| | |
'A Way We Grow'
Martha's Vineyard Garden Club
Monthly News & Updates
June 2025
| | |
From Our President
Welcome “Home” to Our Seasonal Members — and a Warm Welcome to Our New Members!
Our first member meeting of the season will be held on Tuesday, June 24th at the Old Mill starting at 12:30pm. Please remember that parking is VERY limited, so carpooling is highly encouraged. You may also park at the Library and carefully walk down the marked path to the Old Mill. We’re back once again at our beloved summer home, the Old Mill... and that old babbling brook is babbling away! Along the walkway, the cinnamon ferns are exceptional this year. And if this stretch of wet English weather has done one thing, it’s brought us the most incredible season of peonies, dogwood, and rhododendrons—just to name a few.
We’re looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this summer and into the fall. Whether you're joining us for a member meeting with an exciting speaker, a spontaneous pop-up walk-about, or our casual social time at 4 O’Clock Fridays, our goal is simple: to grow, connect, and have fun—together.
After months of behind-the-scenes work by our intrepid Blooming Art Committee, this Friday is showtime! Forty-one of your fellow members will be interpreting thirty-seven works of art by Island artists. We may not be the MFA’s Art in Bloom, but in my humble opinion, we are absolutely spectacular. You do not want to miss us in all our floral glory at the Old Mill!
Check out details on artists and sponsors at Blooming Art on our website.
$15/person
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Parking: THERE IS NO PARKING AT THE OLD MILL. Please park at the Grange Hall. A complimentary shuttle bus will be running continuously between the Grange and the Old Mill throughout the event.
| | |
June Monthly Members Meeting
Feature Topic: Seeds to Success: The MV Garden Club Story and How You Can Grow with Us
June 24 12:30pm ET
The Old Mill, 690 Edgartown Rd, West Tisbury (click here for directions)
Join us at our June Member Meeting for Seeds to Success—a special session where you’ll learn how the MV Garden Club flourishes through its mission, programs, and member involvement.
Club and committee leaders will introduce the many ways you can participate, contribute, and connect—from conservation and floral design to education, greenhouse projects, and more. Whether you’re brand new or have been with us for years, this is a great opportunity to meet the people who make it all happen and find your place in the garden!
We’ll also open the floor for a casual discussion to hear your ideas for future initiatives and answer questions.
Come grow with us—your involvement is what makes our club thrive!
BONUS ACTIVITY: Bring a floral or greenery stem from your garden. We will have vases available to arrange during social time. The completed arrangements will be given to town community organizations to brighten their day.
Meeting Agenda
12:30 - 1:00 Social time with refreshments provided by West Tisbury
1:00 - 2:00 Welcome and discussion led by Susie Wallo and club leadership.
| |
A Successful Plant Sale
Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and the enthusiasm of our members and community, this year’s Plant Sale was a resounding success—with proceeds up 25% over last year! The team is already looking ahead with ideas to make next year’s event even better.
The festivities began with a well-attended lecture on Tuesday, May 20, featuring Katherine Anderson, founder of The London Plane. Inspired by her talk, members eagerly browsed and bought plants at our Wakeman Center setup. Later that week, the sale moved to The Old Mill and opened to the public. In total we had over 130 customers —with each helping to support our programs and showcase the work of the Greenhouse team.
To celebrate, the team gathered for a festive dinner, and later that week held a wrap-up meeting to share insights, reflect on what went well, and begin planning for 2026. One exciting new element for 2026: we’ll be inviting members to contribute divisions and propagations from their own gardens! As you begin winding down your gardens this fall, please consider setting aside healthy plant divisions or rooted cuttings. Our greenhouse team will gladly care for them through the winter and offer them in next year’s sale.
A big thank-you to all our volunteers for your time, energy, and good cheer. If you’d like to join the Greenhouse team next fall, there’s plenty of room—and a warm welcome—waiting. Email the team HERE to get involved.
Watch for plant donation details later this summer. We’re excited to keep growing—together.
| | |
Join or renew your club membership today!
Individual membership dues are $70 and household membership (2 people max.) is $120. Print out a membership form and mail it in with a check OR use the website. Paid membership is valid for one calendar year. [January 1 through December 31].
If you have any membership questions, contact us at membership@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.
| |  | |
Where are we? Take a guess at where the above photo was taken. Answers will be posted in next month's newsletter. May photos were taken in West Chop and Vineyard Haven.
Send your mystery nature photos to News@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org to be included in a future newsletter.
| | | |
Welcome New Members This Month
We are so glad you are here and hope that you find your niche in the club: horticulture, design, conservation, commuinity, education or little bit of this and that. The MV Garden Club is the place to learn, laugh and have fun.
| | |
Deborah Hall
Stacy Kunstel
| | | |
Jennifer Garfield
Elizabeth Teiger
Whitney Dailey
| |
| | |
Meet Our Blooming Art Committee
Chair: Susie Wallo
Debbie Barrett
Nancy Cabot
Joan Cavazuti
Sheila Fane
Jayne Isford
Sarah Lolley
Caroline Taylor
Thank you for your dedication.
We look forward to a spectacular show this weekend.
| | | | |
2025 Garden Club Scholarship Awarded
Supporting the Future
Broden Vincent, graduate of Martha's Vineyard High School is the recipient of this year's club scholarship. Broden, plans to major in Environmental Studies at Tufts University this fall. Congratulations on your achievement and best to you in your future endeavors.
Each year the Club awards a scholarship to a Vineyard high school student bound for a college major in a field related to horticulture, landscape, environmental studies, farming, or other connected areas of study. The MVGC Scholarship Committee accepts and reviews all applications. The award is presented at the High School's awards Ceremony by a Scholarship Committee member at Class Night Ceremony held at the Tabernacle.
