GCV Journal March 2007

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JournalTHEGA

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LUBOFVIRGINIA

VOL LII, NO. 1, MARCH 2007


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WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA

JournalEditorial Board2006-2007

Editor and Chairman, Peggy Federhart, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

ExOfficio MembersThe GCV President, Sally Guy Brown, The Garden Club of AlexandriaThe GCV Vice President & Chair of The GCV Communications Committee, Cabell West,The Tuckahoe Garden Club of WesthamptonThe GCV Director of Public Relations, Linda Consolvo, The Nansemond River Garden Club

JournalChair, Gail Braxton, The Rappahannock Valley Garden ClubJournalAdvertising Chairman, Betsy Agelasto, The Virginia Beach Garden Club

MembersMason Beazley, The James River Garden Club, The Garden Club of the Northern NeckFleet Davis, The Garden Club of the Eastern ShoreBetty Delk, The Nansemond River Garden Club

Ann Gordon Evans, The Huntington Garden ClubMarietta Gwathmey, Harborfront Garden ClubSarah Pierson, The Rappahannock Valley Garden ClubLynne Rabil, The Franklin Garden Club

FROM THE EDITOR

This issue launches two series of articles.

Will Rieley, current Consulting Landscape Architect for The GCV, begins a series onlandscape architects who have served as consultants for The Garden Club of Virginia.In this issue, he covers James L. Greenleaf and Charles F. Gillette. The drawing is aproposed arrangement of the Kenmore grounds. For more on this garden, see"Kenmore" in Historic Virginia Gardens: Preservations by The Garden Club of Virginiaby Dorothy Hunt Williams, 1975.

Members of the Development Committee will provide background information on

the Funds of The GCV: The Garden Club of Virginia Endowment, The GCVConservation Fund (new), The Common Wealth Award Fund and The SEED Fund.Ellen Saunders launches the series with an overview of The Common Wealth AwardFund.

Holly Maillet will continue her series on historic plants in the June issue.

The Editorial Board welcomes your input. Please let us know what you would like tosee in future issues. The Board is listed below; please contact any of us.

-Peggy


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MARCH 2007 WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG 1

The Garden Club of VirginiaJournal

The Garden Club of Virginia Journal(USPS 574-520, ISSN 0431-0233) ispublished four times a year for membersby The GCV, 12 East Franklin St.,Richmond, VA 23219. Periodicalpostage paid in Richmond, VA. Singleissue price, $3.00.

Copy and ad deadlines are:January 15 for the March issue

April 15 for the June issueJuly 15 for the September issueOctober 15 for the December issueEmail copy to the Editor and advertisingto the Ad Manager

JournalEditor and Chairman of theEditorial Board:Peggy Federhart (Mrs. John A.)Post Office Box 247Ophelia, VA 22530Phone: (804) 453-3064Email:[email protected]

JournalAdvertising Chairman:Betsy Agelasto (Mrs. Peter A. III)Phone: (757) 428-1870Email: [email protected]

President of The Garden Club of Virginia:Sally Guy Brown (Mrs. Thomas C., Jr.)

JournalCommittee Chairman:Gail Braxton (Mrs. H. Harrison, Jr.)

Vol. LII, No. 1Printed on recycled paper byCarter Printing CompanyRichmond, VA

ON THE COVER...This issue is dedicated to The Hampton RoadsGarden Club, host of The GCV Annual Meeting2007, in memory of the founder, Miss Elizabeth Ivy.

IN THIS ISSUE...From the Editor . . . . . . .. . . . . . . inside front cover

The Voice of Historic Garden Week . .. . . 3

A New National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Four Centuries of Virginia Living .. . . . . .. . . . . 5

Greenleaf and Gillette .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8

The 1607 Garden .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. 10

An Invitation to the Daffodil Show . . . . . . . . . . .11The Common Wealth Award Fund . . . . . . . . . 12

Lessons from the BOG .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13

Some Horticulture on View .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14

Horticulture Field Day Invitation .. . .. . . . . . 16

Ex Libris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Dont Toss That Outdated Computer . . . . . . 18

Flower Arranging 101 .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Rose Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Activities at the Kent-Valentine House .. . . . 22

Lily Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Daffodil Notes ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Extra! Extra! Read All About Us .. .. .. .. .. .. 25

Contributions ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

No Deer in my Garden! . . . . . inside back cover

O T H E R R E F E R E N C E S . . .Kent-Valentine HousePhone: (804) 643-4137 Fax: (804) 644-7778Email: [email protected]

Historic Garden Week OfficePhone: (804) 644-7776 Fax: (804) 644-7778Email:[email protected]

POSTMASTER send address changes to:

GCV Administrator12 East Franklin StreetRichmond, VA 23219


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The Voice of Historic Garden Week in VirginiaBy Beverly E. Bates

The Boxwood Garden Club

For twenty years the

person with the

"perfect name" has

been the cheerful voice

answering the phone at the

Kent Valentine House.

Many people have laughed

out loud when hearing

Susan say, "Susan Flowers,

Historic Garden Week."

