Hampton Roads Garden Club
Membership Meeting
Hampton History Museum
April 14, 2026
President Ann Fisher welcomed everyone to today’s meeting. Ann reminded us that we have run the Historic Garden Week race led by our fearless leader, Stacy Queensberry, and the finish line is in sight! She hopes you had the chance to watch Stacy’s appearance last Tuesday on the “Good Morning Hampton Roads Show” to plug our garden tour and HGW statewide. She was great! In just 8 days we will have created our floral arrangements and will be serving as hostesses with the mostest! Ann hopes you plan to attend “Flowers After Hours” at the Mariners Museum for the perfect culmination to our Tour Day….and bring a friend!! It begins at 5 pm. You can get tickets from Stacy, Carrie or Jennifer!
Ann welcomed our speakers, 2 talented ladies from the Williamsburg Garden Club who are with us this morning to share tips on how to have “fun with flowers!
Jennifer Dick called the roll. Forty six members were in attendance.
The March minutes were approved as corrected.
Allison Clock introduced the program “Fun with Flowers” with Williamsburg Garden Club Members Nina Mustard and Melinda Morgan.
Ann thanked Nina, Linda and Melinda for a great program! Just in time you have “jump-started” our floral design creativity. You can come back anytime!!
We took a quick 10-minute break before our business meeting.
Officer’s reports:
President:
Ann Fisher announced that we have had 3 proposals for Lifetime members in our club that were approved unanimously by our Executive Board.
She reviewed the description of the Lifetime Member status as it is listed in our recently approved By Laws and then shared the proposal letters.
- Letter from Joanna Bigley proposing Martha Field.
- Letter from Sandy Parks proposing Mary Jane Peake.
- Letter from Anne Harrison Harris proposing GiGi Buxton.
The board approved reinstating GiGi Buxton and Mary Jane Peake to membership. This was a onetime status reversal because it was felt that they would have been offered this status earlier in the year when they resigned, but our bylaw revisions were not complete.
Please join me in congratulating Martha Field, GiGi Buxton and Mary Jane Peake as our first Lifetime Members. These women will now be listed as Lifetime members in our yearbook.
Ann also received 2 letters proposing Bo Parrish for Honorary Membership in our club. The Honorary Membership criteria from the bylaws were reviewed, then the nominations letter from Allison Clock and Mary Johnson were read to membership. Membership committee passed out ballots for voting and collected them. Mr. Bo Parrish became our first Honorary member.
Ann reminded each committee chair to submit your year-end report by the May meeting.
Our newsletter, The Ivy Anchor, is filled with great information and pictures! There are great opportunities for us to buy native plants at the VA Living Museum and the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Plus, the upcoming Williamsburg Garden Symposium this weekend. As always, Mary Johnson has done a great job!
I want to remind you that April is Native Plant month which was officially designated by former Governor Glen Youngkin last year.
The GCV introduced the MVP, Most Valuable Plant, designating Baptisia, Blue False Indigo, as the first official native plant of the year. Ann encouraged members to purchase one and add it to your landscape! Last year at Annual Meeting Ann had the opportunity to visit Pharsalia, the impressive flower farm in Nelson Co. where she saw her first one and bought it to bring home and plant in her own garden. It actually has buds on it!!
The Peninsula Council of Garden Clubs has scheduled its final meeting of the year for May 8th at 11 am at the Hampton Yacht Club. Invitations should be out soon. This is a luncheon meeting, so reservations are required. It will include installation of the new officers for next year. It is open to all of us. Watch for an email with the reservation information.
Ann made a trip out to Lee Hall 2 weeks ago to see the Daffodil Bulbs that Hampton Roads Garden Club and the Huntington Garden Club provided last fall. They are a bit sparse and so and she has reached out to Carla Rice about the possibility of our clubs supplementing our first gift with a second group of bulbs for the coming fall. She has
contacted Lee Hall and we are in discussion with them. More to come at the May meeting.
In the winter edition of the GCV Journal, HRGC is featured in the SNIPS section highlighting our Fall Fashion Show, hosted by our own incredible Fundraising Committee! Thank you Molly Trant for making this happen! You have done an outstanding job this year!
Thanks to Jenny Griffiths for ordering and now, today, delivering the Lily Collections to those who ordered last fall. Please share pictures of your lilies when they bloom!
Vice President:
Allison Clock thanked the Hampton History Museum and Melanie Wharton and Sarah Huddleston for the refreshments today. The next meeting will be on May 12th at the home of Becky Tench. This will be our Annual Meeting and luncheon hosted by Allison Hund, Sherry Maynard, Teresa Robinson and Molly Trant.
Allison also gave an update from the Daffodil Show that was held at VA Wesleyan University in VA Beach on March 25-26. Thanks to a great team of arrangers, set up and take down specialists, and gardeners who entered their own award-winning Daffodil specimens. Congratulations to our ribbon winners Allison Clock and Ann Moir as well as Allison Hund who came home with a silver vase!
