From our President...

With the calendar page flipping over to October, my vision is filled with orange, red, and yellow.... Fall is approaching! And with it comes a plethora of garden tasks. Many perennials need division, and then the question comes... what to do with the extra plants? I think I missed the club's plant swap, held on Tuesday the 24th . Many years I have just potted the divisions up and left the pots outside in a sunny place, like behind my garden shed. I bury them in leaves and pine needles throughout the winter, and SURPRISE! Many of them survive! Then in the spring I can donate them or perhaps squeeze them in some speck of land in my garden.

And then there is the dead-heading. I am trying to subjugate my inner Martha Stewart and leave many of my flowering plants standing throughout the winter as food for foraging birds and shelter for beneficial insects. This will be hard for me, since I love neat and tidy gardens. But I'm working on

being more environmentally conscious and conservation-oriented. Very early spring would be a better option for clear-cutting the perennial beds. For now I probably will tidy up the hostas and the daylilies – they just get so messy. Hopefully just cutting them down will help my psyche.

Good luck to all of you, whether you have a large garden or just a few pots on the deck. The cool weather and sunny days of autumn are great to putter around outdoors.

We still have a few meetings this year, so do plan to come if you are on-island. The next one is on October 15th – this time at the Wakeman Center. Carol Rego will speak to us about “Gardening Water Wisdom”. Sounds intriguing. And I'm looking forward to the Book Exchange on that day. Books

about plants and gardening techniques are both educational and inspirational. So many books, so little time!!!!

- submitted by - Ty Johnston, President

Our September Meeting and Nancy’s Challenge recap!

"September is a truly glorious month on the Vineyard: the weather is beautiful, the water is still warm, and the craziness of the summer crowds has at least lessened. Look around you and make a Vineyard arrangement that says “Ah, September!"

Below are the floral designs that were created for Nancy's Challenge...each one completely different and unique. In her introduction of the arrangements, Nancy mentioned the use of foliage rather than just flowers in each arrangement, and how that generally makes for a more interesting design. Thanks to all the members who participated!

Below are some images from the September program and meeting. Jan Weathers, CMMG was our speaker and she spoke on proper pruning practices for flowering shrubs. There were 47 members in attendance along with 9 guests. Thanks to Gay Smith and the Vineyard Haven members for contributing the snacks and refreshments. One notable member matched the featured refreshment, blueberry lemonade! Kate arrived sporting blue fingernails and a blue spotted top. Thanks, Kate for posing with your blueberry lemonade! (and thanks to Nancy Weaver for taking and sending the cute pic!) All in all, it was a great meeting, well attended and informative!- submitted by Donna Arold -Images by Donna Arold/Heidi Dieterich/Nancy Weaver

Next Up: Our October Meeting!

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 

Program Title: 'Gardening Water Wisdom: Save Water, the Environment and Money!'

Speaker: Carol Rego

The meeting begins @ 1:00pm at The Wakeman Center located in Vineyard Haven; Refreshments / Social Time @ 12:30

​This presentation explains the water cycle on earth – both the natural cycle and the human cycle—and then reviews the local (Massachusetts) impact of climate change on both drought and precipitation. It presents the reasons why, as gardeners and environmental stewards, we need to start adapting to these climate variations to preserve and protect the quantity and quality of our natural resources. The second half of the presentation covers many

practical and effective ways of being “Water Smart” to reduce water consumption, improve the environment, and maintain a healthy, productive garden. And save money (so we can buy more plants)! 

Social time will begin at 12:30 with light refreshments. The lecture will begin shortly after 1:00.

Remember to bring a gardening book for the book swap! ​

FREE to MVGC Members / Open to non-members @ $10.00 pp 

Special Projects Report from Joan Cavazuti...

Cleanup at the Old Mill involved emptying the flower pots and taking plants to Wakeman for the Greenhouse committee. The window boxes and pots will need planting in the spring so plan on coming out and helping next year.

A plant swap was held at the Old Mill and was a chance to share divided plants and get them in the ground before winter's arrival. There were shopping bags full of gladiolus, ladies mantle, grasses, filipendula and more. Lots of fun and excitement to get these babies in the ground. We'll try and have another swap in the spring to launch our gardens.

There will be a garden book swap at the next meeting October 15 at the Wakeman Center. Some of us our cleaning out our libraries and have books to share. If you have a book to share great! If not there you can still pick up a book as there should be plenty. This will be very informal, with a table set up with books that you can choose from.