One person even asked if

God had sent her to The Garden Club of Virginia to do this job.

Most of us have never really thought about the many hats that Susan must wear

as the Administrator of Historic Garden Week. The official job description reads:

"This is a part-time job with key responsibilities. Applicant must be exceptionally

well-organized and able to juggle multiple tasks, including bookkeeping, office

administration and coordination of advertising for the Historic Garden Week guide-

book." Of even greater importance may be the ability to work with hundreds and

hundreds of volunteers over the years.Susan has witnessed technology changes in the office from one IBM Selectric

typewriter, a mimeograph machine and two rotary dial phones to DSL high-speed

Internet access allowing instant communication with people around the world. She

and Suzanne Munson lived through the renovation of the Kent-Valentine House

without wearing hardhats even though one-day plaster came tumbling down from

the ceiling onto Susan's hair without causing any injuries, thank goodness.

Susan and Bill's boys are now grown and their Maltese, Bailey, is 3 years old. It is

time for Susan to dance, dance, dance. We shall all miss her very much and wish

her many years of fun, good health, serenity, travel, and a good dash of excitement

while she decides what to do in her second life.


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WWW.GCVIRGINIA.ORG THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA4

A New National Park:The Captain John Smith Chesapeake

National Water TrailBy Hylah H. Boyd

The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton

Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation.

S

o said Captain John Smith about the lands, tributaries and waters of the

Chesapeake Bay. Now, at long last, recognition is being given to the Great

Captain for his commanding role in the founding of our country. The

President signed bipartisan legislation in December to create a new national park to beadded to our National Park system called The Captain John Smith Chesapeake

National Water Trail. The new park will be administered by the National Park Service

and will become a part of a system that includes the Pony Express, Lewis and Clark,

and the Trail of Tears.

As a result of its natural, cultural and historic importance, many agree that the

Chesapeake Bay is a resource of even greater national significance than the well-known

National Parks of the American West. A new National Park named for Captain John

Smith will recognize finally the tremendous contributions of the great Captain. To

quote Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, "Smith's voyages helped to launch the

English explorations of North America, his maps were the most definitive of the

Chesapeake for nearly a century, and the water trail will spur people to explore the Bay

in kayaks, canoes and small boats. This new historic water trail will inspire generations

of Americans and visitors to follow Smith's journeys, to learn about the roots of our

nation and to better understand the contributions of the Native Americans who lived

within the Bay region."Virginia stepped out ahead last year with the dedication of a driving and a water

trail called Captain John Smith's Adventures on the James River. Eventually, all the

major Virginia rivers will be included in the project; but the James River is the first

step in focusing national attention on the events that happened from 1607 to 1609 on

and around the Chesapeake Bay. A handsome brochure with three folded maps

depicts 40 sites on the James and York Rivers where a consensus of historians, archae-

ologists, ecologists and native Americans agreeCaptain Smith's activities and those of

native Americans intersected during that brief two year period. The maps tell the his-tory but also educate visitors about the environmental changes to the Bay that have

taken place over time. Visitors will see, for instance, that in 1607-1609 oyster reefs

rose several feet out of the water. Now only a tiny fraction of the reefs remain. More

information on the state trail can be obtained at www.johnsmithtrails.com.


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Garden Week 2007 PresentsFour Centuries of Virginia Living

By Suzanne Munson

Executive Director, Historic Garden Week in Virginia

In a salute to America's 400th birthday, our Historic Garden Week guidebookand several events will have Jamestown-related themes this year. Four cen-

turies of Virginia living will be presented on fascinating tours throughout

the state, April 21-28.Visitors to the Williamsburg tour on April 24 can also travel by complimenta-

ry shuttle to nearby Jamestown Island. With proceeds from Historic GardenWeek, The Garden Club of Virginia has restored the Yeardley House garden on

the island in honor of the Association for the Preservation of VirginiaAntiquities (APVA), the organization most responsible for preserving and restor-

ing historic sites in the area. Especially for Garden Week guests, TheWilliamsburg Garden Club will decorate the island's historic 17th century

church with native flowers and foliage on April 24. The only residence on

Jamestown Island, Godspeed Cottage, home of the Director of Archaeology forAPVA, Preservation Virginia, will also be open for the tour.

The cover of the 2007 Historic Garden Week guidebook features a charmingstatue of Pocahontas, arms outstretched in welcome to Virginia. Hylah

Robinson created the statue in the 1930s and it graces a private property in theMiddle Peninsula. During his early days of exploration, Captain John Smith vis-

ited some of the scenic landscapes open for the April 28 tour in historicGloucester. As a further tribute to the Jamestown observation, a number of GCV

members and other gardeners are planting red, white and blue "America'sAnniversary Gardens" for enjoyment in 2007. (For more information about this

project, access www.ext.vt.edu/americasgarden) or The GCV's Website

(www.GCVirginia.org).

