'A Way We Grow'
Martha's Vineyard Garden Club
April 2022
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From our President...
Dear Garden Club members,
When I became president, my goals were to bring the club out of the red into financial stability, offer a wider range of activities and connections for our members, and grow the club’s membership. We are making progress on all three!
Membership is growing!
We’re hoping that “4:00 Fridays” will be an opportunity simply to relax and get to know each other, enjoy the Old Mill or discuss gardening problems, solutions, or anything else!
Our garden club has unique responsibilities as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. We own an historic building, the Old Mill, and, with other organizations, are a member and tenant of the Wakeman center and sole occupant of the greenhouse. We need to do some maintenance of the Old Mill, and also have a wishlist of enhancements … running water, for example. I’m happy to report that West Tisbury awarded the club a $20,000 Community Preservation grant, with which we’ll be able assess the building and develop a five-year plan.
The Board is energized and bursting with ideas for activities and programs. Help us formalize them! And share with us how the club can meet your expectations!
Susan
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Don't forget! Call Ty Johnston if you are interested in sharing your garden with other members for a casual "Walkabout" this summer. She is taking names and organizing the times. Call her at 339-364-1363. |
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From our Secretary, Joan Eville...
The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club has given a scholarship for the past 16 years to an island senior planning to major in agriculture, horticulture, environmental education, or farming. These scholarship awards are financed by member donations and our Blooming Art event. There is still plenty of time to donate by check or on our website. The scholarship committee has been meeting and has chosen this year’s candidate. His/her name will be revealed at class nite in June.
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Thank you to Oak Bluffs Members From our Oak Bluffs Vice President, Jayne Isford!
Thank you to our Oak Bluffs Members who provided the wonderful snacks and treats for our Membership Meeting on April 19th . They were greatly appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. It was nice to get back together in person once again to hear Luanne Johnson of BioDiversity Works speak to our membership.
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PLANT SALE!!!
REMEMBER to support the Greenhouse Committee and the MV Garden Club by attending the Plant Sale and purchasing! The Sale is open to members (and any friends you bring!) prior to our next meeting on Tuesday, May 17 at The Wakeman Center. The sale will begin at noon and will conclude one hour after the May presentation.
On Memorial Day weekend, the MV Garden Club plant sale is open to the public on the grounds at The Old Mill. The dates this year are May 28 & 29 from 10am-2pm. (Saturday & Sunday)
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~ ~ ~ MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ~ ~ ~ |
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Join Past Garden Club Presidents
Judy Bryant and Nancy Cabot
at a Floral Design Workshop
on May 31st at the Wakeman Center!
Sisters Judy Bryant and Nancy Cabot joined the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club in the late 1960’s and have been members ever since. As seasonal residents until retirement they were active in summer programs. Judy and her husband retired to the island in 1993 and Nancy and her husband in 1999. Each served as President of MVGC in the early 2000’s. Nancy was Vice President when Mary Lou Keep first proposed what would become Blooming Art. Mary Lou chose the name Beauty and the Best for the show, a name which caused confusion among members and the community at large. The change to Blooming Art cleared up the confusion. Judy and Nancy have been active participants in the show each year. Judy recruited floral designers for many years and has done floral designs every year. Nancy contributed artwork in the early years of the show as well as floral designs.
Judy is one of the Greenhouse gurus, overseeing the efficient operation of the Greenhouse at the Wakeman Center. Both women are avid home gardeners, sharing a large vegetable garden on their Middle Road property known as Glimmerglass.
Nancy has a background in Art, having taught art at various schools until her retirement. After moving to the Vineyard full time, she worked at the Granary Gallery for many years, contributing flower arrangements to the Sunday Artists Openings at The Granary and Field Galleries. Before her teaching career she worked for 13 years in a greenhouse/garden center in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area.
The workshop for floral designers on May 31st will feature helpful hints gleaned from many years of working with Blooming Art. Some topics include choosing and caring for flowers, containers, size and scale of arrangements, accessories, mechanics of flower arranging, and answers to various questions designers may have. Designers are encouraged to bring the pictures of their assigned artwork to the workshop. We suggest that it is helpful for participants to jot down any questions they may have and bring them to the workshop at the Wakeman Center on May 31st. The program begins at 1:00pm.
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UPCOMING MEETING INFO:
May 17, 2022 - 1:00pm @ The Wakeman Center
Andrea Rogers - 'Lavender Do's & Don'ts'
Andrea's presentation will focus on success with growing lavender and favorite varieties that will grow well on MV. Picking lavender, crafting with lavender, preserving with lavender are some topics that will be covered.
*NOTE - The Greenhouse Committee's Plant Sale for members will take place at this meeting...doors will open at noon and plants will be sold before and after Andrea's presentation.
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Some sweet photo contributions from our members! |
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Thanks, Anda Woodward for sending in this great pic! This is a freestanding arrangement done by Anda with daffodils from her garden and tulips she got from Cronigs.
Anda's little tip: A penny in the water makes the tulips stand up!
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Here's a little arrangement done a few years back with flowers I arranged in a vintage tea cup! The alstroemeria are from the grocery store, but the roses and mint are from my garden. I (Donna) love to do floral arrangements and incorporate fresh herbs with flowers. Its especially nice when they are an accent for a luncheon or dinner table! |
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So SORRY, Deb Silliman Wass for misspelling your name in the March newsletter! Deb took the lead in gathering all the info and placing the order for the aprons...so my most sincere apologies to her for putting out incorrect information by messing up the spelling of your name! YIKES! |
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Thank you MV Framing!
