Hampton Roads Garden Club

Membership Meeting Minutes

November 4, 2025

Sister Cities, Newport News

Welcome/Call to Order

President Ann Fisher welcomed members to the meeting.  Ann thanked Allison Clock for making all the arrangements for our meeting and program today.   She thanked Sister Cities for hosting our meeting and our hostesses, Sandy Parks and Donna Herbert for the refreshments and beautiful table arrangement. 

Trish Lively, Admissions Chair, introduced new members, Peggy Patrick and Amy Ziglar to the club. 

Recording Secretary, Jennifer Dick, called the roll. There were 45 members present.

A motion was made to approve the October minutes as sent.   The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 

Program:

Allison Clock introduced Deneen Brannock, GCV Restoration Committee Chairman, who presented, “What’s New in GCV Restoration.” Deneen gave a brief history of the Restoration Committee, how it got started, how it has evolved over the years and significant projects throughout Virginia that GCV has been responsible for establishing. Among the current restoration projects being done in conjunction with the GCV Landscape Architect Firm Nelson Byrd Woltz are: the Washington & Lee Chapel, Mary Washington House Kitchen Garden, Wilton House and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. Two of the most exciting projects that are underway are the Bowling Green behind Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace and the gardens at the Kent-Valentine House, GCV Headquarters. The project at the Governor’s Palace coincides with Historic Garden Week and the 250th Celebration of America in 2026. The renovation of the Kent-Valentine House helps celebrate the 180th Anniversary of the house in downtown Richmond.

President, Ann Fisher thanked Deneen for traveling from Staunton today to be with us.   Ann also challenged our club to visit at least one of the GCV restoration sights this year. 

Officer Reports

President’s Report-Ann Fisher

October was busy!   

Ann travelled to The Tides Inn in Irvington for lunch with fellow District 3 Club Presidents on October 8th.  They all shared their club’s fundraising and ways and means projects. They were all impressed with our ongoing “You’ve Been Bloomed” project.    Don’t forget to “Bloom” someone you know for any occasion.  They will love it!

Ann shared some of the highlights from this year’s Board of Governors meeting that was held on October 14-15, 2025, in South Hill, Virginia.   The Tuesday evening welcome party was held at Rosemont Winery. Everyone was treated to Brunswick County “Brunswick Stew” and barbecue with all the trimmings. The meeting offers a great opportunity to share ideas with other club presidents, as well as make new friends.  On Wednesday morning, the business meeting began with a few announcements. 

1. GCV is beginning to seek Leadership and Identification of new members interested in participating as GCV leadership offices and committees. Please let me know if you are interested in serving on a GCV committee or as an officer.
2. A Governance Committee has been organized. The second Vice President will serve as chair of this committee.
3. The Corresponding Secretary will support the president with communications and correspondence.
4. Daffodil Day will be March 25th at VA Wesleyan University. The theme is “America the Beautiful”. 
5. Kelly Johnson, GCV Treasurer, shared the 1st quarter finance report. GCV has $11 million in investments. The full report is available on the website.
6. The November GCV Journal issue will feature the 180th anniversary of the building of the Kent Valentine House. 

Submit future articles for the Journal to Nancy Inman.

7. The Commonwealth Award was given to the Garden Club of Danville for their work to preserve and restore the historic Grove Street Cemetery in partnership with the City of Danville.
8. The Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement was presented to Cabell West, a former President of GCV and longtime member of the Tuckahoe Garden Club. She is known to be a “get it done” gal.

Reports from Standing Committees included:

                 Historic Garden Week:  

1. Virginia Gillock reported on a collaboration of HGW with the Conservation Committee in encouraging including Horticulture Displays at our local garden tour homes which would highlight the native plants in the yard of the featured home. These could be displayed and identified on a tray with single stems from plants in the homeowner’s yard. 
2. New sign available this year:   Native Plants Grow Here  
3. Adding a children’s ticket which will be available online only.

 Ages 5-17, $15.00; age 5 and under, free. No strollers.

Restoration

We were able to hear first-hand the report from our Restoration Chair, Deneen Brannock, today.

The Master of Landscape Architecture fellow, Grace Donnelly reported on her research in Surry County along the James River on “The Rise of Falling Gardens”. She studied the history of the landscape of 3 properties in Surry: Cedar Fields, Pleasant Point and Four Mile Tree.  The sloping and terraced properties were used to grow orchards of apples and peaches, for example. This fellowship is awarded using funds from HCW.

Artistic Designs

1. Daffodil Day: sign up for arrangement category
2. History Blooms: Feb. 20-22, 2026.

Fri. will offer workshops and presentations.  

Theme: “Revolutionary Gardens”

Registration begins January 1^st, location based on when you register.

People’s Choice Award….be sure to vote!! Will have vendors.

GCV Members get a discount.  

