The May Monthly Members Meeting is in Person at the Wakeman Center

Monday, May 18 Membership Meeting

Feature Topic: The Wonderful World of Rhododendrons and Azaleas

with speaker Tom Clark, Director & Curator, Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden

In Collaboration with Polly Hill Arboretum

12:30 Social; 1:00 Business Meeting; 1:15-2:15 Lecture

Refreshments provided by Oak Bluffs

At our Monday, May 18 membership meeting, Tom Clark will present The Wonderful World of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

With more than 1,000 species and countless hybrids, rhododendrons and azaleas offer an extraordinary range of flower color, fragrance, foliage, and form. In this engaging presentation, Tom will explore the beauty, diversity, cultivation, and garden uses of these beloved shrubs, with a focus on varieties well suited to our climate and growing conditions.

Member Plant Sale will be held prior to the member meeting from 11:00-12:30pm and immediately following until 3:00pm. Stop by and support the club. The plants are heathy and gorgeous this year!

Community Engagement

The Island Food Pantry children’s collection box will be available again at the May 18 membership meeting. Thank you to club members for the overwhelming generosity shown in donating children’s items to the Island Food Pantry last month. Your contributions were greatly appreciated by the pantry and the families they serve.

Tuesday, May 19 10:00am-12noon

Guided Tour of the Rhododendron Collection at Polly Hill Arboretum

Join Tom Clark and Polly Hill Arboretum staff on Tuesday, May 19, at 10 a.m. for a two-hour guided tour of the Arboretum’s rhododendron and azalea collection. The tour is free for MVGC and Polly Hill Arboretum members; nonmembers may attend for $10. Please register in advance and select the “PHA Member” option on the payment page if applicable. Park in the visitor lot and meet at the Visitor Center. Register HERE

Greenhouse at The Wakeman Center

Barbara Saltarelli

The Greenhouse is overflowing with plants just in time for our annual plant sale! Geraniums, begonias, coleus, oxalis, zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons, herbs, and spectacular hanging baskets are ready for your gardens and planters. Members get first pick at the May Member Meeting on May 18 at the Wakeman Center. Sales begin at 11 a.m. before fellowship and the speaker program. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to the Old Mill on Memorial Day weekend — Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Floral Design

Norah Van Riper and Colleen Harrigan

Warm spring greetings to everyone,

We hope you’re enjoying the longer, sun-filled days and getting your hands back in the soil. Spring is such a renewing time in the garden—whether you’re planting early blooms, refreshing your beds, or simply watching new growth emerge, it’s a wonderful season to reconnect with nature and nurture what’s to come.

Our Floral Design activities are thriving. Nancy’s Challenge at the April meeting was wonderful—thank you to all who took part. It was inspiring to see your unique interpretations of Vaclav Vytlacil's “Fishing Boats, Martha’s Vineyard.”

Norah Van Riper, Itinerant Historian and MVGC Floral Design Co-Director, will present a program at the Oak Bluffs Library on May 23rd entitled “Colonial Kitchen Gardening.” Please find the details below. As always, thank you all for your enthusiasm, talent, and support. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and continuing to grow together.

Colonial Kitchen Gardening: How Did Their Gardens Grow?

Saturday, May 23, 2026

11:00am-1:00pm.

Oak Bluffs Public Library

Offered by the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club

Norah Van Riper, Itinerant Historian and MVGC Floral Design Co-Director

Kitchen gardens, as we think we know them, have been part of the Vineyard landscape since the 1640s…but what were they really like? What did the English grow — and why? Were people really self-sufficient “back then”? Join local historian Norah Van Riper for a fun look at the facts (and fiction) of colonial kitchen gardening.

Our next Foraging Field Trip, led by our intrepid foragers Nancy Weaver and Nancy Cabot, will be Tuesday, May 26, at 1:00 pm at Lucy Vincent Beach.

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

Click here for the full club event calendar

Blooming Art 2026–Save the Dates!

