403 room nights booked at the Williamsburg Lodge. She and her co-chairman, Misti Spong, "began with the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia and developed programming that honored, illuminated and taught that mission." She continued, "We also celebrated our Commonwealth through partnerships with Scenic Virginia and the Virginia fashion design industry. We celebrated our state with farm-to‐table menus that featured local growers, Virginia‐inspired shopping experiences, excursions and courses."

Terry reported that the Symposium’s grand finale, "Snipped: Iron Man Flower Arranging Competition," had received positive reviews from attendees and from the Colonial Williamsburg staff, adding that the friendly competitors -- Michael Grim, James Farmer and Sybil Sylvester -- had shared their experience through social media.

She closed by saying that Colonial Williamsburg expressed hope that the Garden Club of Virginia would return.

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“There are many joys in being President of the Garden Club of Virginia. One of the greatest is receiving invitations to visit with member clubs. Each invitation gave me the perfect opportunity to learn more about that club’s history, and to hear about current activities. Putting the club pieces together showed me why we have thrived for nearly 100 years in our leadership role and gave me confidence that we will continue to do so.”

~Nina Mustard, May 2018

Outgoing President Jeanette Cadwallender introduced incoming President Nina Mustard at the 2016 Annual Meeting with a clever tribute:

“An herbaceous plant originating from the Mediterranean, we know it by many descriptions related to its seed and extracts: dry, whole grain, hot, spicy, Chinese, Dijon, yellow or brown. It can be used to spice up all sorts of things; generally with a smile and the most capable, 'we can do that' spirit. This hardy perennial will succeed in most all environments. While a transplant from North Carolina many years ago (possibly hidden in a classic Jaguar), it thrives in the southeastern coastal horticultural zone of Williamsburg, 7b. Comfortable along the highways of Virginia, Mustard has been reported from Martinsville to Winchester. Scientists predict that in the next two years, it could become invasive in downtown Richmond. This local cultivar carries the prefix, Nina.

"You know her. You know her talents and willingness to help all committees become more capable with the benefits of technology and her organizational wizardry. You know that she will succeed in guiding the success of the Garden Club of Virginia as the 49th President. Join me in congratulating Nina Williams Mustard, our next president.”

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Nina Mustard held her first Board of Directors meeting at Airlie in Warrenton on July 16, 2016.

Board members and spouses arrived for the weekend retreat on Friday and were invited to Granville Farm, home of former GCV President, Kim Nash and Bunny Nash, for cocktails and a delicious al fresco dinner that evening.

Nina called the meeting to order on Saturday morning, asking attendees to introduce themselves and to describe their garden club experiences. She then presented the new organizational chart, noting that committee responsibilities would change with implementation of the new strategic plan. The Executive Committee will direct Human Resources, staff will manage websites and the Corresponding Secretary will assist with donor acknowledgements. Based on the success of the recent trip to India, the Development Committee will explore options for future travel opportunities.

Board members were encouraged to attend committee meetings, advising that they inform a committee chairman in advance, being mindful not to “overshadow” the chairman in discussions.

Nina informed the Board that the exhibit featuring Catesby prints at the Jamestown Settlement/Yorktown Victory Center was beautifully done and well received. The two GCV prints on loan for the exhibit were being conserved in return for the loan and will be returned immediately upon completion. She then provided a preview of the 2016-2018 Directory & Handbook cover  -- the cardinal from the Catesby collection.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin and Director at Large Pam Combs provided an update on HR policies, job descriptions, grievance procedures and performance evaluations. Lynn was praised for her excellent work as Executive Director and with the staff, and she responded that work on the HR policies and manual were assisting the staff and her in doing their jobs well.

Financial reports from Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander and Treasurer Betsy Worthington were positive: $5,000-$6000 savings on new insurance policy; Annual Fund over projection by $15,000; lower draw needed from the endowment; and generally higher income and lower expenses.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn moved that the Board approve a draft of a letter to the Honorable Abigail Ross Hopper, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, with copies to selected federal and state officials. Wendy noted that the letter is a request that seismic air-gun testing for oil and gas off the Atlantic not be allowed. The motion carried, and Nina will sign the letter on GCV letterhead. Wendy’s motion to proceed with sending letters to Senators Warner and Kaine regarding opposition to the Dominion towers across the James River was also approved.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis thanked her predecessor, Jean Gilpin, for her efforts in hiring the new Director of Development, Lexie Haglund, and described the ongoing benefits of development software Raiser's Edge.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reported that since the Bow Knot Garden at Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Library has been closed due to boxwood blight, the committee has been involved in lengthy discussions concerning the removal process and redesign.

The Centennial Committee, chaired by Anne Cross, is collecting material for the 2020 exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, with plans for a publication to accompany the exhibit. State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender reviewed the history of the partnership between the GCV and Virginia State Parks that led to a centennial project to provide $500,000 over five years for park improvements. Lively centennial budget discussions followed.

The 2015 Strategic Planning survey had shown tremendous support for flower arranging and artistic design but very little support for flower shows. Subsequent conversations with club presidents revealed a stunning lack of support for hosting flower shows, citing high cost, manpower burnout and lack of attendance. A dedicated task force was created to address the issue and its recommendations were presented to the Board and approved: (1) eliminate the requirement for clubs to sponsor and participate in flower shows; (2) a redefined Flower Shows Committee, with staff support, will host one annual event, expanding the existing Daffodil Show to include more programming such as flower arranging school, vendors and speakers on related topics; and (3) reevaluate the needs of the Lily and Rose Committees in concert with the Horticulture Committee.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Meg Clement displayed the preliminary poster for Historic Garden Week 2017, featuring the iris, and announced that Oatlands will be featured on the cover of the Guidebook.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:28 p.m. after which attendees enjoyed cocktails and dinner on-site at Airlie.

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The 97th Garden Club of Virginia Board of Governors meeting was held October 18-20, 2016, at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, hosted by the Princess Anne Garden Club.

The Board of Directors gathered on Tuesday, October 18, for lunch and meeting at the hotel. President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order and thanked attendees for their support in attending and chairing meetings, directing workshops, participating in Flower Arranging School and the recent Rose Show -- all while handling individual responsibilities. She then welcomed any ideas for how she could better serve the GCV and its members.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington reported a significant savings in audit costs, the result of having a hired a GCV Bookkeeper. Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander described efforts in place to create detailed paper trails for Centennial projects. The Centennial Committee is working with the Development Committee on plans for funding the VMHC exhibit.

Upon the recommendation of Horticulture Committee Chairman Catherine Madden, the Board agreed that no boxwood will be allowed at any GCV-sponsored event due to the potential spread of boxwood blight.

The new Human Resources Manual was presented to the Board, having previously been endorsed by the Executive Committee. Board members praised Pam Combs and Lynn McCashin for their work on the manual, noting its professionalism and tone. The GCV Parliamentarian will serve as the Human Resources liaison between the Executive Committee and any staff member who cannot resolve an issue through the Executive Director.

The Flower Shows Committee will morph into a “festival” committee after the 2017 GCV Lily Show. The newly defined committee will begin planning a 2018 event in Richmond that will include symposium-like elements and an ADS-accredited daffodil show.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reported that when a Restoration property is released by the GCV, the recommendation comes from the Restoration Committee and must be approved by the GCV Board of Directors. The committee has revised its agreement with properties going forward to minimize investment losses when properties must be released. It was noted again that efforts should be made to publicize the GCV's restoration work.

A planning session for the upcoming BOG roundtable logistics followed and the meeting was adjourned.

Horticulture Exhibit Photos

BOG attendees boarded buses Tuesday evening for cocktails at Princess Anne Country Club on Breakers Boulevard, a gorgeous outdoor setting, followed by Dutch treat dinner in the club’s main dining room. Guests were entertained with an engaging program, "Frank Sings Frank," presented by a Frank Sinatra "impersonator."

Wednesday morning began early with two tour options – First Landing State Park or the Brock Center. Attendees boarded buses and were welcomed at their destinations with coffee and brief talks. First Landing visitors were offered self-guided tours of exhibits and gardens. The First Landing State Park Chesapeake Bay Lab Project and the bayside camper check-in have been transformed with funds from the 2013 GCV Common Wealth Award, PAGC Party in the Park and Friends of First Landing. The PAGC's First Landing State Park Native Plant Landscape Project at the trail center continues to be a showpiece for coastal Virginia natives and entices visitors to grow these same pollinators and nectar plants in their own yards.

The Brock Center is LEEDS Platinum certified and a Living Building, the most advanced measure of sustainable building. The center's greywater rain garden greets visitors, supports the center’s zero runoff and waste goals, and contributes to the “beauty” criteria for Living Building Challenge certification.

Following morning visits, attendees gathered at the Brock Center for a seated, Dutch treat luncheon.

Back at the Hilton, Nina called the BOG meeting to order Wednesday afternoon in the Peacock Room, welcoming attendees before introducing Princess Anne Garden Club President Pat Proctor. Pat shared, "You cannot imagine how relieved we are that during your visit, you will have some beautiful fall weather instead of the torrential rain we experienced 10 days ago. Although the city has not been able to completely remove all the fallen trees and debris, I hope that has not detracted from the attractiveness of our city. If you have time, please do go for a stroll on our boardwalk right outside the hotel."

Susan Wight, co-chairman of the meeting, presented a Proclamation from the City of Virginia Beach proclaiming October 19, 2016, as Garden Club of Virginia Day.

Mina Wood, former GCV President and a member of The Lynchburg Garden Club, gave a tribute in memory of Elizabeth Perkins Varner, GCV President 1974 - 1976, who died August 10 in Charlottesville.

Nina asked attendees to join her in thanking PAGC members for the lovely pre-meeting activities -- luncheon for Board of Directors, cocktails and dinner at Princess Anne Country Club, tours of First Landing State Park and tours and lunch at the Brock Center, adding that the tours illustrated the tremendous influence we can have on a community, with very little impact on the environment.

She also thanked attendees, knowing the meetings can be stressful by saying, "If you are anything like me, you have fretted for days about what to wear, the weather forecast, how much time to allow for traffic, and who is going to take care of the dog." She continued, "My hope for this meeting is that you leave tomorrow with new friends, filled with ideas for your club and for your community and feel more connected than ever to the Garden Club of Virginia."

Boo Green of The Charlottesville Garden Club and Liz Carter of Rivanna Garden Club reported that the garden at 2015 Common Wealth Award recipient, Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center, was reaching residents in unique and important ways, allowing them to master skills, to learn to stay with a project from beginning to completion and to gain opportunities for personal growth through gardening.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Candy Carden presented the nomination for the 2016 Common Wealth Award, a collaboration between Hillside Garden Club and the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg. The Academy Center of the Arts has undertaken a large restoration and reconstruction project to make the building more accessible, attractive and available -- the place to hold events in downtown Lynchburg.

The Academy Center of the Arts Tree Garden project is an excellent example of a garden club collaborating with a local organization while meeting all the criteria for the Common Wealth Award -- conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation and education are all touched upon in this plan. This project will enrich the Commonwealth of Virginia by preserving a landmark building for future generations to enjoy.

Built in 1905, the historic theater at the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg is one of the only surviving theaters of the turn-of-the-century period in Virginia. Saved from destruction by leaders of the Lynchburg community, including members of Hillside Garden Club, the theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Since that time, while the adjacent Academy Center serves as a performance and art class space, the historic theater itself has been quiet. This jewel of Lynchburg is now undergoing a transformation. Upon completion, the historic theater will reopen, once again able to welcome performances from local, regional and national programs.

The Garden Club of Virginia and the Common Wealth Award Committee applaud and congratulate the Academy Center of the Arts Tree Project and Hillside Garden Club for their inspiring and worthy project. Delegates voted to award the 2016 Common Wealth Award, in the amount of $8,000, to Hillside Garden Club in Lynchburg for the Academy of Arts Tree Garden project.

Roundtable discussions followed. Former GCV Presidents met to receive updates on Historic Garden Week, the Strategic Plan, the Centennial celebration and Restoration projects, facilitated by Second Vice President Susan Robertson, Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence and GCV landscape architect Will Rieley.  Current club presidents met by districts to discuss the topics of Showing and Growing, Arranging and Judging, Membership and Communication. Their groups were facilitated by the Directors at Large, and ideas generated from these meetings were posted around the conference room as an "Idea Park" and were later transcribed and sent to all attendees. The Board of Directors and Committee Chairmen were led by First Vice President Jean Gilpin and discussed communication, events and awards.

Nina reconvened the meeting at 3:30 p.m. and called on Dianne Spence and Will Rieley who presented, "What Makes an Ideal Restoration?" A potential restoration property is evaluated for statewide significance, the capacity of the property to care for the work done, a commitment to the high standards of the GCV and geographical and thematic diversity. Attendees were encouraged to view the documents produced by Restoration Fellows.

The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m. for the day.

Wednesday night activities began with cocktails at the stunning home and garden of PAGC member Pat Creech and her husband, Scot, where guests were overwhelmed with the beauty of the waterfront gardens and flower arrangements. The evening continued when guests traveled back to the Hilton for the awards banquet, another flower-filled venue.

The meeting resumed on Thursday morning, October 20.

Lynn McCashin, GCV Executive Director, entertained attendees with, “Who Ya Gonna Call?” based on the Ghostbusters movie, to introduce GCV staff and their responsibilities.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender described exciting grant opportunities for state parks -- exhibits, playgrounds, trail improvements, gardens, native plant exhibits, programs and more. She encouraged GCV member clubs to collaborate with a state park to discuss its needs and then submit a grant application.

Jeanette then introduced guest speaker Molly Joseph Ward, Virginia Secretary of National Resources, who spoke with enthusiasm and appreciation for the GCV and its work, and for the ongoing partnership between the state and the GCV. She personally invited everyone to visit a state park in the near future, noting that Governor McAuliffe and his family have already enjoyed at least one night in each of 30 of the 37 state parks, with a goal of visiting all of them. She outlined some areas in which members of the GCV can assist the Department of Conservation and Recreation with state parks -- make citizens aware of invasive species, be the eyes and ears for general aesthetics and beauty around the state, and build interest in state parks by visiting and taking friends and family with you.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross presented "New Old News," bits of GCV trivia.

Meg Clement, Chairman of the Historic Garden Week Committee, announced that the relationship between the GCV and VDOT is being renewed and will greatly assist transportation efforts during the week. She also revealed the HGW Guidebook cover, Oatlands Historic House and Gardens in Leesburg, and the featured HGW flower, Iris 'Nofa Sapphire.'

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn announced that the 2016 Garden Club of Virginia Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow is Paul M. Lacy, a graduate student in Integrated Science and Technology at James Madison University, who will research “Native and Invasive Aquatic Plant Species in Virginia Trout Water.” She reminded attendees about the Conservation Forum, to be held November 3 at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. The topic will be "Clean Energy: Exploring Wind and Solar," with a panel discussion to follow. The Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award and the Conservation Educator Award will be presented. Legislative Day will be in January with a preview of upcoming legislation presented by VCN on December 3, for anyone who would like to participate. Attendees viewed the video, the Majestic Plastic Bag.

Janet Frantz of Mill Mountain Garden Club reported on their project, “Scoop the Poop,” the 2015 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award recipient.

Susan Wight, Flower Shows Committee Chairman, conveyed her enthusiasm for the new flower "festival" that will include the ADS-accredited Daffodil Show and symposium-like events. Daffodil Committee Chairman Janet Hickman announced that the 2016 GCV Daffodil Show was the second largest in the country! She informed the group that the 2017 show will include a photography class. Rose Committee Chairman Lea Shuba thanked The Hampton Roads Garden Club for a beautiful show this fall and announced that this year's rose collection features plants which require no pesticides or extra watering.

Tricia Garner of The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club issued an invitation to the Annual Meeting in Fredericksburg, May 16-18, 2017. Barbara Luton, Beth Coleman and Catherine Harcus of The Blue Ridge Garden Club issued an invitation to the Board of Governors meeting in Lexington in October 2017.

Nina closed the meeting with gratitude to Nancy Baillio, Susan Wight and members of The Princess Anne Garden Club for their hard work and gracious hospitality. She also thanked attendees for their participation in the meeting, noting that the different format yielded enthusiasm and new ideas for the future of the GCV.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am.

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The Board of Directors was delighted to participate in a botanical arts hands-on workshop on Wednesday afternoon, prior to Thursday's Board meeting. Tuckahoe Garden Club member Peyton Wells provided material, instructions and encouragement as attendees created individual "works of art." Cocktails and a Dutch treat dinner followed.

President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order Thursday morning, January 19. Guests included Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross and staff.

The Board was presented with two ideas for events from Strategic Planning:

• A two-day fall symposium September 26-27, 2017, in Richmond. Day one would take place at the Kent-Valentine House and nearby venues to feature vendors, speakers, horticulture, photography and artistic exhibits, boxed lunches for sale, and a 5:00 p.m. “Sip and See.” Flower Arranging School at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Center would follow on September 27.
• An American Daffodil Society “event” March 28, 2018, chaired by Susan Wight and Janet Hickman, to include ADS-judged horticulture, daffodil collections, artistic arrangements, vendors and judging school or class.

Guest Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross announced a tentative title, “A Landscape Saved,” for the GCV exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, which will focus on the impact GCV has had on Virginia’s landscape. The Annual Meeting in 2020 will be hosted by the James River Garden Club at the Jefferson Hotel and ticketed events will be held on May 13, the founding date. A special gala is planned for May 14 at either the Capitol or the Governor’s Mansion.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Meg Clement shared an article for the March/April edition of Victoria magazine, an affiliate of Southern Living. She also announced that VDOT is partnering with HGW for the first time in several years and, in addition to assisting clubs with putting up signs, will produce a map of all homes and gardens on the tour. Virginia Living will then put the maps in poly bags with the April issue of their magazine and mail them to all subscribers. The magazine is soliciting a $15,000 advertiser for the map and will feature it on the back of the map.

GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported on staff priorities and reported a messaging shift from from“ here’s what we’ve done,” to, “here is the work done on behalf of the Commonwealth.” Strategic planning think tanks and Centennial planning have been major areas of focus. Lynn also reported on plans to upgrade technology at the Kent-Valentine House that will include an updated phone system. The KVH Committee is looking into current insurance coverage and is making plans for an appraisal of the furnishings and fine arts. Their plan is to have the house in pristine condition for the Centennial. Lynn closed by stating that the think tanks were very beneficial to her and she has enjoyed the state parks grants process.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander distributed copies of a new Investment Policy Statement which has been updated to combine the previous Restoration Committee and Investment Committee policy statements. The former Investment Committee has been merged into a consolidated Finance Committee.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn distributed copies of the committee’s Legislative Positions/Issues of Concern for the 2017 General Assembly session, which the Board approved. She then noted new areas of committee interest -- environmental education and funding for state parks.

District 1 Director at Large Janet Rosser read a letter that was sent in November 2016 to Three Rivers Garden Club, praising them for their efforts to date in becoming a GCV member club and offering advice for "next steps."

The Board approved the following slate of officers for submission to GCV membership at the upcoming 2017 Annual Meeting:

• District 2 Meg Laughon, Hillside Garden Club
• District 5 Tuckie Westfall, The Garden Club of Alexandria
• District 6 Ellen Upton, The Elizabeth River Garden Club

At the request of the Virginia State Parks Grants Committee, the Board approved $129,417 in funding for the following:

• Belle Isle – improving landscaping around historic house
• Fairy Stone – pollinator garden
• Leesylvania – wildflower planting, reducing invasives and eliminating mowing
• Mason Neck – a new entry for the visitor center, hardscaping and landscaping of pollinator garden
• Middle Peninsula – supplies for educational programming
• Natural Bridge – outfitting a classroom for educational programming in visitor center
• Pocohontas – improved visitor center displays
• Sky Meadows – Track Trails and Discovery area
• Smith Mountain Lake – supplies for educational programming in wet lab
• Staunton River – garden improvements around cabins
• Youth Conservation Corps – supplies for projects for the summer program in various parks

It was agreed that a general announcement made to the public would be tied in with Historic Garden Week publicity.

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The Ninety-seventh Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club on May 16-18, 2017, in Fredericksburg, co-chaired by Tricia Garner and Tricia McDaniel.

President Nina Mustard called the GCV Board of Directors to order on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. She welcomed members and thanked Jeanette Cadwallender for the lovely luncheon at her historic Fredericksburg home.  She also thanked Tricia McDaniel and Tricia Garner for coordinating the 97th Annual Meeting for the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, and expressed her appreciation to members for their hard work throughout the year.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin updated the Board on the goal of offering more meetings via teleconference with the announcement that the GCV will be signing up for GoToMeeting.com. Lynn commended Wendy Vaughn for using Google Drive to store Conservation Committee information, which will be useful as leadership transitions next year.

Betsy then reviewed the proposed FY2017-2018 budget in detail. She described the new process used to create the budget, which resulted in better communication between all parties involved and a more accurate budget. A motion to approve the proposed budget passed.

First Vice President Jean Gilpin unveiled the fall Symposium website and discussed the wonderful events occurring September 26-27 in Richmond.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson reported on the Centennial for Anne Cross. Many ideas have come to the Centennial Committee, and members are beginning to narrow them down. Director of Development Lexie Haglund has created a spreadsheet for the grant proposals submitted and is tracking deadlines. A gala is planned, which will be a ticketed event and which should pay for itself. Brent Heath has been to Holland and should have the GCV Centennial Daffodil soon.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reviewed the policies, procedures, and responsibilities of the Restoration Committee. Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library has withdrawn its recent restoration application while its board reevaluates the WWPL mission. Point of Honor and the GCV are still negotiating an agreement. The relationships between the GCV and these two sites remain positive and strong.

Dianne then directed everyone’s attention to the section of her written report concerning the 2010 gift of $5,000 to the Capitol Square Preservation Council, which was to be used to underwrite some of the costs of printing a book on the history of the landscaping of Capitol Square. The book was never written, and the GCV Executive Director recently received a letter requesting permission to redirect the funds to Sustainability, The Women’s Monument, Voices from the Garden, the Indian Tribute, Mantle; Education Program and Exhibit for the Capitol and Capitol Square. Dianne Spence moved that the Capitol Square Preservation Council be asked to return the gift in the amount of $5,000 to the Garden Club of Virginia, as the proposed uses do not meet the intent of the Restoration Committee. The motion carried unanimously.

Parliamentarian Ann Gordon Evans commended Pam Combs and Lynn McCashin for their work on the Employee Handbook, noting this was an excellent beginning for the GCV Policies and Procedures Manual. Board members will be asked to provide input for performance appraisals.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn reported that there are six applications for the next Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship. These will be reviewed during the next week, and a decision will be made by the end of the month. Wendy commended Ann Heller’s efforts with this process. She announced that committee member Lisa Mountcastle will be the manager of the fellowship.

Flower Shows Chairman Susan Wight expressed appreciation for The Huntington Garden Club’s work on the recent Daffodil Show. The show was extraordinary -- the largest Daffodil Show in the country in terms of the number of stems (1713) and exhibitors (109). However, the host club reported higher expenses and lower attendance than expected.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Meg Clement announced preliminary figures for Historic Garden Week 2017. Currently, two of the clubs have not sent in their reports. Both attendance and projected income will be slightly down from last year. The Guidebook had eight fewer pages and a bit less in advertising revenue.  The HGW State Committee approved requests from Blue Ridge and Augusta, and from Danville, Chatham and Gabriella to merge their individual tours in 2017. The resulting tours did not show significant changes in the numbers of tourists or the revenue raised, but the clubs did find the partnerships beneficial in terms of manpower, homes/gardens, and delegating of responsibilities. The committee will continue to look at such things as community events surrounding HGW, ticket prices, problems with shuttles and lines, opening/closing at different times, and ways to highlight the restorations more.

Before adjourning the meeting, Nina recognized those members rotating off the board with sincere appreciation and a gift of a Waterford crystal bowl. These ladies are DAL District 2 Emily Reed, DAL District 5 Kate Williams, DAL District 6 Pam Combs, HGW Chairman Meg Clement, and Immediate Past President Jeanette Cadwallender.