Ghosts, Music and Foxhounds

As we like to say, Garden Week offers "something for everyone". This April,various tours will feature friendly ghosts, a "roof angel," a graveyard wedding,

fashion shows, musical interludes, tablescape presentations, vintage automobile

collections, foxhound showings, demonstrations of crafts by Native Americans,and flower-arranging seminars.

History was made in a number of the old homes open this year, including onein downtown Fredericksburg with an elegant ballroom where George Washington,

Lafayette and Rouchambeau dined following the Peace Ball in 1784. In one of theproperties open for the Albemarle County tour, a family lived in the basement

while Union generals residing above directed 10,000 troops in the area. Brand newhouses of the 21st century will also be showcased on several tours.

Gardens are equally interesting and varied, ranging from formal Charles

Gillette-inspired designs to those lovingly created by talented members of The


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Garden Club of Virginia. TheFairfax Garden Club's tour in the

Falls Church and Arlington areason April 24 features "gardeners'

gardens," including a wonderfulOriental-style landscape designed

by Lester Collins, a former dean

of the Harvard University Schoolof Landscape Architecture who

also designed the HirshhornSculpture Garden in

Washington, D.C.Guests of the April 25 tour in

the Virginia Beach area will seethe oldest living tulip poplar east of the Mississippi River, registered as a

Champion Tree with the National Register of Big Trees. According to local leg-end, the pirate Blackbeard

visited this property in his

hey-day. Willow Lawn, oneof the historic properties

open for the April 28 tour onthe Eastern Shore, is named

for its remarkable willow oaktree, a National Champion

listed on the NationalRegister of Big Trees. At the

time of the registration, it

was the largest in the UnitedStates, having survived winter

storms and ocean winds forgenerations.

For more informationabout these and other properties and events, please access the Tour Highlights

pages of the HGW Website:www.VAGardenweek.org. This

section is updated annually withnoteworthy event details and

selected photos. Guidebook copy

for each tour is also attached byevent name on the Schedule page

of the site. The Guidebooks/Ticketspage offers tour tickets and guide-

books for sale with a credit cardand internet connection.


Brownsville, owned by The Nature Conservancy, is a1,200-acre working farm and nature preserve on theEastern Shore.

Using a never-implemented designed by noted landscape architectCharles F. Gillette, the owners of this Richmond home sloped thegarden down a hill and sited it behind a Tudor-style house built in1920 for the granddaughter of Matthew Fontaine Maury.

Reminiscent of homes in the Deep South, this gra-cious residence in Virginia Beach overlooks a cove onLinkhorn Bay.


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Worldwide WebSpreads the Word

For the first time, we expect to

reach the 100,000 mark this year invisits to the Historic Garden Week

Website, with inquiries coming

from as far away as New Zealand.Another milestone was achieved this

fall, with all guidebook copy andmany lovely images submitted by

clubs to headquarters via e-mail.Information about the tours is

being sent from headquartersthrough the worldwide web to

numerous tour groups, including the

Seeders and Weeders Garden Club ofPasedena, California, who are eagerly

anticipating their Virginia visit.Other visitors are learning about our

tours through leading magazines,newspapers and tourism Websites.

Dates for future Garden Week tours are April 19-27, 2008, and April 18-26,2009. In 2008, The Garden Club of Virginia will celebrate Historic Garden Week's

75th year; plans are already underway

to mark this very special occasion.Tours have been held annually since

1929, with an intermission duringWorld War II while Club members

tended their Victory Gardens. Andwhat a wonderful tradition this has

been, with total proceeds exceeding$12 million, and more than three

dozen important historic gardensthroughout our state beautifully

restored for the public to enjoy.

Once again, our sincere thanks tothose who are graciously opening

their doors and garden gates to the

public this year to benefit the cause ofhistoric restoration and to the legionsof dedicated GCV members who

labor to make this premier event"happen" year after year.

Historic seaport houses like this one in Olde TownePortsmouth have many stories, including those fea-turing friendly ghosts.

On South Washington Street in Winchester


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James L. Greenleaf and Charles F. Gillette:Setting the Bar

By William D. Rieley

Landscape Architect for The Garden Club of Virginia

In the early 1920s, Mrs. Thomas S. Wheelwright, second President of The Garden

Club of Virginia, became personally interested in the preservation and restoration of

the grounds at Kenmore, the Fredericksburg home of Fielding Lewis and his wife,

Betty Washington, only sister of George Washington. Mrs. Wheelwright was charged

with getting landscape architectural advice for the project. Thus began The Garden

Club of Virginia's relationship with its first landscape architects, Charles F. Gillette and

James L. Greenleaf.

Greenleaf, an important early figure in landscape architecture in this country, helped

establish the National Park Service and influenced the design of the nation's capital dur-

ing his tenure on the Commission of Fine Arts. He also remains well known for his

"country places" such as the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, New York. Landscape

historian Norman T. Newton described him as both gentle and gracious and one ". . .

regarded with admiration by colleagues and affection by the younger generation, to

whom he was unfailingly helpful." The GCV asked him to serve as a consultant toGillette as Gillette developed the plans for Kenmore.

