The Garden Club of Norfolk

March 21, 2022

thegardenclubofnorfolk.org

1990-2000

The Garden Club of Norfolk gifted the entrance arbor at the Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) in support of its Holiday of Lights show. During this time, the club also provided a planter for the Rotunda at NBG’s Rose Hall and refurbished the Colonial Garden.

The club also helped fund the Yellow Fever Memorial Park in West Ghent that honors those lost in the epidemic of 1855. Nearly 10% of the city’s population is believed to have perished with the fever. The park remains an open green space with seasonal plantings covering a burial mound where many bodies had to be quickly interred to prevent spread of the disease.

Hunter Savage was awarded the Garden Club of Virginia’s distinguished Massie Medal in 1994 for outstanding work in gardening and in service to GCV with dedication and distinction. Hunter served as the president of the Garden Club of Virginia from 1976-1978 and held numerous other posts and committee appointments over many years of work at state and local levels.

The Garden Club of Norfolk gifted money to the Kent Valentine House Restoration in 1995; continued to offer financial and volunteer support of the Weyanoke Preserve; hosted the GCV Annual Meeting in May of 1995; funded plantings in two large public areas at the entrance of the new MacArthur Center Mall; and donated $15,000 to the NBG’s Virginia Native Plant Garden, 1997-2000.

Annual Greenery Sale: A 30 Year Tradition

In 1990, Sugar Bacon and Huffy Furr created an annual fundraiser that continues to draw members and friends together every year for the sale of holiday greenery fresh from the Carolina mountains. Today the event is known as “Greens Galore and So Much More!”

Members who have co-chaired this committee include: Sugar Bacon, Huffy Furr and Tish Counselman; Annie Moore and Anne Whittemore; Mary Lyall Ramsey and Joan Parker; Betty Anne Patrick and Ann Martin; Puddy Crisler and Pat Stecker; Jane Cole and Penny West; Pam Combs and Kerri Stokes; Sandy Bond and Pam Reed; Sandy Bond and Puddy Crisler; Kathy Finney and Caroline Furr; Cathy Burnette and Mary Beth Rickman; Jamie Old and Jane Cole; and Katherine Knaus and Jane Cole.

2000-2010

Notable Community projects: provided funds to purchase and plant 12 mature Italian Cypress trees at the entrance of the Harrison Opera House;  along with the Elizabeth River and Virginia Beach Garden Clubs, secured the GCV Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for the Elizabeth River Project and its work in restoration of an important local waterway; contributed $20,000 toward the Children’s World of Wonders Garden at the Norfolk Botanical Garden; provided funding for the purchase and planting of a Katsura tree at Norfolk Fire Station #1 to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedy; gifted $5,000 to the WPA Memorial Garden in honor of the African American women who worked to clear land in 1938 for the beginning of the Azalea Garden, the forerunner of today’s Norfolk Botanical Garden.

The Garden Club of Norfolk received the 2001 GCV Common Wealth Award — $6,000 to fund on-going efforts at Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Virginia Native Plant Garden; and in 2003, the club received the GCA Founders’ Fund Award — $25,000 to continue funding the garden.

In 2007, GCN took the lead in designing and hosting a Global Warming Forum with Harborfront Garden Club and the City of Norfolk. Several hundred citizens took part in the event, and it stands today as one of the first such informational sessions to address the impact of climate change and rising waters in our city and community. Jane Cole and Gillian Cady were instrumental in the effort. The Norfolk Environmental Commission recognized GCN for Excellence in Communication and Environmental Stewardship. GCN was also recognized by the Virginia Sierra Club for its efforts.

2010-2020

2010 saw the launch of a website for the Garden Club of Norfolk. GCN was the first local club to create its own site and soon began to rely on this means of communication among its membership, the community and with other GCV and GCA clubs across the state and nation.

In 2010 the club gave $25,000 to the Virginia Zoo for construction of a copper roof gazebo constructed in the existing rose garden. A dedication ceremony featured the planting of a pink radiance rose and the unveiling of a bronze plaque to recognize and thank the club for its support. The gazebo has become a favorite spot for family photos and a pretty venue for small wedding ceremonies.

Historic Garden Week

In 2011, the Norfolk Home and Garden Tour generated a record $30,000 plus in revenues to support the Garden Club of Virginia’s efforts in restoration of historic gardens. GCN has participated in every Historic Garden Week since its beginning in the late 192o’s. Today the statewide tour is recognized as “America’s largest open house!”

For 30 years, the Norfolk Tour has been a joint project for the Garden Club of Norfolk and its former junior club, Harborfront Garden Club. This partnership has generated well over $500,000 to support restoration projects since the early 8o’s. Leadership rotates annually with Harborfront leading in the even years and GCN in the odd years. The Norfolk Tour has become well known throughout the state and beyond for its spectacular and unique floral designs. Past GNC tour chairmen include Betsy Burnette, Gilly Cady, Judy Carraway, Pam Combs, Rachel Cottrell, Jeanie Daniel, Huffy Furr, Robin Ingram, Connie Kellam, Ann Martin, Pam Reed, and Melanie Wills.