3. June 16-17 Lily Show, Tuckahoe Garden Club

Photography

Feb.9^th Cultivating Conversations: Photography

Horticulture

June 9-10, Horticulture Field. Day, Tufton Farm, private plant sale.

Nov. 6^th Horticulture chair will host a zoom meeting offering Outline for monthly Horticulture topics.

April is Native Plant Month in VA designated by Gov. Youngkin.  GCV will now designate a yearly Native MVP, Most Valuable Plant. This year they have selected Baptisia Australis, “Blue False Indigo” It blooms in April -June, is deer resistant, attracts bees and butterflies and is considered a “nitrogen fixer” (releases into the soil). It can take 3-4 years to bloom. Three Baptisia plants were given to 3 lucky winners by random draw.  The Horticulture Specimens for the BOG meeting were Forest Plants in Virginia. Thanks to Page Kremp for providing our specimen.

 Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this annual meeting which provides a wealth of information about the innumerable opportunities that we have as members of the Garden Club of Virginia.

On October 21st, 13 of our members gathered at the site of Alice’s Garden on the campus of CNU to rededicate the garden after its recent renovation. Sherry Maynard will share more on this in her Community Projects report.

At our last meeting I mentioned that our club and Huntington Garden Club had been approached by a member of the GCV Restoration committee, Marguerite Slaughter, a member of the Northern Neck Garden Club who serves as a liaison with Lee Hall, which is one of the GCV restoration and preservation sites.

Lee Hall had a list of “needs” which included bulbs to be planted this fall to provide spring color in time for their annual community Easter Egg Hunt and the 250^th anniversary of our country in 2026. Obviously, this required some quick research. Between Carla Rice, Huntington’s president, and myself, we made numerous calls to Lee Hall officials and Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and determined that together we could order 1350 bulbs of 2 varieties, Daffodil Mix of the South and Rotterdam Mix which offer early, mid and late season blooms.  To get the bulbs ordered in time for fall planting, we needed to amend the budget to be able to accommodate the purchase. So, the total cost is $1822.50 which will be split with Huntington leaving each of us with a cost of $911.25. Because we are a member of the Bloomin’ Bucks which is a rebate program offered by Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, we will get 25% of our purchase refunded at the end of this year.  This discount will give us $455.63 back, which we will divide with Huntington.  Our total financial commitment will be $683.44.  Also, because we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we do not have to pay tax on the purchase! The landscape staff at Lee Hall can do the installation. Because this project came up between meetings, we needed to act quickly to meet timing and seasonal requirements, I reached out to our Executive Board to get their feedback and hopefully, their approval to move forward with this project. After talking with Sam Bishop, our treasurer, she assured me that we have the money in our treasury. This community project strongly supports our club’s purpose to enhance civic beauty, conservation, restoration and the preservation of VA historic gardens.

I reported all of this to the executive board, and they voted to amend the budget to cover the costs and proceed with the project. I am hoping that you will agree to approval after the fact. The motion was made and approved unanimously.  

Thank you for your continued support and participation in all that we do to make our community beautiful!

The bulbs have been ordered, picked up and delivered for the Lee Hall landscape crew to plant them for spring blooming. We will be sure to get pictures this spring of the blooming bulbs.

To fulfill the request for small flower arrangements for Ft. Monroe Forward, a special event at Ft Monroe, Sue Morgan and Ann Fisher put together 3 small arrangements and delivered them. There is a picture in the newsletter.  Ft Monroe Authority has recently welcomed a new director, Scott Martin, and I am happy that we were able to maintain a working relationship with them. I have already received a thank you from them and a note from Kathy Hutcheson, a former member and our liaison for this project.  I mentioned last month that our flowers were to go into the porta potties, but they referred to them as “Portable Restrooms” which sounds a bit more dignified!  We even attached a little tag to each arrangement that said Compliments of The Hampton Roads Garden Club.  We may be famous now!

Ann Fisher attended the Conservation Forum on the 29th, at the Portsmouth Women’s Club in Portsmouth along with 6 of our members. Allison Clock, Mary Diggs, Mary Johnson, Carrie Karnes, and Stacy Queensbury. We learned so much about programs for conserving the James River, the Elizabeth River and our VA wetlands.  Every group reflects the collaboration of numerous groups.  We get so much more accomplished together! You will hear from the Conservation Committee with more details.

Ann updated the club that the Bylaws Committee is still working on the updates, but there is an end in sight!  They plan to present them at the January meeting. 

Vice President-Allison Clock

Allison also thanked hostesses for the refreshments today. She announced our December meeting and Holiday Luncheon will be held at the home of Mary Kay Lawson in Hampton. 

Treasurer-Sam Bishop

The Towne Bank balance as of11/4/2025 was $58,611.39. 