Landscape Plan for Kenmore


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By the time he began work on the Kenmore design, Gillette had practiced landscape

architecture in Virginia on his own for a decade. He had trained as an apprentice to

Warren H. Manning in Boston whose commissions in Virginia, principally the Master

Plan for the University of Richmond, introduced Gillette to this region. His career here

spanned 50 years and his projects in the Commonwealth include some of its most illus-trious sites such as the Executive Mansion, Agecroft Hall, and Virginia House. His

designs are characterized by clarity of form, attention to detail, and a rich plant palette.

His work at Kenmore led to additional GCV projects at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace

and Lee Chapel, both of which he completed in the 1930s.

The Restoration Committee revisited Gillette's work for The GCV in recent years.

His gardens are now being preserved as significant in their own right, being important

examples of the Colonial Revival style. At the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace (now offi-

cially the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library) for example, the garden pavilions and

well house were returned to mint condition. It is fitting, too, that, 46 years after he

completed work on the Executive Mansion in Richmond for Governor and Mrs.

Thomas B. Stanley, the Commonwealth asked The Garden Club of Virginia to restore

the East Garden, which Gillette had designed in 1953. The restoration, true to the

original, reflects Gillette's classic style and honors his contribution not only to the work

of The Garden Club of Virginia, but also to the Commonwealth.


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The 1607 GardenBy Carol Hogg, President

The Huntington Garden Club

The Huntington Garden Club received the 2005 Common Wealth Award for

its permanent botanical exhibit, "Virginia's Botanical History, 1607 to Today,"

at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. "The 1607 Garden," as it

is known, will open in April 2007, named Horticulture Month by the promoters of

the Jamestown 2007 Celebration.

The 1607 Garden is located on approximately one fourth of an acre and is traversed

by a serpentine pathway. It comprises several individual gardens and garden areas with

special signage. The entrance will be just as though the visitors are settlers arriving inVirginia in 1607. In the Wild Virginia Garden, there will be a salt marsh of grasses

and seaside perennials rising up to a shrub border of wax myrtle and marsh elder, fol-

lowed by a woodland of pines, flowering trees and shrubs.

As the visitors emerge from the woods, they enter the Native American Garden that

includes native plants what were used by the native peoples for food, medicine, dyes,

fiber and construction. Beans, corn, squash, sweet potato, sunflower and tobacco are

just a few that will be displayed. Across from the Native American Garden is an area

that will contain plants that sustained the colonists in their struggle to survive and

were used for both food and also construction purposes.

As more colonists arrived and towns began to form, people began to cultivate indi-

vidual gardens where food, herb and medicinal plants were grown together. Visitors

will have the opportunity to experience replicas of colonial gardens. In them, they will

see the types of plants that were grown and learn how they were used.

There is an area in The 1607 Garden dedicated to botanical explorers. These early

naturalists and botanists such as John Bannister (1650-1692) and John Clayton (1694-1773) began to catalogue and name Virginia's flora. As they did, they discovered

beautiful and unusual

species that were

prized by European

collectors. Not only

do we still enjoy them

here, but also many of

our native flowering

trees and shrubs were

collected and exported

as exotic species from

the New World.


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An Invitation to the 2007 Daffodil ShowBy Ann Harry and Laura Smart

The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club

The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club cordially invites you to participate in

the 73rd Annual Garden Club of Virginia Daffodil Show sanctioned by the

American Daffodil Society. The show will be held on Wednesday, April 4th

and 5th at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center of the University of Mary

Washington. Entry acceptance will be Tuesday, April 3rd from 3 pm to 9 pm and

Wednesday, April 4th from 7 am to 10 am. Show parking will be available on

Hanover Street and in the Fredericksburg City parking garage. There is a small lot to

the left of the Jepson Center for parking when leaving arrangements and specimens.All entries must be in place, ready for judging by 10 am on Wednesday, April 4th.

On Wednesday, the doors open to the public from 2 pm until 8 pm. On Thursday,

the show hours are 9 am to 1 pm. There is no admission fee but donations will be

gratefully accepted.

Fredericksburg's location at the fall line of the river inspired the show's theme, "On

the Banks of the Rappahannock-A River Story." In the artistic divisions, beautiful

arrangements of daffodils will interpret river sites, people, and conditions. In the

Inter Club Classes the four Fredericksburg Garden Club of Virginia garden restora-tions will be recognized. The Inter Club Classes honor Kenmore Plantation with an

Early Georgian arrangement, the Mary Washington House with a Late Colonial

arrangement, Mary Washington Monument with a Traditional Line Mass arrange-

ment, and Belmont with a Creative Mass arrangement.

The complete schedule with photographs of the garden restorations is available on

The Garden Club of Virginia Website. If you have questions about the schedule,

contact Liz Thompson (540-371-4355). You may register in advance online.

Questions should be directed to the show registrar, Susan Graves (540-371-5656).