Annual Meeting attendees enjoyed a special Dutch treat dinner at Belmont, the home and studio of American Impressionist painter Gari Melchers (1860-1932) and his wife, Corinne.  Cocktails were served during a private studio tour before dinner in the home.

Attendees were offered optional tours on Wednesday morning that included Fredericksburg's GCV restoration sites, a presentation by Friends of the Rappahannock, or a walking tour of the historic downtown area. Attendees then enjoyed lunch at the Old Silk Mill.

President Nina Mustard called the 97th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia to order on Wednesday afternoon, May 17, 2017, at the Fredericksburg Country Club.

Rappahannock Valley Garden Club President Patsy Thompson welcomed everyone to Fredericksburg and relayed greetings from the Mayor of Fredericksburg.

“On behalf of the members of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, I welcome you to Fredericksburg. We’ve been planning for your visit for over two years and are happy that our time together is finally here!

"It was said of our club, “this group put on a flower show first and then became a garden club!” We were invited to join the Garden Club of Virginia in 1933. And did you know that during World War II, our members held horse shows at Snowden, an area historic site, to raise money for war bonds? And with those bonds, we purchased a Navy Trainer Plane, with our garden club’s name on the side, which flew during the war.

"The idea of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club was first begun in 1924 by twelve strong women and men (yes, there were five in the beginning!) who were enthusiastic about gardening, conservation, flower arranging, and community service. By 1929, the club had officially organized. Some charter members led the charge to save Kenmore from being razed or subdivided. Others built on that and developed strong ties to the Garden Club of Virginia, working on the first Historic Garden Week. RVGC’s Kate Doggett Boggs became the first chair of the Restoration Committee. In later and more recent years, Rappahannock Valley members led the charge to save the Ferry Farm site from being turned into a Walmart, and one in particular said it would be “over her dead body!” It is in the spirit of these strong women that we continue nurturing and planting our roots in this area to continue the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia: to celebrate the beauty of the land, to conserve the gifts of nature, and to challenge future generations to build on this heritage."

Click Here to read greetings from Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw.

Nina welcomed everyone to the 97th Annual Meeting and thanked the members of The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club for hosting the event, including the lovely Dutch treat cocktails and dinner at Belmont. She noted that the GCV’s accomplishments at the state level follow the strategic plan and are designed to reduce the time and financial burdens for the 47 member clubs. She affirmed the importance of the flower shows and other traditions and stated that new ways of doing things are proving to be exciting.

Nina then called forward the six district Directors at Large and, with a video presentation, highlighted the accomplishments of the individual clubs. She remarked that she is continually inspired by all that the club members are doing in their communities and for the GCV.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington presented the summarized budget, noting that the budget is based on funds received as well as those slated to be carried forward, which include Historic Garden Week, the Annual Fund, and dues. She also reviewed the GCV’s investment accounts with IMVA and Darryl & King and the Annual Fund. Attendees approved the budget.

Betsy then addressed the current confusion resulting from a letter sent by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to each member club. The letter states that each club must fill out a form relating to its charitable status to determine if it is exempt or must annually register and pay a fee to VDACS. As each club operates independently of the GCV in terms of soliciting funds, and operates differently from its sister clubs, Betsy is advising each to consult a professional for advice. The website for VADACS is www.vdacs.virginia.gov. and the forms in question are Form 100 and Form 102. She noted that the Treasurer’s Manual, available to all club treasurers through the GCV website, will be updated to reflect this situation.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander outlined the responsibilities of the committee, noting it is responsible for supervising all financial matters for the GCV. She followed with a detailed reporting of GCV accounts and projected draws on accounts.

Attendees expressed their appreciation to the Treasurer and Finance Committee with a round of applause.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson introduced Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Candy Carden, who reported that in March the committee visited each of the sites nominated for the award. In April the committee met to discuss each nomination and approved six applications:

Historian Bettie Guthrie reminded everyone that each club has a page on the GCV website and encouraged everyone to post pictures, events, yearbooks, and histories on them. Journal Editorial Board Chairman Karla MacKimmie encouraged club presidents to solicit artwork from their members for the Journal cover, and Journal Advertising Chairman Penny Dart reported the addition of four advertisers and the loss of two. She asked attendees to thank advertisers at any opportunity.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn introduced Conservation Awards Chairman Leesie Leake, who reviewed the conservation awards and deadlines. She then introduced Liz Carter, daughter-in-law of former GCV President Bessie Carter and President of the Rivanna Garden Club, who presented a lovely tribute to Mrs. Carter. Leesie then awarded the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award to The Petersburg Garden Club for their Lee Park Wildflower and Restoration Project. Click Here to read the Journal article.

Wendy introduced the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow, Paul Lacy, who presented his research and findings on “Native and Invasive Aquatic Plant Species in Virginia Trout Streams.” Mr. Lacy is a rising Senior at James Madison University and is the second Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow. He concluded his presentation by expressing his appreciation for the opportunity given to him by the Garden Club of Virginia and the Conservation and Beautification Committee.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence announced that the William D. Rieley Fellowship at Westover Plantation was awarded to Krista Reimer, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania in Landscape Design. The Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship at Berkeley Plantation was awarded to Kathleen Conti, who holds a Masters in Historic Preservation from the University of Texas and is pursuing a PhD in Architecture at UT. Dianne shared that the committee had made a site visit to Christ Church in Saluda, to assess damage to the wall donated by GCV in 1942. A tree is leaning on a portion of the wall, and the vestry would like to save the tree and repair the wall. Their budget is very small and cannot afford the approximately $5,000 repair. The Restoration Committee approved this project. Dianne noted that the Restoration Committee recently installed an arbor and new plants at the Mary Washington House.

Flower Shows Chairman Susan Wight explained the exciting new format for flower arranging and showing at the Fall Symposium, stating, “It’s not your mother’s flower show!” Restrictions have been lifted which will allow arrangers to “blossom artistically.”

The Annabel Josephs Inter Club Artistic Award was presented to the Lynchburg Garden Club. NOTE: Following adjournment of the Annual Meeting, a recount revealed the actual winner to be the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club. Both clubs were subsequently notified and arrangements were made to present the award to Rappahannock Valley.

Daffodil Chairman Janet Hickman commended the members of The Huntington Garden Club and noted the national impact the recent GCV Daffodil Show had, as it was the largest show in the country with 1713 stems, 811 horticulture exhibits, and 109 exhibitors. A photography class and a judges’ workshop were added, with all 12 people sitting for the judges’ exam passing.

GCV Landscape Architect William D. Rieley presented the history of the landscape restoration at Monticello.

Nina adjourned the Annual Meeting for the day at 4:39 p.m.

Mary Wynn and Charles McDaniel invited attendees for cocktails at the Sentry Box, their lovely, historic home on the Rappahannock River. The awards banquet followed at the University of Mary Washington's Jepson Center. The Massie Medal, the GCV’s highest honor, was awarded to Deedy Bumgardner of The Augusta Garden Club and former GCV President, 2004-2006.  The de Lacy Gray Memorial Medal for Conservation was awarded to Heidi James of The Lynchburg Garden Club for her work in removing a derelict iron bridge from the James River.

The meeting resumed at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Nina began the morning with announcements and congratulated award recipients.

Tricia Garner then introduced guest speaker, Kirk Brown, who portrayed John Bartram, botanist to the Founding Fathers. Mr. Bartram presented a delightfully engaging and inspirational program, incorporating the history of his botanical work in early America and the work of the Garden Club of Virginia.

GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that the KVH annual maintenance plan will be accelerated in preparation for upcoming events -- Fall Symposium, Daffodil Show and Centennial. The easement architect from the Department of Historic Resources inspected the house in April and confirmed the house is in good condition. Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Alice Martin then detailed plans for interior refurbishments.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Meg Clement provided preliminary figures from the 2017 tours, noting more information will be available once figures are finalized. She gave a detailed report on trends in attendance, ad purchases in the Guidebook, and ideas for making Historic Garden Week even better. She noted the exciting publicity accomplishments this year, with an increase in the use of social media, an article in "The Washington Post" and information highlighting Lynchburg’s tour placed in Garden and Gun.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis unveiled the new development brochure, noting it was a collaboration between Director of Development Lexie Haglund, HGW Marketing Coordinator Tory Brock, and Communications Coordinator Ann Heller. She emphasized the need for contributions to the Annual Fund, noting the fund safeguards the hard work of the members, past and present, and safeguards the endowment. She then announced that Lexie had secured a $100,000 matching grant for capital improvements to the Kent-Valentine House from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender highlighted the 2017 grant recipients whose projects covered education, habitats, plantings, landscape improvements, and summer youth programs.

Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross and VMHC Exhibits Subcommittee Chairman Joanna Catron provided updates that included a request for each club to submit a three-dimensional artifact for the exhibit with the assurance, "Nothing is too small, too large or too corny -- please let the committee see it and decide if it will be helpful!"

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn announced the 2017 Conservation Forum, “Fracking in Virginia -- From All Perspectives,” will be held in Charlottesville on October 27. She was thrilled to announce there are six applicants for the next Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship, with the winner to be announced in the coming weeks.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Catherine Madden commended the clubs on their creative and imaginative horticulture “Roots of Restoration” displays. See photos. She then announced the four recipients of the 2017 Horticulture Awards of Merit.

Catherine reminded the group of Horticulture Field Day to be held May 31-June 1 in Gloucester, noting 170 people have already signed up.

Nominations Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin recognized the Directors at Large who completed their two-year terms: Pam Combs, Emily Reed, and Kate Williams. She announced the slate of incoming Directors at Large: District 2, Meg Laughon; District 5, Tuckie Westfall; and District 6, Ellen Upton. The slate was accepted as presented.

Nina introduced Cessie Howell, First Vice President of The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, who thanked everyone for coming to Fredericksburg, saying she had learned a lot about the GCV and loved every minute of her time with everyone.

Nina then thanked Tricia Garner and Tricia McDaniel, co-chairmen, and the members of The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club for hosting the 97th Annual Meeting. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:06 p.m.

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The GCV Board of Directors held its annual summer retreat with spouses in Winchester on July 14-16, 2017, with accommodations at the historic George Washington Hotel.

Attendees were graciously hosted by Jean and Tom Gilpin at their lovely Millwood home for dinner and cocktails on Friday night. Board members met on Saturday morning, July 15, at the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm, a GCV restoration site. Spouses, hosted by Tom, enjoyed bowling and lunch at Northside Lanes, followed by an afternoon of golf and local attractions. After a day of meetings and activities, attendees walked to the Village Square for cocktails and dinner on Saturday night.

President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. She reviewed board responsibilities, stressing participation at GCV events and contributing financially, with the goal of 100% participation by the board in the Annual Fund. She also reviewed the role of the executive committee -- to meet between board meetings when important matters arise unexpectedly, or at any time HR matters call for discussion. In concluding her report, Nina thanked everyone for the work each has done during the past year, noting the diligence given to implementing parts of the strategic plan and board initiatives.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that the duties of Director of Historic Garden Week, Karen Ellsworth have been expanded to include special events planning. Terri Lowman has been hired as the HGW Administrative Coordinator.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander noted preparations for the upcoming audit. On behalf of Treasurer Betsy Worthington, she reported that FY2016-2017 was within budget, using a smaller than anticipated draw from the endowment of 3.39%.

Wendy announced that future recipients of the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award will be voted upon by member clubs in a process similar to that of the Common Wealth Award. The recipients will be announced each year at the Annual Meeting.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis reported the Annual Fund exceeded the budgeted goal with a final total of $115,913.93, stating that the number of donors was down slightly but the amount given was greater.

Flower Shows Chairman Susan Wight announced plans for upcoming events: Symposium on September 26-27, 2017; Daffodil Day on March 28, 2018; and Growing and Showing Lilies, hosted by the GCV Lily Committee for the first time at no cost to GCV, on June 13, 2018.

Before turning the meeting over to Historic Garden Week Chairman Stephie Broadwater, Nina thanked Stephie for graciously agreeing to step in as HGW Committee Chairman when Betsy Casteen could not assume the responsibilities. Stephie displayed the poster for Historic Garden Week 2018 featuring the Kwanzan cherry. This specimen is found at Auburn, in Mathews County, which will be the home featured on the Guidebook cover.

Stephie noted that with Karen's expanded job responsibilities, she will not belong 100% to the Historic Garden Week effort. Therefore, the Historic Garden Week Committee will become more of a working committee.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence provided property updates and reviewed a new plan for each property to establish a maintenance reserve fund, to be used if that property neglects to maintain its GCV gift. She then fielded questions and listened as ideas to increase club involvement were discussed, giving assurance she would take all suggestions back to her committee.

Two recent reports were reviewed: the 2016-2017 Member Club Survey; and the list of Member Club Presidents by Year (updated in 2020 and posted online in FTGA III).

Centennial Committee liaison Susan Robertson reported the committee’s progress and expressed concern about the lack of clearly defined Centennial goals. At that, the board voted to seek a professional to elevate the GCV brand for the event. Lynn and Susan were directed to bring recommendations back to the board.

2017 Symposium Committee Chairman Jean Gilpin described the upcoming two-page spread in the September Journal.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned by the President at 1:48 p.m.

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The 2017 fall GCV Board of Governors meeting was hosted by The Blue Ridge Garden Club in Lexington on October 10-12, 2017, co-chaired by Barbara Luton and Carol Grigsby.

BRGC member Sallie Sebrell hosted the Board of Directors for luncheon on Tuesday, October 10, at her lovely townhouse in downtown Lexington. The board meeting followed at the Cornerstone Bank Building.

President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. She acknowledged Sallie and the work of The Blue Ridge Garden Club in hosting the 98th meeting of the Board of Governors. She expressed her appreciation to the board, saying it has been a very enjoyable time and there is much of which to be proud.

First Vice President Jean Gilpin reported on the Symposium, attributing its success to the efficient and thorough work done by all committees. Feedback from attendees has been very positive.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson reported that a task force had completed its search for professional assistance in creating a comprehensive Centennial marketing plan. She plans to bring a recommendation with details to the January board meeting.

Susan noted many of the unknowns surrounding Centennial plans, adding that the committee will be broadened to clarify direction. Nina added that with the committees changing in May 2018, future chairmen should be prepped to work effectively with the Centennial Committee, and that the incoming board will play a major role in coordinating and overseeing activities.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington reviewed GCV’s financial reports and Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander reported that Bookkeeper Kathy Knollman is working on document retention guidelines.

Parliamentarian Ann Gordan Evans shared her draft of an awards policy document that revealed an apparent lack of cohesive policy in all areas of awards -- selection processes, guest allowances, funding, eligibility, notifications, presentations, and more. Work was to be continued.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis reminded everyone that the fall appeal will be going out soon. The Annual Fund goal for this year is $140,000, and a donor event is scheduled at Montpelier on November 2.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Susan Wight spoke of the Symposium's success. She announced that Daffodil Day will be March 28 and will feature workshops ($75 per person) on flower arranging in three categories: beginner, intermediate, and botanical arts. There will be no vendors at this event.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence presented three projects for approval by the Board of Directors: the Kent-Valentine House’s exterior repairs; the East Garden at Stratford Hall; and the Reveley Garden at the College of William & Mary. All three projects were approved.

Director at Large Tuckie Westfall announced that the DALs have prepared a handbook to assist club presidents as they adjust to leadership roles within their clubs and within GGV, adding that an orientation event for presidents, similar to Historic Garden Week’s Boot Camp, would be helpful. Open handbook.

The board meeting was followed by cocktails and Oktoberfest Dutch treat dinner at Virginia Military Academy's Moody Hall.

Optional activities Wednesday morning included a tour of Natural Bridge State Park, Chessie Nature Trail hike, or activities in downtown Lexington. Attendees then gathered for lunch at TAPS in The Georges.

President Nina Mustard called the 98th meeting of the GCV Board of Governors to order on Wednesday afternoon, October 11, at Washington and Lee University's Evans Hall. She thanked members of The Blue Ridge Garden Club, noting the lovely board luncheon hosted by Sallie Sebrell, the morning tours, lunch, and the work of meeting co-chairmen Barbara Luton and Carol Grigsby and BRGC President Catherine Harcus.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington presented summarized financial and investment reports, adding that dues will remain at $40 per member and are due in March. Notices will go out in January. Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander reviewed the duties of the Finance Committee and reported on investment accounts, noting that GCV’s investments outperformed for the current quarter. The GCV budget is on track to date.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Susan Wight joined Jean in thanking members for a successful Symposium. She then put on her Daffodil hat and announced that Daffodil Day will be held on March 28, 2018.

Daffodil Committee Chairman Janet Hickman announced that 627 sets of daffodil test collection bulbs were sold in 2017 -- a record number for GCV. The collection features pink and white daffodils, not just yellow ones. The photography class has proven to be popular and will be included again in 2018. The daffodil judging school will take place the day before the show, on March 27.

Rose Committee Chairman Lea Shuba noted that the rose section at the Symposium was beautiful and that awards were given. She explained that GCV’s rose collection is not a “test” collection anymore but rather a collection of roses known to be successful in Virginia. Chamblee Nursery in Texas is the GCV’s source for roses, which come already blooming in pots. They are fragrant, repeat bloomers, and come in all forms.

Flower Shows Committee Chairman Susan Wight announced for Lily Committee Chairman Carrie Darracott that there will be a Lily Show on June 13, 2018, sponsored by the Lily Committee.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughan announced that the Conservation Forum, “Fracking in Virginia -- From All Perspectives,” will be on October 27 in Charlottesville. Legislative Day is January 22, 2018.

Wendy also updated the group on the work of the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow Kate LeCroy, whose project is titled “Evaluation of Bee Hotels as an Effective Conservation Tool for Spring-Emerging Mason Bees (genus Osmia) in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Common Wealth Award Chairman Candy Crosby introduced Sarah Hellewell of Hillside Garden Club, who presented an update on the Academy Center of the Arts Tree Garden (“Academy Trees”), recipient of the 2016 Common Wealth Award.

Director-at-Large District 4 Kris Carbone revealed the new handbook for club presidents. The six Directors at Large then highlighted the work within each district with a visual presentation and report.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Catherine Madden was thrilled to announce that over 500 stems, representing 30 clubs, were entered in the horticulture division of the fall Symposium and thanked Fran Carden and Kim Cory for coordinating the show. She then announced that Horticulture Field Day will be held in Lynchburg on June 5-6, 2018.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence announced the approval of three new exterior repairs to the Kent-Valentine House; landscaping at Stratford Hall's East Garden; and, pending finalization of partnership terms between GCV and William & Mary, the Reveley Garden. GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley then detailed the history and initial plans for each project.

Nina adjourned the meeting until 9:30 Thursday morning.

Attendees were graciously hosted for cocktails at the historic home of Carol and Ben Grigsby. The awards banquet followed at Washington and Lee's Evans Hall. The Common Wealth Award was presented to Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club ($10,000) for "The Healing Grove at Boulder Crest Retreat." A second-place award was presented to The Petersburg Garden Club ($6,000) for "The Lee Park Wildflower and Bird Sanctuary."

Nina called the meeting to order on Thursday morning.

Development Committee Chairman, Debbie Lewis, announced that the generosity and commitment from GCV members over the past year really made a difference in enabling the GCV to reach its financial goals. Because of this generosity, GCV exceeded its Annual Fund goal and the draw on the endowment was smaller than budgeted.

First Vice President Jean Gilpin introduced Strategic Planning Committee Chairman Candy Crosby, who reminded attendees that the implementation plan outlines the GCV’s goals and is reviewed yearly. The committee has met with large and small groups, asking questions and gathering information. In response to the feedback received, the first new strategy implemented, the Symposium, was very successful. The committee will focus on communication and strengthening the relationship between the GCV and member clubs.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender presented the results of the first grants given by the GCV to various state parks in Virginia. She encouraged member clubs to collaborate with a state park to submit a grant application. She then encouraged everyone to go on a First Day Hike at a state park on January 1, 2018.

Conservation and Beautification Awards Chairman Leesie Leake announced that the Blue Ridge Partnership in Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM), nominated by Albemarle Garden Club, was selected to receive GCV’s 2017 Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation.

Jody Ullmann, director of the Lynnhaven River NOW Pearl School Award Program, nominated by The Princess Anne Garden Club, was selected to receive GCV’s 2017 Conservation Educator Award.

These awards will be presented at the upcoming Conservation Forum in Charlottesville.

Leesie also reported that Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award recipients will now be selected by club member votes in a process similar to that of the Common Wealth Award.

Blue Ridge Garden Club member Barbara Walsh then introduced Eric Wilson, Executive Director of the Rockbridge Historical Society, who presented, “Main Street Lexington: A Trail through History, and Beyond.”

Historic Garden Week Chairman Stephie Broadwater expressed appreciation to the clubs for making HGW successful each year, noting that procurement of homes and gardens needs to take place 18-20 months before the tour date, as publicity is beginning sooner and homeowners need the time to prepare. The selection of tour chairmen and co-chairmen is also critical, and they should be in place in May of the year before their tour dates. Stephie impressed upon the group the fact that social media plays an extremely large role in publicizing HGW and encouraged presidents to ask their members to “like” and “share” HGW Facebook posts. In 2012, the HGW Facebook page had 1000 followers. The 2017 tour had 6211 followers and was up 10% from the number of followers in 2016. HGW’s Instagram had 500 followers. To date, $87,400 has been generated through the sale of 117 ads in the HGW Guidebook.

Director of Historic Garden Week and Special Events Karen Ellsworth announced that HGW Boot Camp will occur on June 26-27, 2018. She then revealed the 2018 Guidebook and brochure covers featuring Auburn Plantation in Mathews County. The Kwanzan cherry is the featured flower.

Nina congratulated Carol Grigsby, Barbara Luton, Catherine Harcus, and the members of The Blue Ridge Garden Club for their success in hosting the Board of Governors meeting. The club received a standing ovation.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

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The Board of Directors met at the Kent-Valentine House on January 16, 2018. President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin introduced Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Alice Martin and committee member Bebe Luck who updated board members on the plans for Kent-Valentine House refurbishments, including roof and gutter repairs, painting, furniture refinishing and restoration and the exquisite mirrors. With appreciation to Director of Development Lexie Haglund, Alice noted that with grants and donations, money has been raised for all parts of the refurbishment plan except restoration of water-gilded mirrors, estimated to cost $84,250. Work on the mirrors could be done over a three-year period and has been approved by the Department of Historic Resources. The portion of each mirror from eye level and below is the portion that primarily needs refurbishing, and to refurbish all portions of the mirrors would cost $120,000 or more in total. The mirrors are original to the house and a more accurate appraisal is being done for insurance purposes. At this time, and until a development plan for the mirrors is in place, a simple board endorsement of the project was sought and given. Following endorsement, a motion was made and approved by the board to draw sufficient money from KVH funds to begin restoring the dining room mirror. It was noted that the House funds are separate from Endowment funds. New restrictions will be in place with regard to the care of flower arrangements placed in front of the mirrors and the restorer, Russell Bernabo, will provide a handbook on mirror care to the committee.

Lynn then announced that the new curator at Virginia Tech has requested that GCV loan two Catesby prints to the university. The Sycamore print is valued at $4,500 and the Black Walnut one is $1,500. A motion to loan the prints carried.

First Vice President Jean Gilpin moved on behalf of the Membership Committee to elect Molly Ward as an Honorary Member of the GCV. The motion carried.

On behalf of the Nominations Committee, Jean moved the following slate of officers for 2018-2020: President Jean Gilpin; First Vice President Missy Buckingham; Second Vice President Catherine Madden; Recording Secretary Kris Carbone; Corresponding Secretary Janet Rosser; Treasurer Vicky Alexander; DAL 1 Bettie Guthrie; DAL 3 Ann Harrison Harris; and DAL 4 Debbie Lewis. The motion carried.

