2006 Spring Annual Meeting: Rivanna

December 16, 2021

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.

At the close of the 88th Annual Meeting in Charlottesville, Grace Rice presented Deedy with a scrapbook. Tributes followed.

Tributes to Deedy

Helen Murphy described Deedy’s service with the Augusta Garden Club and her move through the ranks of the Garden Club of Virginia, where she held lots of positions to equip her for the eventual role as our “First Flower.” But only her God-given calm, good sense and unruffled nature could have prepared her for her first few months. She was immediately faced with the death of her First Vice President; the resignation of the GCV Administrator; an unbelievably stubborn Architectural Review Board in Richmond; and a host of other sticky wickets.

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.