This last lovely weather has inspired me to relocate some plants in my garden rather than tackle the fallen leaves and consider whether it’s easier to rake and compost or shred and mulch the beds. Either way, my husband, Dave, isn’t ready to help until after he’s cleared the vegetable garden and spread some winter oats, a suggestion from Nancy Cabot by way of Joan Cavazuti.

I’m excited about the Garden Club cranberry bog tour on November 2, and then applying the lessons from our October meeting to force some bulbs that I ordered from Bloomin Bucks. The day after ordering the bulbs, I received a phone call from Brent & Becky’s Customer Service telling me that the bulbs I had ordered are pre chilled and was that what I wanted as my address is zone 7? She probably had my history open and saw that I had ordered 100 daffodils last year! I said I went to a presentation on forcing bulbs, and she laughed! Such customer service!

For those of you still here in December, we’re ending the year with two events. Jayne Isford and Nancy Cabot organized a wreath workshop, which filled immediately.

We’re planning a holiday party, a repeat of last year’s, for Tuesday, December 12 from 4:00 - 6:00pm, but have not completed the finite details. Mark your calendars as more information will follow. Stay tuned to our website and the Club's newsletter for upcoming details!

by Mrs. T. Randolph Meikleham. That was almost exactly 100 years ago, and next year will be our centennial celebration. Six of our members are working hard to make sure this historic event gets the attention and excitement it deserves. Gay Smith, Joan Eville, Irene Ziebarth, Susie Wallo, Wiet Bacheller, and Ty Johnston have been meeting for months of idea generation and work. There are many pieces of this celebration, as there are many parts of our club. One of the most exciting is the Members' Centennial Celebration, which will be held on Thursday, July 11th, in West Tisbury at the Field Gallery. Please mark your calendars for this special event!!! The organizers need to have a general count of how many of you (and we hope a lot of you!) will attend, with one guest. If you feel that you will be able to celebrate with us, please email Ty Johnston at vp@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org. More news soon!

This submission is from MV Garden Club Scholarship Committee member, Joan Eville. 

This June our annual scholarship will be given in honor of our 100th anniversary and named the Centennial Scholarship on the certificate. Our members have generously supported the scholarship fund each year. This year please consider making a donation to our 100th special anniversary scholarship award. (Photo is from the 2023 awards ceremony at the Tabernacle)

The greenhouse committee is well under way with taking cuttings for our plant sales in May. The cutting window is closing but if the weather is still warm at the time of this newsletter bring us at least a 10” branch of any azalea, ninebark, viburnum or hydrangea that you think would be a great pass along plant. Please place it in a ziplock bag, label it, add your contact information and leave it by the back door of the Wakeman Center greenhouse. If you have special requests for

plants from seeds, please email them to annekushwaha@gmail.com. We have a great group but could always use more. If you want to learn how to take cuttings and grow plants from seed email Anne as well or talk to one of our committee members for more information.

Kathy was our speaker at the October meeting and her program and tips helped us build our confidence in forcing bulbs through the cooler months! She demystified which bulbs will force well and also gave ideas for how best to guard against 'critters' enjoying the bulbs before we get the chance to!

For the October meeting, Irene Ziebarth graced us with the beauty of Ikebana floral designs she created for our October meeting as the Floral Design Committee Chair, Jayne Isford rolled out their plans for the Club going forward. Club President, Susan Hobart talked a bit about the Old Mill happenings (you can read her presentation to VPT in the Members Only section of our website), Anne Kushwaha spoke a bit about what's been happening at the Greenhouse, Trudy Williams reminded us to order bulbs from 'Bloomin Bucks' to support the Club, and Susie Wallo modeled the MVGC aprons that are an ongoing 'for sale' item to benefit the Club.

The yummy refreshments, sweets and savories were provided by Irene Ziebarth and the Chilmark and Aquinnah Club members. A little message from Irene to the Club: "On a conservation note, the Chilmark/Aquinnah refreshments team wants everyone to know that the plastic plates, cups, and utensils used at the October meeting are being washed and reused.