Jean then reported for Strategic Planning Committee Chairman Candy Crosby that a governance plan has been initiated to create five-year plans with each standing committee. The committee is also beginning to study Historic Garden Week. Nina asked that all current committee chairmen begin thinking about the future of their committees as this board prepares for the transition to new leadership.

On behalf of State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender, Jean presented the list of 2018 grant recipients totaling $114,145: Belle Isle – phase two of improvements to the landscape at the Belle Isle mansion and enhance learning panels in Visitor’s Center; Caledon – drinking fountain; Holliday Lake – underwater lighting; Hungry Mother – Children’s Discovery area; James River – native plant and pollinator garden; Lake Anna – native plant landscaping around new cabins; Natural Bridge – continued improvements to Interactive Classroom; Pocahontas – shoreline restoration; Shenandoah River – Pollinator Meadow with bee habitat; Sky Meadows – Children’s Discovery area and trails; Westmoreland– creating a Discovery Center in the former Visitors Center; York River – landscaping improvements in three gardens; and Youth Conservation Corps – to help with purchase of materials.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington reviewed highlights of the GCV operating cash flow report and the balance sheet, noting that the depreciation is done by the auditors. On the cash flow report, Betsy pointed out that donation income includes grant money received after successfully raising matching funds for the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation grant. Membership dues have not been collected but will be reflected in the cash flow report at the appropriate time.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander’s report included recommended draws for funding the Common Wealth Award. the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award and the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship. In closing, Vicky reported a clean audit that, as requested by auditors, provided more detailed Restoration Funds accounting.

Nina reminded everyone that while the Treasurer may serve two consecutive terms, GCV does not have a succession process in place to provide training. The Finance Committee Chairman works closely with the Treasurer but is not “in line” to succeed the Treasurer. She asked that the board give the succession process some thought for the future. Vicky noted that the size of the Finance Committee has almost doubled, giving more people a chance to serve and to see the complexity of the history of the GCV’s finances. Her committee has discussed the fact that this committee might be well suited to younger professional women, especially as Finance Committee meetings can be done virtually, with reports in hand.

Parliamentarian Ann Gordon Evans presented information regarding approval of minutes from the Annual Meeting and Board of Governors. Nina had noted with her earlier that the current process allows for approval only at the next official board meeting, which makes the approval very distant from actual events. Ann Gordon Evans moved to amend the current bylaw, Article X, Section 10.3 as follows:

"It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to correct and approve the minutes of the Annual Meeting and the Board of Governors meeting by electronic vote or at the first session of the Board of Directors after the minutes have been taken."

Susan Robertson seconded the motion and the motion was carried unanimously. This will be presented for a vote by the delegates at the Annual Meeting in May.

Ann Gordon then presented revised policies and procedures for awards. The revisions were approved to go into effect on July 1, 2018.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn presented the committee’s Legislative Positions/Issues of Concern document and provided a concise summary. She noted that encouraging legislators to OPPOSE HJ111 Constitutional Amendment (second resolution); powers of General Assembly; suspensions, is the most important action for GCV members to take. This bill is up for its second year and, if it passes, it will go to the voters, and the Virginia Constitution could be changed. She also noted that GCV members should encourage their legislators to oppose HB1213, as it calls for a referendum on the aforementioned idea.

Open 2018 Legislation Issues and Areas of Concern

The document presented by Wendy is intended for GCV members and legislators. It was requested that Wendy and her committee create a one-page cover sheet in the form of a table of contents to go along with the document, which will appeal to the “casual observers” (those members who are interested but are not quite as passionate about conservation or visiting their legislators). The VCN briefing book, talking points (to be developed by the committee), and this document will be available on the GCV website.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson reported on Centennial Committee progress with enthusiastic new leadership at the Virginia Historical Society. Financing has been identified and Director of Development Lexie Haglund has begun the requesting process. The daffodil for the Centennial has been named “Green Arrow” and will be available in limited amounts for pre-order, hopefully on Daffodil Day 2018. Potential speakers for the events in 2020 have been identified.

Susan then reported for the task force that was formed to identify a marketing firm for the Centennial. Three candidates were interviewed, and the committee chose marketing consultant Frazier Millner Armstrong. Susan introduced Frazier who spoke to the board about what she can do to assist with creating a marketing strategy for the Centennial. Frazier cautioned the board that the Centennial is a celebration, not a bucket in which to toss everything to be accomplished in the next 100 years. Additionally, she stated she is a marketing strategist and is not an event planner. She can give strategy, but the logistics belong to others. The Centennial is a springboard and the Centennial marketing strategy will assist the GCV in crystallizing and prioritizing its goals. Questions from the board centered around: member engagement; coordinating with the Strategic Plan; showcasing the GCV and its uniqueness, passion, and work to date; working with the board, staff, member clubs, and Centennial Committee; and how the Restoration properties fit into the Centennial.

Frazier stated that the first “deliverable” will happen around April 2. She will work with key leaders, engaged members, and those with little knowledge of the Centennial to gain information and perspectives and to discern key messages. The board approved a motion to pursue a contract with Frazier M. Armstrong to develop a comprehensive marketing plan (phase 1) for the upcoming GCV Centennial.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Stephie Broadwater announced that for the first time, a regional brochure will be created for three tours in close proximity to each other, and this experiment will be analyzed after HGW. An article will appear in "Flower" magazine (online version) and one will appear on HGTVgardens.com.

Nina commended Stephie, noting she was not afforded the opportunity to serve as Assistant Garden Week Chairman. She pointed out that Jean will appoint the next HGW assistant chairman, who will serve during the second year of Stephie’s term.

Nina reported for Flower Shows Chairman Susan Wight that the workshops to be held in February will raise money for use with Daffodil Day on March 28. Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with Daffodil Day should contact Susan. Nina then announced that she is chairing the June 19 event for lily horticulture exhibitors at St. Mary’s Church in Goochland.

Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence updated the board on plans for the Reveley Garden at William & Mary. Per agreement, the college will pay for all underground work and permitting, and GCV will pay for the design work, hardscape, and plant material for the garden. The arbors from the previous restoration of the Yeardley House at Jamestown, currently in storage with Hilldrup, will be reused in the Reveley Garden.

On behalf of the Restoration Committee, Dianne moved that the requirement for having one private garden and one public garden for fellowships each year be amended to give the committee more flexibility in choosing fellowship sites. The motion carried.

Director at Large Janet Rosser referred to the DAL’s recently published Handbook for Member Club Presidents and their desire to hold an orientation for new presidents. It was agreed that an event will take place at the Kent-Valentine House in June under Jean's leadership.

With no further business, the Board of Directors moved into Executive Session.

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The 98th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was held on May 15-17, 2018, at New College Institute in Martinsville, hosted by The Garden Study Club and chaired by Donna Lawhon.

Following a luncheon for board members hosted by Debbie Lewis at her beautiful home, President Nina Mustard called the Board of Directors meeting to order on Tuesday, May 15 at NCI.

As liaison for the Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Committee, Nina reported that The Ashland Garden Club has accepted a “last minute" invitation to host a one-day Annual Meeting in 2021. She then led a discussion about feedback from small clubs that felt they had inadequate venues and accommodations to host a meeting. A motion was made and carried to allow the Strategic Planning Committee to provide recommendations.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson called attention to the Centennial timeline which detailed responsibilities of each subcommittee of the Centennial Committee. Incoming First Vice President Missy Buckingham will chair the Centennial Steering Committee. “A Landscape Saved” is the working title of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture exhibit. The main events will occur May 11-13, 2020, to include a one-day Annual Meeting, a gala, the VMHC exhibit, and speakers. Speakers’ fees will be covered by event fees and possible grants and sponsorships, which the Development Committee and the Centennial Committee will coordinate.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington distributed financial reports and reminded the group that April is the lowest ebb in the fiscal year. The operating account has already received its draw from the endowment. The money market account seems larger as it contains the Mary Morton Parsons funds and the KVH mirror restoration funds in addition to its normal Annual Fund dollars. Betsy reported that an unexpected expense of $5000 was incurred due to a sewer problem at KVH. The GCV bought one new computer to replace one that failed. The GCV is in a good financial position and is on target for this time in the budget year. The endowment draw will occur at the end of the fiscal year.

Betsy then led the group through the proposed budget for FY2018-2019. She reminded everyone that GCV “forward funds” for the Centennial, the State Parks project, and capital improvements. Events are designed to break even, with the exception of the workshops held before Daffodil Day which are fundraisers for that event. This budget does not include the $5000 given in the past to the hostess clubs for flower shows, as the clubs no longer host those shows. With the current need for consulting with the CPA and attorney for advice on Historic Garden Week and guidance for clubs and their treasurers, there is an increase in funds needed for consultants.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander reviewed the history and purpose of the GCV Endowment, established in 1989, and reminded members that higher expenses result in a larger draw from the fund. She then reported on specific draws from other GCV funds -- Symposium, Kent-Valentine House, Common Wealth and Conservation.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Stephie Broadwater reported that no preliminary figures for 2018 Historic Garden Week would be announced at the Annual Meeting though initial indications are positive. There were 29 tours and income is projected to be approximately $990,000. After expenses, the GCV should net $620,000, compared with $561,000 in 2017. Stephie and Karen Ellsworth plan to send each club president and tour chairman a letter with information specific to their club’s online ticket sales, Guidebook ad sales, and overall proceeds, along with a 12-year financial history.

Stephie also reported a club request to begin hosting HGW every other year. A lengthy discussion ensued without resolution and was tabled until the following day.

The board meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Attendees were transported to Sandy River Equestrian Center on Tuesday evening for cocktails, riding demonstrations, and a Dutch treat dinner.

On Wednesday morning, while attendees were offered a tour of Martinsville Speedway, the board of directors reconvened.

GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin displayed pictures of the dedication of the GCV Centennial project at Mason Neck State Park. She then gave an update on the Kent-Valentine House activities, reporting that Virginia Tech was grateful to have had two Catesby prints loaned to them, and the prints have been returned to the KVH.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis gave an update on the restoration of the KVH mirrors, noting that $85,000 is needed. $90,000 has been raised toward the $140,000 goal for the Annual Fund. The upcoming trip to England, with 17 GCV and non-GCV travelers, generated $1,700 for GCV. Director of Development Lexie Haglund is looking into travel opportunities for 2019.

Discussion then resumed regarding Historic Garden Week topics from the previous day and revealed numerous ways for individual members and clubs to have strong differences of opinion. Finally, the requesting club was given permission to host HGW every other year, with the consensus that this type of discussion could continue indefinitely.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Wendy Vaughan announced that Kate LeCroy, Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow, would be presenting “Evaluation of Bee Hotels as an Effective Conservation Tool for Spring-Emerging Mason Bees (genus Osmia) in the Commonwealth of Virginia” at the Annual Meeting.

Corresponding Secretary Sue Rosser directed board members to the reports from the Historian, the Journal Editor and Joural Advertising Chairman, and asked for a decision on the Historian’s request to turn a piece of furniture in the Kent-Valentine House into a time capsule for the Centennial. The Board of Directors sent the request to the Kent-Valentine House Committee for a recommendation which can be voted on by the board at its next meeting.

Parliamentarian Ann Gordon Evans brought forth two Bylaws changes and one Policy and Procedure change for amending and/or restating. Another lengthy discussion followed, particularly with those changes involving Historic Garden Week responsibilities.

Nina concluded the meeting by stating what a pleasure it had been to serve with the members of the board and thanked all for their service to the board and to the Garden Club of Virginia.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Board members and attendees gathered for lunch on Wednesday at Hamlet Vineyards.

Nina called the 98th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia to order on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at NCI.

Stuart Webster, outgoing president of The Garden Study Club welcomed everyone to Martinsville. 2018 Annual Meeting Chairman Donna Lawhon added her welcome and relayed greetings from the mayor of Martinsville, Chris Teague.

Former GCV President Deedy Bumgardner (2004-2006), Augusta, paid tribute to Former President Lee Cochran (1972-1974), Augusta. Former GCV President Helen Murphy (1992-1994), Northern Neck, paid tribute to former GCV President Betty Schutte (1996-1998), Winchester-Clarke. Both ladies passed away earlier in 2018.

Treasurer Betsy Worthington called attendees’ attention to the copies of the budget placed on the tables and presented a summarized version of the budget, noting that the GCV is on target for income and expenses for this point in the fiscal year. The budget is based on funds received as well as those slated to be carried forward, which include Historic Garden Week, the Annual Fund, those designated for capital improvements, and dues. She also reviewed the GCV’s investment accounts with IMVA and Darryl and King. Betsy then presented the proposed operating budget for FY2018-2019.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander outlined the responsibilities of the committee, noting it is responsible for supervising all financial matters for the GCV. The committee reviews all monthly financial reports, works with the GCV Treasurer to prepare the budget, and oversees the GCV’s investment accounts. Vicky listed the balances for each of the GCV’s accounts as of March 31, 2018, and the draws in 2017-2018 from the various funds for Kent-Valentine House refurbishments, Symposium, Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship, and Common Wealth Award.

Corresponding Secretary Sue Rosser introduced Historian Bettie Guthrie who described plans for the Centennial time capsule and presented Nina with a beautiful memory book reflecting on her term in office.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Wendy Vaughn highlighted events of the past year and the theme of the Conservation Forum for 2018, “The Real Dirt on Pesticides: Pollinators, Food, and Our Health,” which will be held in Charlottesville on October 28. Legislative Day will be Wednesday, January 30, 2019, in Richmond, in collaboration with the Virginia Conservation Network. There are several applicants for the next Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship, with the winner to be announced in the coming weeks.

Wendy introduced the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow, Kate Lecroy, who presented the findings from her study entitled, “Evaluation of Bee Hotels as an Effective Conservation Tool for Spring-Emerging Mason Bees (genus Osmia) in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” The study may be found on the GCV website. She concluded her presentation by expressing her appreciation for the opportunity given to her by the Garden Club of Virginia and the Conservation and Beautification Committee.

Conservation Awards Chairman Leesie Leake announced 2018 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award recipients -- The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Study Club for their collaboration on the Paw Path Pollinator Garden at the Smith River Sports Complex.  Click Here to read Journal article.

GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin updated the attendees on the renovations being made to the exterior of the Kent-Valentine House, which were completed in time for Historic Garden Week.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Alice Martin updated plans for the interior refurbishing, stating that fabrics have been chosen for upholstery and repairs are being made to individual pieces of furniture and accessories, which will result in pieces being absent for short periods of time. The meeting room on the third floor will receive a facelift. The refurbishment will happen gradually and no events will be affected.

Development Committee Chairman Debbie Lewis noted that a grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, along with the required matching funds, are funding the restoration and refurbishing of the Kent-Valentine House. A new campaign is underway to underwrite the restoration of the seven pier and overmantel mirrors, given to the GCV by the Valentine family when the house was purchased. Restoration specialist Russell Bernabo has stated that these mirrors are the “best quality of gilded mirrors in the area.” The dining room mirror has been restored and returned to its place. Debbie reiterated the need for contributions to the Annual Fund by noting this fund safeguards the hard work of the members, past and present, and it safeguards the Endowment.

Historic Garden Week Chairman Stephie Broadwater commended all clubs for their hard work and enthusiasm for the 2018 Historic Garden Week, noting “this annual fundraiser is the one thing we all do together to support the mission of the GCV, and all should feel proud.” All club reports from the week are due by the end of May and results will be announced shortly after. Club presidents and tour chairmen will receive letters in June with information that is tailored specifically to that club’s numbers for Guidebook sales, online ticket sales, and the additional amount raised by the tour, along with a 12-year financial history of the club’s efforts. Questions are already being asked by excited travelers about HGW 2019, which will occur April 27 – May 4, 2019, a week later than usual due to the date of Easter. HGW was featured in Horticulture Magazine, GardenandGun.com, and the online version of Architectural Digest. The promotion for the statewide pass was handled through Flower magazine.

Stephie requested the assistance of club presidents in keeping Historic Garden Week relevant to the clubs throughout the year, not just in the month leading up to it. She presented several guidelines to assist presidents in working with their tour chairmen. Stephie concluded by stating that she realized that HGW is challenging, but the state committee and the HGW staff are eager to assist clubs, if desired. She reminded everyone that HGW is not a competition. The goal is for each club to create a wonderful experience for the club and its visitors.

Linda Consolvo presented the Restoration Committee report in Chairman Dianne Spence’s absence. The committee met March 14-15, 2018, visiting Christ Church, Saluda; Historic Christ Church, Lancaster, and Stratford Hall. Two students have been chosen for the summer fellowship program at Sherwood Forest and Shirley Plantation. In the 1990s the Restoration Committee allocated funds to digitize records dating back to 1939 which were stored at the Virginia Historical Society, mostly in boxes. Since then, a committee has been working with the properties to grant permission for use of their photographs and archives. These records may be accessed through the GCV website, as well as the website of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture for research and study. The Restoration Committee has made great progress in examining and reviewing policies over the past two years. Guidelines for liaisons to properties have been revised to strengthen and reinforce our relationships. Communication is essential, and liaisons will visit the properties at least four times a year for support and to ensure that the standards set forth by the GCV in the agreements are followed. In 2017, the proceeds from Historic Garden Week less the State Parks donation was $431,202.18. There is $256,547.51 remaining in these funds. In addition, our funds managed by Darrell & King total $2,034,135.56. The total commitment to our properties and projects is $1,052,324.43.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Catherine Madden congratulated the clubs on their creative and imaginative “Women on Track” horticulture displays. She congratulated the five winners of the 2018 Horticulture Awards of Merit: Cathy Leitch, Roanoke Valley Garden Club; Kaye Moomaw, Hillside Garden Club; Marilyn Millard, Rivanna Garden Club; Meredith Mercer, The Charlottesville Garden Club; and Karen Jamison, The Williamsburg Garden Club. Catherine reminded the group of Horticulture Field Day, June 5-6 in Lynchburg, noting 149 people have already signed up. Catherine encouraged all GCV members to exhibit at the Horticulture Show which is part of the Fall Symposium, September 25-26.

Flower Shows Chairman Susan Wight reported that her committee had been kept busy over the past two years implementing the changes the clubs had sought to flower shows, moving from three club-organized shows to two GCV-organized shows. Flower arranging workshops were held in the weeks preceding Daffodil Day, and money raised from those helped to offset the costs of Daffodil Day. There were 90 participants in the workshops. More workshops are planned for the fall Symposium. Susan thanked Jennifer Kelley for chairing Daffodil Day, noting more than 200 people visited the KVH for the day. Susan thanked the GCV for allowing her committee the opportunity to assist in charting the future of the GCV and its flower shows.

Daffodil Committee Chairman Janet Hickman reiterated what a success Daffodil Day was. An article appeared in the February issue of Southern Living, which generated much interest and excitement for the show. Though the spring weather conditions yielded fewer stems, 59 growers exhibited 485 entries and 1044 stems. Janet was excited to report that the winner of the best collection was a historic collection, and a new award for youth was given. The first winner of this Youth Bulb of the Year Award went to a nine-year-old boy from Gloucester. The Judging School held with the show was the third and final one, and was the most difficult. All nine candidates passed with excellent scores. The 2018 Daffodil Collection is available through club daffodil chairmen. The Centennial Daffodil ‘Green Arrow’ is thriving in Holland and will be available to members at some time in the future.

Rose Committee Chairman Lea Shuba revealed that in the course of the two-year term, her committee and she have come to learn much about rose growers. There are those who grow to show, and there are others who are casual rose growers. Each type of grower required specific needs from the committee. As a result of this knowledge, Lea and the committee chose roses for the 2018 Rose Collection which will include specimens which will appeal to each type of grower and are also favorites of committee members. The collection is available on the GCV website.

Nina reported for Lily Committee Chairman Carrie Darracott. The Lily Collection will be available for viewing online in August. Orders will be taken in September ,and the lilies will be shipped in the spring of 2019. Lilies in Bloom will take place in Goochland on June 19 and, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees may tour Sue Thompson’s garden at Historic Tuckahoe. Lilies in Bloom will follow the North American Lily Society’s schedule and GCV trophies will be given.

First Vice President Jean Gilpin introduced Symposium Chairman Jennifer Kelley and her lab partners, Kim Cory, Fran Carden and Claire Mellinger. They invited everyone to attend the fall Symposium, to be held in Richmond at the Science Museum of Virginia on September 25-26. The theme will be “Elements of Beauty – a Scientific Approach to Examining Beauty in the Basic Elements of Nature.” Holly Heider Chapple will speak at the Flower Arranging Workshop, and Chip Calloway will be the featured speaker for the Horticulture Workshop. Look for details about the Symposium in the near future by going to gcvsymposium.org, but, in the meantime, save the date!

Claire Mellinger noted that photography may be entered in the Symposium and requested that all attendees come to the meeting on Thursday with their phones charged and ready to learn how to take an entry-worthy photo.

President Mustard reminded everyone that the Annual Meeting would continue at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. She then adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m.

The Annual Meeting resumed at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning with a call to order by the president.

Annual Meeting Chairman Donna Lawhon introduced her “pit crew” and thankedThe Garden Study Club for a job well done in hosting this Annual Meeting.

President Mustard began the morning with announcements and congratulated the winners of the GCV awards, given during the meeting the day before and at the awards banquet the night before.

President Mustard then presented a lighthearted talk on the things she had learned over the course of her two years as president. Her greatest joys have been experienced through her travels across the state to meet with members of all 47 clubs, attend committee meetings, and participate in events.

Claire Mellinger, Albemarle Garden Club, conducted a workshop on photography using one’s iPhone. Her presentation can be found on the GCV website. Attendees were given helpful hints and then had the opportunity to practice what they learned by taking a photograph of flowers provided and texting them to Claire, who was then going to post them on the website. This energetic and fun workshop was presented to encourage everyone to enjoy using their iPhones for taking pictures and to enter the photography show at the Symposium.

Second Vice President Susan Robertson, liaison to the Centennial Committee, highlighted the work done by Chairman Anne Cross and the committee, noting that implementation of the plans will begin soon. GCV Founders’ Day will be May 13, 2020, so all GCV members should save the date for this exciting event. Susan announced that Juanita Patterson, a founder of the GCV, and Laura Wheelwright, founder of Historic Garden Week, have been nominated for inclusion in the Women’s Monument at Capitol Square in Richmond.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender highlighted the 2018 grant recipients, whose projects cover education, habitats, plantings, landscape improvements, and summer youth programs. Jeanette also reviewed for the group the history of the GCV’s involvement in helping to create the Virginia State Parks system. The original six state parks were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and included Douthat, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, Seashore (now First Landing), Staunton River ,and Westmoreland.

Jeanette announced that the 2019 grant cycle will begin in July, with the application deadline of December 1, 2018. Funds to support these grants come from Historic Garden Week proceeds. The amount of $100,000 per year is being given for five years for the Centennial State Parks Project. This is the third year of this project.

Corresponding Secretary Sue Rosser introduced Historian Bettie Guthrie, who described plans for the Centennial time capsule. She then presented Nina with a beautiful memory book reflecting her term of office.

At 10:45, Annual Meeting Chairman Donna Lawhon introduced Lou Harris, a Woman on Track, who presented “How I Got on Track and Stayed on Track.” Mrs. Harris founded an interior design firm in 1973 and spoke about how opportunity, in various forms, led her to change her business model for changing times throughout her career.

Directors at Large Janet Rosser, Meg Laughon, Sidney Jordan, Kris Carbone, Tuckie Westfall and Ellen Upton presented a short skit on the confusion often experienced by new club presidents at the beginning of their terms and announced that all questions would be answered on Presidents Day, June 11, for all incoming and sitting presidents. Each DAL then introduced the outgoing and incoming presidents from their districts.