While you are in Fredericksburg, plan to visit The Garden Club of Virginia

restorations at Kenmore, Mary Washington House, Mary Washington Monument,

and Belmont. The Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont is hosting a special

event on Wednesday, April 4th beginning at 11 am in the beautiful new Studio

Pavilion. Peggy Cornett, Director of the Center for Historic Plants at Monticello,

will speak on Mr. Jefferson's bulbs. Lunch will be served and tours of the house and

garden will be available. To make reservations contact Betsy Labar at 540-654-1848or email [email protected].

Traditionally, the Daffodil Show features hundreds of daffodil specimens and scores

of artistic arrangements. Everyone interested in nature, gardening and flower arrang-

ing is encouraged to attend this remarkable exhibition.


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The Common Wealth Award FundBy Ellen H. Saunders, Development Committee

The Nansemond River Garden Club

Historians often wondered how the land of Virginia appeared to Captain John

Smith as Smith explored the James River and traveled into the Nansemond River

as the colony at Jamestown was established. Modern day visitors from around

our nation and the world will tour our beloved Commonwealth in celebration of the

400th Anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown. They will see restored historic gardens

and communities enhanced by the hard work of generations of The Garden Club of

Virginia members.

While our restorations of historic gardens have made us famous and are considered by

many to be the heart of The GCV, the projects that are unique to the towns of Virginia

and have been accomplished by individual clubs are truly the soul of The GCV.

Supported by the Common Wealth Award, these projects are as varied as Virginia's

landscape and reflect either the history or the future of the towns where our members

gave them life.

Over the last 27 years $163,000 has been awarded to 35 clubs to fund projects that

have enhanced our communities in the areas of conservation, education, beautification,

horticulture and preservation. In an effort to make the Common Wealth Award more

worthwhile and as part of the Strategic Plan, The GCV Board of Directors voted to raisethe Common Wealth Award Fund to at least $300,000. This will be accomplished by

taking five percent from Historic Garden Week net proceeds, after the funding for The

GCV Endowment has been withdrawn, for up to 10 years.

As the award amount increases, we hope that more clubs will apply for the Common

Wealth Award. We encourage individual members to consider making a personal contri-

bution as well. For your convenience, a remittance envelope is enclosed in theJournal.

The Common Wealth Award supports the vision of the immensely capable members of

The GCV and provides the opportunity for them to restore, maintain or create new beau-ty in their corner of Virginia. Our founding mothers and fathers, Virginia's Indian tribes

past and present and Captain John Smith would be pleased.


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Lessons From the BOGBy C.J. Carter, GCV Horticulture Committee

The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

Sounds a like a scary movie, doesn't it? Picture a foggy bog surrounded by dead

trees dripping with Spanish moss. An algae covered man emerges from the muck and

somewhere in the distance you hear Rod Serling say, "Welcome to the Twilight Zone."

Our BOG, The GCV Board of Governors meeting, was held this past October in

Roanoke and hosted by the Mill Mountain Garden Club. Club Presidents brought

their clubs' horticulture exhibits that included up to three tips, tools or catalogues.

The exhibits were well executed, creatively arranged, and provided great food for

thought.

Here are some of the "tips" we found particularly useful and inspiring.

) A trash barrel filled with water and fertilizer makes a handy dunk hole for awatering can.

) Use Pam to remove pine sap from your skin.

) Sweet gum balls planted under hosta will deter voles.

) Crushed egg shells scattered around your prized plants will deter slugs.

) Liquid fence deters deer as does 20# test fishing line strung at chest height.

) Prune your Annabelle hydrangea after the leaves begin to show in the spring

) Newspaper placed under mulch will keep the weeds from growing and it'sbiodegradable.

) Keep a diary of where, when and what you plant.

) Assess yourself and your lifestyle before planning your garden.

) Put a 5 cent plant in a 5 dollar hole.

) Household vinegar will kill grass and weeds in a driveway.) Planting a big pot? Partially fill with golf or tennis balls before pouring in

potting soil.

) Three pieces of rebar cut to the same length can be wired together at the top andplunged into the ground to make a great growing tripod. Think really tall!

And lastly two of my favorites:

) Chill the wine before working in the garden.

) The best time to transplant is when you have a shovel in your hand and thetime to do it.


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Placement and Text by Fleet Davis

Some HorticFavorite Ga

The 87th Meeting of the Board of Governors of

The Garden Club of Virginia


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lture on Viewdening Tools Photos by Kay Van Allen

Hosted by:

Mill Mountain Garden Club

Roanoke Virginia


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You are cordially invited to join us for

Horticultural Field DayCharlottesville, Virginia, May 17 - May 18, 2007

On Thursday, stroll through the interesting pathways of two owner designed gardenswhile you enjoy the sweet fragrance of spring flowers and observe pond life from a love-ly gazebo. Tease your senses on Friday with visits to Bird Hill, Waterperry Farm and

Whilton. Various features including rock walls, hedges, garden rooms, antique stonepieces, plant collections, color-themed borders and unusual plants will delight visitors.Three wonderful nurseries are within easy distance.

