Blooming Art 2026 Is Next Week!                                                                                                       

Jayne Isford, Chair, Blooming Art 2026

We are just over a week away from our spectacular club fundraiser, Blooming Art 2026! This special event is a celebration of Art, Flowers, and Community. The Blooming Art Committee has devoted countless hours of creativity, planning, and hard work to bring this beautiful gathering to life for our members and guests. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every committee member, artist, floral designer, docent volunteer and sponsor whose dedication makes this event possible. The exceptional effort from everyone involved has been truly inspiring, and I am grateful to each and every one of you.

We invite you to join us at Blooming Art and experience this wonderful labor of love created by your fellow club members. Come enjoy the stunning floral displays, artistic creativity, and the spirit of community that make this event so special.

We look forward to celebrating with you! 🌸🎨✨

Event Dates:

Friday, June 19th through Sunday, June 21st. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day

Parking at the Old Mill for guests with mobility requirements.

All other parking is at the Grange with a Shuttle service provided to and from the Old Mill for our guests.

Pre-Purchase your Tickets NOW at the Discounted Rate of $15.00!

Make sure to Pre-purchase your tickets at the link provided here!

Tickets are $15.00 if purchased before June 15th–$20.00 after June 15th or at the door, so take advantage now! 

Artwork and Floral Designs–A Unique Combination and Collaboration between Artist and Floral Designer!

At Blooming Art 2026, you will experience the creativity and talent of our island artists through their beautiful works of art, each thoughtfully interpreted into a unique floral design by our club members. Both the artwork and the floral creations are spectacular in their own right, reflecting countless hours of dedication, inspiration, and passion. As the visions of artists and floral designers come together, they complement one another in a stunning celebration of art and flowers.

A Giant Bouquet of Thanks to the following Business and Individual Sponsors!

Blooming Art 2026 would not be successful with your generosity and support. Thank you to the following sponsors, and come see the “Garden of Gratitude” on the second floor of the Old Mill recognizing their generosity.

Island Business Sponsors

Charlotte Inn

Cronig’s Market

Granary Gallery

Donaroma’s

Hancock Real Estate

51 Art Gallery

Donnelly + Co, Stephanie Roache

Louisa Gould Gallery

Ocean Park Realty

SHG Signal House Group Compass

Chuck Sullivan, Sullivan Architects

Individual Sponsors

Anonymous

Joan and Ed Cavazuti

Christin Geall

Jayne and Neil Isford

Anne Kushwaha

Trudy Williams

Plant Sale Wrap Up

Greenhouse at The Wakeman Center

Barbara Saltarelli

Mother Nature wasn’t kind to the Greenhouse Committee this year! The snowstorms made it all but impossible to get to the greenhouse to nurture the cuttings and seedlings but prevail they did. By April the greenhouse was bursting at the seams with a bevy of plants and flowers.

Garden Club members started the sale off in a big way at the Member’s Sale on May 18th. Mother Nature wasn’t finished with the team however, threatening rain for the Memorial Day weekend. A reprieve on Saturday brought a constant stream of plant lovers to the Old Mill and the rain on Sunday didn’t deter the customers from coming.

2026 MVGC Plant Sale was a record setting success not in small part to the many club members that made it possible. Many thanks to our Greenhouse Committee as well as those who helped to publicize the Sale. Kudos to Allison Doriss, designer of the beautiful poster, Deb Boyle for her amazing social media posts and the Communications committee that worked tirelessly to get the word out to the community. Thank you all!

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

Click here for the full club event calendar

June 12 Friday Social at the Old Mill

June 19-21 Blooming Art at the Old Mill

July 10 Friday Social at the Old Mill

July 13 Member Meeting: Dahlias at the Old Mill

July 24 Christin Geall Lecture and Book Signing: Flora Culture at the Grange

August 10 Annual Membership Meeting and Leadership Elections at the Old Mill

Walkabouts 2026: Share Your Garden with Fellow Members

Ty Johnston and Suzanne Solch

Thank you to Peter Norris, Fred Hancock, and Peter Meleney for hosting our May Walkabouts. We are filling out the calendar for the summer. If you’re interested in learning more about hosting your garden, please contact Ty Johnston at 339-364-1363 or email tyrene.johnston@gmail.com.