And speaking of reuse, did you know that the Chilmark/Aquinnah vice president, Irene Ziebarth, on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Martha's Vineyard, is responsible for the collection of used ink jet cartridges, keeping them out of landfills. They are sold to a recycler for reuse. Collection boxes are at the Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, and West Tisbury libraries, the YMCA, and the Chilmark and Aquinnah town halls."...Thanks for that news blast, Irene!

Now, back to a few pics and a bit more meeting info!

This meeting was attended by forty Garden Club members and it was nice to welcome a few guests to this fun and informative program. Kathy gave lots of ideas for bulb forcing and included a handout to help with the timing chilling bulbs, as well as suggestions for the best bulbs to force and vessels. For those who missed the program, there are a few tips that Kathy shared with us on our website, under Gardening Resources 1. (Click Here to get to that page.)

Thanks to Kathy for her generosity in sharing so much information and to the MMGA for helping to arrange her talk. Its exciting to think about the prospect of having colorful blooming bulbs to enjoy on those dreary days of Winter! - Submitted by Donna Arold, Program Chair 2022/23

Our newly established Floral Design Committee is well underway planning education, information and workshops for you for 2024. Here is an update...

Beginning in 2024, Nancy Cabot, Floral Design Co-Chair, will issue a challenge to the membership to create a floral design a few times during the year. In January, Nancy will be selecting a single piece of art and challenging members to create a floral design interpretation of that art piece. We will then get together as a group with our designs for a fun lunch at Wakeman. Off island members can also participate in this challenge virtually! Stay tuned!

At our October membership meeting, we brought back a fun activity for the club by having a member bring a floral arrangement of their choosing to the meeting. These arrangements show the great talent in our club and serve as a visual source of education and inspiration for our members. Irene Ziebarth created two spectacular floral designs for us. Irene trained in Japan in the art of Ikebana and is a skilled designer and mentor for our members. Thank you, Irene! We will continue to have members volunteer to do a design for meetings once they resume in the spring of 2024.

Contact Jayne Isford or Nancy Cabot if you would like to sign up!

Something to look forward to in February on the island! We will have a fun workshop and gathering for Valentine’s Day for our members on February 10, 2024. Mark your calendars now!

Did You Know??? Martha's Vineyard Garden Club helped save historic Christiantown site!

The Christiantown Indian burial ground in West Tisbury is one of the oldest historic sites on the island. In 1659 a one mile square of land was “given” to the praying Indians. Under the efforts of Thomas Mayhew, Jr., a small chapel was erected. No one knows how old the burial ground there really is, for Indians occupied this territory long before the white man came, and may have buried their dead there for hundreds of generations before. But the graves marked with the small, rounded stones are easily identifiable as those of the Praying Indians.

In 1941 The Dukes County commission ordered the complete restoration of the decaying chape', the road leading to it to be put into usable condition, and the burial ground sufficiently cleared so that the graves become accessible and to continuing proper care. At that time, the Garden Club offered the commissioners its services in cleaning up and beautifying the area.

In 1946, the Garden Club's efforts increased to include the protection of the site from a proposed fire watch tower, which would have to run a power line directly through the burial ground. Thankfully they were successful and the fire tower was relocated.

In 1947 our club began its planting around the area of wildflowers and shrubs indigenous to the Vineyard: mayapple, violets, Solomon's Seal, loosestrife, and swamp azalea to name a few. A standing committee existed for decades thereafter to continue the maintenance of this exceptional and treasured piece of Martha's Vineyard history. Our stewardship ended in 1993. - Submitted by Ty Johnston

Please save the date for next year’s Garden Stroll: Thursday, July 25th. We will need both new gardens in Edgartown as well as docents. We would like to focus the gardens around the North Water/Cottage street area of Edgartown this year since the ticket pick up will be at The Carnegie. If you would like to volunteer your home garden or if you would like to suggest a friend’s garden, please email Anne Kushwaha at annekushwaha@gmail.com.

The Programs Committee is requesting that you take a few minutes right now to complete the survey at this link: https://forms.gle/Nwj7kJAUt9vdn23YA 

Your responses will help is in our planning for the 2024 year. We are hoping to get as many members to respond prior to November 15 so we can begin reaching out to prospective speakers. We are asking not only about lectures but also possible smaller group hands-on workshops that would be scheduled at a time other than our monthly meetings. Currently, the Program Committee consists of Kathie Skinner, Kathy Werber, Fawn Hurwitz, and Angela Egerton.