When: Thursday, May 17 - Noon - 5:00 p.m. Friday May 18- 8:30 a.m.Registration: Mrs. John C Parrott, 3112 Somerset St., Roanoke, VA 24014

Online: www.gcvirginia.orgDetails/directions mailed upon registration

Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott NorthTel: 1-800-321-2211Rate: $89.00 until May 2 (ask for The GCV group block)

Lunch: Boxed lunches provided at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Ivy


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Ex Libris:By Suzanne Wright, Kent-Valentine Librarian

The Petersburg Garden Club

They say, "Good things come in smallpackages." The Garden Club ofVirginia's library, located in the Kent-

Valentine House, is a small one. Over the lastfew years, a concerted effort has been made tosecure outstanding books for the library. Agenerous gift from The GCV RestorationCommittee is enabling us to improve the col-lection of books on garden restoration and gar-den history. Other gifts helped to build depth

in our collection of flower arranging books,which are very popular. We created a sectioncalled "A Passion for Gardening" and reviewedthe first books in the 2006 SeptemberJournal.Members in plant societies are assisting withthe selection of horticulture books.

We are reviewing each subject category toweed slowly and carefully those books that arenot so useful as they were in the past. Forexample, Charlotte Hundley, former RoseCommittee Chairman, culled the rose books.

Upon entering the library, you will noticethat the books are clearly marked in subjectcategories such as Flower Arranging, Rose,Bulbs, Trees and Shrubs and Garden History.

We visited the library at Lewis GinterBotanical Garden to confirm that its library isarranged the same way.

Take time to browse through the catalog on

The GCV Website atgcvirginia.org. The listcontains all books sorted by author, title andsubject. You may check out a book for atwo- week period by writing the title of thebook and signing your name and telephonenumber on the yellow pad on the window sill.If you wish to check out a book via The GCV

Website, you will find instructions in thelibrary section.

We welcome suggestions for the growingcollection, and we are developing a "wish list."Giving a new book is a great way to honor afriend or fellow gardener. Nothing is more funthan spending time enjoying gorgeous booksfollowed by a delicious lunch at one ofRichmond's many fine restaurants. We do itas often as possible. Come join us.


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als but they needed volume to ensure

profitability. They, therefore, catered

to large businesses. With no recycling

opportunities in sight for individuals, Iapproached a local private school and

created the first Electronics Recycling

Collection in our area. We relied on

volunteers and grass roots publicity.

The response was overwhelming.

When all was said and done, our one-

day collection resulted with more than

19 tons of material saved from landfills!

Since then, Computer Recycling

Initiative was formed and has organized

5 other collections in the Richmond

area saving more than 93 Tons of e-

waste from landfills.

Publicity is key to a successful

turnout. The Internet has proven an

invaluable tool in reaching many other

groups outside of school communities.

Media embraced our cause and ran sev-

eral announcements. The sky is the

limit with partnering with other organ-izations for publicity. My garden club

was instrumental in getting the word

out. It comes down to educating the

public about the dangers of e-waste as

well as making recycling opportunities

convenient. Schools are a wonderful

venue as they offer a receptive audience

and an opportunity to teach the stu-

dents about community service.

For more information you may write

Carrie Dorsey at [email protected]


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Flower Arranging 101 RevisitedBy Sandy Aman

The Garden Club of Fairfax

Remember Flower Arranging School last September? Remember how LeeSnyder, a member of the Harborfront Garden Club, showed us how to build a

flower arrangement? Remember how she shed light on some of the "mysteries"

of flower arranging, such as creative use of containers, indispensable mechanics and

making a short flower taller? To coin a phrase, "SHE'S BACK."

Lee will be the speaker, demonstrator and chief flower arranger at our annual

Flower Arranging Workshop, to be held Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at the Lewis Ginter

Botanical Garden. Come see Lee juggle all three hats and help us, too.

After registration the day kicks off with light refreshments at 10:00 a.m. and contin-ues with Lee showing us how to arrange both a Federal and an Early American (aka

"pick and stick") arrangement. These types of arrangements are always front and cen-

ter in the historic homes featured during Historic Garden Week. This year the spot-

light on period arrangements will be even brighter than usual with the Jamestown cele-

brations going on.

Next on the schedule, we students take clippers, containers, mechanics and flowers

in hand and make one of these

arrangements ourselves. Now, don'tpanic. You will have all the help you

need from Lee and the members of

the Flower Shows Committee to

make your very own Federal or

Colonial arrangement. The

Committee will even provide you

with your working flowers, oasis and

container. All you have to bring areclippers, workbasket, some filler

(greenery and line material) and

your enthusiasm. You will be so

proud of your accomplishment. Did

we mention that your efforts will

not be judged?

Check out the Registration Form

on the The GCV Website(www.gcvirginia.org) for more

details. By the way, you may bring a

non-member friend to learn and

enjoy the experience along with you.

Hope to see you there!


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Lily NotesWelcome, Oriental Lily!