Our scholarship committee is led by Joan Eville and Kathy Kitsock.
| |
4 O'Clock Fridays are Back!
Last Friday, members and their guests gathered at the Old Mill for an informal social time. It was time spent snacking and chatting on a beautiful sunny day. Next 4 O'Clock Friday is June 27: grab a drink and snack and join us.
Mark your calendar for July 25 and August 22, to fill out the rest of the 4 O'Clock Friday calendar for this year.
| |
It's Peony Season!!!
We are launching a peony page on our website to share these beauties year round. Send us a photo (or two or three...) of your prettiest peonies.
If your peony collection has a story or you know the species, feel free to include that — we’ll annotate accordingly. Island location is also of interest. Submissions will be anonymous. Please send yours to: website@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org or text to 5082591457.
| | | | | |
Floral Design Committee Update
Jayne Isford and Nancy Cabot
"In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different." ―John Steinbeck
Blooming Art 2025: Floral Creativity in Full Bloom
Blooming Art 2025 is almost here and excitement is growing! This year, 41 club members will showcase floral interpretations of 37 stunning artworks—with several members teaming up as design partners. We’re especially thrilled to welcome 17 first-time designers into the mix. A heartfelt thank-you to all our participants for your time, creativity, and enthusiasm. To support our designers, we hosted two inspiring workshops:
- On May 16, Emily Coulter, owner of Morrice Florist, led a session on floral interpretation and design techniques.
- On May 29, club legend Nancy Cabot shared her wisdom on using foraged materials—highlighting cedar branches as stabilizers for floral arrangements.
Thank you, Emily and Nancy, for your guidance and inspiration!
We invite everyone to experience the beauty of Blooming Art—come enjoy the incredible floral interpretations and consider purchasing one of the featured artworks to take a piece of the event home with you.
| | |
|
Huge thanks to our wonderful club member and extraordinary floral designer, Irene Ziebarth. Irene donated many of her incredible containers and vessels that she has used over the years at Blooming Art for our Container Swap. The swap was held after Emily Coulter's workshop for our floral designers. Irene is moving off island and back to California. Thank you Irene for your generosity-- We will miss you!
| | | |
Volunteers Needed: Hospice Soirée Floral Team
Monday, August 4 at Farm Neck Golf Club
We’re looking for 10–12 volunteers to help create floral centerpieces for the Hospice Soirée at Farm Neck Golf Club on Monday, August 4.
Join Wiet Bacheller and fellow members for a fun, meaningful project supporting a wonderful cause.
To volunteer, contact Jayne Isford at floraldesign@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org
We’re also collecting small vases or containers (about 4–5 inches tall with wide openings) for the arrangements. Please bring your donations to the July membership meeting at the Old Mill.
Thank you for your support!
| | |
New Event! Membership Tea at the Old Mill
Friday, September 5 · 3–5 PM
We’re excited to introduce a new Floral Design event and social gathering just for members! Join us at the Old Mill for a charming Membership Tea—bring your own teacup and saucer (we’ll have extras if you forget).
Members are invited to the Wakeman Center on Wednesday, September 3, to create dried flower arrangements in teacups, saucers, and small teapots. Instruction and materials will be provided. These delightful creations will be displayed during the Tea.
We’re also thrilled to welcome Ruby Silvious, a celebrated island artist known for her exquisite Tea Bag Art. Ruby will be at the Tea to share samples of her work. View Ruby’s artwork here.
Save the date—and join us for flowers, art, and tea among friends!
| | | |
Bringing Blooms & Cheer to Windemere
Residents at Windemere Nursing Home marked Memorial Day with a joyful visit from Garden Club members Joan Eville, Deb Barrett, Nancy Cabot, and Gay Smith. Together, they created vibrant flower arrangements and heartfelt holiday decorations in honor of our nation’s servicemen and women.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to Donaroma’s Nursery for once again generously donating the beautiful blooms that made the afternoon so special. Laughter and lively conversation filled the room as residents and members worked side by side on their creations.
The day ended on a high note with a singalong of patriotic favorites—bringing smiles all around.
Next up: our 4th of July celebration!
| |
|
Member Garden Walkabouts 2025
May saw us kickoff our Member Garden Walkabouts with visits to Peter Norris' fabulous rhododendron collection in Chilmark and Fred Hancock's historic iris gardens in Oak Bluffs. Both gentlemen shared not only their beautiful blooms but also a wealth of knowledge on the growth and history of their plantings. Fred additionally provided an impromptu talk on iris propagation.
2025 Walkabout Schedule (10-12noon - details to be provided in member mailings)
July 9 Janet and Jim Jones' Garden in Vineyard Haven
July 16 Caroline Taylor's Gardens in Edgartown
July 23 Connie Hastings Home on Lagoon Pond in Vineyard Haven
[additional gardens to be scheduled]
Walkabouts are held from May through August—choose the day and time that works best for you to share your garden. If you’re interested in learning more about hosting your garden, please contact Ty Johnston at 339-364-1363 or email tyrene.johnston@gmail.com.
| | |
Call a friend and set a date for -
The Old Mill, West Tisbury
$15/ticket and 2 for $25
Stroll through the gallery at The Old Mill and enjoy the merging of fine art and floral design. Artwork is provided exclusively by island artists and garden club members will interpret the pieces in their floral designs. All artwork is for sale with proceeds funding club initiatives.
Free shuttle will be provided from The Grange
| | | |
Martha's Vineyard Garden Club
PO Box 5061
57 David Avenue
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
| | | | | | |