Strategic Planning Committee Chairman Candy Crosby announced that the committee has turned its focus to studying two topics, Historic Garden Week and governance. Candy reminded everyone that the importance of Historic Garden Week cannot be underestimated, so the process of studying it in terms of the Strategic Plan will be thoughtfully and carefully done. The goal of the strategic planning process is to assure the GCV stays relevant and vital for the next 100 years.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Candy Carden explained the title of the award, which provides annual grants to community projects of the Garden Club of Virginia’s member clubs. The two word title, “common wealth”, was deliberately chosen to describe the award that showcases the wealth that is common to all Virginians. Candy presented the applicants for the 2018 award, which will be voted upon by the clubs in the fall and presented at the Board of Governors in October. The applicants are as follows The Augusta Garden Club: "Project Dogwood – A Hundred Year Journey:"  TheElizabeth River Garden Club: “Urban Garden Invites Youth to 'Dream a Different Future' at the Fred W. Beasely River Academy at Paradise Creek Nature Park;" The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Study Club: "The Paw Path Pollinator Garden at Smith River Sports Complex;" Mill Mountain Garden Club: "Strengthening Our Roots: Improving Access to a Native Garden;" Roanoke Valley Garden Club: "Save the Rain." She noted that projects that do not receive an award may apply again in the future.

Nominations Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin presented the slate of officers for 2018-2020. As there were no nominations from the floor, the slate was accepted as presented through a unanimous vote of those in attendance.

Nina led the attendees in a standing ovation of gratitude for The Garden Study Club and their work in hostessing the 2018 Annual Meeting. She then introduced incoming President Jean Gilpin, paying tribute to her by noting what a gifted leader Jean is, how Jean has been her right-hand person throughout her term, and what a special friend Jean has become to her. With those words, President Mustard passed the gavel.

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Chairman Wendy Vaughn, The Princess Anne Garden Club

A Conservation Workshop was held in Richmond on September 12, 2016. Photos

The 58th GCV Conservation Forum, "Clean Energy: Exploring Wind and Solar," was held November 3, 2016, at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. Panelists included Will Cleveland, Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center; Sandy Reisky, CEO, Apex Clean Energy; Andrew Foukal, Vice President of Operations, Coronal Energy; Dave Belote, Senior Vice President, Cassidy & Associates; John Warren, Agency Head, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy; and Katharine Bond, Senior Policy Advisor, Dominion Resources. Photos

The Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation was presented to William S. Portlock for his “dedication to conservation education and his lifelong devotion to the preservation of our natural resources.”

The inaugural Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Educator Award was presented to the Roots and Shoots Intergenerational School Garden Program, co-founded by Molly Brown and her late husband, Dirck.

2017 Legislative Day was held on January 23 at St. Paul's Church in Richmond. View Summary of Legislative Positions and Issues of Concern.

The 59th GCV Conservation Forum, "Fracking in Virginia: From All Perspectives," was held on October 27, 2017, at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. The program included: "Principles of American Natural Gas Development” presented by Josh Ball, Senior Foreman of Drilling and Completions, Central Appalachian Region; "A View from Outside Virginia" presented by Larry Schweiger, President and CEO, PennFuture; and panelists Richard Moncure, Tidal River Steward with the Friends of the Rappahannock; Angela Navarro, Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia; Kristin Davis, Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center; Ruby Brabo, Chairwoman, King George County Board of Supervisors; David Clarke, Attorney with the law firm of Eckert Seamans; and moderator Will Cleveland, Southern Environmental Law Center. Photos

The Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation was presented to Maggie and Rod Walker, founders of Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Removal (PRISM).

The Conservation Educator Award was presented to Jody Ullmann, program director of Lynnhaven River NOW, Pearl Programs.

2018 Legislative Day was held on January 22 at St. Paul's Church in Richmond. View Summary of Legislative Positions and Issues of Concern.

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Chairman Susan Wight, The Princess Anne Garden Club

The 74th Annual GCV Lily Show, "Lions and tigers and bears oh my," was hosted by Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club on June 15-16, 2016, at Foxcroft School in Middleburg. The show was co-chaired by Lucy Rhame and Elaine Burden and reported 65 horticulture exhibitors with 330 stems and 67 artistic arrangements. Photos

Flower Arranging School was held at the University of Richmond's Robins Pavilion on September 28, 2016. Featured speaker was Meredith Lauter, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton. Photos

The 78th Annual GCV Rose Show, "Romancing the Rose," was hosted by The Hampton Roads Garden Club on October 5-6, 2016, at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton. The show was chaired by Kim Cross and Becky Tench. Photos

The 2017 GCV Daffodil Show was hosted by the Huntington Garden Club on April 5-6, 2017 at Hampton Roads Convention Center. The show was co-chaired by Rebecca and Bobo Smith and reported 108 horticulture exhibitors with 1713 stems and 63 artistic arrangements. Photos

The 75th Annual GCV Lily Show, "Let's Celebrate with Lilies," was hosted by The Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula on June 21-22, 2017, at Essex High School in Tappahannock. The show was co-chaired by Betty Anne Garrett and Biddie Shelor and reported 54 horticulture exhibitors with 154 stems and 63 artistic arrangements. Photos

Three flower arranging workshops were hosted by the Flower Shows Committee in preparation for 2018 Daffodil Day. Proceeds from the workshops were designated for Daffodil Day expenses.

The inaugural Daffodil Day was hosted by the Garden Club of Virginia on March 27-28, 2018, in Richmond at the Kent-Valentine House and the John Marshall.

The show was chaired by members of the Flower Shows Committee and the Daffodil Committee and reported 67 horticulture exhibitors with 1044 stems, 46 artistic arrangements and 17 photography exhibits. Photos

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2017 Tour Chairman Meg Clement, Three Chopt Garden Club

2018 Tour Chairman Stephie Broadwater, The Nansemond River Garden Club

Oatlands is one of the last of the great houses built by the descendants of Robert (“King”) Carter. Construction began in 1804. It was altered in 1827 to reflect the Federal style. George Carter himself laid out the terraced gardens and designed the greenhouse and forcing wall. In 1903, Oatlands was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William Corcoran Eustis, who turned it into their summer home and restored it to its former glory, enhancing and enlarging the garden while remaining faithful to its original design. Conveyed to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1965, the Garden Club of Virginia completed its first restoration project there, of the north forcing wall, in 1992. Two years later, English boxwood that had fallen prey to “boxwood decline” were replaced on the affected terraces using proceeds from past Historic Garden Week tours.

The white-pillared teahouse was added by Mrs. Eustis as a respite in the series of garden “rooms” that were created in her expansion of the formal grounds. The Garden Club of Virginia recently completed a restoration of the path to the teahouse.

Chairman Meg Clement and her team re-established a relationship with VDOT prior to the 2017 tour. VDOT personnel placed directional signs and picked them up on tour routes in counties across Virginia and created a map that Bartlett Tree Experts sponsored and Virginia Living distributed.

Located on the banks of the North River, 2018 Guidebook cover featured Auburn Plantation, one of the architectural and historical showplaces in Tidewater Virginia for almost two centuries. Completed in 1824 by Dr. Henry Wythe Tabb, it is an impressive Federal-style mansion of three stories over an English basement. Ancient trees, including a spectacular Kwanzan cherry, occupy a landscape filled with English boxwoods, azaleas, camellias, and crepe myrtles. Auburn comprises 31 acres of expansive lawns and gardens with broad views across the river to Ware Neck. After passing through various owners, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Auburn was purchased by the current owners in 1997.

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Chairman Catherine Madden, The Lynchburg Garden Club

Horticulture Field Day was held on May 26, 2016, on the campus of Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg. The event included four experienced speakers in the field of horticulture and gardening; tours of the six-acre Hahn Horticulture Garden and Stadium Woods, an 11-acre stand of rare, urban old-growth forest located within walking distance of the Hahn Garden; a sand-casted, leaf making demonstration; vendors and artists; and a fabulous garden tour to be offered the afternoon of the preceding day for those who arrived early. The event was co-chaired by Becky Balzer and BeBe Green. Photos

Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants at Monticello, presented "Preserving Plants from the Past: Heirloom Flowers for Your Garden," to club horticulture chairmen at a workshop on November 9, 2016, at the Kent-Valentine House. Photos

The horticulture exhibit at the 2016 Board of Governors meeting in Virginia Beach featured photos and specimens of native plants in Virginia State Parks. Photos

The Horticulture Committee hosted two speakers at the fall Symposium on September 26, 2017: Foxie Morgan and Beverly Lacey, who spoke on growing peonies and dahlias. Horticulture Chairman Catherine Madden reported that the horticulture division of the symposium had great participation with 500 stems entered representing 30 garden clubs. Kim Cory chaired the horticulture division.

The horticulture exhibit at the 2017 Annual Meeting in Fredericksburg was, "Fredericksburg, Where It All Began - Show Us Your Roots." Photos

Horticulture Field Day was held in Gloucester on May 31-June 1, 2017, co-chaired by Sandy Geiger and Betsy Carey. They reported a huge success with 200 attendees.  Headquarters at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs was a great location, and staggering visits to the gardens worked well.

The horticulture exhibit at the 2017 Board of Governors meeting in Lexington featured native or introduced plants that would grow along a trail in each club's area. The exhibits were displayed by region and resulted in an impressive "landscape" setting.

The horticulture exhibit at the 2018 Annual Meeting in Martinsville, "Women on Track," featured  climbing vines or plants. Photos

2017 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients were Susan Upshur Brown, The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore; DeLane W. Porter, Dolley Madison Garden Club; Kay Spindle Shiflett, The Virginia Beach Garden Club; and Virginia Trinkle Vinyard, Mill Mountain Garden Club.

2018 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients were Cathy Leitch, Roanoke Valley Garden Club; Kaye Moomaw, Hillside Garden Club; Marilyn Millard, Rivanna Garden Club; Meredith Mercer, The Charlottesville Garden Club; and Karen Jamison, The Williamsburg Garden Club.

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Chairman Dianne Spence, The Williamsburg Garden Club

The Restoration Committee met on June 8-9, 2016, and visited the Beale Garden at Hollins University in the morning and Fincastle Presbyterian Church that afternoon. The following day the committee visited the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

The committee met on September 7-8, 2016, for a tour of the Dupont Garden and surrounding landscape at Montpelier led by Elizabeth Chew, Vice President of Museum Programs, and Allyson Marruffo, Assistant Horticulturist. The morning included an optional tour of the house. The committee visited Sweet Briar College in the afternoon. On the following day, the committee visited Poplar Forest and toured the property, led by Director of Archaeology and Landscapes Jack Gary, who focused on the carriage turnaround.

The committee met on January 12, 2017, in Richmond and approved projects at Mary Washington House, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Centre Hill, John Handley High School, St. John’s Mews, Stratford Hall, and the Kent-Valentine House. GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided an update on the Poe Museum gardens, currently in progress. He reported that all but one of the tropical plants looks good. The wall has been rebuilt, and a new door is being installed today. The committee is taking a project-by project approach to this garden. The next proposed area is the Ragged Mountain Garden. The area is small but visible. Mr. Rieley said the plants in the different gardens refer to specific Poe stories.

He then reported on work at Poplar Forest with particular attention to estimates for the proposed carriage turnaround.

The Maintenance Workshop for restoration property gardeners and maintenance staff was held on February 22, 2017, at the Kent-Valentine House. Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants at Monticello, spoke about seed saving and its benefits for historic landscapes, and Brittany Council, from the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Program in Richmond, spoke on Turfgrass Management. There were 50 in attendance which included 34 gardeners from 18 properties. The updated GCV Maintenance Manual was distributed at that time.

The committee toured Lee Hall Mansion landscape on March 8-2017, led by Lee Hall Mansion Executive Director Laura Willoughby. Will Rieley noted a water problem at the dependency and pointed out the need for remedial work to be done with overgrowth of shrubbery. The GCV’s original board fence has been replaced by the Eagle Scouts and the City of Newport News. Ms. Willoughby then provided a tour of the house.

The committee then traveled to Williamsburg, visiting the College of William & Mary. Helen Reveley led the group to the site of the recently discovered  Gillette garden drawings, and Mr. Rieley discussed his research on the possibility of implementing Gillette’s vision for the area. Chairman Dianne Spence reported a sense of excitement that this proposal might become reality. The committee then walked to the historic President’s House for tea and ahouse tour. The committee met the following morning for a tour of the churchyard of Bruton Parish Church, led by Facilities Manager Mike Wanless.

At the GCV Annual Meeting on May 16-18, 2017, Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reported a collaboration between The Garden Club of the Northern Neck and Christ Church in Saluda to initiate repairs to the church wall (built by GCV in 1942) and to save a tree leaning on the wall. Mr. Rieley and some members of the Restoration Committee made a site visit and the project will move forward.

The Restoration Committee met at 11:00 a.m. on June 7, 2017, at Oatlands in Leesburg, Virginia. Director of Horticulture and Grounds Mark Schroeder led a tour of the gardens. The garden is comprised of terraces carved into the hillside on the east side of the house, with each terrace filled with plants and potted plants, the pots being moved to the greenhouse to overwinter. Before leaving the garden, the committee viewed the restored wall and the GCV plaque, which Mr. Schroeder said he had personally washed for the committee's visit. The boxwood was thriving.

The committee then traveled to Clarke County for a tour of the Burwell-Morgan Mill,  led by Executive Director of the Clarke County Historical Association Nathan Stalvey. The mill was built between 1782 and 1785, and the wheel shaft came from a white oak tree from Stratford Hall. Mr. Rieley noted that the grounds are a 1960 Griswold design.

The committee than traveled to Blandy Experimental Farm -- the State Arboretum of Virginia, where Curator T’ai Ralston led the committee through Dogwood Lane and noted that about 20 new trees will be planted this year and a few wall repairs will be done. The wall is a dry stack stone and quite beautiful.

The following day the committee visited John Handley High School in Winchester and was greeted by Kevin McCue of the Winchester school system. Mr. Rieley guided committee members through the landscape work, noting how various groups working on a project would spur other groups to join, fundraising efforts being part of an amazing body of work.

After leaving JHHS, the group arrived at Belle Grove and was met by Executive Director Kristen Laise, who handed out guides for the garden and pointed out the fencing at the Teaching Garden, a GCV project completed three years ago, and the proposed memorial walkway designed by Mr. Rieley.

Mr. Rieley then provided the following updates of recent activity to the committee:

Belle Grove: The Yellowwood is in bloom, a tree that blooms every other year.

John Handley High School:  The sugar maples are doing well, and Jean Gilpin has been diligent to see that maintenance of the liriope continues in good fashion. The landscape committee of JHHS has asked for advice for new sign, which is certainly a beautiful enhancement to the grounds.

St. John's Mews: Two large trees have been taken out and two Cornus ‘Venus’ have been planted.

Mary Washington House: The dogwoods were in sad condition, so were taken out and replaced with serviceberry, which are doing well.

Poe Museum: This is an ongoing project with five gardens, each independent. Ragged Mountain will be the next piece to have attention, using plants from Charlottesville. All the gardens are related to Poe’s writing. Maggie’s Garden is ready to be done.

Stratford Hall: Mr. Rieley reviewed the background study that has gone into the East Garden at Stratford Hall, including study of a 1929 aerial photo, as well as different styles of gardens that have been on the grounds. Excavation has helped to understand some of the design works that have been used. There are still questions to be resolved as to exactly what style garden best fits, but Mr. Rieley believes that Prestwould might be a good one to look at, also Mt. Vernon is a good example, with the thought that an 18th-century garden is the most authentic.

The committee traveled on September 6-7, 2017, to Petersburg and Richmond. It met at Centre Hill in Petersburg on September 6 for a tour of the house and grounds. The group then traveled to Richmond for lunch and a meeting at the Kent-Valentine House. The following day, the committee toured Maymont house and grounds, followed by a tour of the Grace Arents Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

At the GCV Board of Governors meeting in Lexington on October 10-12, 2017, Restoration Committee Chairman Dianne Spence reported that the entire committee visits each site within a three-year period, and that property liaisons from the Restoration Committee visit their sites four times a year. These important meetings help convey the GCV mission and serve as a one-on-one personal contact between the property and the GCV.

She provided the following property updates:

Belmont, Fredericksburg: A pre-design lighting assessment by a noted consultant, David Tozer. Cost of installation to be assumed by the property.

Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood: Repairs to the roadside fencing installed in the 1970s.

Centre Hill, Petersburg: Planting ground cover.

Mary Washington House, Fredericksburg; Replaced dying dogwood with serviceberry trees at the entrance.

Poe Museum, Richmond; Fall planting in Maggie’s Garden and work to begin in the Ragged Mountain Garden. The museum has pocket gardens that reflect Edgar Allan Poe’s writing i.e. Low Country Garden.

Christ Church, Saluda; Repairs to the wall that was built by the GCV in 1942.

Point of Honor, Lynchburg: Beginning work on creation of rear garden plan.

Kent-Valentine House, Richmond: Roof and gutter repairs getting ready for our Centennial.

The committee met March 14-15, 2018, on the Northern Neck, with visits to Christ Church, Saluda; Historic Christ Church, Lancaster, and Stratford Hall. The committee  examined the recently repaired wall at Christ Church, Saluda. The Executive Director at Historic Christ Church, Lancaster presented proposals to the committee for new signage. The committee approved GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley’s time to review the sketches of the signs and to also draft a plan for plantings in the parking areas consistent with the landscape. Director of Landscape at Stratford Hall Matt Peterschmidt led a tour of the gardens, and Will Rieley outlined the configuration of the new pathways and how the design of the garden will be implemented. The major plantings are scheduled to be in place in the fall of 2018.

At the Annual Meeting in Martinsville on May 16, 2018, Dianne provided the following property updates:

Christ Church, Saluda: The committee toured the church and examined the wall repaired by the GCV. As mentioned previously, the GCV built the wall in 1942. The rector, senior warden, and members of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck garden clubs were present and all were appreciative of the work that was completed by Charles Funk. The project came in under budget.

Historic Christ Church, Lancaster: The GCV has strict standards for signs and plaques surrounding the properties, and the executive director and their liaison presented proposals to the committee for new signage. The committee approved GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley’s time to review the sketches of the signs and to also draft a plan for plantings in the parking areas consistent with the landscape.

Point of Honor: The agreement between the GCV and Point of Honor has been signed and work is proceeding. The committee will visit in June.

Stratford Hall: The agreement between the GCV and Stratford Hall has been signed and work is already in progress. A tour of the site by Director of Landscape Matt Peterschmidt and Will Rieley outlined the configuration of the new pathways and how the design of the garden will be implemented. The major plantings are scheduled to be in place in the fall.

William & Mary, Reveley Garden: The agreement between the GCV and William & Mary has been progressing and has been approved by the GCV attorney. It has now been sent to William & Mary for signature. The first phase, which is preparation for the garden, will be completed by William & Mary. The second phase will be implemented by the GCV and will oversee the design and planting of the garden. The Board of Visitors will have a groundbreaking ceremony on June 13 to honor Helen and Taylor Reveley, who retires June 30. It will be held at the future site between Jefferson Hall and Ewell Hall.

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library: The Augusta Garden Club received a Founders Award from the Garden Club of America for their “Project Dogwood.” The club has offered to give WWPL dogwoods for the south side of the museum and has asked the GCV for guidance. The committee approved Mr. Rieley’s time to consult with the planting.

Ongoing work, approved by the committee, continues at Belle Grove, Centre Hill, Lee Hall, the Poe Museum, Point of Honor, and Poplar Forest.

Dianne referenced the digitization project, initiated by the Restoration Committee in the 1990s in collaboration with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (formerly the Virginia Historical Society). The committee allocated funds to digitize records dating back to 1939, which were stored mostly in boxes at the museum. Since then, a committee has been working with the properties to grant permission for use of their photographs and archives. Dianne pointed attendees to the digital records on the GCV website, as well as the website of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Research Fellowships

The 2017 William D. Rieley Fellowship was awarded to Krista Reimer, graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania in Landscape Design. She researched the landscape at Westover Plantation in Charles City County.

The 2017 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship at Berkeley Plantation was awarded to Kathleen Conti, who is in her second year of a Masters of Historic Preservation at the University of Texas at Austin. She is also pursuing a PhD in Architecture. Kathleen has an ABD PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin, a Masters in Russian and European Studies from University of North Carolina, and an undergraduate degree from Randolph College.

The 2018 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship was awarded to Mary Fesak, who completed her final year with a Masters of Historic Preservation from Clemson/Charleston. She received her BA in Historic Preservation and History in 2016 from the University of Mary Washington. Mary’s subject of research will be at Sherwood Forest Plantation in Charles City County.

The 2018 William D. Rieley Fellowship was awarded to Penelope Cottrell-Crawford, who finished her first year toward a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona (2020). She received her BA in Art History, Environmental Art, and French Language from Lewis & Clark College (2011.) Penelope will research the landscape of Shirley Plantation in Charles City County.

Restoration News Archives

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Chairman Jean Gilpin, The Winchester-Clarke Garden Club

Jean reported that by all accounts, the first GCV fall Symposium in Richmond on September 26-27, 2017, was a huge success. GCV committees worked hard to provide workshops and speakers, as well as showing and growing opportunities for members. Ticketed events were sold out with 160 attendees at the luncheon with Karen Rexrode, and 300 attendees at Flower Arranging School. There was a steady stream of visitors to the Kent-Valentine House during the day to view arrangements, and the Sip and See on Tuesday evening was also well attended. Members seemed pleased with the shopping experience, and the vendors were happy with their results.

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Chairman Jeanette Cadwallender, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

2017 Virginia State Parks Grants $129,417

• Belle Isle - Improving landscaping around historic Belle Isle mansion, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck
• Fairy Stone - Pollinator waystation, The Martinsville Garden Club, The Garden Study Club, The Garden Club of Danville
• Leesylvania - Wildflower planting, reducing invasives and eliminating mowing
• Mason Neck - New Visitor Center entry; hardscaping and landscaping of pollinator garden, The Hunting Creek Garden Club, The Garden Club of Fairfax, The Garden Club of Alexandria
• Middle Peninsula - Supplies for educational programming, The Garden Club of Gloucester
• Natural Bridge - Outfitting a classroom for educational programming in Visitor Center
• Pocahontas - Converting a Heritage Center to a Discovery Center
• Sky Meadows - Track Trails and Discovery area, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club
• Smith Mountain Lake - Supplies for educational programming in wet lab, Roanoke Valley Garden Club, Mill Mountain Garden Club
• Youth Conservation Corps - Supplies for residential summer program in 17 parks

2018 Virginia State Parks Grants $114,145

• Belle Isle – phase two of improvements to the landscape at the Belle Isle mansion and enhancing learning panels in Visitors Center, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck
• Caledon – drinking fountain, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club
• Holliday Lake – underwater lighting, Hillside Garden Club and The Lynchburg Garden Club
• Hungry Mother – Children’s Discovery area
• James River – native plant and pollinator garden, Rivanna Garden Club
• Lake Anna – native plant landscaping around new cabins, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club
• Natural Bridge – continued improvements to Interactive Classroom, The Blue Ridge Garden Club
• Pocahontas – shoreline restoration,  The James River Garden Club
• Shenandoah River – Pollinator Meadow with bee habitat, The Garden Club of Warren County
• Sky Meadows – Children’s Discovery area and trails, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club
• Westmoreland – creating a Discovery center in the former Visitors Center, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck
• York River – landscaping improvements in three gardens, The Hampton Roads Garden Club, The Huntington Garden Club and The Williamsburg Garden Club
• Youth Conservation Corps – to help with purchase of materials

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Our work across the Commonwealth is noteworthy. We have joined with member clubs, community partners, and Virginia State Parks to preserve and protect the landscape of Virginia. We have planned for an important milestone, our 100th birthday. And we have replaced disappointment with creativity and grace.

I look forward to the future as we continue to protect Virginia’s natural resources, preserve historic landscapes, and inspire others to join us in this mission. To our members, I extend my deepest gratitude for the privilege of serving as the 50th President of the Garden Club of Virginia.

~Jean Gilpin, May 2020

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The Garden Club of Virginia Board of Directors gathered on July 13-15, 2018, at the Boar's Head Resort in Charlottesville for a weekend retreat with spouses.

Attendees gathered Friday night at the resort for cocktails and dinner. Board members met on Saturday while spouses enjoyed playing golf, tennis, and touring of Monticello.