What is a Walkabout? Walkabouts are informal garden visits where members open their gardens for others to enjoy, share ideas, and gather inspiration. From well-established landscapes to works in progress, every garden offers something unique. Members are free to come and go during the designated time, making Walkabouts a relaxed and enjoyable way to connect with fellow gardeners and discover new ideas.

Member Talents Enhance Island Community Events



The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club is proud to support several Island nonprofits through floral design and volunteer service this summer. In June, Club members will provide floral arrangements and planters for the opening celebration of Cottagers Corner, helping to mark this important community event. The Club is also supporting Featherstone Center for the Arts by creating four floral arrangements for its July gala. In August, members will once again assist Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard by creating floral centerpieces for the annual Hospice Soirée at Farm Neck Golf Club. This beloved event raises vital funds for Hospice programs and services. Volunteers are needed on Monday, August 3, to help assemble the centerpieces. If you would like to participate, please contact floraldesign@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org. These projects reflect the Garden Club’s ongoing commitment to enhancing community events through the beauty of flowers and the generosity of our members.

Foraging Field Trip - Lucy Vincent Beach Summary 

Nancy Cabot

The two Nancys (Weaver and Cabot) led a group of MVGC members on a walk along Lucy Vincent Beach on a spectacular May afternoon. The leaders emphasized that this was a walk to look only, not gather materials. In order to cut any plant material along the drive or the beach one must gain the permission of the Town of Chilmark. Nancy Weaver had checked with the town and was assured that we were welcome to walk until such time as the beach is closed to non-residents, June 1. In addition to the plant materials one might use in arrangements, both Nancys pointed out invasive species which, if used in arrangements, must be discarded with care. Phragmites was at the top of this list, which also includes bittersweet. One member mentioned the Ilex Verticillata (Winterberry) which grows quite abundantly along the parking lot. Members were cautioned that it doesn't take many foragers to strip a bush of all its berries; better to buy a bunch from the garden center for your holiday decorating.  In keeping with the club's focus on conservation, the two leaders emphasized the importance of selective cutting of native plant material: nothing from the protected species list and never a whole stand of any one plant. We are stewards of this beautiful island we all call home.

Website Survey: We Want Your Input!



As we explore a refresh of the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club website, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and share your thoughts on what’s working well and what improvements you’d like to see. The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete and closes on June 15. Click here to take the survey.

Bringing Blooms & Cheer to Navigator Homes

Joan Eville

On April 13, Joan Eville, Jayne Isford, and Gay Smith led a flower-arranging activity with residents of Navigator Homes, part of the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club’s monthly outreach program. Flowers generously donated by Donaroma’s Nursery inspired beautiful arrangements, with residents and staff alike joining in the fun and fellowship. The colorful creations brought smiles and brightened the facility for all to enjoy.

Scholarship Committee

Kathy Kitsock and Joan Eville

The Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that Esme Colon has been selected as the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club Scholarship recipient for 2026. Esme plans to pursue studies in plant sciences. She was recognized at the Annual Student Awards Program held at the Tabernacle on June 5.

The Committee extends its sincere thanks to all Garden Club members whose generous contributions make this scholarship possible. Through this program, the Club supports Vineyard students pursuing studies in horticulture, environmental science, farming, landscape design, and related fields, helping to foster future stewards of our Island and environment.

Acknowledgments

In Memory Donation

Janet and Skip MacLeod, Needham, MA, made a generous donation to the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club in memory of Kitty White, beloved wife of Ken White, Falmouth, MA.

Greenhouse Donation

The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club gratefully acknowledges a greenhouse donation from Tracie Clark, Vineyard Haven.

Martha's Vineyard Garden Club

PO Box 5061

57 David Avenue

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568