Treasurer:
Sam Bishop reported our balance at Towne Bank was $70,565.60. She reminded us the fiscal year ends on May 31st, so please submit your dues for $125 and any expenses to be reimbursed for this year.
New Business/Committee Reports:
Community Projects:
Sherry Maynard proposed the club donate $10,000 to the Garden Lab project at Deer Park Elementary School. Motion carries. Joanne Trimbur will be the liaison with the school on this project.
Allison Hund proposed the club give $500 to Thrive Peninsula for their seedling program. Ann Abraham recommended we amend the motion to $1000. Motion carries.
Nominating:
Dale Banning presented the motion to elect the 2026-2028 Officers and Board of Directors as presented. Motion carries.
2026-2028 HRGC Executive Board
President: Allison Clock
Vice President: Pam Patterson
Recording Secretary: Kristin Barnes
Corresponding Secretary: Ann Moir
Treasurer: Julie LoCicero
Immediate Past President: Ann Fisher
Directors At Large: Amanda Graham, Stacey Queensberry, Teresa Robinson
Nominating Committee:
1. Mindy Beasley
2. Debbie Tanner
3. Page Kremp
Membership Committee (Term 2026-2028):
1. Jane Quinn
2. Linda Smith
Ways and Means/Charleston Bus trip:
Kristin Barnes and Jane Quinn reviewed all the fun that was had in Charleston! The committee made $1348 for the club.
Historic Garden Week:
Stacy Queensberry reported that on March 19, Mary Diggs, Kim Pruden and she attended the HGW Spring Regional meeting at the Kent Valentine House. New items that will be used at homes and headquarters include; New Economic Impact Poster, Native/Pollinator friendly plant tags for the homeowners and signage.
A new/updated HGW Spring Flower arranging tip sheet has been created for use for all arrangers.
Things to keep in mind on tour day – we are to count everyone that comes through the door!
Stacy reminded us that we will be required to have a ticket to enter the homes, other than the one you are being a hostess in. Being a hostess does not give you a ticket to the rest of the homes. Free tickets are only for people that volunteer outside of our club. The free tickets will be counted and held at headquarters to be given out. Tickets are available for purchase online at GCVirginia.org through Eventbrite. Tickets before April 21 are $45.00, Day of tickets will be $55.00
For everyone working at the homes on Queens Court (43 & 47) PLEASE park on Paula Maria and walk or we can come and pick you up if you call Wanda or Stacy 757-287-0626. Do not park along Queens Court near the homes or headquarters. There will be antique cars that will be parked near the tour homes as part of the promotion of the tour. We will also need room for the non-member attendees and buses.
This year there will be signs placed outside at the check-in tables and throughout the homes stating NO PHOTOGRAPHY inside the home. Please gently remind tour guests at check in and should you see anyone taking out their cell phone to take a quick photo. Amanda Graham and Susan Nixon will have Badges on stating that they are the official photographers.
Stacy will be exhibiting at the CNU Garden Symposium on April 11, selling tickets and handing out brochures.
Jennifer Dick reminded membership to purchase their tickets for FAH. Price is $25. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Flower Chairs:
Sidney Jordan and Jane Quinn reminded membership that our arranging day is Tuesday April 21st from 9:00 am until 12 noon. You may arrange on location or at your home, but please plan to have your arrangement in place before the 12-noon hour, as we want to be respectful of the homeowner’s time. Another reminder to put your name on the bottom of your containers and bring with you the list of all your flowers you will be using in the arrangement. We will have the cards that day for you to write your plant material on. Also, save the date to pick up your arrangements and containers:
- The Short Home- 5:00 pm on tour day- April 22nd.
- The Beasley Home- 4:00 pm Sunday April 26th.
HGW Hostesses:
Julie LoCicero reported that all the shifts in our homes had been filled. If you need to make a change or have any questions, please contact her.
Historic Garden Week Ads & Sponsorships:
Mary Johnson reported that the committee collected $9200 in ad book income, $5250 local sponsorships and $2750 for Flowers After Hours for a total of $17,200!
Horticulture and Artistic Design:
Page Kremp has done an outstanding job of offering special articles in our newsletter to share great information including this month. Perennials that divide well, when to divide and how to do it! Thanks for sharing!
GCV Annual Fund:
Mary Johnson reported we are up to 35% of our club have contributed to the annual fund.
New Business:
No new business was reported.
Happy Birthday to our April Birthdays:
9th: Rita Quinn
11th: Martha Sides
20th: Amine Morgan (Associate)
24th: Kristin Barnes
25th: Amanda Graham
27th: Stacy Queensberry
30th: Val Bowen
With no further business, the meeting is adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Dick
Recording Secretary
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