A huge shout out and THANK YOU to Kathy at MV Framing for generously offering to re-matt this painting from The Old Mill! At the Holly Day party we held at the Mill, Kathy saw the lovely painting with a stained mat and asked if she could please take it with her to re-mat for us.
Kindness and generosity should always be noted and appreciated, so our thanks to Kathy for being so nice! The Garden Club appreciates you!
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I received this via email from Presentation Chair, Katie Dawson: "I wanted to let you know about this annual fundraiser in CT. When I lived there I went every year and it's wonderful. I was thinking our members may want to be aware of it, in case they happen to be in CT, or to plan for the future, maybe there's a place in the newsletter for it?
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GET YOUR APRONS!!!
In case you missed this last month...we are selling MV Garden Club aprons! The aprons are made of cotton canvas, are 24" in length and have our GC logo and name on them. Aprons are available on a first come, first served basis for members to purchase and there will be a limited quantity available. Do place your order asap if you want one (or two!). Carol Goldstein is handling orders and will reserve and has begun distributing the aprons at our April meeting. If you are interested in purchasing an apron, do contact Carol via email to reserve. In addition, we will sell aprons to the general public at our Garden Club events as a bit of a fundraiser, so if you want an apron, DO RESERVE via: carol.on.senge@gmail.com
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A Little Peek at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
Art in Bloom Virtual Tour Zoomed on April 11...
from your BA Floral Design Team!
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Boston Museum of Fine Arts Virtual Tour
Sixty members of the club and their guests joined together online in early April to be part of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Virtual tour of their annual “Art in Bloom” event.
Led by a museum floral expert and art expert, we were treated to a detailed look at 8 special
pieces of artwork from the MFA Vault. Each piece of artwork was then interpreted by floral
designers, resulting in some spectacular floral arrangements.
Thanks to all who joined us for this fun event, a fundraiser for our club. Here are a couple of the floral interpretations.
Jayne Isford and Trudy Williams
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Savings for gardeners from our friends (and members) at 'Vineyard Gardens':
Tuesdays are Senior Days: 20% off on everything
Wednesdays are Ladies Days : 20% off on Annuals and Perennials
Thursdays are Gents Days: 20% off on "bagged" materials: soil, mulch
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As a homage to Climate Change Week, we've kind of taken to this campaign that has gone on in towns across the country, but has roots in the UK. Check out how to participate via our website by clicking here. In addition, there may be somewhat of an active initiative brewing to get the Town of West Tisbury involved. We need someone to spearhead this with the Town/s in the name of the MVGarden Club, so if someone is excited to begin this for the Club, please contact Susan! In the meantime, visit the website and do your part on your own property to support the NO MOW MAY movement! |
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Looking for a new gardening book or some 'olde world' garden and homekeeping inspiration? Then check out this YouTube from The Heirloom Gardener, John Forti! As a MMGA I was privy to this presentation by John last week not knowing that it would be shared for public consumption this weekend out of love and respect for Earth Day! Check it out (and his book!) I think you will enjoy it as much as I did! Click Here To View It! - Donna
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Our April meeting was held at the Wakeman Center with a bit of a new structure! Susan kicked off the meeting with great news that the MV Garden Club has received a $20,000.00 Grant from the town of West Tisbury for the Old Mill! She was followed by Joan Eville speaking on the Scholarship Committee and their process of choosing a winner in the Senior Class. Judy Bryant spoke on the work done by the Greenhouse Committee and the upcoming plant sale, and I updated members on what's been happening with Blooming Art and the planning.
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Luanne's presentation to the Club, 'Stewardship 101: Everyday Actions to Sustain our Biodiversity' was a great way to kick off our first 'back to in person' meeting! We learned how just simple everyday things like our pets, our recreation and what we do within our home and yard greatly effect the wildlife around us. She gave us lots to think about and after hearing her speak, we know why she was given the title 'Nature's Champion'!
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It was great to see members faces and enjoy a brownie and a cup of coffee while catching up! We're looking forward to keeping up these in-person meetings as our seasonal members return to the Island!
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REMINDER!!! Sometime between May 14th - 21st (weather depending) MV Grower and a few volunteers will be visiting the residents at Woodside to assist in starting their Spring gardens by planting tomato and herb plants. If there were 3 or 4 helpers, that would be great, so if you are interested in helping, please contact me, Donna Arold via donna.arold@gmail.com and I'll put you on the list to contact when the date is determined! To see what we've done at Woodside in the past...click here!
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Beginning April 29...In an effort to enjoy more social time with members, we are planning what we're calling "4:00 Fridays"! Its a meet and greet for members to be held at The Old Mill in WT the last Friday of each month in the warmer months. GC Members and 1 or 2 guests are welcomed. BYOW (Whatever)
as it is carry in/carry out, just like when you go to the beach! Time is 4:00 - 5:30, and of course weather permitting! More info to follow but do mark it on your calendar! We hope to see you there!
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Remember Electronics Disposal Day...Saturday,
May 14, 2022, 9am-2pm
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Do visit
to get more detailed information such as cost of drop offs, to schedule and how to pay!
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Hello Members!
If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please reach out to me! Anything that's garden related or even some pics of what you're growing this time of year would be wonderful to include! I would love to have some feedback and hear your thoughts on this newsletter! My email is donna.arold@gmail.com. Thanks so much for reading!
:-) Donna
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