From our President...

With all the talk of drought, I am sitting here today watching a gentle, steady rain soak into my dry, dry gardens and woodlands. I can practically hear the trees say, “AAAHH!” I know this isn't the final solution to the dry weather pattern, but for today, I am enjoying the rain.

My husband Bob and I had the pleasure of working with another non-profit on the island this month: BioDiversity Works. They have a free program called “Natural Neighbors,” and a team of workers came over to our little piece of the Vineyard to analyze how it could be tweaked for ecological

friendliness. From their website: “The Natural Neighbors Program seeks to increase native biodiversity and habitat connectivity by encouraging individuals... to add features that benefit plants, pollinators, and wildlife.” We received an almost 20 page report about plant diversity, food and water for beneficial animals, cover for wildlife, and light pollution. I'm excited to get to work on many of the recommendations! Contact Biodiversity Works on their website and get your property on the list of visitations.

We are finished with the members' meetings for 2024. We had a wonderful year of programs and I hope you got to attend as many as possible. November's program with Martha Fanelli was the perfect start to the holiday season, as she taught us to decorate our tables for the coming feasts using a combination of found (foraged) items and fresh flowers. Check the website for pictures. I know I got inspired!

I am so happy to say that the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club has a new vice-president for 2025! Pat Ingalls will work with incoming president Susie Wallo to lead the club into the next year. We are all so happy to have her involvement and passion. Thank you Pat!

Two sold-out wreath workshops are coming up: December 7th and 8th. We will receive the guidance of Nancy Cabot to make and decorate the wreaths for our own doors. Then there is a committee of zealous decorators who will spruce up the Old Mill for the season on December 9th . This will take place at 10 am at the Mill.

For our grand finale of the season, the Holly Day Party will take place on Tuesday, December 10th from 5-7 at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. Come one, come all – you should have gotten an invitation via separate email.

Thank you all for being such supportive and enthusiastic as members of this awesome club this past year. It was wonderful working as your president. Please keep an eye out for another email in the next few weeks as I reflect “my year” as president. Until then, Happy Holidays! I am SO grateful for you

all! - Ty Johnston, President

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON OUR HOLLY DAY PARTY!

... About the November meeting in case you missed it!

Thanks to Program Coordinator Lead, Kathie Skinner for the recap!

MVGC member Martha Fanelli gave an outstanding lecture/demonstration of using foraged materials, as well as fruits, vegetables, and flowers to create holiday table/home centerpieces.

Small square glass vases with red and white rose posies in every other one and twinkle light candles in the others, arranged on a tray was a stunningly simple centerpiece for any table.

She created an elaborate tray centerpiece with pumpkins, gourds, oranges, apples, foraged fern fronds and various tree branches, including a few with dead oak leaves.

A third arrangement consisted of a large glass jar filled with water, apples, pomegranates, and cranberries. On top of which she placed a grapevine wreath. Inside the wreath was an oasis filled with live materials, such as roses, fern leaves, and azalea branches.

Martha brought buckets of foraged materials from her yard. She has a shed full of fallen branches at home that she uses in her creations. She encouraged the audience to look around and see what can be found to use in floral arrangements.

She also encouraged saving small pitchers and creamers of the same color, candles, and other containers for tablescaping ideas.

Martha ended her demonstration by raffling off all of the floral arrangements she had created – minus the containers – and other living materials that she had brought with her.

Additionally there were 41 members in attendance along with 5 guests for a total of 46. Thanks to the Aquinnah & Chilmark members for the treats and refreshments!

Below are a few images from the presentation...thanks so much to Joan Eville and Susie Wallo for sending these!

CLICK HERE to check out a few of the Programs planned for 2025!

Floral Design Update for December!



Jayne Isford and Nancy Cabot

As the year comes to an end, our thanks again to everyone who has supported us in our Floral Design events and activities in 2024. And we wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

One more event for 2024 as we host our Annual Wreath Decorating Workshops on December 7 th and 8 th at Wakeman. Both workshops are full but please contact Jayne Isford if you want to be added to the waitlists in case space becomes available!

For 2025, we have 2 activities planned for the New Year to add to your

calendar now!

Tuesday, January 14 th at Wakeman “A Wintry Mix” Floral Design demonstration and Soup for Lunch Too!