President Jean Gilpin called the meeting to order on Saturday morning with a warm welcome, thanking the board members for serving. She also thanked the weekend’s hostesses: Debbie Lewis, Catherine Madden, Janet Rosser, Tuckie Westfall, and Tory Willis. Jean noted that Missy Buckingham arranged all the logistics and created all the flower arrangements.

Jean then asked the group to review the GCV’s organizational chart in preparation for printing in the 2018-2020 Directory & Handbook and called attention to the following changes: Flower Shows Committee has been renamed the Artistic Design Committee; Centennial Committee has been expanded and renamed the Centennial Steering Committee; Daffodil Day will be separate from the Daffodil Committee; and the Daffodil Committee will be a subcommittee of the Horticulture Committee.

Jean reminded the board of the following:

• All GCV committees will make recommendations to the board and the board will make the decisions.
• The logo and other GCV graphics may not be changed.
• All communications sent out, including letters to a committee, must be approved by Jean Gilpin or the board
• The Garden Club of Virginia’s name may not appear on any non-member organization’s stationery or literature without approval of the Garden Club of Virginia board of directors.
• The executive committee oversees Human Resources.

Fall Symposium liaison Catherine Madden reported for Chairman Jennifer Kelley that artistic, horticulture and photography schedules are posted for the 2018 Fall Symposium in Richmond. Catherine reported that speaker Chip Callaway is donating his speaker fees to the GCV. Holly Heider Chapple, Will Rieley, Greg Campbell, and Eric New are also noted speakers.

An educational garden tour of Paris and the Loire Valley is planned June 11-19, 2019, with Chip Callaway guiding tours. The 2018 trip to England resulted in a $1700 profit to the club.

A request from GCV Historian Judy Perry to gather humorous stories for Centennial publication was sent to the Centennial Steering Committee for discussion.

Kris reported for Membership Chairman Janet Rosser that Three Rivers Garden Club is still under consideration for GCV membership.

Parliamentarian Linda Consolvo led a lengthy discussion of pending and suggested changes to bylaws and policies and procedures. The bylaw change concerning HGW participation (second reading) was approved.

Other changes were suggested to clarify eligibility to serve on a GCV Committee (first reading). She also proposed clarification of the term "constitutional member," to be included in the 2018-2020 Directory and Handbook.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported the completion of an appraisal of all interior furnishings identifying each item with color photographs, documenting the source of the gift, and giving its current value.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey brought forth an invitation to join Virginia Forever. The Board agreed to accept the invitation, stating that GCV should reevaluate membership every year as part of the budget process and to verify that our missions still align. Carrie followed with an update on the upcoming fall Conservation Forum that included a lengthy discussion of the event budget.

Carrie also reviewed the following: the Mount Vernon view shed issue, stating that Dominion Power is now working with Mount Vernon to find an alternative site; Virginia No Child Left Inside Coalition conference call; and a proposed letter to Governor Northam asking for inclusion of money in proposed budget for two environmental education positions.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker reported Horticulture Field Day in Lynchburg had 190 attendees with at least 119 staying overnight.

2018 Horticulture Field Day Photos

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reported that Meredith Lauter and Mary Lou Johnson have revised the online Traditional Floral Styles and Designs and edited all the photographs used as examples. Jean noted this committee will be responsible for the artistic design piece for Daffodil Day.

Co-chairman of 2018 Lilies in Bloom Nina Mustard was pleased to report the event at St. Mary's Episcopal Church went smoothly, and that many exhibitors helped with volunteer jobs. The show was a break-even event. View budget.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Stephie Broadwater described Boot Camp recently held at the Kent-Valentine House. Three breakout sessions were held at the KVH, Chez Foushee, and Linden Row with topics of photographs, sponsorships/advertising, and budgeting. Board discussion continued with concerns about what decisions can be made at the committee level and what requires recommendations to the board.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin announced a “pop-up” event at Poplar Forest. There will be a brief period when Jefferson’s carriage turnaround will be uncovered for viewing prior to the new surface being installed, and the GCV members will be invited to attend.

Restorations in progress include: Poe Museum – Maggie’s Garden; Poplar Forest – carriage turnaround; Point of Honor – Garden space behind the house; Stratford Hall - historically correct layout of 1/3 of the East Garden; and William & Mary – garden based on two Charles Gillette plans that were never implemented.

The 2018 Restoration fellows will present their research of Shirley Planation and Sherwood Forest on Wednesday, August 8, at Fort Pocahontas. After the presentations, there will be tours of these two sites.

Director at Large Tuckie Westfall presented the Presidents Day report, and the board agreed it would be a good idea to continue the event moving forward.

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The Hunting Creek Garden Club hosted the 2018 Board of Governors, “The Potomac: Our History - Our Future,” on Monday, October 15 - Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, co-chaired by Vicky Alexander and Laura Francis. View photos

Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham provided updates on Centennial plans.

An exhibition featuring the first 100 years of the Garden Club of Virginia and an accompanying publication is planned at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Initial plans call for the exhibition to open in April prior to 2020 Historic Garden Week, accompanied by banner lectures offered to museum members and the general public. The exhibition may remain open for up to six months. Head Curator at VMHC Bill Rasmussen attended the Restoration Committee presentation at the September Symposium to get more familiar with our contributions and impact across the commonwealth.

The Annual Meeting in May 2020 will have the board meeting on Monday, May 11, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, following by a one-day meeting at the Jefferson Hotel with the awards banquet at the Country Club of Virginia on May 12.

The Founders Day events will begin Wednesday, May 13, 2000, with a program by landscape architect, Thomas Woltz, followed by a luncheon at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Possibilities for the afternoon include afternoon tea with the Governor at the Executive Mansion. Possibilities for the evening include a black-tie, Centennial gala at the VMHC. Thursday morning, May 14, will feature Paula Pryke, renowned British floral designer and author.

2018 Fall Symposium Chairman Jennifer Kelley provided a detailed follow-up report.

Report Summary

Daffodil Day Chairman Adele Smith reported Daffodil Day, “March of the Trumpets,” will be held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on March 25-27, 2019. The show will feature InterClub and individual arrangements, InterClub horticulture specimens, and photography.

Membership Committee Chairman Diane Wilkinson announced plans for a new member orientation at Daffodil Day in 2019.

Parliamentarian Linda Consolvo presented second reading of the proposed amendment to the bylaws, clarifying eligibility of members to serve as a committee chairman.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported that KVH meetings have been moved to a first-floor parlor while roof repairs continue, and Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Jody Branch and Will Rieley are identifying areas in the landscape needing attention. Lynn added that, after much trial and error, the electricians found an LED replacement bulb that fit into the existing ceiling canister. This solution provided a less costly answer to the lighting project since the ceiling did not have to be cut to have new light canisters installed. Glave & Holmes has ordered all the materials including the third-floor carpet.  The committee and Lynn continue working to establish a timeline for upholstery work and furniture refinishing.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey reported a busy summer and fall planning the upcoming Conservation Forum in Charlottesville. Four speakers will focus on pesticides, how they impact pollinators, our food and our health; latest techniques from a commercial landscape architect, who uses new planting and soil amendments to organically limit storm water rain runoff; two professors who are experts on pollinators and pesticide-related disease; and alternatives for healthy gardening from an organic farmer with a thriving business.

The committee joined the No Child Left Inside organization last year, and Virginia Rocen has been diligently following the calls and interacting with the committee to get more clarity on the scope of the responsibilities.

Lisa Mountcastle and Ann Wright will be heading up the Policy and Legislative Subcommittee this year. Legislative preview day led by VCN is December 1, and Legislative Day is January 30.

Carrie and additional members of the committee attended the VCN Environmental Assembly the first weekend in September in Williamsburg. It featured speakers on coal ash recycling and the impacts of climate change on our coastline, along with various options for consumers to get involved in solar power projects. Carrie also joined the National Parks Conservation Association in D.C. as a VCN Policy Associate to advocate for clean water. Her focus was advocating for the reauthorization of the Land Water Conservation Fund.

The committee is making an effort to increase its engagement with the local garden clubs by offering ideas for project initiatives and has established three primary initiatives with actionable plans for each.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Karla MacKimmie reviewed the finalists, to be announced at the BOG. Project Dogwood—A Hundred Year Journey, The Augusta Garden Club; Urban Garden Invites Youth to “Dream a Different Future,” The Elizabeth River Garden Club; The Paw Path Pollinator Garden at Smith River Sports Complex, The Martinsville Garden Club and the Garden Study Club; Strengthening Our Roots: Improving Access to a Native Garden, Mill Mountain Garden Club; and Save the Rain, Roanoke Valley Garden Club. Read project descriptions.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard announced a DCR proposal for a new Virginia State Parks license plate.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker applauded clubs for the horticulture exhibits featuring riparian buffer trees, seedlings, and shrubs to complement the Potomac River area and to represent other climates around the state. Read about exhibit. She announced that 2019 GCV Horticulture Field Day will take place May 22-23, 2019, in Orange County with headquarters at Market at Grelen. Mary Lou and Charles Seilheimer graciously agreed to open the gardens at Mount Sharon, and the committee includes members from Albermarle, Charlottesville and Dolley Madison garden clubs to secure local co-chairmen and additional gardens.

Lily Chairman Carrie Darracott announced plans for a GCV Lily Show on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Richmond. Nina Mustard will again chair the show, and Carrie will remain as Lily Chairman through the June 2019 show, as will all members of the committee. Arrangements with the church have been made, and the date is on the GCV calendar. Judges will be invited in early February when the annual accreditation list is published. Harborfront Garden Club has offered to donate a trophy to the annual GCV Lily Show in memory of their member, Katherine Beale.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reported her committee had been focused on volunteer needs for the Fall Symposium and was pleased with the success of the artistic division show.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin reported good attendance at the Fellowship presentation at Fort Pocahontas in August. Attendees heard presentations by Mary Fesak, who had worked at Sherwood Forest Plantation, and Penelope Cottrell-Crawford, who had worked at Shirley Plantation. After lunch, attendees enjoyed a visit to both sites. The committee was on the road September 5 and 6 with visits to Bacon’s Castle, the Rolfe-Warren House at Smith’s Fort Plantation, the new garden site at William & Mary and Bruton Parish Church. Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided updates to the committee at their September meeting:

Poe Museum: Planting will begin in one of the smaller areas called Maggie’s Garden in November when the weather is cooler.

Poplar Forest: Soon after the summer board meeting, the chief archaeologist, Jack Gary, left for a new position as Colonial Williamsburg’s chief archaeologist. While it is disappointing not to have him in charge of the uncovering of Jefferson’s original carriage circle, we are delighted that Jack has now joined the supporting professionals on our GCV Fellowship Committee and will continue to be involved with us. We anticipate a viewing of the original circle on October 24. After that, the circle will be sealed and preserved for posterity, and then a new surface will be installed. (Will should be showing this in his presentation at the meeting.) Also, this fall, the three oval beds of roses that Jefferson loved will be planted. Once this project is complete, the façade of the house will look the way Thomas Jefferson designed it, for the first time since he owned Poplar Forest.

Point of Honor: Again, we have been waiting for cooler weather to install and plant the new garden behind the house here. This hopefully will be completed before the year’s end. This project had been voted on in 2015, but has been delayed for various reasons. The cost of plants and the work has increased since then, and the committee voted additional funds for this project.

Stratford Hall: Will did a very informative presentation at the Symposium on the project here. The paths and brickwork were completed this summer. We look forward to the plants going in, probably in November. The committee also voted for additional funds here for the trellis fencing and plantings. This project, too, was delayed with the change in directors, and the costs have risen.

William & Mary: We enjoyed standing on the site of this garden in September with Will showing us the detailed plans involved in making this a reality. William & Mary is now involved in their part of the project, which requires moving many utilities and preparing the site. Will should be showing this also at the BOG.

In addition to these larger projects, the committee continues to review each of our properties at our meetings and assess the needs of each. Here are the ones that we voted on in September:

Belmont: Maintaining boxwood in good condition is going to be an ongoing issue for all of our properties. There are four triangular beds here, and the boxwoods need to be replaced. The committee voted to do this with a variety that has been suggested by the Saunders Bros. Nursery as disease resistant.

Kent-Valentine House: The committee voted to plant a new dogwood in honor of our dear Margaret Bemiss, who has done so much to support us. In addition, Will and Jody Branch looked over the entire KVH landscape, with a goal of making our GCV headquarters look sparkling for a year of Centennial celebration.

In addition to these, the committee voted for Will to visit Hollins, Ker Place, Monticello, and the Moses Myers House to address concerns from our liaisons and our properties.

Plans continue to come together for our Maintenance Workshop that will be held at the Kent-Valentine House on January 10, 2019. Dan Grelen from Grelen Nursery, Peggy Cornett from Monticello and Peter Deahl will speak about pruning.

The Research Fellowship Subcommittee, chaired by Judy Perry, visited Farmington in Charlottesville on August 28 and Belle Isle, Mount Airy, and Menokin on the Northern Neck on October 3.

Reports from the six Directors at Large followed before the meeting was adjourned for the day.

BOG attendees were invited Monday evening to the lovely home of Ashley and George Wilson for cocktails and were then led by a bagpiper to the Old Dominion Boat Club for a Dutch treat dinner.

Tuesday morning, attendees were offered optional tours that included George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate or the Pope-Leighey House/Woodlawn.

Following a buffet luncheon, President Jean Gilpin called the 99th meeting of the GCV Board of Governors to order Tuesday afternoon. Hunting Creek Garden Club President Gugi Hooff offered greetings and praised co-chairmen Vicky Alexander and Laura Francis. Jean added her thanks to Gugi, chairmen, club members, and the Wilsons.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander presented the GCV financial reports, and Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel provided an overview of committee responsibilities, including the budget, investments, and insurance matters.

First Vice President and Chairman of the Centennial Steering Committee Missy Buckingham gave an update on plans underway. The board has approved the official “kickoff date” for the Centennial to be at the 99th GCV Annual Meeting in May 2019, culminating with Founders Day events and festivities to be held in Richmond on May 13 – 14, 2020. Club historians have been asked to collect items for the exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, for the time capsule, and for the humorous recollections project.

Second Vice President Catherine Madden encouraged members to join GCV friends for a trip to Paris and the Loire Valley on June 12-20, 2019. "Jardins of Ile de France and the Loire" will be hosted by Chip Callaway.

Director of HGW and Special Programs Karen Ellsworth reported on the Symposium for Chairman Jennifer Kelley. There were more exhibits this year with horticulture, artistic design, and photographic divisions. The programs were engaging and educational. Chip Callaway’s presentation was extremely popular with about 200 in attendance. Karen reviewed the additional speakers and programs and also noted Holly Heider Chapple’s Advanced Flower Arranging Workshop sold out with 40 people in attendance. The artistic division had more than 30 entries, the photography division filled all classes, and the horticulture division had 24 club entries. The venue was a huge hit and the budget was met. Karen thanked Jennifer for her efforts and conveyed Jennifer’s gratitude for the tireless volunteers who made this wonderful event possible.

Daffodil Day 2019 was announced for March 26, 2019, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and will include a class for the best bloom of the GCV Centennial Daffodil ‘Green Arrow.’

Conservation Awards Chairman Heidi James announced the recipient of the Conservation Educator Award, Nancy Newman of Charlottesville, and the recipient of the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award, Piedmont Environmental Council. Both awards will be presented at the GCV Conservation Forum in Charlottesville on October 25, 2018. Bettie Guthrie, The Petersburg Garden Club, provided an update of the 2017 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award recipient “Lee Park Wild Flower and Restoration Project.”

Common Wealth Award Chairman Karla MacKimmie listed the five award finalists, stating the recipient would be announced that evening at the awards banquet: Project Dogwood: A Hundred Year Journey, The Augusta Garden Club; Urban Garden Invites Youth to “Dream a Different Future,” The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Paw Path Pollinator Garden at Smith River Sports Complex, The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Study Club; Strengthening Our Roots - Improving Access to a Native Garden, Mill Mountain Garden Club; and Save the Rain, Roanoke Valley Garden Club.

Christine Perdue Smith, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club, then gave an update on the Common Wealth Award winning project, “The Healing Grove at Boulder Crest Retreat.” Boulder Crest provides free retreats for combat veterans and first responders. A walled healing garden and a nature walk have been developed.

Following a short break, attendees were divided into three groups to participate in three breakout sessions led by Conservation and Beautification Chairman Carrie Dorsey; Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis and Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker; and Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham and Centennial Steering Committee Member Club Liaison Kris Carbone.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin reported that the two 2018 GCV Restoration Fellows, Mary Fesak who researched Sherwood Forest and Penelope Cottrell-Crawford who studied Shirley Plantation, presented their work in August.

Anne then introduced GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley who presented an update on the current restorations at the College of William & Mary and Poplar Forest. He announced a Cornus ‘Venus’ will be planted at the Kent-Valentine House in honor of Margaret Bemiss (1933–2018.)

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held Tuesday evening in the hotel's grand foyer and ballroom.

President Gilpin began the morning by thanking The Hunting Creek Garden Club members for a wonderful evening and congratulating award winners. The 2018 Common Wealth Award recipients were The Elizabeth River Garden Club for Urban Garden Invites Youth to “Dream a Different Future” ($10,000) and The Augusta Garden Club for Project Dogwood – A Hundred Year Journey ($6,000). Read project descriptions. 2018 Common Wealth Award Recipients.

Kent-Valentine House. GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin presented a slide show of dedicated GCV staff and reported on their responsibilities. She then provided updates to Kent-Valentine House refurbishments, roof repairs, and landscaping.

The Directors at Large presented a short skit, "The 6 Dwarfs at Large," with Jean Gilpin as Snow White, to provide insight into the role of Directors at Large.

Reports followed from Corresponding Secretary Janet Rosser, Journal Editorial Board Chairman Julie Grover, Journal Advertising Chairman Lea Shuba, GCV Historian and Custodian of Records Judy Perry. Judy reminded attendees to submit humorous stories.

2018 Board of Governors co-chairman Laura Francis introduced the guest speaker, Phillip Musegaas, Vice President of Programs and Litigation, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, who gave a very informative presentation on “Restoring the Nation's River.” Co-chairman Vicky Alexander thanked Mr. Musegaas and presented him with a gift.

Membership Committee Chairman Diane Wilkinson reported Three Rivers Garden Club remains active in the community, is working hard to develop the club, and remains eager to join the GCV. New Member Orientation will be held at Daffodil Day in March 2019.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Stephie Broadwater announced HGW 2018 was the most successful tour year ever, and preparations are underway for the 86th Historic Garden Week in 2019. Thirty-one tours, including the James River plantations are being planned. Stephie then presented HGW Myth Busters:

• Local clubs choose the number of homes and events offered on their tour.
• GCV does not require club members to buy HGW tickets, but please promote ticket sales.
• There is not a $25 limit per house for flowers, but please use what you have locally and buy flowers judiciously.

Development Committee Chairman Sue Rosser announced a $125,000 Annual Fund goal. She recognized The Ashland Garden Club for their donation of $2500 for the mirror campaign, and The Williamsburg Garden Club for their $5000 gift in honor of Nina Mustard. She also announced a $50,000 to the endowment.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard reported the GCV is in year four of our five-year, $500,000 funding commitment to Virginia State Parks. She reported that attendance at Virginia State Parks had recently passed 10 million. Twenty-one member clubs have been involved in securing grants to 18 State Parks. Nina shared slides of projects that have been funded by the GCV. Parks can submit their own application, but Nina encouraged clubs to seek a partnership. She then presented the possibility of a Virginia State Parks license plate. All proceeds will benefit the Virginia State Parks.

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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 our 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 our 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 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.

• 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 the refinishing of 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, the former head of the Department of Environmental Quality. Secretary of Natural Resources Matt Strickler and Speaker of the House Kirk Cox both 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.

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.

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 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.

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The 99th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by The Elizabeth River Garden Club in Portsmouth on May 7-9, 2019. Photos

The board of directors was invited for a lovely luncheon on Tuesday at the home of Luana Hugel. Board members then traveled to the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel for the afternoon meeting.

Plans for Daffodil Day 2020 at Lewis Ginter were presented and included the possibility of a hands-on workshop during judging.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin introduced guests Judy Perry and Ann Heller, who gave a slide presentation of Ver-sur-Mer and the British National Memorial commemorating World War II. The board felt it was a good idea to send a $20,000 gift to support landscaping around the memorial and voted to bring the gift up for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

Anne then brought updates on projects at Poplar Forest, Stratford Hall, Mary Washington House, and the Kent-Valentine House. A discussion of appropriate "gifts and contributions" followed and resulted in the need for more clarification.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander distributed financial reports and moved to approve the FY2019-2020 budget as presented. The motion carried.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Stephie Broadwater moved to accept The request by the Blue Ridge Garden Club to host HGW every other year, beginning with the 2021 tour. The motion carried.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin presented an opportunity for GCV collaboration with Wakefield Handmade Pots, stamped with the GCV logo. The board voted to move forward with the idea.

At the request of Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey, the board voted to redistribute dues payments in order to include Virginia Forever membership. She also brought up the difficulty in attracting applicants for the Conservation and Environmental Fellowship program,

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker reported that Horticulture Field Day had sold out with over 200 registrants, and the Artistic Design Committee Chairmen reported that the artistic division at Lilies in Bloom had filled.

Following reports by the Directors at Large the meeting was adjourned.

Attendees gathered on Tuesday night aboard the "Carrie B" for a beautiful sunset cruise with entertainment and a Dutch treat dinner.

Optional tours on Wednesday morning included a trip to Paradise Creek, a tour of Virginia International Gateway Terminals, and a walking tour of Olde Towne Portsmouth. Lunch followed at the delightful Anderson-Wright Rooms and Garden.

President Jean Gilpin called the meeting to order at the Renaissance Hotel following lunch and introduced meeting co-chairman Martha Perkins who welcomed attendees. The Elizabeth River Garden Club President Betty Jo Gwaltney introduced Mayor John L. Rowe, who welcomed the GCV back to Portsmouth, as the Board of Governors was hosted in Portsmouth in 1931.

Jean thanked ERGC President Betty Jo Gwaltney, co-chairmen Martha Perkins and Shirley Sondej, and all club members for hosting the meeting. She noted the lovely evening prior on the Carrie B. and proclaimed, "Today marks the day we begin celebrating our Centennial!" She then recognized former GCV Presidents in attendance and presented each with a GCV Centennial scarf.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander presented abbreviated financial reports and then reviewed the proposed FY2019-2020 budget, reporting that the board had approved the proposed budget at its meeting the day before. She called attention to projected revenue and expenses. A motion to approve the proposed budget carried.

Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel reviewed the responsibilities of the Finance Committee that include the budget, investments, insurance matters, and the annual audit of the GCV accounts.

First Vice President and Chairman of the Centennial Steering Committee Missy Buckingham announced, “Let the countdown begin!” launching into the celebration of 100 years.

Second Vice President Catherine Madden introduced Daffodil Day Chairman Adele Smith who presented “by the numbers” associated with a very successful 2019 Daffodil Day. She thanked the GCV Membership Committee for hosting a new member orientation during the event and applauded Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for its Facebook posts and information in the membership newsletter. Jeanette Cadwallender was awarded best in show for her 'Green Arrow’ daffodil entry.

Lilies in Bloom Chairman Nina Mustard announced plans for the event to be held Tuesday, June 18, 2019, for the second year at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Goochland. The show will offer a comprehensive North American Lily Society (NALS) horticulture schedule and GCV members-only horticulture trophy classes. She noted the two GCV InterClub classes of artistic design classes were filled.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reported the committee has been busy with workshops, Symposium, and Daffodil Day over the past year. There will be an opportunity for each club to create an arrangement to be displayed during the Founders Day celebration at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Corresponding Secretary Janet Rosser thanked everyone for their generous donations to the Annual Fund. Janet then introduced the following committee chairmen for whom she serves as board liaison. GCV Historian Judy Perry reminded everyone to write their two-year club history after their term as president. The humorous memories project continues, and the deadline for stories is June 1. Over 100 stories have been received. Judy then reported that architect Liam O’Connor, who is designing the British Normandy Memorial to be unveiled in 2020, had contacted her. Mr. O’Connor had noticed the plaque installed at a church listing the names of GCV husbands and sons that had been lost in World War II. The GCV had adopted the little war-torn town of Ver-sur-Mer, a commune in the Normandy region, and restored ten stained glass windows in a 12th-century church located there. The town honored the GCV by naming a street the "Rue de Garden Club of Virginia." The story of GCV’s involvement with Ver-sur-Mer can be found online as written in Follow the Green Arrow, Volume 1. Read Judy Perry's Journal article.