Friday, June 19th through Sunday, June 21st

Blooming Art Chair, Jayne Isford

Docents and Welcome Volunteers Needed

Sign up to help out during Blooming Art. 2 hour shifts are available throughout the weekend to welcome and guide our guests. A brief training will be provided; qualifications are to bring a welcoming smile. Click here to learn more and sign up today.

Pre-Purchase Ticket site for Blooming Art 2026 is Live!

This year tickets purchased before June 15th are $15; $20 after June 15th or at the door. Advance tickets can also be purchased at the Member Meeting in May. Purchase online here.

Sponsorships - Last call!

Sponsorships are available starting at $250. Sponsors will be listed in digital and print media. Reach out to Jayne for details.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your support of this wonderful Club fundraiser. Email Jayne Isford at vp@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org with questions or suggestions.

Walkabouts 2026: Share Your Garden with Fellow Members

Ty Johnston

What is a Walkabout? Walkabouts are the club’s informal garden visits that offer a relaxed way to share ideas, inspiration, and a love of gardening. Over the past few summers, members across the island have graciously opened their gardens—large and small—for others to explore. Members stroll through fellow gardeners’ spaces, exchange tips, and simply enjoy the beauty and individuality of each garden. Whether pristine or a work in progress, every garden offers something unique. Since gardens are ever-changing pieces of art, many hosts have showcased their evolving spaces in previous years, making repeat visits a delightful discovery and offering new members a refreshing array of surprises. Come and go at your own convenience during the designated Walkabout time.

Interested in hosting a walkabout? Walkabouts are held from May through October —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.

May 21 (Thursday) Peter Norris's fabulous Rhododendrons 10-1:00pm

May 28 (Thursday) Fred Hancock's Iris collection 10-12noon

June 25 or 26 (Thursday or Friday) Ty Johnston's West Tisbury Cottage Garden 4-6pm

July - date and time TBD - Joan Cavazuti's gorgeous perennial garden

July - date and time TBD -- Peter Norris's Hyddrangeas in bloom

October - date and time TBD - Peter Norris's Japanese Maples in full autumn glory

DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED AS THE DATES COME CLOSER.

Bringing Blooms & Cheer to Navigator Homes

Joan Eville

One of our Garden Club’s community engagement activities brings the joy of flower arranging to residents of Navigator Homes. On April 15, Nancy Cabot, Joan Eville, and Susan Trani organized and led this hands-on project, which was enthusiastically enjoyed by all who participated. Residents also created thank-you cards for Donaroma’s Nursery in appreciation of its generous flower donations.

Garden Club Website Survey: Tell us what you want from your club web site.

As we explore a refresh of the Club’s website, we welcome input from our members. On May 16, we will send a brief user experience (UX) survey via email to gather feedback on the current website. Your responses will help us understand what’s working well and where we can make meaningful improvements.

The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete, and we encourage all members to participate when it arrives. Whether you visit the website frequently, occasionally, or not at all, your perspective will help shape a more useful and engaging online experience for everyone.



Watch your email later this week!

Notes from Our President

Anne Kushwaha

Hello MVGC members around the country. Happy May.  I've been doing a lot of traveling this 2026 in the off season and gardens and flowers have been a big part of the itinerary.  In March, I drove through the South and saw lovely gardens in Louisiana and South Carolina: Shadows on the Teche, Middleton Plantations and the gardens of Charleston.  In April, I hit peak tulip week at the Tulip Festival in Skagit Country and the spring gardens of Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC which were spectacular. Daffodils, Forsythia, cherry blossoms and tulips are now up in MV and the gardens beds are green. Everyone should plan to fill some garden gaps at the MVGC Plant Sale this month.  My travels have inspired some new ideas and plant combinations.  I encourage everyone to be a tourist in their own town or while traveling and visit a garden!  I have a few more trips planned. More photos to follow! Anne 

Martha's Vineyard Garden Club

PO Box 5061

57 David Avenue

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568