Creating a Rain Garden

GCN partnered on several projects in 2011 including construction of an educational Rain Garden at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens with funds awarded to GCN by the Garden Club of Virginia’s prestigious Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award. The Rain Garden was completed that fall and featured on the Norfolk Home and Garden Tour in April 2012.

Emma Ramsey was instrumental in organizing the project while Heritage Curator of Gardens and Grounds, Yolima Carr, helped to design the rain garden. Students of Park Place Elementary School were enlisted to help plant the garden. One student thanked club members and shared, “This is the first time I ever got to dig in the dirt and plant something!”

A Club Logo and Apron

The club unveiled its first logo in 2011. Local artist, Terre Ittner, was commissioned to help design the stylized rose while drawing inspiration from the club’s flower. Stationery, note cards and more soon followed. A club apron with an embroidered logo was created and it became a tradition for new members to receive their personalized apron at induction. Members proudly don their pretty aprons at all club events.

The Garden Club of Norfolk contributed $2,500 to the Garden Club of America 2013 Centennial Central Park Fund for the reconstruction and replanting of the park’s East 59th Street entrance. Mayor Michael Bloomberg designated June 3 as Garden Club of America Day with over 800 delegates from 200 clubs gathering to honor GCA in its hometown of New York City.

Associates’ Tea Launches GCN’s Centennial

Soon after the GCA Centennial Celebration, a GCN Centennial Committee was formed to begin planning for its 100th anniversary in 2015. The committee (Betsy Burnett, Judy Carraway, Emily Franklin, Fann Greer, Robin Ingram, Ava Loeb, Betty Ann Patrick, Pam Reed, Selina Stokes and co-chairs, Pam Combs and Gillian Cady) hosted an Associates’ Tea in August of 2013 at the home of Kirk Clarkson. Attendees dressed in period attire, were greeted at the door with Mimosas and later enjoyed a traditional menu served on hone china, with crystal, sterling and starched linens, reminiscent of past club luncheons.

Celebrating A Century of Service at The Hermitage Museum

The Garden Club of Norfolk celebrated its 100th anniversary in February 2015, and proudly hosted the 95th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia in May. On the snowy morning of February 24, 2015, members, and their guests, along with local dignitaries, gathered at the Hermitage Museum. and Gardens to mark 100 years to the day of the founding of the Garden Club of Norfolk.

A celebratory champagne brunch heralded the past and ushered in the start of GCN’s Centennial Year. Mayor Paul Fraim provided the opening remarks and his many thanks from the City of Norfolk for GCN’s numerous contributions in over a century of service. Peggy Haile McPhillips, Norfolk’s City Historian, provided a poignant glimpse into the club’s history with newspaper articles and a few special photographs of the home of Mrs. Fredric Killam., depicting her lovely parlor where the first meeting was convened in February 1915. Members dressed in period attire enjoying a look back while celebrating the beginning of GCN’s second century.

GCN hosted the 95th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia

In May 2015, the Garden Club of Norfolk hosted GCV’s Annual Meeting. Pam Reed and Pam Combs served as the meeting’s co-chairs. In recognition of GCN’s Centennial year, the meeting’s theme was “Seeds of Service” in celebration of the many gifts of time and talent sowed throughout the community and region during GCN’s 100 years.

In honor of GCN’s Centennial, a piece of art glass was created at an Annual Meeting special event held at the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Glass Studio. The stunning piece was designed and created by studio artists featuring a delicate Dogwood branch in recognition of GCN’s key role in the 1918 selection of the Dogwood as the floral emblem. of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The beautiful handblown green glass ginger jar was gifted by GCN to GCV for prominent and permanent display at the Kent Valentine House in Richmond.

A Centennial Leadership Fund

In 2015, The Garden Club of Norfolk created a Centennial Leadership Fund anticipated to grow and support GCN’s ambitious mission into the next century. Over $20,000 was raised through the generosity of past presidents, current and past members, and their families. The intent for the fund has been realized as it continues to grow and so helps to ensure the club’s work continues for a second century.

Lifestyle Lecture Series

In October 2016, the Ways and Means Committee tested a new project by inviting flower arranger, chef, entertainer and hostess, Danielle Rollins, to introduce her book, Soiree: Entertaining with Style, at a lecture and luncheon event. It was a great success and so began the series.

In February 2018, Laura Dowling, former floral designer at the White House, shared her skills in the art of Floral Diplomacy to a sold-out audience. In February 2019, Linda Jane Holden was the 3rd speaker of GCN’s Lifestyle Lecture Series with a glimpse into the gardens and life of American icon Bunny Mellon. February 2020, Margot Shaw author of Floral Living and Editor-in-Chief of Flower magazine spoke about interior and floral design.

GCN Presidents 1995-2020

1994-1996	Sandra Baylor
1996-1998	Bridget Ritter
1998-2000	Blair Willis
2000-2002	Mary Lyall Ramsey
2002-2004	Rachel Cottrell
2004-2006	Ann Martin
2006-2008	Robin Ingram
2008-2010	Robin Ingram
2010-2012	Pam Combs
2012-2014	Pam Reed
2014-2016	Gillian Cady
2016-2018	Fann Greer
2018-2020	Jane Edwards