Journal Editorial Board Chairman Julie Grover announced the Journal would be redesigned, to be revealed in the June 2020 Centennial edition. The new design will feature larger, more numerous photographs; more white space; and issues with themes such as floral designs, the environment, garden legacies, and travel. There will be a focus on member club projects, member gardens, and profiles on experts and organizations in GCV-related fields.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey introduced Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellow Brynn Cook, who gave an informative presentation, “Foraging Specialization in Polluted Atmospheres."

Following Ms. Cook's presentation, Carrie reported 2019 Legislative Day was successful with a large turnout. The committee reviewed the governor's proposed budget, which allocated funds for conservation and natural resource programs, representing a historic increase this year. A bill was passed to require Coal Ash CleanUp at the four unlined coal ash ponds in Virginia. The GCV continues its affiliation with the Virginia Conservation Network and Virginia Forever, which are excellent resources. The committee will write a letter to the EPA on behalf of the GCV supporting the protection of the highest standards of water quality and maintaining the integrity of the Clean Water Act.

Carrie then announced plans to hold the 2019 Conservation Forum on September 25 during the Back to Nature event at Natural Bridge State Park. ‘Trees: Canopy of Conservation" will feature four speakers, including Frazier Armstong of Capital Trees, Elizabeth Brantly of Bartlett Trees, Eric Wiseman of Virginia Tech Big Tree Program, and Andrew Moore, author of Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit.

Conservation Awards Committee Chairman Heidi James announced the recipient of the 2019 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, Winchester-Clarke Garden Club, for their Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve project. President Barbara Bandyke accepted the $7000 award. Read Joural article.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard presented the schedule of events for Back to Nature. Monday, September 23 will be a setup day. Tuesday, September 24 will include the Native Plants Horticulture Show, geocaching, and group and self-guided hikes. Bartlett Trees will hold an event for children that will include a tree planting. Sip and See is scheduled from 4-6 p.m.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker encouraged members to bring specimens to Back to Nature and noted there is no advance registration except for the Picnic in the Park, which requires individuals to bring a food item from their garden that will be judged. She thanked attendees for bringing “storm survivors” for the meeting's horticulture exhibit. She then announced the 2019 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Susan Garrett, The Nansemond River Garden Club and Sherry Leffel, The Spotswood Garden Club.

GCV Recording Secretary Kris Carbone presented the Membership Committee report for Chairman Diane Wilkinson. Three Rivers Garden Club has increased its membership to 25, and its members assisted The Ashland Garden Club during the 2019 HGW tour. An informative membership orientation was held at Daffodil Day with support by GCV chairmen and staff.

Common Wealth Committee Chairman Karla MacKimmie announced two finalists for the 2019 Common Wealth Award: "Peter Paul Development Center and Playground Enhancement" submitted by The Boxwood Garden Club and "The Discovery Trail: Connecting Children with Nature" submitted by Mill Mountain Garden Club.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin announced Fellowship recipients: Dania Khlaifat, the Rudy J. Favretti Fellow, will be researching the historic landscape at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville. The William D. Rieley Fellow, Hayden Hammons, will be researching Mount Airy in Warsaw.

Anne presented an idea for a special GCV gift to the British Normandy Memorial in honor of the D-Day 75th anniversary. GCV sent a $1000 gift in 1940 from Restoration funds to England in support of civilian relief. And in 1941, GCV sent $20,000 for relief in Britain -- the entire proceeds of HGW for that year. Today, $20,000 is the equivalent of $357,000. Lady Astor, the first woman elected to the British Parliament, facilitated these efforts. A motion from the Restoration Committee to send $20,000 from Restoration funds to support landscaping at the British Normandy Memorial was approved by the board.

Anne then introduced GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley who presented, "A Short Look Back at What We have Done in Virginia."

The meeting resumed on Thursday morning. Jean thanked The Elizabeth River Garden Club and congratulated medal recipients. She announced that Bartlett Tree Experts would be the lead Centennial sponsor with support that includes 12 workdays at GCV Restoration properties.

Development Committee Chairman Sue Rosser thanked the Centennial sponsors in addition to Bartlett Tree Experts: Towne Bank, Hilldrup and the McDaniel family, IMVA, Valley Protein, Robert and Lucy Huff, and Grelen Nursery.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Jody Branch announced that all current projects at the KVH will be finished by summer. There is new paint, a repaired roof, new carpet, new upholstery, refinished furniture, and soon the floors will be refinished. Two pier mirrors have been conserved, two are in the process of being conserved, and one is in the pipeline. The landscape will be attended to and ready for the fall. The dogwood planted in honor of Margaret Bemiss was filled with blooms, and the 'Green Arrow’ daffodils bloomed out front. There will be a cocktail reception at the KVH on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, as part of the Centennial celebration events. Jody reminded everyone to please bring members to visit the KVH.

The Directors at Large presented club accomplishments and announced Presidents Day to be held on June 3, 2019, at the KVH.

DALs Debbie Lewis, Ellen Upton, and Meg Laughon, with the help of Second Vice President Catherine Madden sang the song “Red Roses,” and presented each club president with a red rose. Tuckie Westfall, Meg Laughon, and Ellen Upton are ending their terms and were thanked for their service.

First Vice President Missy Buckingham presented the Nominations Committee report for Chairman Ann Gordon Evans. The nominations for Directors at Large include:

District 2: Fran Carden, Albemarle Garden Club; District 5: Laura Francis, The Hunting Creek Garden Club; District 6: Debbie Bonnewell, Harborfront Garden Club

Chairman of Strategic Planning Candy Crosby communicated the committee's continued focus on GCV's next 100 years: HGW trademarks and copyrights; HGW accounting best practices; GCV five-year sustainable budget planning; communication needs; Journal redesign; membership categories; how to identify potential leaders; and the relationship between DALs and member clubs.

GCV Photographer Claire Mellinger described increasing interest in photography with 16 exhibitors in four classes at Daffodil Day and 16 exhibitors in six classes at the Symposium; member photography features in the monthly Membership News; well-attended workshops; and a Centennial exhibit, "A Sense of Place," to feature GCV Restoration projects.

Annual Meeting Co-Chairman Shirley Sondej then introduced guest speaker Captain M.K. Nunley, Nurse Corps, USN, Retired, who gave a presentation about activities on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Shirley then introduced Captain George W. Watkins, Retired, who shared pilot stories and facts about the Port of Virginia, including Virginia’s imports and exports.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Stephie Broadwater expressed appreciation for the tremendous efforts during 2019 HGW tours. She visited seven tours and noted the beautiful weather. Because HGW concluded on May 4, no reports were currently available with results expected by mid-June. She reminded each club to take a fresh look at how tours are planned -- to consider available resources BEFORE planning a tour. More houses require more resources. The HGW State Committee is focused on social media and encourages clubs to do the same. Facebook followers have increased by 20% and Instagram followers have increased by 42%. HGW was mentioned this year for the first time by The Wall Street Journal and was also featured in Virginia Living, Garden and Gun, Albemarle magazine and other publications. HGW has an ongoing relationship with Flower magazine. She noted also that a writer from Architectural Digest attended.

Significant updates are planned for the Insiders Guide, to include job descriptions of key roles. Stephie emphasized the committee's job to view HGW as a statewide event, not just single tours. HGW is going to be organized into geographic regions instead of the current districts. These regions include the east, west, north, south, and central regions. A handout was shared, “Historic Garden Week by Day,” showing a layout of how many tours are scheduled on each day. Tour proceeds can be affected by too much competition on a single day, bad weather, and gaps between regional tour days.

Stephie then introduced Tricia Garner, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, who will chair the Historic Garden Week Committee for the 2020 and 2021 tours.

Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard reported the GCV is in year four of the five-year, $500,000 funding commitment to Virginia State Parks. She presented a slide show depicting the history, attendance, and spending at Virginia State Parks, and noted that 21 member clubs partnered with 23 State Parks, and 12 grants were given in 2019. Her slides also featured projects already funded by the GCV Centennial State Park commitment. She encouraged everyone to attend Back to Nature at Natural Bridge on September 24-25.

Jean noted Nina would be rotating off the board as Immediate Past GCV President and thanked Nina for her 11 years of service to the GCV board of directors.

Annual and Board of Governors Meetings Chairman Sydney Jordan thanked members of The Elizabeth River Garden Club, recognizing co-chairmen Martha Perkins and Shirley Sondej for planning a wonderful Annual Meeting. Susie Rawles, The James River Garden Club, thanked Elizabeth River and noted they had set the bar high, before issuing an invitation to the 100th Annual Meeting in Richmond on May 12, 2020.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

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The GCV board of directors held its summer retreat with spouses in Virginia Beach on July 19-21, 2019. President Jean Gilpin called the meeting to order Saturday morning.

She welcomed everyone and thanked Linda Consolvo and Missy Buckingham for organizing the weekend; Anne Baldwin, Carrie Dorsey, Wendy Walker, and Bettie Guthrie for lunch; and Catherine Madden and Janet Rosser for arranging Saturday evening's dinner at Missy Buckingham's beach cottage. New board members Debbie Bonnewell, Laura Francis, and Tricia Garner introduced themselves.

Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham reported the Centennial club liaisons were sent packets with save-the-date cards and will meet on September 11 to hear updates. The September Journal will feature Centennial events and an ad for Centennial merchandise. Joanna Catron and Anne Cross are working on the exhibition.

Judy Perry has collected 125 funny stories and is getting estimates for the printing of the humorous stories booklet. An estimated 3400 booklets will cost $1 each. The discussion included the question of who should receive a complimentary copy. It was noted the Centennial magnets given to each GCV member cost $3000. The board supported complimentary copies for gala attendees only. Jean passed around a copy of 1930 – Garden Club Pilgrimage to Virginia as an example of a nice size for the booklet and suggested that drawings be added to the booklet. It was noted the finances of printing the booklet would need to go through the Finance Committee.

Karen Ellsworth is working on communications for the Centennial and is designing another save-the-date card that will include the costs to attend Centennial events. The cards will be distributed to all GCV members via the club liaisons. The save-the-date cards, information in the Membership News and Journal advertisements will serve as invitations. VIPs will receive a printed invitation. Missy reviewed the schedule and costs of events as written in her report. The total cost to attend all the Founders Day events will be $260, excluding hotel costs. Registration will begin October 1.

The GCV website has a Centennial page that links to scheduled activities and to local Restoration properties. The Executive Mansion will not be listed, as it was noted it is too complicated to obtain admission.

Carrie Dorsey communicated James River is planning activities for husbands who travel to Richmond with their wives, but these activities will be hosted during the Annual Meeting only. Jean reported she had the opportunity to hear Thomas Woltz speak in Pennsylvania and felt he was an amazing speaker. He is currently doing work at Montpelier. Missy noted the Centennial merchandise is selling. There are only four Tervis Tumblers left, and more have been ordered with lids.

Bettie Guthrie reported the time capsule is a French-style sideboard located on the third floor of the KVH as you exit the elevator. The inside of the sideboard will be fitted with stainless steel containers. On behalf of the time capsule committee, Bettie presented the following text for the plaque:

Catherine Madden reported that Judy Perry had suggested a GCV trip to Ver-sur-Mer for the dedication of the British Normandy Memorial. Catherine contacted Countess Marnie de Vanssay, who created a sample itinerary that she shared with the group. The tentative cost was listed as $6580 per person with a $2100 supplement for a single room. It has not been determined if the GCV would receive any financial benefit from the Ver-sur-Mer trip. The deadline for the trip was listed as September 30, but Catherine will explore extending the deadline. A limit of 18 people has been determined. Judy has submitted an article to the Journal about Ver-sur-Mer.  It was noted the only cost to the GCV would be the labor required to add the information to the website. The previous trip had $200 added to the price to benefit the GCV. A motion to approve a GCV trip, “Chateaux & Gardens, Food & History of Normandy” was approved.

During the discussion, it was noted that great feedback was received about the Normandy event and the GCV’s support. Vicky Alexander recommended there should be arrows displayed at the Centennial exhibit with the distance to Ver-sur-Mer. It was also suggested that a stipend be added to the cost of the trip to benefit the GCV, raising the price to $6800 per person. It was noted some dinners on the trip would be "on your own," and Countess de Vanssay is very helpful in finding reservations. The DALs are free to share this information with their club presidents. Catherine will send the final copy of the itinerary to the board.

At its May meeting, the board of directors tabled a motion from Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin when a discussion of the motion led to questions of how much money should be sent, the need for consistency, should this be done and what will others do in the future.

Tabled Motion: I move that the amount of $500 - $1000, determined by the GCV board, be sent from the Restoration funds as a “special gift and contribution” to those institutions who meet our GCV mission and are honoring a GCV Honorary Member.

Parliamentarian Linda Consolvo had been asked to address the questions and bring recommendations to this meeting.

Linda then presented “Recommendation for Policy and Procedure.” Discussion followed and a final recommendation was read and approved.

Recommendation for Policy and Procedure: All funding requests outside of the budget will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the president, the executive committee and the Finance Committee Chairman to determine whether the request should be funded. The president, along with the cxecutive committee and the Finance Committee Chairman, will determine what amount is appropriate before taking the request to the Finance Committee and then the board of directors for further review and action.

Linda then presented a recommendation for a change to the bylaws, as recommended by the Strategic Planning Committee, to protect the HGW funds that are to be spent for Restoration properties. Historically, money was taken from the HGW funds for the State Parks project and to initially fund the endowment. After discussion, the following proposal to change the bylaws was approved:

Any request made of the Restoration Committee, outside of its current stated policy for the expenditure of proceeds from Historic Garden Week (“oversee restoration and/or preservation of historic gardens and landscapes of the commonwealth and fund research programs”) will be submitted to the president, executive committee, Finance Committee Chairman, and Restoration Committee Chairman for review. If the board of directors approves funding outside of the stated mission, an advanced notice of the decision will be sent to the club presidents and a vote will be taken at either the Board of Governors Meeting or the Annual Meeting.

Linda will take this back to the Strategic Planning Committee, and they will work on the proposed bylaw wording. It will be brought to the board at the next meeting.

Following a break, Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin distributed the committee’s financial information and reported on the following properties:

Point of Honor – This project has been completed, and the dedication is planned for September 19. Invitations will be sent to board members.

Stratford Hall – The ladies of Stratford Hall are grateful for the work the GCV has completed. The dedication is planned in approximately one year.

Poe Museum – No further work will be completed until the other major projects are finished.

Poplar Forest – This project is close to completion. The carriage circle has been preserved, and a cutout section will allow visitors to view the original surface.

William & Mary – The contractor for Poplar Forest will be performing the work at this site. Anne reviewed the background of this project. This is a joint project with the College of William & Mary. The college has been working on their responsibilities to the project, and they are close to completion. The bids on this project came in higher than expected. Following much discussion, a motion to approve additional expenditures on the project was approved.

Anne reported the GCV Restoration Fellows are both working on a master';s degree in landscape design. The GCV has a history of offering Fellowships for the past 23 years. The Mount Airy presentation will be held on August 6, and the Farmington presentation will be held on August 28. The board will receive invitations to both events. Tricia Garner noted that one of the HGW tour chairs is a past Fellow. Anne noted the Fellowships are run through Rieley & Associates.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander distributed financial reports, reported on investment accounts, and outlined plans for the upcoming audit. She reviewed cash flow and noted unexpected income.

She reported the KVH Carriage House’s seven-year lease is ending in September. The tenant has requested repairs that include drainage issues for which the Restoration Committee is responsible. The estimate for the repairs is $26,000. Vicky recommended that 5% of the 2019 Endowment draw be used to cover the cost.

Jean, Lynn McCashin, Tricia McDaniel, and Vicky will meet and discuss the income of the KVH Carriage House and determine if the income received from the rent payments will continue to be considered as income or should be budgeted for future repairs. It was suggested the Carriage House should be evaluated for future repair issues. Jean and Anne Baldwin reminded the board that the Restoration Committee is responsible for the exterior maintenance of the KVH but not the Carriage House.

Vicky reported that increasing expenses require higher draws from the endowment and will seek professional advice in estimating a five-year financial plan.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Tricia Garner reported strong attendance during the 2019 HGW tours and provided financial information. She then presented a request from the Danville, Chatham, and Gabriella combined tour to move their tour from Friday to Thursday. The request was approved with all in agreement that the change better aligns with Martinsville’s Wednesday tour.

Tricia shared the HGW 2020 poster featuring a dogwood. The Kent-Valentine House will be featured on the cover of the Guidebook.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey announced she is trying to increase the membership of the committee. One goal of the committee is to increase engagement with local clubs. The 2020 Conservation Forum will focus on two issues: tree planting to combat global warming and Refuse to Use.

An additional committee goal is to increase collaboration with other organizations. Carrie has met with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to discuss its focus on education and its “Plant Natives” initiative.

Jean presented her “Zero Waste Bag” kit, which helps eliminate the use of plastics in an individual’s daily life. Nets can be purchased to replace the plastic bags used in grocery stores for fruits and vegetables. Carrie referenced an organization called 4oceans.org that makes bracelets out of plastic waste found in the ocean. The organization makes money from selling the bracelets to further their efforts.

Development Committee Chairman Sue Rosser reported 100% board participation in the Annual Fund for the 2018-2019 fiscal year – essential when applying for grants. Donations to the Annual Fund were just shy of the $125,000 goal. A total of 81% of member clubs have given to GCV funds. Only 19% of individual GCV member gifts were received, but the amount of the gifts has risen.

Sue announced that The Ashland Garden Club has gifted $3000 for a Centennial sponsorship. The Roller-Bottimore Foundation grant was awarded to the GCV in the amount of $25,000, and the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation grant was awarded to the GCV in the amount of $15,000. A total of $118,000 has been raised in Centennial sponsorships to date.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker reported Grelen Nursery was a great partner for Horticulture Field Day. Lilies in Bloom in June was a great success. The committee is starting to plan 2020 Horticulture Field Day, tentatively scheduled to be hosted in Norfolk.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reported 2019 Lilies in Bloom was the first time an artistic division was included, and all twelve entries were filled. The Centennial flower show arrangement themes were listed in the written report. Missy and Tory will meet concerning how clubs will register for the arrangements. The clubs will be allowed to pick their arrangement theme. Tory said there would be a need for a lot of volunteers.

Jean reported for Strategic Planning. The Pollinator Protection Initiative, included in the Board packet, gives clubs suggestions on activities promoting protection. Committee member Heidi James developed the initiative and has asked for bBoard support. Lynchburg has been designated as a Bee City. Jean stated this is an opportunity to collaborate with Mrs. Northam as she is interested in pollinator paths. The board endorsed this initiative.

The Directors at Large presented "What is the Role of Directors at Large?" and requested they receive the Centennial information that will be given to the liaisons during their September meeting. DALs are important in identifying future leaders of the GCV, and they encouraged the continuation of Presidents Day. Ninety-nine percent of first- and second-year presidents attended the event, and second-year club presidents had a lot of information to share with the first-year presidents. The board endorsed hosting a 2020 Presidents Day event and feels it needs to be a line item in the GCV budget. The event will be reviewed by the Finance Committee to determine a budget.

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The Garden Club of Virginia Board of Governors meeting was hosted by The Garden Club of the Northern Neck on October 15-17, 2019, at Stratford Hall. Photos

The board of directors held its meeting on Tuesday afternoon, October 15. President Jean Gilpin called the meeting to order at 12:28 p.m. and sent get well wishes to Development Committee Chairman Sue Rosser and former GCV President Helen Murphy.

Jean reported on a request for funding that fell outside established guidelines. The request included a $250 gift to Menokin in honor of Calder Loth, a$250 gift to Mount Vernon in honor of Dean Norton, and a$250 gift to UVA’s Batten School in honor of Helen and Tayloe Murphy. Adhering to current policy, the executive  committee met via conference call and sent its recommendation to the Finance Committee. Following the recommendation of the Finance Committee, a motion was made and approved to make the requested gifts with funds from the president's discretionary budget.

Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham reported the exhibition at the VMHC will open the night of the gala and will remain open until September 6, 2020. The registration numbers for Founders Day events as of October 14, 2019, are: KVH Reception, 128; Thomas Woltz, 170; VMFA Luncheon, 142; Gala, 221 and Paula Pryke, 204. Missy requested a list of names for "friends of the GCV” who would receive a special invitation to Founders Day events. Honorary Members have been invited, and sponsors will receive complimentary tickets. Flower magazine featured an ad in its November/December issue, and marketing to the general public will begin in November

Second Vice President Catherine Madden announced the planned GCV trip to Normandy for June 2-10, 2020, had been canceled when registration did not meet minimum limits.

Janet Rosser requested input for printing Centennial Humorous Memories, and the board approved author Judy Perry's request for $2,500 to print 1000 copies of the booklet.

A report from Journal advertising led to a lengthy discussion as follows:

Chairman Lea Shuba brought concerns to the board on procuring and keeping advertisers. Lea believes that someone with marketing experience would be a good fit for this role. Jean added that the redesigned Journal might help promote and retain advertising businesses, and she does not think member clubs should be pressured into buying ad space to promote their events. Businesses that benefit from advertising in the Journal should be the focus. In the continued discussion, the following points were noted: all print material is struggling to get advertising; price point and shelf life are important; and it is more cost-effective to advertise online. It was also noted biannual editions might be more desirable with a more substantive product. The idea of biannual editions of the Journal will be sent to the Journal Editorial Board.

There is also competition for advertisers with the Guidebook. This year, the cost of the Guidebook has been raised to $20 per copy and, to date, far more copies have been sold this year than the previous year.

The topic of members reading Jean’s monthly newsletter was mentioned, and the DALs will ask club presidents why some members don’t open the newsletter. There are about 2000 clicks per month.

 Discussion continued concerning cross-checking of advertising sales between the Journal and the Guidebook. HGW Committee Chairman Tricia Garner communicated there is no cross-checking, but she will speak with Lea. It was also noted the Development Committee should not be competing for support with the Journal and HGW. Perhaps a package deal could be offered to advertisers for the Journal and the Guidebook.

And, finally, should members be asked if they would prefer to receive their Journal online instead of in a print format?

The GCV Membership Committee reported their plans to present a formal motion to the board in January for GCV membership.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander summarized the budget and announced that $185,000 had been raised for the Centennial. She provided financial reports and reviewed account balances, investment income, and audit reports. Jean, Vicky, and Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel met with the auditor in September to discuss an update to the Treasurers Handbook and to seek advice on GCV support to member clubs, Year in Review reporting, five-year budget planning, and the relationship between the GCV and its member clubs regarding HGW.

Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel provided details of the GCV Restoration, Conservation, Common Wealth Award, Symposia, and Kent-Valentine House funds.

At its July meeting, the board directed Parliamentarian Linda Consolvo to submit a proposed addition to the bylaws to the Strategic Planning Committee. That committee met on October 3 and returned the following wording:

"Any request made of the Restoration Committee for funding, outside the currently stated policy for expenditure of proceeds from Historic Garden Week (HGW) [“oversee restoration and/or preservation of historic gardens and landscapes of the commonwealth and fund research programs”] will be submitted by the Restoration committee chairman to the president and the executive committee for review. If deemed an appropriate request, the treasurer and president will present the request at a Finance Committee meeting to determine a source for funding from the year’s current budget. If the Finance Committee determines there is no source other than HGW funds, the board of directors must determine whether to accept the diversion of funds from HGW that falls outside the stated mission of the Restoration Committee. If the Board of Directors approves funding from the HGW proceeds, an advanced notice of the request will be sent to all club presidents and a vote will be conducted at either the Board of Governors Meeting or the Annual Meeting, whichever occurs first."