Nancy will demonstrate how to create a floral arrangement from foraged

materials available in the winter. Members are welcome to bring in their

own winter floral designs as well. We also plan to have one of our members

who is an island artist discuss color, proportion, textures and inspirations

with Nancy and attendees. A light lunch of soups will be served to warm us

up on a January day!

Saturday, February 8 th at Wakeman Valentine’s Day Workshop is back!

We will hold our second annual Valentine’s Day workshop on February 8 th

with flowers from Morrice Florists. Maximum of 16 participants, so sign

up early once you receive our email!

Here is the link to 2024’s workshop where you can see the lovely

arrangements created by our GC members, just scroll down the page. Cost

will be $35.00 as it was in 2024.

https://www.marthasvineyardgardenclub.org/floral-design-committee-

creativity.html -Submitted by Jayne Isford / Below images of Wreath Workshop in 2023

From The MV Conservation Committee...

Dear Constance,

I’d LOVE to start composting but don’t know where to start. Help!

Gladys

Dear Gladys,

Wonderful! Over 1/3 of our Island’s waste is food. That’s about 6,500 TONS of compostables shipped off the Vineyard each year. Over the next 15 years, this will cost about $19 million! Read more at Blue Dot

Living What's the Future of Composting on Martha's Vineyard? 

Backyard composting is considered best practice. There are many approaches - some simple , some complicated, some faster, some slower. A good first step is to visit the EPA link: Composting At Home | US EPA then visit a friend or neighbor’s compost pile. Learn by asking, watching and helping. 

Chilmark is offering low-cost composting equipment to residents. Inquire at your Board of Health for such a program. Our Club’s greenhouse is now sporting a tumbling composter donated by our own Kathy Skinner. 

And best news of all, our island transfer stations hope to install small composting units to allow for residential composting on site - by next Summer!!

Happy Planting,

Constance Conservation

PS Is Gladys short for Gladiola? Lucky you!

PPS Does your gift-giving want some greening? Check out the perfect Gift Card (Hint: It does not cost money.)

-Please do send your eco-questions to “Constance” at

conservation@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org

Submitted by Conservation Committee Co-Chairs Laurisa Rich and Kim McCarthy

From the Greenhouse:

We are finished with our cuttings phase of the greenhouse and are just nurturing along our baby plants these next 2 months.  

If you have any requests for plants from seeds this spring, please email us at greenhouse@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.

-submitted by Anne Kushwaha  

Windemere - On November 13 Joan Eville and Nancy Cabot visited the Windemere Facility and conducted a flower and art project. All the residents enjoyed both Thanksgiving activities. The pictures with their smiling faces show this. The attendees also made arrangements for the nurses’ stations. As usual Donaroma generously supplied the flowers for our monthly Garden Club project at Windemere. The residents always write them a thank you note for their continuing support.    

submitted by Joan Eville, Windemere Liasion

Happy Holiday Season to All! What a year it's been!

In 2024 the MV Garden Club celebrated its Centennial in a big way thanks to the dedication of our members and the support of the Island Community! We hosted three successful fundraisers (Blooming Art, Edgartown Stroll and a Centennial Garden Party), ten educational programs, five floral design workshops, several foraging trips and a really fun 'Birthday Party'. Walkabouts were a member favorite and the stunning daffodil walk was enjoyed by all who attended...We even managed to host two plant swaps at the Old Mill in autumn! Both the MV Museum and the Carnegie held exhibits that paid tribute to 100 years of the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club and its numerous contributions to the Island through conservation, beautification, education and community service! One final highlight is the Club's Ag Fair Committee being awarded a ribbon for their creative nod to our founder,

Agnes Meikleham with their creative 'Agnes in the Garden' submission!

Wowza, like I said...what a year we had!

If you are already a member of the Club, we hope you will renew your membership, and if you are not a member, we would love to have you join us! The MVGC Board and Committee Chairs, 2025 are already working to put together a banner year! Maybe consider gifting a membership to someone who enjoys gardening and learning about horticulture and related topics...or donate to one of the Club's Charitable Initiatives in support of our Club so we can continue to contribute to the Island as we have done in the past.

In closing, we wish you and your families a very happy and healthy Holiday Season and a wonderful 2025.

We'll see you in the New Year!

-submitted by Donna Arold, Communications