My term as President of the Garden Club ends next month when Ty Johnston, currently First Vice President, will ably assume leadership of the Club. I will remain on the Board through 2024 as Past President (kind of like being Queen Mother) and continue to work on the future of the Old Mill for the Garden Club.

I became President over two years ago to fill a vacancy and committed to stay on for two years to rebuild the Board and help revitalize the Club. We now have a capable Board, energetic volunteers, and a healthy, vibrant Club. I’m proud to have worked with all of you and have made many new friends.

I look forward to 2024 and all the Garden Club will offer.

Last month it was reported that one of our centennial celebrations would be taking place on July 11 of next year, at the Field Gallery in West Tisbury. After the Garden Club's Board met, however, it was decided there was too much going on in those weeks of the summer and that we should change the date of the members' celebration. Please keep watching this newsletter and the website for news of when it will be scheduled. If you replied “yes” to the last notice, Ty Johnston will get in touch with you to make sure you have all the details. Thank you so much for all your flexibility!

This year there is no fee for members to attend the party. Any member in good standing may bring one guest, and the guest fee will be $10: there will be a basket for the guest donations at the door. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by email to Linda Shaw no later than

December 7. (lindananshaw@gmail.com)

Just as we did last year, we are asking members to bring an appetizer or dessert, finger foods only, nothing that requires utensils.

If your last name begins with A-P, please bring a savory appetizer

If your last name begins with Q-Z, please bring a dessert

This year we will provide compostable plates and napkins, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. Just as in other years,

it is BYOB and glasses.

If you would like to help decorate, have any questions, or would like to help with any other aspect of our celebration, please contact Linda.

The greenhouse committee is off to a great start. Thanks to everyone who donated plants for cuttings. They are rooting well and we should be offering lots of new plants and varieties at next May’s plant sale. Volunteers are always welcome so contact Anne Kushwaha if you would like to help, please email to annekushwaha@gmail.com.

May 21 - Plant Sale for MVGC Members

May 25 & 26 - Plant Sale for the general public at The Old Mill

Our 'field trip' began at the Vineyard Open Land Foundation field that is located below the Wakeman Center (and you can get to it off of Lamberts Cove Road).

Thirty-seven Garden Club members attended and we learned a bit of history from Carol Magee, a VOLF employee since 1975. The cranberry bog was her pet project from the beginning and she explained how the bog came to be 'Cranberry Acres'

as well what it is today!

Once we arrived at the barn and bog, we were shown how the cranberries are harvested, sorted and packaged for market. Some members picked cranberries, others just made a purchase of the pre-packaged cranberries... all-in-all, we had a wonderful day which was full of Vineyard history, sunshine, and cranberries! To see photos from the day and/or to access some cranberry recipes, visit our website's homepage via: https://www.marthasvineyardgardenclub.org/

Sign up and take the first step towards reducing your energy use and your building's carbon footprint. Get rebates through MassSave to help with this. Call Vineyard Power at 508-504-9508 or sign up online.

MV Land Bank - Sunday, December ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​3​​​​​​​​​​​​​​rd 1-3pm Land Bank guided walk of T​​​​​​​r​​​​​​​a​​​​​​​d​​​​​​​e​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​W​​​​​​​i​​​​​​​n​​​​​​​d​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​F​​​​​​​​i​​​​​​​e​​​​​​​l​​​​​​​d​​​​​​​s​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​P​​​​​​​r​​​​​​​e​​​​​​​s​​​​​​​e​​​​​​​r​​​​​​​v​​​​​​​e​​​​​​​ in​​​​​​​ Oak Bluffs. Walks are given rain or shine, dress appropriately. Walks begin at 1 pm and last approximately 1-2 hours unless otherwise noted. For more information call the Land Bank office at (508) 627-7141. Free

Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) - Saturday December 9th 10am-12pm at Lagoon Pond and the Shellfish Hatchery. Registration required:

Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation- Sunday December 10th, on Chappaquiddick - full with waitlist only

Trustee’s of Reservations, Winter Solstice Sunset Hike on Thursday, December 21, 2023 3-5PM at Menemsha Hills. Registration and fee required: https://thetrustees.org/event/195950/

Winter Walk | Saturday Dec. 16th, 10am | $5; Free for members | Registration is required. Please register here: https://bit.ly/WinterWalkPHA 

In every season the Arboretum offers something of beauty and interest to visitors. At this time of year plants display unique foliage colors, textures, cones, and berries. This walk will be led by Executive Director Tim Boland and Education Coordinator Jenna Zier, and will highlight PHA's significant holly collection. Please meet at the Visitor Center.

Forest Bathing | Tuesday Dec. 5th, 9am | $15; $10 for members | Registration is required. Please register here: https://bit.ly/forest-bathing-2023  

Enjoy an easy, mindful walk through beautiful Arboretum trees in a peaceful winter setting. This walk is led by Shanta Gabriel, who has worked in the field of alternative health for 40 years and has been leading groups in nature for over a decade. Please meet at the Visitor Center.

For more information about these events, reach out to the group listed or to the MVGC Conservation Committee via our website.

Interacting with Community and Garden-Minded People by joining the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club!

Each member can attend our monthly meetings, learn about conservation, nature and gardening topics while chatting with other Club members at each of our meetings through the Club's social time.