The board accepted the wording. This was the first reading. The second reading and vote will occur at the January 2020 board meeting.

The Strategic Planning Committee met on October 3 and reviewed the above proposed addition to the bylaws as read by Linda Consolvo. The committee was also happy to learn the board passed the Pollinator Initiative in July, and it is looking at ways to bring the initiative to the attention of members. The committee discussed GCV fellowships and how the fellowships could be expanded.Executive Director Lynn McCashin was pleased to repoert the Carriage House lease had been signed by an architectural firm. As part of the lease, repairs will be performed. The contractors will need to work around the staff of the architectural firm. The drain issue has been repaired, but an additional backup occurred. It is possible that leaves may be a factor. Jean noted the rental income from the Carriage House has historically been added to the GCV income and asked if a fund should be created from the rental income to cover maintenance costs. Tricia McDaniel and Vicky Alexander will work with GCV Bookkeeper Kathie Avery to set up a deferred maintenance fund for the Carriage House taken from the rental income.

She also said the portraits of Horace and Elizabeth Kent have gifted to GCV by descendants of the Kents. The portraits are still boxed and are waiting for a handler to remove them. The frames are consistent with other artwork at the KVH.

A discussion of Centennial registration software followed, with Eventbrite selected for its flexibility.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey reported positive feedback from the 2019 Conservation Forum. The committee is working on advocacy and getting ready for Legislative Day. The committee has written a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers to express the GCV’s opposition to the Surrey-Skiffes Creek towers that have been erected in the James River near Jamestown. The letter asks the Army Corps to withdraw the permit for the towers since they did not conduct an environmental impact study. It also asks for Dominion Power to dismantle the towers and place them in another less historic and environmentally sensitive area. The letter was signed by Jean and Carrie and will be available on the website. The judge will be ruling if Dominion Power will need to re-request a permit.

Carrie attended the Bridge Builders dinner with Virginia Forever, where Delegate David Bulova was honored for doing a great job working across party lines.

Legislative Day is January 28, 2020. Carrie noted members could write an advocacy letter instead of appearing in person. This may help members participate thatch do not feel comfortable with advocating in person.

Second Vice President Debbie Lewis reported GCV has received grants from the Roller-Bottimore Foundation and the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation in support of the Centennial. She also noted Atlantic Union Bank has sponsored the Centennial exhibition publication

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker noted it was great to have an outside workroom at the Conservation Forum and thanked Fran Carden and Kim Cory for their work on this event. Wendy stated it was an amazing experience to collaborate with the Virginia State Parks and the Conservation and Beautification Committees. The Horticulture Committee is looking at the possibility of hosting another horticulture show in September in conjunction with Horticulture Field Day. Horticulture Field Day has been moved to September to avoid a Centennial conflict. The committee has initial plans of following-up on the pollinator initiative by featuring pollinators. The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club has offered to host the 2020 Lilies in Bloom Fredericksburg. A new perpetual trophy has been donated to honor the memory of Katherine Beale, well known for her knowledge of miniature daffodils. This award will be given for a new class in the GCV member section for a collection of five miniature daffodils. Also, a new class for daffodils grown and shown in containers has been added. Jean, Missy, and Lynn will be visiting the RVGC chairs of Lilies in Bloom to review and clarify the responsibilities of the GCV and RVGC for this event.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis announced 18 clubs have signed up for the Centennial’s floral design exhibit. (See schedule) The committee has been busy working on the schedule for 2020 Daffodil Day, "Daffodils Through the Centuries: A Reflection." Tory reviewed the four InterClub divisions and the three individual classes. Tory noted Jennifer Kelly has agreed to take charge of the pedestals after Daffodil Day and will have them ready for the Centennial club arrangements at the VMHC.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Tricia Garner announced the estate of Bunny Melon, Oak Spring, would be open for 2020 HGW. This will be in addition to the regular properties open for the Middleburg tour. The estate volunteered to be open in honor of the GCV Centennial. A timed ticket will need to be purchased separately for the Oak Spring tour. It will not be a part of the regular Middleburg HGW tour ticket. HGW state passes will also not be honored. The house and gardens will be open, and all proceeds will benefit HGW. The estate will also provide the shuttles. The tour will be held on April 24-25 and will allow only 500 visitors each day. There is a two-ticket per person limit for Oak Spring.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin encouraged everyone to view the gardens at Stratford Hall tomorrow morning before the Board of Governors meeting.  The dedication of Point of Honor was just held, and pictures of the event will be included in the next edition of the Journal. The Poplar Forest project continues, but was slowed down recently due to drainage issues, stone-cutting, and color selection of mud and stone.  Anne is hoping this project will be completed soon allowing the William & Mary project to begin around January since the same contractor is being used for both projects.

Anne thanked the board members who attended the fellowship presentations this summer. The Mount Airy presentation was videotaped due to space limitations. Anne has not seen the final product but will make the video available to the board. Anne noted she had received feedback from attendees that it was one of the best presentations given by a fellow. Jean asked who produced the video and communicated that Nina Mustard had located it online and said it was wonderful.

Bartlett Tree Experts, as part of a Centennial gift to the GCV, has offered to perform tree work at ten GCV Restoration sites, especially those smaller sites with limited available funds. The first work was performed at Kenmore. Widget Williams, Harborfront Garden Club, is coordinating this effort with Jean and Lynn on behalf of the Restoration Committee.

Following reports from the Directors at Large, Jean presented the topic of the HGW chairman’s rotation. The HGW chairman position currently rotates midway through the GCV president’s term. Jean noted this does not make sense, and she does not know why this was put in place. There is no procedure in place for making the change in a term. Jean proposed changing the HGW chairman’s term to coincide with the other chairman’s term. This could be accomplished by changing the current HGW chairman’s term to one year or three years. It was noted three of the DALs rotate on the board during the off year, as it is often an entry-level position.

Following a motion, discussion, and approval of the change, Jean announced that Tricia Garner will serve as HGW Committee Chairman for three years.

President Jean Gilpin welcomed attendees to the meeting and thanked Kate Muller, Lois Spencer, Jan Schuler, and all members of The Northern Neck for hosting a wonderful meeting.

GCNN President Kate Muller welcomed everyone and called the rain “liquid gold!” Kate introduced Lois Spencer and Jan Schuler, co-chairmen of the BOG. John Bacon, President of Stratford Hall, welcomed all to Stratford Hall and proclaimed, "Thank you for the rain!" Mr. Bacon explained that the relationship between Stratford Hall and the GCV goes back for years with the installation of the East Garden in the 1950s, and a second restoration under the direction of GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley. Mr. Bacon thanked everyone for supporting Stratford Hall and wished everyone a wonderful couple of days.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Karla MacKimmie presented the 2019 Common Wealth Award to The Boxwood Garden Club for their project, the Peter Paul Development Center and Playground Enhancement, during the BOG awards banquet.

Guest speaker Ken Benson, District Manager, Virginia State Parks, gave a wonderful presentation, including the history of Westmoreland State Park and thanked the GCV for the State Parks grant. Mr. Benson also highlighted the Youth Conservation Corps and noted the program is on the “chopping block” because of budgetary issues.

GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley gave an excellent presentation highlighting Restoration properties, including Kenmore, Point of Honor, Poplar Forest, and the College of William & Mary.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander presented an abbreviated treasurer's report and noted the annual audit had taken place in July, and she is awaiting the results. Vicky thanked the women who have made good decisions in the past and placed the GCV in a solid financial position. Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel communicated that the Finance Committee oversees all finances of the GCV. The budget process will begin in January and will be presented to the GCV board of directors in May and approved by the attendees at the Annual Meeting. The GCV has an investment policy in place, and members of the Finance Committee receive quarterly investment reports.

First Vice President and Chairman of the Centennial Steering Committee Missy Buckingham highlighted the progress of the Centennial celebration over the past five months. Missy encouraged club presidents to communicate what each club has been doing to celebrate the Centennial. Large postcards were given to the Centennial club liaisons listing the Founders Day events, and all members should have received one. The Centennial Founders Day events registration webpage went live on October 1, and 865 individual tickets have been sold to date. Suggested hotel accommodations can also be found on the website. Attendees are encouraged to make accommodations early, and all Annual Meeting participants are encouraged to extend their stay. The exhibition at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture titled, "A Landscape Saved: The Garden Club of Virginia at 100," will open the night of the gala on May 13, 2020. Former GCV President Jeanette Cadwallender is in the process of writing a catalog to accompany the exhibition. Jeanette and Former GCV President Kim Nash have been writing a resolution which will be sponsored by State Senator Obenshain and presented to the legislature. Please submit all Centennial Time Capsule items by the deadline of December 1, 2019. A social media campaign has begun, and the first national advertisement will appear in Flower magazine in the November/December issue. In addition, Virginia Living will run an advertisement in its next issue. Featured articles will be seen in Virginia Living, R Home, Flower, and The Garden Club of America’s Bulletin. Merchandise sales have been very successful. Supplies are limited with half of the inventory having been sold. The Tervis Tumblers are now available with lids. Centennial club liaisons have received a media kit. Director of Historic Garden Week and Special Programs Karen Ellsworth is helping with Centennial communications. Missy exclaimed, “Let’s look forward together to the next 100 years!”

Second Vice President Catherine Madden introduced Daffodil Day Chairman Adele Smith, who paraphrased the words of Francis Church by stating, "Yes, Virginia, there will be a Daffodil Day!" The theme will be "Daffodils through the Centuries: A Reflection," reflecting the GCV Centennial. Daffodil Day will be held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on March 30 – April 1 with the show open to the public on March 31, 2-4 p.m.

The save-the-date card features a photograph taken by last year’s blue ribbon winner Jane Hammond of Dolly Madison Garden Club. Please take every opportunity to remind members to attend and take advantage of the free visit to the gardens and the wonderful shopping. President Gilpin reminded everyone that Southern Living and Virginia Living were in attendance last year and be on the lookout for a supplement in Virginia Living.

Conservation and Beautification Chairman Carrie Dorsey reported she had received rave revues for the Conservation Forum, and there was an excellent collaboration with the Virginia State Parks and Horticulture committees. Carrie noted she has a new appreciation of trees from the great speakers at the Forum and left the event empowered and inspired to plant trees. Please visit the newly updated Conservation page on the GCV website and note the three highlighted initiatives, which are great club resources. The legislative policies and concerns are also posted on the website. Please also note the link to the 4Oceans organization and their movement to clean up plastics from our waters and coasts. The 4Oceans movement segues well into our “Refuse to Use” campaign. The Conservation and Beautification Committee would like to hear from clubs concerning their local conservation efforts. The committee is actively gathering information on various issues having to do with clean water, clean energy, climate change, and land use. There is continued work with our two partner organizations. Virginia Conservation Network is comprised of over 100 conservation organizations. They issue a booklet titled “Our Common Agenda," which is a wonderful resource. The booklet provides background and proposed plans of action on conservation issues. Their recommendations are valuable in forming our stance on various positions. The GCV strives to maintain an independent voice while advocating on many environmental issues. VIRGINIAforever is our other partner organization. The GCV is represented on its board. Carrie noted she had just attended their “Bridge Builder” dinner, where they honored a state legislator for reaching across party lines to obtain money for conservation programs. The organization's focus is entirely on finding funding for environmental programs specifically for improving water quality and land conservation. Last year’s budget included a record amount of funds.

VCN will be hosting a legislative preview day the first weekend in December that will have video streaming options across the state. Legislative Day will be held on January 28, 2020.

Conservation Awards Chairman Heidi James reported the committee met in July and selected the winners of the Dugdale Award and the Conservation Educator Award. The Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale award winner for 2019 was The Nansemond River Preservation Alliance. The winner of the 2019 Conservation Educator Award was James E. Jones, Natural Bridge State Park manager. The deadline for the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award is December 1, 2019, and the deadline for the de Lacy Gray Memorial Medal for Conservation is March 1, 2020. The committee hopes to list the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award projects in the Guidebook.

Heidi then presented Lynchburg's activities concerning the new GCV Pollinator Resolution, which was passed by the GCV board last July. Heidi explained, "The new pollinator resolution has all of the usual suggestions for our clubs and members: Plant native plants, plant pollinator-friendly gardens, reduce the use of pesticides/herbicides/fungicides, etc. But, there is much more to it than that!” Members of The Lynchburg Garden Club and Hillside Garden Club created a new partnership called Blue Ridge Conservation. This group had a brainstorming session and decided to become a Bee City. This is a relatively new designation by an organization founded in 2012 by Phyllis Stiles of Asheville, NC, and is now part of the Xerces Society. In September 2019, there were 96 Bee Cities and counting with three in Virginia. There are incentives for cities to form these kinds of partnerships with nonprofits, one being that they qualify for more grants and funding if they participate in conservation/ecological programs. Native plants are key to getting things moving in the right direction by helping the pollinators and the entire food web.

The benefits of becoming a Bee City include bringing all of the interested parties together so everyone can work as a team to make a difference. It connects a city to a national movement. City officials will have the support of the Xerces Society and their latest research. A Bee City can have access to webinars, social media posts, and many other resources. Finally, it gets a city to think about how it landscapes public spaces. Cities are encouraged to use native plants and trees and to reduce chemical use. They may end up reducing mowing, saving costs, and becoming tuned into important issues.

At the end of Heidi's very informative presentation, she proclaimed, "We can use Bee City USA as a platform to start an organized, statewide effort that encompasses conservation, horticulture and, by having Historic Garden Week as a Bee City event, it even pulls Restoration into the equation. The more of us that pursue this, the broader our influence and coverage across the state will be!”

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker thanked Kim Cory and Fran Carden for their work to make the GCV Back to Nature horticulture show a great success. Participation was great with 160 total stems entered in 41 classes representing 13 clubs. Wendy noted the BOG horticulture display was beautiful, loved how everyone interpreted the "speaks to the soul" nature theme, and thanked everyone for bringing their displays. The Annual Meeting horticulture schedule will be sent to the club presidents and horticulture chairs in January. Wendy reminded the attendees the deadline for the Horticulture Award of Merit nominations is March 1, 2020. The Daffodil Workshop will be held on March 23, 2020, at the KVH. Horticulture Field Day will be hosted in the fall so everyone can enjoy the GCV Centennial events. Wendy reported the ‘Green Arrow’ daffodil is a mid-late season bloomer. Janet Hickman and the Daffodil Committee are interested in the 2nd second-year behavior and encouraged members that planted ‘Green Arrow’ to please complete and submit the evaluation form. If you are interested in purchasing 'Green Arrow,' the bulbs are still available through Brent & Becky’s Bulbs. The Katherine Beale Trophy, donated by Harborfront Garden Club, has been added and will be awarded in the GCV members-only Section for a collection of five miniature daffodils.

Lilies in Bloom Chairman Nina Mustard reviewed the history of the event and noted the first show only included horticulture. The 2019 show had generous donations of $1900 that funded the entire show. The show included 35 horticulture exhibitors and 12 artistic InterClub entries. The show was dedicated to the memory of Katherine Beale. Nina thanked Hilldrup for their assistance and announced The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club has offered to sponsor Lilies in Bloom for the next two years. A date and venue have not yet been announced.

Claire Mellinger, Albemarle Garden Club, has joined forces with the Restoration Committee to create a retrospective photography show called “A Sense of Place” that will be displayed at the KVH during the Founders Day cocktail reception on May 12, 2020. Photographs will showcase historic GCV Restoration projects in Virginia. Currently, there are 68 member entries, including President Jean Gilpin. The photographs will be displayed by district. There are still Restoration properties that need entries. Digital entries are due by January 15, 2020.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported the calendar at the KVH has been full of events over the past couple of months. Lynn noted the GCV staff works well together. Karen Ellsworth continues to work with marketing, communications, HGW, and editing the Guidebook. Karen has also been working with Missy Buckingham and Lynn on Centennial communications and has been working with Jean Gilpin on Centennial sponsorships. Communications Coordinator Ann Heller creates all the slides for the BOG. She has worked tirelessly with Nina Mustard on the Centennial, including ticketing. Ann is also the editor of the Year in Review which will be sent soon. HGW Administrative Coordinator Terri Lowman has been busy processing the Guidebook advertisements and contracts. Terri also arranged Google Drive training and is currently working on the marketing meeting. Director of Development Lexie Haglund continues to work on the sponsor process and the Annual Fund appeal. Kathie Avery has been working for the GCV for six months as the new Bookkeeper. Office and Events Coordinator Quan McGough is the cornerstone at the KVH. Quan is central to Centennial planning and organizes all logistics for KVH meetings and events. KVH Manager Lee Mondesir manages all the party rentals. Lynn noted the lease on the Carriage House at the KVH had been renewed for seven years. Lynn announced that the Horace and Elizabeth Kent portraits would be returning to the KVH! The Kents built the KVH, and their descendants have had a desire for the portraits to return. The upgrades to the KVH have been completed, and Lynn encouraged clubs to visit. Jean Gilpin noted, “We are so proud of the way the KVH looks!”

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin stated she was excited that everyone had the opportunity to view Stratford Hall and thanked everyone that visited the gardens. Anne reported the north lawn at Point of Honor in Lynchburg was dedicated on September 19, and there will be an article in the upcoming Journal about the restoration. Work at Poplar Forest continues on the carriage turnaround, and work at the College of William 7 Mary will begin soon. Fellow Hayden Hammons worked and lived at Mount Airy in Warsaw. This home was built in 1764. Fellow Dania Khaifat documented Farmington, which was constructed in 1780 and located in Charlottesville. These reports are available online and at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Anne thanked the Research Fellowship Committee for their work in selecting the sites and the fellows. Anne reminded everyone about the Restoration Committee PowerPoint presentation. She is hoping to get 3500 GCV members excited about visiting Restoration properties. The Restoration Committee is giving a prize to one member of each club who visits the most Restoration properties between May 2019 and the 2020 Annual Meeting.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis gave a delightful presentation as Mrs. Gardenia Calli Vines or GCV for short. Daffodil Day will be held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in March. There will be four Inter\Club divisions, including Echo, Creative Line, Construction, and Federal classes. There will be three individual/group divisions, including Illuminary, Designer’s Choice, and a Small Design for a Novice. The arrangements for the Founders Day events will be placed on traditional pedestals throughout the VMHC. The pedestals are 42” high and 12” square. There are no height or width restrictions for the arrangements. The classes include State Parks, Restoration Sites, Design a Decade, and Showcase your Club. Half of the GCV member clubs have signed up. Please pick a first and second choice. Each arrangement will need an accompanying card of explanation. There may be only one arrangement per club.

The Directors at Large (Bettie Guthrie, Fran Carden, Anne Harrison Harris, Debbie Lewis, Laura Francis, and Debbie Bonnewell) reported they have been “busy as bees” promoting the “Queen Bee’s” Refuse to Use initiative. The DALs shared two initiatives from each district and then hosted a drawing with one winner from each district. President Jean Gilpin noted the DALs reports would be available online.

Corresponding Secretary Janet Rosser thanked everyone for their generous support of the GCV. Janet then introduced the following GCV committee chairmen for whom she serves as board liaison. Journal Editorial Board Chairman Julie Grover reported the Summer 2020 edition of the Journal would be redesigned to include a larger format with better paper and larger photographs. Julie noted the editorial board needs articles for the Journal from each GCV committee, including HGW, Horticulture, Restoration, and Artistic Design with a subject matter of where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Journal Advertising Chairman Lea Shuba communicated the Journal advertisers are an excellent reference for shopping. Please inform Lea of businesses that meet the GCV demographics, and she will reach out to them. Lea thanked the club presidents and reminded them to reach out to the Journal to advertise their club events. GCV clubs receive a 50% discount on advertisements. GCV Historian and Custodian of Records Judy Perry explained to the club presidents that each club has a box located in the conference room of the KVH filled with items representing the past histories of each club. On November 6, 2019, there will be a historians meeting. Judy asked the presidents to please send a delegate if the club historian cannot be in attendance. Paige Newman of the VMHC will be the guest speaker. Judy noted there would be an article in the Journal about the WWII efforts. The GCV trip to Normandy has been canceled. The humorous memories project will be released during the Founders Day events. Artist Marcia Long, from The Williamsburg Garden Club, is doing a wonderful job with the artwork sketches. There are over 125 stories from 30 different clubs, and Judy will still take stories from the clubs over the next few days. President Jean Gilpin noted this effort has been a labor of love for Judy.

Chairman of Strategic Planning Candy Crosby reminded everyone the committee's focus is how the GCV will embrace the next 100 years. The committee recommends the net proceeds of HGW should be used for Restoration projects and the fellowships. The committee also supported the development of a pollinator initiative and recommends the GCV board of directors appoint a committee to investigate the expansion of the fellowship programs.

Nominations Committee Chairman Ann Gordon Evans explained the committee is made up of one person from each district, and Lynn McCashin serves as a nonvoting member. The committee will meet in early December to determine a slate to fill the following officers and Directors at Large positions: First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and DALs from Districts 1, 3, and 4. It is per the GCV policy that the sitting First Vice President will be nominated as the incoming GCV President. A manila envelope with a nominations form was given to each BOG attendee. Please mail nominations to Ann Gordon Evans with a postmark date no later than Friday, November 15. Nominations are confidential. Please carefully consider your recommendations and include leadership experiences of each person. You may vote for positions outside of your district. Ann Gordon noted it is helpful to have pictures of members posted online.

Massie Medal Committee Chairman Dianne Spence explained the Massie Medal had been given since 1954 in memory of former GCV President Susanne Williams Massie, (1926- 1928). The deadline for nominations is November 1. Nominations are confidential, and the recipient is announced at the Annual Meeting during the banquet.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Karla MacKimmie congratulated the Boxwood Garden Club for winning the 2019 Common Wealth Award. The deadline for the 2020 Common Wealth Award application is March 1, 2020. Judy Perry presented an update for The Elizabeth River Garden Club’s 2018 Common Wealth Award-winning project “The Outdoor Classroom at Paradise Creek Nature Park.” Judy explained the 40-acre park was developed out of a toxic waste dump. Judy shared before and after slides of their project. Virginia Gillock presented an update for The Augusta Garden Club’s 2018 second place Common Wealth Award-winning project “Project Dogwood - A Hundred Year Journey.” Virginia presented the history of her club with the dogwood tree and in 2019, they partnered with Habitat for Humanity in planting neighborhood dogwoods. They are currently developing a children's book, which is a historical fiction written from the perspective of a dogwood tree. This book is aligned with the commonwealth's SOLs, and it includes curriculum support and resources for children. Their goal is to share a love of dogwood trees.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Tricia Garner has agreed to serve in the HGW Chairman role for three years. This will allow the term of the HGW chairman to align with the term of the rest of the board chairmen and the GCV president. Tricia reported the planning for the 2020 HGW tour has been exciting in association with the Centennial celebration. This year there will be 29 tours plus the James River Plantations will be open. Tricia thanked the tour chairmen and club members for all the work they accomplish. Tricia announced the estate of Bunny Mellon, Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, will be open for tour. This will require a separate ticket, and the cost will be $100 per person. All proceeds will be donated to HGW. Oak Spring will provide shuttles and some hostesses. Tickets will be limited, and attendees must sign up for a time to attend. To accommodate this opportunity, the Middleburg tours will be held on Friday and Saturday instead of the usual Sunday and Monday. The HGW marketing meeting will be held on Thursday, November 7, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bolling-Haxall House. Presidents are invited to attend. There will be a marketing goody bag sent home with each tour chairman. The HGW brochure will feature a picture of the planter at the KVH featuring the ‘Green Arrow' daffodil. The Guidebook cover was revealed, featuring a photograph of the KVH by Ben Greenburg. The color yellow will be a gold foil treatment. This edition will be a keepsake!