By Mary Nelson Thompson, GCV Lily Chairman

The Franklin Garden Club

Many Tidewater gardeners report thatOriental Lilies are blooming in theirgardens in time for the annual GCV

Lily Show. This is a boon to them as many of theearlier blooming lilies are past season in mid June.Tidewater clubs, this is your chance. We wel-come your beautiful blooms. The Winchester-

Clarke Garden Club will host The GCV 2007Lily Show in Winchester, June 20 -21, 2007.

Oriental Lilies are allowed in artistic arrange-ments as well. As always, the arranger indicates"G" for garden grown and "F" for florist pro-cured. These spectacular lilies add a refinedgrace and elegance to any arrangement. The"Casablanca" (pure white) is the primadonna.Its magnificent 10-inch blooms, with velvety,

cinnamon anthers and 3-4 foot stalks can be a focal point of any arrangement or gar-den. The deep pink and white "Stargazer" or the soft lavender "Le Reve" (see picture)are also favorites.

When using lilies in arrangements, pollen is often a staining problem. Use clear tapeor a soft artist brush to remove the pollen. Stains in fabric can be removed by applying"Joy" or "Shout." I wear dark clothing when working with lilies, so smudges won'tmatter. Please don't remove the anthers. The beauty of the lily is diminished when thisis done. The altered lily looks like a lady in formal makeup... with no lipstick!

Oriental Lilies are easy to grow. Their needs are simple:

1. Plant in fall or spring2. Plant in full or partial sun (not harsh)3. Enrich soil and fertilize (3 times a year with 20-20-20)4. Water to keep moist, never soggy5. Stake if needed and lightly mulch6. Protect bulbs and plants from animals7. Cut back yellow stalks in fall

For insect infestation, such as the Lily Beetle, employ the pick and squish method.For those who use chemicals, buy organic or botanically based products such as thosebased with Neem. Remember that beneficial insects like the ladybug or the bee may bekilled. Use chemical products as a last resort and always follow the directions carefully.

Those wishing to learn more about lilies will have the opportunity to participate ina two-year course, taught by the experts, and sponsored by the NALS and The GCV.This year's event will be on June 18, 2007, at Blandy Farm Educational Center.Information on this will accompany the Lily Show Registration on our Website atwww.gcvirginia.org.

Le Reve, photo by David Diller


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extracurricular activities. We will include as many as possible in a timely manner, but

please don't be miffed if your news is missing because these will be included on a

"space available" basis. We hope you will find these tidbits to be valuable since all

member clubs are involved in preservation, conservation, education, and beautifica-

tion. We can certainly learn from each other.

There are many ways our clubs can be involved in their communities. For exam-

ple, The Augusta Garden Club recently purchased a digital fiberglass sign to be

strategically placed near Lewis Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The sign

will not only encourage public interest in keeping that area clean, but also is an excel-

lent educational tool for Augusta County and the City of Staunton. Kudos to The

Garden Club of Fairfaxfor purchasing two signs, as well as two educational touch

screens and the associated programming for a pilot program being developed with

Meadowlark Botanical Garden. One of the touch screens will be used with text being

developed by a science resource teacher at the local elementary school, while the other

is currently operating in the Visitor Center at Meadowlark. Congratulations to

Princess Ann Garden Club for 75 years of notable contributions in Virginia Beach.

The club has been involved with Seashore State Park, Lynnhaven House, The Marine

Science Museum, Norfolk Botanical Gardens as well as many other beach institutions.

Long may she wave. (wave/beach/get it? Oh, well)

Our clubs do make a difference and we are anxious to help tell your stories, so

please keep those articles coming.

The Augusta Garden Clubs new sign


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C O N T R I B U T I O N SReport Period From 10/1/06 Through 12/31/06

Common Wealth Award Fund

Donor: In Honor of:Dolley Madison Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosemary WallingerThe Garden Club of Warren County .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. William Marshall

Mrs. William TrenaryMary Page F. Hickey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy BrownGlenn M. Hodge and Sandra K. Hodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glenna Graves

Kent-Valentine House

Donor:

Mrs. F. Turner Reuter

Restoration

Donor: In Honor of:The Little Garden Club of Winchester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William D. RieleyThe Garden Club of Warren County .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William D. Rieley

The Garden Club of Virginia Endowment

Donor:The Spotswood Garden ClubFlorence Bryan FowlkesSara Scott HargroveHubard Family TrustsLorene M. LatouretteMr. and Mrs. W. Randolph RobinsLaura UngermanThe Cameron FoundationSuzanne P. Wright

Donor: In Honor of:The Ashland Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan WightThe Blue Ridge Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frances Brooke, 56 years of membership

Mary Stuart Gilliam, 50 years of membershipJane Stubbs, 50 years of membership

Mrs. Richard C. Wight IIIThe Boxwood Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nita Bagnell

Mary Lawrence HarrellThe Charlottesville Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison SchildwachterChatham Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matilda BradshawThe Garden Club of Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy Brown

The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William D. RieleyThe Garden Club of Fairfax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha LynchFauquier and Loudoun Garden Club .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy BrownThe Lynchburg Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June Britt