If you would like to join us, please email Kathie at kjskin@comcast.net.

Doors will open at noon for hot cider, tea, and treats!

Maximum of 20 spots for our members.

Cost is $30.00 per person.

You can register by sending an email to:

Please come and join us—a fun way to start the holiday season! Contact Jayne Isford at 203-962-4317 with any questions.

What you will be provided at the workshop:

Wreath (from Mahoney's --appropriate for a door or window)

Cedar and green materials to supplement your wreath.

Ribbon and wire

Additional decorations

Participants are encouraged to also bring their own decorations for their wreath and to share with the group.

Do you love podcasts like we do? If so, here are a few for your listening pleasure!

Three of our talented Martha's Vineyard Garden Club members have been featured guests on Jennifer Jewell's podcast, Cultivating Place. They are listed here in order from the most recent.

Garden Club Member Libby Ellis, Edgartown - From Joyful Participation in A World of Sorrows to Cosmosis, photographer Libby Ellis

Judith Tankard, Edgartown - Learning from Gardeners Past with Landscape Historian Judith Tankard

The garden of MV Garden Club Member, Judith Tankard and her husband was one of the five private Edgartown gardens that was open to visitors on the 'Stroll' in August, 2023. Judith is a renowned landscape historian, author and preservation consultant.

Christin Geall, Chilmark - Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style

Christin was the speaker at our May, 2023 Garden Club meeting. She offered tips for doing dramatic floral arrangements and dazzled us with the floral design she created as attendees observed. Christin's program was a perfect kickoff to Blooming Art, 2023 and her book 'Cultivated', allowed us to take home a wonderful guide and inspiration that allows us to continue design inspiration past the day of her presentation!

Another podcast that's well worth a listen is this one! It has Noli Taylor from IGI as one of the interviewees ...listen in as she brings 'the wisdom of seeds' into focus... Listen here via: https://www.capeandislands.org/show/the-point/2023-10-03/seeds-and-local-seed-libraries

This podcast was shared with us by Laurisa Rich, one of the Co-Chairs of our Garden Club Conservation Committee.

You can also access these podcasts via our website in the Resources section or by going here: https://www.marthasvineyardgardenclub.org/gardening-8203resources-2---virtual-presentations-podcasts-more-websites--garden-tours.html

MV Garden Club Member, Laurisa will be teaching a Sauerkraut Class at the Chilmark Library on November 18. You must sign up in advance if you plan to attend...and Laurisa wants us to know that attendees will make and go home with a jar of their own to ferment!

Flyer that Laurisa shared with us is to the right. >>>>>>>>>>>>>

And speaking of fermenting and creating, our friend, Teri Culletto, (aka Vineyard Baker)'s book, 'Beautiful Bread' has been released!

The Farm Institute held a book signing in mid-October for the book's release along with Teri doing a demo and bread-tasting for attendees to the Farm that day! (photos here are from that event on 10/14/23)

Teri gave MV Garden Club members and guests a tasty program last September where she demo-ed her prep and the focaccia creation process. Afterwards we were able to sample the focaccias she created once they were baked! Teri's program was one of the most well-attended programs the Club has hosted in the last several years, so we are happy to bring this info to our members and newsletter subscribers! This inspirational bread art book gives helpful details on the process of creating your focaccia bread, listing essential tools, veggie and preparation tips and a plethora of recipes unique to nature, flowers, art and the holidays!

'Beautiful Bread' is now available on Island with Teri doing a book signing at Bunch Of Grapes in Vineyard Haven over Thanksgiving weekend, and at Edgartown Books during Christmas in Edgartown on December 9. The Episcopal Church in VH will be hosting Teri on November 4th from 10am - 12pm and she will do a demo there. The book will be available for purchase at the Church that day with attendance limited to 15 people. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, call Heather at the Church at 508-693-0332. We wish Teri much success on the sale and reach of this book...we are so very excited for her! - Submitted by Donna Arold, Programs & Communications