The Garden Study Club

March 22, 2022

Community Outreach

The Garden Study Club actively supports the Martinsville community – its residents, schools, civic organizations, parks, museums, and waterways. The club has funded, designed, planted, and maintained school gardens, and the school system has willingly assumed responsibility for the gardens as valuable learn tools; delivers potted plants to area nursing facilities each year; provides funding for worthy civic organizations and beautifications projects; and participated in cleanup days at parks and riverways. Club members were actively involved in planning civic beautification and enrichment projects when the Virginia Museum of Natural History opened at its current location in 2007.

The Paw Path Pollinator Garden, located at the Smith River Sports Complex, is an ongoing joint venture with The Martinsville Garden Club. The half-mile, dog-friendly Paw Path runs alongside the river at the Smith River Sports Complex. The Paw Path Pollinator Garden was created along the path to feature native plant pollinators and is home to more than 300 pollinator-sustaining wildflowers, trees, and shrubs, representing 50 native and non-invasive plant species along the half-mile path. The clubs received the 2018 Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award for the path and garden. The Garden Study Club continues to work together with The Martinsville Garden Club to maintain the Paw Path Pollinator Garden.  A local hiking, riding, and walking trail is being built and will pass by the exit garden at the Paw Path, giving additional exposure to the garden. Members are preparing educational materials about pollinators to be used in the schools.  https://www.visitmartinsville.com/listing/paw-path-at-monogram-foods-smith-river-sports-complex/

The club also supported Piedmont Arts as that organization reimagined a portion of its grounds to create the Pollinator Path, an accessible community space for the appreciation of art and nature. The path features an ADA-compliant pathway lined by native plants that promote pollination and support local wildlife and raised flower beds for an Adopt-a-Bed program. Art classes and school tours find inspiration amongst the native flora and fauna. With support from Harvest Foundation, Beegins With You Foundation, Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, the YMCA, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Bee City, The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Study Club, and other community organizations, the Project Hope Pollinator Trail will be a source of community pride for future generations. https://www.visitmartinsville.com/listing/pollinator-path/

The Garden Study Club worked with The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Club of Danville to aid Fairy Stone Park in a successful effort to receive one of the GCV Centennial Virginia State Park grants.

Club Activities and Programs

Programs have included wide-ranging areas of interest — horticulture and gardening, conservation, restoration, and flower arranging.

Horticulture and Gardening: Rosemary Wallinger, Three Generations of Gardening at Millcreek; Elaine Jirouch of Ridgeway, Backyard Beauties and Other UFOs; Joe Lamp’l, PBS garden host; master gardener and author; Barbara Holland, Sex in the Garden; Kris Landrum of The Herbitage on herb gardening; Pat Stone, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul; and Susan Timmons from Hillside Garden Club inspired us with her presentation, Our Country Cottage Garden which encouraged the club members to continue to create and recreate our own gardens, whether rural or urban.

A popular speaker was Dr. Don Richmond, who presented Extraordinary Orchids. A retired physician, Dr. Richman is an avid gardener and horticulturist with exotic collections of orchids, roses, and peonies. He brought several of his unique species of orchids and talked about how to raise healthy, productive plants. He offered “house calls” to advise on solving specific orchid “issues” and provided resources for collection care and purchase. Dr. Richman is a well-known, well-respected, philanthropic member of our community. He is highly regarded and humble, all attributes that made his presentation more interesting to our club members.

Conservation: What’s New in the Environment: Virginia and Martinsville was a fascinating look at our natural resources and how those resources could spur ecotourism; GCV Conservation and Beautification Chairman Jocelin Conners reminded members that each one of us can make a difference and GCV Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Marsha Merrell provided members with a better understanding of the legislative process and the impact each individual can have. Lois Christensen of Martinsville’s Gateway Streetscape presented, Greening the Community; and Program Manager of the Dan River Basin Association Brian Williams presented, Protection and Promotion of our Natural Resources. Brian is an avid outdoorsman and is instrumental in promoting and protecting natural resources in our community, most specifically the Smith River. His compelling slide show depicted the river over several years, showing dramatic changes.

One of the most well-received conservation programs was a member-written and produced skit, The Green Queen. It stars Green Goddess who helps the over-consumer learn practical ideas for recycling and information about water and energy conservation. She also points out the many dangers of household chemicals and provides substitutes using green cleaning products. The skit was adapted from Does It Come In Green: A Mini-Tale of the Over-Consumer by Stony Brook Garden Club of Princeton, New Jersey.

Flower Arranging: A Seated Dinner Party Table Arrangement presented by Lucy Wilson, who showed us the basics for arranging and gave lists of tools needed; Liz Whitehead from Chatham Garden Club presented Tricks of the Trade; and members always enjoy slide presentations of flower arrangements created for the local HGW tour.

Restoration: GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided updates to the club about the GCV restoration project at the Historic Henry County Courthouse. The club-supported restoration included a tree-lined plaza, an open space for gatherings, and repositioning the cannon to face away from approaching visitors. https://www.mhchistoricalsociety.org/garden-club-of-virginia-historic-restoration-site.

Mary Jac Meadows also gave a fantastic program on GCV restoration projects. The slides and informative presentation gave the club membership a detailed and impressive visual about GCV’s restoration sites, and the program provided a great opportunity to understand how our HGW proceeds are utilized.

Funding Community Projects

The club’s primary fundraiser is the annual sale of holiday centerpieces, wreaths, and garlands. GSC had a recent fundraising luncheon at Chatmoss Country Club with speaker Dee Dee Dalrymple, motivating us all to beautiful entertaining. Dee Dee donated part of the proceeds from the sale of her book Effortless Entertaining. Janice Cain set up a booth from her shop, Janice Cain Stationery, and she also donated a portion of her sales to GSC. Donna Lawhon and Debbie Lewis spearheaded the event. Beautiful flower arrangements from members of our club provided a lovely setting for the luncheon.

GSC continues to sell note cards from a painting donated by Gail Smith, a GSC sustaining member.

GCV Lily Show 2005-2006

The club hosted the 63rd and 64th Annual GCV Lily Shows, My Fair Lily, at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville in 2005 and 2006, chaired by Barbara Holland and Susan Critz.

2005 Lily Show Photos

2006 Lily Show Photos

GCV Annual Meeting 2018

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, GCV President Nina Mustard called the board of directors meeting to order on Tuesday, May 15 at NCI.

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.

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.

Attendees enjoyed cocktails and the awards banquet at Chatmoss Country Club. The Massie Medal, the GCV’s highest honor, was awarded to Glenna Moyers Graves, a 43-year member of The Spotswood Garden Club. The de Lacy Gray Medal for Conservation was awarded to Mary Bruce Glaize, for her work as founder and leader of the Little Nature Camp of The Little Garden Club of Winchester, which helps children learn the importance of nature, an appreciation of its delicate balance, and what each individual can do to sustain that equilibrium.

The Annual Meeting resumed at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning with a call to order by the president.

Chairman Donna Lawhon introduced her “pit crew” and thanked The Garden Study Club for a job well done in hosting this Annual Meeting.

GSC Presidents 1996-2020

1996-1998	Dale Box
1998-2000	Susan Critz
2000-2002	Lauren Prince
2002-2004	Barbara Holland
2004-2006	Martha Medley
2006-2008	Donna Lawhon
2008-2010	Cece Johnson
2010-2012	Myra Stegall
2012-2014	Debbie Lewis
2014-2016	Gail Mitchell
2016-2018	Stuart Webster
2018-2020	Judy Epperly