Sally Guy BrownThe Rappahannock Valley Garden Club .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha Lynch


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Mrs. Herbert L. Aman III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen Aman EpleyVirginia Brown Guild

Charlotte HundleyHelen Murphy

Mary Nelson Thompson

Anne G. Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Guy BrownDottie Glaize Ballard, Mary Bruce Glaize, and Lucy D. Rockwood . . . . . . . . Dorothy H. Glaize (Dolly)

John and Matilda Bradshaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Frank T. EllettSally Guy Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Hart DardenMr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Brown, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Presidents of The Garden Club of VirginiaMrs. Horace Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. G. Powell DavisFord's Colony Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne SpenceKaren Jamison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The GCV Board of DirectorsM. F. Moorman Family Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bessie Carter

Rossie FisherMrs. W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Benjamin W. Mears, Jr.

Nina W. Mustard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Hart DardenDianne N. Spence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Hart DardenRobert H. and Lorraine W. Strickler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beverly B. Strickler

Ann and Charles Wentworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emma Read OppenhimerCatherine C. Whitham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GCV Leadership, Past and Present

Donor: In Memory of:The Ashland Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia EnglishLeesburg Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Donald DevineThe Garden Club of the Northern Neck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Bertie ZugerMr. and Mrs. Stafford Balderson .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy D. Kellam

Mrs. Benjamin W. Mears, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. George L. TurnerBetty M. Michelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra P. Sawyer MizellMrs. L. Franklin Moore, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. L. Franklin Moore

Mrs. Edward L. StoneHelen Scott Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy P. MinorMr. and Mrs. Whitney G. Saunders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Clarence D. Linens, Jr.Suzanne S. and John W. Wescoat .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy D. Kellam

Janet C. Whitehead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy D. KellamTimmi Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marie Bach

The GCV Conservation Fund

Donor:Florence Bryan Fowlkes

Donor: In Honor of:Susan Mullin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mina Wood

Donor: In Memory of:Mrs. W. Moultrie Guerry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Jack Greer (Sara)Mrs. John W. Lindquist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marjorie Arundel

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Womack, Jr. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. John J. Neal, Jr.

The SEED Fund

Donor:Candace Carter Crosby


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No Deer in my Garden!By Susie Taylor

The Charlottesville Garden Club

Our delightful neighborhood has been overrun with deer for years. Although

it is a moot question of who is the invader, it is discouraging to plant and

plant only to have everything disappear in the space of one night. In the

meadow beyond the garden, we watched as the deer romped and frolicked, the darling

little Bambis evidently taught by their elders to consider the garden their very own

smorgasbord and the terrace plants as well. One neighbor posted a sign during

Garden Week: Deer Caf Menu-Azaleas, Hosta, Daylilies, Roses, etc. It was a des-

perate situation. What to do?

The Wildlife Center advised deterrents that moved and made noise. Accordingly, I

went to the Party Store and purchased rolls of streamers that were attached to a wire

around the most vulnerable parts of the yard. Amazingly, this must have alarmed the

deer and the garden was relatively safe for about 3 years as the lengths of colorful (are

deer color blind?) streamers rustled and blew about in the slightest breeze. Eventually,

though, the canny lovelies decided the strange things were harmless and resumed

feeding. More and different strategies were called for!

The new plan opened on several fronts as follows. Next to the meadow where the

deer roamed and on the sides as well, I planted barberry bushes; the next layer was

"Little Princess" spirea (which they never have touched), augmented by Joe Pye Weed

and Cleome. At two possible entrances, I lay down heavy hardware wire "doormats"

(as observed in landscaped South Carolina gardens). At another, several Society Garlic

bulbs stand guard. Inside the garden itself, I planted lots of Salvia, Sage, Catnip,

Agastache, Butterfly Bushes, Bee Balm, Daisies and Coreopsis, trying to concentrate

on pungent plants and wildflowers. This year, even the Autumn Sedum, Rudbeckiasand Purple Coneflowers

have survived and the

terrace planters as well.

Maybe these ideas

will be helpful to other

gardeners, but they are

not guaranteed! Deer

have been known to

develop a sudden

appetite for plants for-

merly ignored.


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TheGa

rdenClubofVirginiaJournal

(USPS574-520)

12EastFranklinStreet

Richmond,Virginia23219

Periodicals

PostagePaid

AtRichmond,Virginia

AndAdditionalOffices

THE

GARDEN

CLUBOF

VIRGINIA

CALENDAR200

7

March6

FlowerArrangingSchool,Louis

GinterBotanicalGarden

April3-5

DaffodilShow,TheRappahannock

ValleyGardenClub

April21-28

HistoricGardenWee

kinVirginia

May8-10

TheGCVAnnualM

eeting

May17

HorticultureFieldDay,

TheCharlottesvilleG

ardenClub

May31

ElizabethCableDugdaleAward

nominationdeadline

June17-19TheGCVLilyShow,Winchester

ClarkeGardenClub

Documents

GCV Journal March 2007