There's still time to order bulbs from Brent and Becky's. Now is the time to plants spring flowering bulbs or order Amaryllis for the holidays. Amaryllis make great holiday gifts for friends and family.  Use the link: bloomin-bucks

-submitted by Joan Cavazuti, MVGC Special Projects Coordinator -images below are from Deb Boyle of the September Plant Swap

Thank you and a Communications 'Committee' Update!

As stated by so many Garden Club members,...our Centennial Birthday Party at the Old Mill was absolutely lovely. It was wonderful to celebrate all that the Club has accomplished in the past 100 years, applaud the Club's past Presidents that were in attendance and spend a few hours enjoying each other's company. (Be sure to check out the Birthday Party page on our website for an overview of the festivities!) In addition to all of that, for me personally it was a real honor to have received the outstanding service award, 2024 for my contributions to the Club regarding Communications. Past President, Susan Hobart really blew me away with her presentation of the award and her words which recounted the work I have done with Communications for the Club for the past three + years. So cool to see my name on the plaque, along with other notable and respected Club members. Thank you so much to the MVGC Board for the recognition...and to the Club members who have said thank you to me via email and in person and expressed congratulations. I truly appreciate it.

With that said, I will be stepping out of my Communications role in 2025. My husband and I have decided to put our home on the market and move back to America (more specifically Bucks County Pa. or Hunterdon County, NJ...our old stomping grounds.) Tides change, people age and we just feel like the time is right...our little Cape in OB is presently on the market, and until it is sold, we will be here. Over the last few months I have solicited Club members to take on the roles of Communications, and things have come together. Connie Hastings will be taking on managing the website and putting out the newsletter, Caroline Taylor will be handling the press releases and press/media for Club events and Rose Ryley will be handling the Club's social media accounts, Facebook & Instagram. Thankfully Karen Huff (our magical webmaster) will still be involved as support for the website when needed...so all in all, things should move along well into the New Year without a hiccup! The Committee (Connie, Caroline, Rose and me) will meet next week to discuss roles, responsibilities and the transition process. For now and until January, I will continue to handle all the Club's Communications...so direct questions /concerns re: Communications to me via the news@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org email or to my personal email if you need a faster response.

I have really enjoyed what I have been able to do for the Club regarding Communications and appreciate the Club trusting me and allowing me 'carte blanche'. Thanks again for the opportunity!

Above are pics of the Outstanding Service Plaque with names/dates of all who have received this honor and the lovely bouquet Susan presented me with at the Birthday Party. I am beyond grateful to have been recognized.

-submitted by Donna Arold, Communications

Windemere Report

From Joan Eville, Chairperson for Windemere - On Wednesday Sept. 25th the residents at Windemere Nursing Facility participated in a Halloween art project facilitated by Nancy Cabot and a flower arranging activity led by Joan Eville. Donaroma’s Nursery generously donates the flowers each month for this GC project. Windemere residents decorate their rooms afterwards with their beautiful art work and lovely flower arrangements. The Windemere residents also design flower displays for the nurses’ stations. They love actively participating in these projects and enjoy seeing their beautiful creations. 

-words and images submitted by Joan Eville

Halloween Possibilities!

Our club has been asked to participate in the West Tisbury Halloween celebration, taking place on October 31 from 3-5 PM. The library usually runs an event with hayrides, games, pumpkin and face painting, etc but this year there seems to be an expansion in the works!  The Field Gallery, Alleys, the Grange Hall, and the Old Mill are included! The director of the library is thinking of a sort of parade through the neighborhood to visit these sites. I'm not sure what it would entail, but it is a fantastic public relations opportunity for us.  

Would anyone like to work on this? Please call me, Ty Johnston, at 339-364-1363 and tell me your availability for planning and help. I would imagine we would decorate and have some sort of historical tour of the Mill. Give it some thought!!! -submitted by Ty Johnston 

MVGC Plant Swaps abound!

Below are some fun photos from the late August Plant Swap which was coordinated by MVGC member Nancy Weaver. Thanks, Deb Boyle (our new Club Treasurer!) for the images you provided and thank you to Nancy for arranging this!

Stay in tune with the seasons and us...

Be sure to check out the 'Resources' section of our website...part one and part two for new additions and suggested links re: proper practices and seasonal garden info. There are live links along with October Horticultural Hints via the website too! Info is added/updated monthly, so click away to stay in tune with the latest suggestions from our MVGC members!

At the time this newsletter was sent there was minimal information available re: Disposal Day. Contact Community Service for all the particulars.