Development Committee Member Debbie Lewis reported the committee is excited to celebrate the Centennial. The Annual Fund has raised $120,555 in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. This amount was the most raised since its inception ten years ago. The Centennial goal is to have 100% participation for 100 years. Debbie thanked the clubs that have donated to the fund with gifts totaling $22,525. The Annual Fund appeal will be sent to members next week. The current “polishing our gem” campaign has resulted in three restored gilded mirrors, with four more needing to be conserved. The Green Arrow Society includes 18 members, with nine new members added this year. Debbie announced the Centennial exhibition had been fully funded by the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation and the Roller-Bottimore Foundation grants. Atlantic Union Bank has partnered with the GCV to sponsor the exhibition publication. Additional Centennial sponsors include Bartlett Tree Experts, Hilldrup, TowneBank, Investment Management of VA, Grelen Nursery, Valley Proteins, Lucy and Robert Huff, Robin and Bill Ingram, Meredith Lauter, The Ashland Garden Club, and Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management. Debbie thanked all the GCV members and corporations for their support.

Virginia State Parks Chairman Nina Mustard thanked Ann Heller for all her work with the slides. She then reported the “Back to Nature” event at Natural Bridge, held on September 24-25, was very successful. The partnership with the Horticulture Committee and the Conservation and Beautification Committee made for a great event. Bartlett Tree Experts worked with elementary schoolchildren, and there was a beautiful “base camp” learning center. The event had great support from IMVA, Friends of Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge Director Jim Jones and his staff. During this event, Craig Seaver, recently retired Director of Virginia State Parks, announced the GCV had won the Presidents Award from the National Association of State Park Directors. Craig Seaver was awarded State Park Director of the Year by the same organization. Nina also reported Mary Hart Darden won a blue ribbon for her hot pepper jelly submission in the picnic class of the horticulture show. The State Parks grants have been supported by 21 member clubs partnering with 23 Virginia State Parks plus the Youth Conservation Corps. The 2020 grant submission deadline is December 1, 2019. The committee will meet with the interim State Parks director in early December, and the winners will be announced in early 2020. This is the last year for the State Parks grants.

GCV Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Chairman Sidney Jordon thanked meeting co-chairmen Lois and Jan who received a standing ovation from attendees. The 2020 Annual Meeting will be hosted by The James River Garden Club in Richmond on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Hotel accommodations will be at the Graduate, and attendees can extend their reservations for the Founders Day events on May 13. The 2020 Board of Governors Co-Chairmen Dannett Lightcap and Bonnie Baker invited everyone to Warren County on October 13-15, 2020, for “Gardening for Our Own Good.”

The Garden Club of the Northern Neck President Kate Muller thanked the attendees, adding, “It was a privilege to entertain you!" Kate then announced the sad news that GCV former GCV President Helen Murphy had passed away early that morning and asked that everyone please remember Helen's husband, Tayloe, and her family.

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The GCV board of directors met on January 16, 2020, at the Kent-Valentine House.

President Jean Gilpin called the meeting to order and proceeded with an executive committee  report. Among items on the agenda were changes to the Directory & Handbook, budget redesign, HR topics, and approval of single use of the GCV logo by Mary Bruce Glaize, who will needlepoint the GCV logo and attach it to one ornament for a church fundraiser.

Centennial Steering Committee Chairman Missy Buckingham provided updates: ticket sales are going well; personalized communication is planned for GCV Honorary Members, sponsors and friends of GCV; and merchandise sales are brisk with blue and green ties being restocked.

Jean reported for Virginia State Parks Committee Chairman Nina Mustard that after having met with Interim Director of Virginia State Parks Dave Collett, the committee is recommending that GCV fund 16 projects. A total of $100,000 is available for funding. The report pointed out that no application was fully funded, and three projects did not receive any funding. The Staunton River Battlefield request for landscape architect services will be referred to the GCV Fellowship Committee. A motion to fund the projects as presented was approved. Lynn McCashin will notify Mr. Collett of the grants funded, and an email will be sent to all applicants informing them of the committee's decision. The recipients will need to accept the grant and agree to be good stewards of the money. The notification process will be finished by the end of the current month. This concludes the Centennial gift to the commonwealth.

Bettie Guthrie reported that four member clubs have not submitted their items for the time capsule, and Catherine  Madden reported that not all standing committees have contributed,

Kris Carbone reported for the Membership Committee. In September 2019, Ashland Garden Club President Michelle Hamner submitted a letter to the Membership Committee recommending Three Rivers Garden Club for membership in the GCV. The Ashland Garden Club and member Janet Rosser have been mentoring the club since its inception. This club represents the Charles City and New Kent County area and had its first meeting in February 2016. Kris presented the process of becoming a GCV member club per the amended and restated bylaws and the history of Three Rivers Garden Club, including their efforts toward becoming a GCV member club. TRGC’s membership is 33. They have been active in their community by participating in conservation projects, including a cleanup along the James River and tree planting. They have been educated about member club requirements, including hosting a state meeting and HGW participation. Kris read the recommendation by the Membership Committee as written in Membership Committee Chairman Diane Wilkinson’s board report. This recommendation included participation in suggested GCV activities, both while their membership is being considered and after approval is granted. Most recently, ten members of TRGC attended a tri-club meeting of The Brunswick Garden Club, The Petersburg Garden Club, and The Ashland Garden Club, with Jean Gilpin in attendance. They also have two members registered for Legislative Day. They are eager to join the GCV, and they intend to continue their relationship with Ashland to help host HGW. Kris asked for any questions concerning the candidacy of TRGC. A motion from the Membership Committee to accept Three Rivers Garden Club for membership in the Garden Club of Virginia was approved. A final vote will be taken at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Jean reminded the board to keep this confidential until logistics have been worked out.

Treasurer Vicky Alexander reported account balances and reviewed financial reports. The budget process for FY2020-2021 is underway with the help of the Finance Committee and Lynn McCashin. The final budget will be presented for approval to the GCV executive committee, the board and the attendees of the 2020 Annual Meeting.

Vicky handed out the audit report by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP and noted there were no issues. Lori Cochran, GCV auditor with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, presented the audit report in person to the Finance Committee. This was well received, and it is planned to continue this practice.

Vicky announced GCV Bookkeeper Kathie Avery has resigned but has offered to stay on until February to assist a new hire. Lynn has posted the position and has interviewed good candidates.  Lynn will evaluate the applicants, and Vicky is hopeful to have someone in place in the next three weeks.

Vicky reported a review of the budget design is taking place. The budget structure was put together nine or ten years ago and has not changed. A nonprofit CPA is consulting with the budget design. The goal is to help members better understand the GCV’s finances. Restoration funds will be placed in an accounting silo separate from the operating funds. The new design will provide more clarity and transparency with forward funding, investments, and restricted funds.

Finance Committee Chairman Tricia McDaniel reported that Ben Tomkins of Virginia Commonwealth Corporation has reviewed our insurance coverage, including coverage of Centennial events. Mr. Tompkins will investigate a policy to cover the GCV if a Centennial speaker cancels prior to the event. Insurance coverage of the exhibition will also be investigated.

The committee reviewed the funds determining the amount of money to be awarded for the Common Wealth Award, the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, and the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship. The GCV Conservation Fund provides funding for the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award and the Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship. A recommendation from the committee is as follows: Common Wealth Award $16,000; Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award $8000; and Conservation and Environmental Fellowship $6000.

The Finance Committee voted to create a deferred maintenance reserve fund for the Carriage House. Nothing significant has been done to the Carriage House in seven years. When the new lease was negotiated with the tenant, maintenance repairs were needed and there was not a line item for larger repairs in the budget. The Finance Committee voted to take ten percent of the monthly Carriage House rental income and place it in the deferred maintenance reserve fund to cover larger renovations and updates to the Carriage House when needed.

Parliamentarian Linda Consolvo presented the second reading of the addition to the amended and restated bylaws. The first reading was presented at the board meeting on October 15, 2019. The addition to the amended and restated bylaws reads as follows:

"Any request made of the Restoration Committee for funding, outside of the currently stated policy for expenditure of proceeds from Historic Garden Week (HGW) [“oversee restoration and/or preservation of historic gardens and landscapes of the commonwealth and fund research programs”] will be submitted by the Restoration chairman to the president and the executive committee for review. If deemed an appropriate request, the treasurer and the president will present the request at a Finance Committee meeting to determine a source for funding from the year's current budget. If the Finance Committee determines there is no source other than HGW funds, the Board of Directors (BOD) must determine whether to accept the diversion of funds from HGW that falls outside the stated mission of the Restoration Committee. If the board of directors approves funding from the HGW proceeds, an advanced notice of the request will be sent to all club presidents, and a vote will be conducted at either the Board of Governors Meeting or the Annual Meeting, whichever occurs first."

A motion to approve the change was approved.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Carrie Dorsey distributed the 2020 legislative position statement. It is similar to the 2019 legislative position statement, except the committee removed specifics about coal ash because it is not currently considered a legislative issue. The committee will monitor for future bills associated with coal ash. The general statements of support are in bold. Bills are currently being formalized and the committee will have more specific information when they are released. Virginia Conservation Network provides advice and guidance to the committee, focusing on relevant bills. The committee will have Legislative Policies and Issues of Concerns ready for Legislative Day and will include the bills on the website for members who would like to write their legislators. The document will be sent to the club conservation chairmen via email soon. The board fully endorsed the document.

Carrie explained that VCN is responsible for organizing bipartisan speakers on the morning of Legislative Day -- typically legislators. Participants will be given talking points on the relevant bills. The Conservation and Beautification Committee will be present. Jean reminded board members that GCV stands for clean air, clean water, and clean soil, noting this is not a political statement but support for our environment.

Carrie reported our relationship with VIRGINIAforever has been beneficial in getting the GCV name out. She was invited to attend the Chesapeake Bay Foundation reception as a result of our relationship with VIRGINIAforever. The attendees were legislators, Virginia cabinet members, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation members. Carrie felt very honored to attend and thought it was important to have representation with these groups.

Carrie communicated Leighton Powell of Scenic Virginia has asked to speak to GCV members concerning the “View Shed Registry.” The organization’s goal is to identify Virginia’s most scenic areas and recognize them as an official public designation. Carrie suggested the BOG might be a good venue for this presentation. Jean agreed and suggested that Carrie introduce this to her committee to determine how they would like to organize this. It was noted the host club typically chooses the speakers at the AM/BOG. Missy suggested this might be something that could be presented at the next Symposium as part of the conservation message. It is also a possibility that it could be part of the 2020 BOG if the schedule permits.

Development Committee Chairman Sue Rosser thanked Jean for her role in obtaining Centennial sponsorships and thanked Janet Rosser for her part in writing thank you notes. She urged 100% participation in supporting the Annual Fund. The committee is working on a goal of 100% member club giving in honor of the Centennial. Sixty percent of the member clubs have participated. The Annual Fund had reached $80,000 as of December 31 with a goal of $115,000.

Sue reported the Green Arrow Society currently has 18 members with a goal of 22 members. Sue asked the board to please consider becoming a member.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Wendy Walker reported The James River Garden Club has requested there not be a horticulture exhibit at the Annual Meeting as a one-time exception, and asked the board please emphasize this is a one-time exception. Horticulture Field Day will be hosted on September 23-24, 2020, in Norfolk. Wendy's committee will have the details arranged before the new horticulture cChairman moves into her position.

Lilies in Bloom will be led by Lily Chairman Patsy Smith and The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club in Fredericksburg on June 16, 2020.

A Daffodil workshop is scheduled for March 23 at the KVH. The workshop is designed to assist participants in feeling comfortable exhibiting specimens at Daffodil Day. Daffodil Day Chairman Adele Smith has not communicated the specifics on how volunteers will be solicited.

Artistic Design Committee Chairman Tory Willis reported only 31 clubs have registered for the Centennial’s floral design exhibit; she is starting a push for 100% club participation.

The schedule for Daffodil Day is available, and registration has begun. The schedule for Lilies in Bloom is currently being developed, and this show will be in honor of former GCV President Helen Murphy. Jean will send Tayloe Murphy a special invitation to the event. It will be hosted at Fredericksburg Academy with plenty of parking.

Jean reported the Strategic Plan is nearlyt finished and will be replaced with long range planning. All committee chairmen will need to submit an updated job description and timeline for their respective committees to Lynn. Lynn will send out the job descriptions that currently exist to each chairman. It was suggested to make these descriptions available on the website.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Tricia Garner's report included a number of requests from member clubs:

• The Garden Club of Warren County requesting an exemption to host HGW in 2021 due to limited member resources associated with hosting the BOG. A motion to approve the request passed.
• The four Richmond garden clubs have requested to change their tour days from Wednesday-Friday to Tuesday-Thursday, essentially move the Friday tour to Tuesday. The result would be a Tuesday tour hosted by the four clubs in conjunction with the James River plantation tours (a full tour -- not an abbreviated tour with the plantations); Wednesday tour hosted by the four clubs with the Council of Historic Richmond; and Thursday tour hosted by the four Richmond clubs. A motion to approve the request passed.

Tricia handed out draft copies of the new HGW economic impact study, made possible by the support of Bartlett Tree Experts. Lynn reviewed the history of the economic impact study and noted the 2014 study was becoming dated. This is based on data collected through surveys by Chmura Economics & Analytics in 2014 and 2019. Lynn noted they are a very prestigious data firm. Homeowners were surveyed as part of the study providing home preparation financials. The average age of the tour-goer is 60, they spend $72 per day, and most travel in parties of two. The economic impact of HGW over 50 years is estimated at $518 million. After reviewing the economic impact handout, Lynn noted the data is verifiable back to 1969. The study will be presented at the Annual Meeting and is confidential until then. Please send edits to Lynn. Wendy suggested Senator Obenshain may want this information for the Centennial resolution, and Bettie felt it is important to share this study with city leaders.

Restoration Committee Chairman Anne Baldwin distributed the current financial statement of the Restoration Committee. Anne reported the committee currently has three active projects: Poplar Forest, the Reveley Garden at William & Mary, and the Poe Museum. Poplar Forest is near completion. Three oval beds need to be completed, and Peggy Cornett of Monticello will be assisting in determining the correct historic roses for these beds. A major part of the William & Mary project is the installation of winding brick paths. The contractor from Poplar Forest is being used for this project. It is hoped the paths will be finished by the Annual Meeting. The committee voted on finishing the project at the Poe Museum and will schedule a dedication. Anne noted the roof and drain work performed at the KVH was financed by the Restoration Committee.

Four Surry County properties were secured for the two Restoration fellows’ research this summer.

Bartlett Tree Experts' Centennial gift to the GCV includes tree work offered at up to ten Restoration properties. The first tree work was done at Kenmore, and work has been scheduled for Smith’s Fort Plantation and Fincastle. Bartlett is willing to give a presentation to local clubs. Anne noted the committee will not start any new projects until the William & Mary project is completed.

Jean reported the Strategic Planning Committee has recommended a description of the executive committee be added to the Directory & Handbook on page 155, General Information, Standing Committees. Jean passed out the wording the executive committee approved to be added under standing committees. Jean noted it is not written anywhere that the executive committee acts as the human resources committee. The wording presented is as follows was approved.

"This committee provides human resources support to the executive director, as well as a direct point of contact for employees should issues arise in the work setting. The president and an additional committee member are responsible for an annual evaluation of the executive director. The GCV Human Resources Manual provides a guideline for the committee and the executive director on employment policies and procedures."

A motion to accept the slate as presented passed.

1. The multiyear renovation of the KVH
2. The “jelling” of the Centennial project, including the budget, the festivities, and watching the staff balance the additional workload in a positive way, including their problem solving and their ability to help.
3. Working with the State Parks projects and the impact that the GCV made with this effort; Lynn was proud to be a part of that.

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The 2020 spring Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was to be hosted by The James River Garden Club in Richmond. Due to COVID-19 the meeting was canceled, and a website was created to share the year’s information and to celebrate Jean’s presidency.

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On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam held a COVID-19-related press briefing to outline the state's readiness. Eight days later, on Thursday, March 12, Governor Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia. Public spaces were soon ordered to shut down and a stay-at-home order was issued.

When Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden closed its doors indefinitely following Governor Northam's declaration, President Jean Gilpin sent an email to board members announcing the cancellation of Daffodil Day. On Saturday, March 14, she called an emergency teleconference meeting of the GCV board to discuss cancellation of Historic Garden Week. With no time to spare, the board made  the decision to cancel Historic Garden Week in 2020, and a communication plan was quickly put into place.

Read Board Minutes of March 14 Meeting.

Jean called a second teleconference board meeting on Monday, March 23, to discuss GCV COVID-19-related financial concerns and Centennial plans.

Read Board Minutes of March 23 Meeting.

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Chairman Carrie Dorsey, The James River Garden Club

2018 Legislative Day was held on January 30 in Richmond. Read GCV Legislative Concerns.

The 2018 Conservation Forum was held at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville on October 25.

The GCV Pollinator Protection Initiative was established in July 2019.

The 2019 Conservation Forum was held at Natural Bridge State Park on September 25 in conjunction with Back to Nature. ‘Trees: Canopy of Conservation" featured four speakers, including Frazier Armstong of Capital Trees, Elizabeth Brantly of Bartlett Tree Experts, Eric Wiseman of Virginia Tech Big Tree Program, and Andrew Moore, author of Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit.

The Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation was presented to the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance. The  Conservation Educator Award was presented to Jim Jones, Natural Bridge State Park Director.

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Chairman Tory Willis, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

2018 Lilies in Bloom was held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Goochland, and Chairman Nina Mustard was pleased to report the event went smoothly and that many exhibitors helped with volunteer jobs. The show was a break-even event.

Photos

Break Even Budget

The 2018 fall Symposium, chaired by Jennifer Kelley, was held September 25-26 in Richmond.

Photos

Photos

2019 Lilies in Bloom was held on June 18, for the second year at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Goochland, chaired by Nina Mustard

Photos of An Evening with Margot Shaw

Photos of Lilies in Bloom

2020 Daffodil Day Online

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Chairman Tricia Garner, The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

2019 Historic Garden Week

Boot Camp in preparation for HGW in 2020.

2020 Historic Garden Week was scheduled for April 18-25. It was canceled on March 14 due to COVID-19.

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Chairman Wendy Walker, The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore

October 15-17, 2018 BOG Hunting Creek Horticulture Exhibit Description

Photos

May 7-9, 2019 Annual Meeting Portsmouth Horticulture Exhibit Photos

2019 Horticulture Award of Merit Recipients: Susan Garrett, The Nansemond River Garden Club, and Sherry Leffel, The Spotswood Garden Club.

June 2019 Horticulture Field Day Orange  View Schedule

Photos

September 14-15, 2019: Back to Nature was held at Natural Bridge State Park on September 14-15 and included a native plant horticulture exhibit, chaired by Fran Carden and Kim Cory. Photos

October 15-17, 2019: BOG Horticulture Exhibit Stratford Hall Photos

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Producer Claire Mellinger, Albemarle Garden Club

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Chairman Anne Baldwin, The Garden Club of Alexandria

The committee was on the road September 5-6 with visits to Bacon’s Castle, the Rolfe-Warren House at Smith’s Fort Plantation, the new garden site at William & Mary and Bruton Parish Church. Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided updates to the committee at their September meeting:

Poe Museum: Waiting for cooler weather in November to plant here in one of the smaller areas called Maggie’s Garden.

Poplar Forest: Soon after our summer board meeting, the chief archaeologist, Jack Gary, left for a new position as Colonial Williamsburg’s chief archaeologist. While it is disappointing not to have him in charge of the uncovering of Jefferson’s original carriage circle, we are delighted that Jack has now joined the supporting professionals on our GCV Fellowship Committee and will continue to be involved with us. We anticipate a viewing of the original circle on October 24. After that, the circle will be sealed and preserved for posterity, and then a new surface will be installed. Will should be showing this in his presentation at the meeting. Also, this fall, the three oval beds of roses that Jefferson loved will be planted. Once this project is complete, the façade of the house will look the way Thomas Jefferson designed it, for the first time since he owned Poplar Forest.

Point of Honor: Waiting for cooler weather to install and plant the new garden behind the house here. This hopefully will be completed before the year’s end. This project had been voted on in 2015, but has been delayed for various reasons. The cost of plants and the work has increased since then, and the committee voted additional funds for this project.

Stratford Hall; Will did a very informative presentation at the Symposium on the project here. The paths and brickwork were completed this summer. We look forward to the plants going in, probably in November. The committee also voted for additional funds here for the trellis fencing and plantings. This project, too, was delayed with the change in Directors, and the costs had risen.

William & Mary: We enjoyed standing on the site of this garden in September with Will showing us all of the detailed plans involved in making this a reality. William & Mary is now involved in their part of the project, which requires moving many utilities and preparing the site. Will should be showing this also at the BOG.

In addition to these larger projects, the committee continues to review each of our properties at our meetings and asses the needs of each. Here are the ones that we voted on in September:

Belmont: Maintaining boxwood in good condition is going to be an ongoing issue for all of our properties. There are four triangular beds here, and the boxwoods need to be replaced. The committee voted to do this with a variety that has been suggested by the Saunders Bros. Nursery as disease resistant.

Kent-Valentine House: The committee voted to plant a new dogwood in honor of our dear Margaret Bemiss, who has done so much to support us. In addition, Will and Jody Branch looked over the entire KVH landscape, with a goal of making our GCV headquarters look sparkling for a year of Centennial celebration.

Poplar Forest hosted a visit on October 24 to view the Thomas Jefferson surface for the carriage turnaround. Guests were greeted by President and CEO Jeff Nichols 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.

January 9, 2019

The committee met at the Kent-Valentine House on January 9, 2019. Will 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, the committee approved updates to the following properties:

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 and 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.

January 10, 2019 Maintenance Workshop

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. Curator of Plants at Monticello Peggy Cornett 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.

British Normandy Memorial Gift of $20,000

The Garden Club of Virginia sent a $1000 gift in 1940 from Restoration funds to England in support of civilian relief during WWII. And, in 1941, GCV sent $20,000 for relief in Britain -- the entire proceeds of HGW for that year. Today, $20,000 is the equivalent of $357,000. Lady Astor, the first woman elected to the British Parliament, facilitated these efforts. A motion from the Restoration Committee to send $20,000 from Restoration funds to support landscaping at the British Normandy Memorial was approved by the board and then by GCV membership.

Summer and Fall 2019

Point of Honor – This project has been completed, and the dedication is planned for September 19. Invitations will be sent to board members.

Stratford Hall – The ladies of Stratford Hall are very grateful for the work the GCV has completed. The dedication is planned in approximately one year.

Poe Museum – No further work will be completed until the other major projects are finished.

Poplar Forest – This project is close to completion. The carriage circle has been preserved, and a cutout section will allow visitors to view the original surface.

William & Mary – The contractor for Poplar Forest will be performing the work at this site. Anne reviewed the background of this project. This is a joint project with the College of William & Mary. The college has been working on their responsibilities to the project, and they are close to completion. The bids on this project came in higher than expected. Following much discussion, a motion to approve additional expenditures on the project was approved.

Restoration Fellowships

2018 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow Mary Fesak, who researched Sherwood Forest and 2018 William D. Rieley Fellow Penelope Cottrell-Crawford, who studied Shirley Plantation, presented their work in August 2018.

The Research Fellowship Subcommittee met on October 29 at the Kent-Valentine House and selected two 2019 fellowship sites:

The 2019  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.

Dania Khlaifat, the 2019 Rudy J. Favretti Fellow, will be researching the historic landscape at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville.

The William D. Rieley Fellow, Hayden Hammons, will be researching Mount Airy in Warsaw.

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Chairman Jennifer Kelley, The Garden Club of Alexandria

Awards

Photos

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Chairman Virginia State Parks Nina Mustard, The Williamsburg Garden Club; Co-Chairmen Horticulture Show Fran Carden and Kim Cory, Albemarle Garden Club; Co-Chairmen Conservation Forum Becky Balzer, Roanoke Valley Garden Club and Allison Clock, The Hampton Roads Garden Club

Photos

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