MV Garden Club Members can participate by joining a MVGC Committee of their choosing. Our Committes allow members to further the Club's mission while expanding their own individual interest and knowledge within a particular area of interest. CLICK HERE FOR MVGC Committees!

Your 'Gift of Membership' will improve the Island Community as it relates to conservation, beautification, gardening and general 'give back'. CLICK HERE to see a little of what we have been involved with over the years!

Gardening is great exercise and affords wonderful time spent outdoors! Check out some of what we've done by clicking here!

Attend MVGC only social events at the Old Mill and at the Agricultural Hall! CLICK HERE to see a bit of that...and see other social events and workshops the MVGC hosts for members!

Attend and participate in 'Walkabouts'...which are informal garden visits to members gardens all across the Island! Only available to MVGC members in good standing. CLICK HERE to see a few Walkabouts from days past...

Be a part of the Club's Blooming Art event (as a floral designer or coordinator!) or help as a docent for our Edgartown Garden Stroll, 2024...or aid with Charitable Fundraising in general for the Club in our Centennial Year!

DO save the date for next year’s Edgartown Garden Stroll: Thursday, July 25th. We will need new gardens in Edgartown in the North Water Street vicinity as well as docents to help host at the gardens on the day of the Stroll. If you would like to docent, volunteer your home garden or if you would like to suggest a friend’s garden, please email Anne Kushwaha at annekushwaha@gmail.com. In addition, Anne needs a Co-Chair for this event, so if you are interested in being a part of making this 2024 Stroll happen, email Anne!

February 10 (Saturday) - A fun workshop and gathering for Valentine’s Day for our members from the Floral Design Committee

May 21 (Tuesday) - MV Greenhouse Plant Sale for MVGC Members and GC meeting

May 25 & 26 (Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend) - Greenhouse Plant Sale at The Old Mill for the General Public

June 14, 15, 16 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) - Blooming Art at the Old Mill

July 25 (Thursday) - Edgartown Garden Stroll, 2024.

August 1 (Thursday) - Harborfront Edgartown Garden Party Celebrating our founder and the Club's accomplishments through her years; tickets will be sold and limited.

The Club's 100th celebration at Field Gallery for MV Garden Club members - Date TBD

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced changes to its Plant Hardiness Zone Map and to its website. This is big news for gardeners...it seems our zone on Island is still 7A, but you may want to check if you have a second home in another location or a friend you want to let know about the change! CLICK HERE to access the USDA website.

1. MEASURE THE DAYLIGHT - Winter solstice can be a reminder of our connection to the natural world. This is a good time to get in touch with nature’s cycles. The solstice doesn’t have to be a bleak reminder of darkness. Entire festivals revolve around celebrating it as the day the sun begins to return to us.

2. MAKE A WREATH - Some holiday traditions, such as hanging mistletoe and wreaths, have roots in pagan solstice rituals. Even if you aren’t religious, you can make a connection to nature.

Go outside and collect holly, ivy, evergreen boughs, and pinecones. These are meant to symbolize everlasting life, protection, and prosperity. You can use them to decorate a table or mantle or make a wreath. Your treasures could even become gifts for loved ones.

3. PREPARE A FEAST - One tradition that overlaps many cultures is to celebrate the solstice with a winter feast. Since the winter solstice falls at the end of the harvest season, families have long celebrated with an abundance of in-season food. Get the kids involved in the kitchen by letting them help prepare the family meal. The recipes you prepare could become family traditions by themselves!

4. DINE BY CANDLELIGHT - You can create your own festival of light. Bring some light into the darkest night of the year by lighting candles. You can make it a ritual by adding another step.

The extra step could be coming up with something to say as you light your candle. Get everyone involved by making resolutions and saying them out loud as you light a candle. Your intention could be something as simple as a wish you want to come true in the new year. Then try dining by candlelight.

5. BURN A YULE LOG - Lighting a “Yule log” fire is a Nordic tradition that goes back before medieval times. During the longest nights of the year, they would decorate and hoist a large log (sometimes a whole tree) into the room and feed a fire through the 12 days of Christmas. Those who helped were said to bring good luck into the new year. Your “Yuletide” tradition doesn’t have to involve dragging in an entire tree. Your tradition could be having a bonfire in the backyard or placing a log in your fireplace as you tell the Yule log story of days of yore.

For info on Native American and Indigenous Winter Traditions, visit this link from the Old Farmers Almanac.

The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club has been leading a flower arranging activity with the residents at Windemere Nursing Home since 2002. This monthly event was started by Judy Bryant, a long time member of our club.   Joan Eville took over this popular Garden Club project in 2010. On November 29, Joan and Gay Smith led the residents in arranging flowers in vases to take back to their rooms. They also worked together to make displays for the nurses’ stations. In addition, Nancy Cabot instructed those attending in a holiday art project. Everyone enjoyed both of the hands on projects. Our club is grateful to Donaromas for supplying the flowers each month. They give so much pleasure to everyone involved.

To read about our Charitable Projects, CLICK HERE

Classic navy and white gardening aprons with large front pockets to hold all of your garden tools. Made of cotton twill for easy laundering. Also makes a great kitchen apron too. For the holidays, partner our apron with some seeds, a favorite gardening tool OR membership to the MVGC for our Centennial Year! Yahoo...now you've got a present to please your gardening friend. Contact membership@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org to purchase