Committee Reports:

Ways and Means:

Poinsettia Sale-Rita Quinn

Rita collected outstanding order forms.  A sign-up sheet was circulated to help with large deliveries.   Rita reminded members that poinsettia pick-up would be Tuesday, December 2^nd from 9:30-11:30 at Anderson’s Garden Center.    She reminded members that the club would be getting 15% of the sales made by our members inside the store that  day, so don’t forget to shop for a few holiday gifts.  

Charleston Bus Trip-Kristin Barnes

Kristin has been in contact with the Historic Charleston Foundation about this year’s tours and has set a date of March 23-26 for the trip. They are still waiting for the Historic Charleston Foundation to set the tours that will be available during the trip. The details of the trip and the itinerary are in your email.   $100 deposits are currently being accepted to secure your spot.  It will open to others by December.  This year there will be an optional tour of Magnolia Plantation. 

Photographer-Amanda Graham

Amanda reminded us of the current Autumn Photography Challenge. The categories are Class I: Critters-(non-domesticated) (color)- A portrait in an outdoor setting of one or more wildlife preparing for changing of the seasons and Class II: Autumn Hauntings (black and white)- Be it tombstone, statue or mausoleum, capture the architectural aspects in black and white detail. (No people please).  Deadline is December 5^th.   Also, she reminded us to send her photos for the Ivy Anchor!

Peninsula Council of Garden Club-Martha Sides

Martha delighted us with a poem which reminded us that the Hampton Roads Garden Club is responsible for providing the main entrée (tea sandwiches, ham biscuits, vegetable/fruit trays etc.) for the November 14 PCGC meeting. A sign-up sheet was circulated. The scheduled program, Fall and Holiday Flower Arrangements presented by floral designer Mr. Jeremy Schmidt will begin at 10am and is held at the Hilton Woman’s Club, 87 Main St., Newport News.

Nominating-Sidney Jordan for Dale Banning

Sidney collected the Placement Interest Survey for 2026-2028.  Sidney said the committee would be reviewing these and would start the process to prepare the slate for voting in spring.  

Historic Garden Week-Mary Diggs for Stacy Queensberry

Looking for the perfect gift for the holidays? Historic Garden Week has you covered this year! The Hampton-Newport News Tour has paper tickets this year and they are available for sale now! Tickets purchased on-line through GCV do not go on sale until the middle of February so if you want to give the gift of HGW to someone, act now! Tickets are $45.00 and can be purchased by contacting HGW Chairman Stacy Queensberry. Payment may be in the form of a check or Venmo. Start checking people off your list now! 

HGW Marketing News: In November GCV revealed a partnership with The Scout Guide, a national network of locally curated print guides and online directories that showcase small businesses. Historic Garden Week will be marketed to all 103,000 Scout Guide newsletter subscribers which includes all 100 Scout Guide markets nationwide. They will promote HGW and all ticketing. In December all 10 markets in the VA/NC area will include Historic Garden Week in their individual Holiday Gift Guide. It will include the URL to HGW general ticketing as well as the FLOWER Magazine statewide pass and is tailored for each market w/categories of “shop,” stay,” “dine,” and “see.” with a nearby GCV Restoration Site highlighted. The Williamsburg Scout Guide covers our area.

Fundraising-Teresa Robinson

Save the Date of February 17, 2026, for Bubbles, Beads and Bids a fundraising event.  Donations are currently being accepted.  Members are free.  Guests are $10.   Please bring donations to the January/February meeting or contact Teresa Robinson for pick-up. 

Conservation and Beautification-Lori Shuford for Julie LoCicero

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 7 HRGC members attended the 67th Annual Conservation Forum at the Woman’s Club of Portsmouth. The event, held from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

The forum was both enjoyable and educational. We began with opening remarks from GCV President Kris Carbone, who reminded us of the importance of preserving Virginia’s natural beauty and resources. This year’s program focused on the significance of our waterways and their impact on our communities.

Three accomplished professionals presented engaging and informative updates on Virginia’s waterways:

• Bill Street, President and CEO of the James River Association, shared encouraging news about the improved health of the James River. He emphasized how this vital natural resource provides drinking water for millions, sustains wildlife, offers recreation for Virginians, and remains a key part of our heritage and future.
• Mary-Carson Stiff of Wetlands Watch in Norfolk discussed her organization’s innovative strategies for adapting to climate change and sea-level rise. She noted the importance of proactive measures, explaining that many coastal communities—including Poquoson—face serious risks from rising sea levels and could eventually be underwater if significant corrections are not made. Through collaboration and practical solutions, Wetlands Watch works to strengthen natural resilience and protect Virginia’s wetlands.
• Lacy Shirley, Executive Director of the Elizabeth River Project, inspired us with success stories from the restoration of this historic urban river. Once considered beyond saving, the Elizabeth River now supports thriving populations of Brown Pelicans, River Otters, Dolphins, and Bald Eagles—proof of what community action can accomplish.

We left the forum feeling motivated to learn more about these organizations and how we too can help protect our waterways. The day concluded with a delicious lunch at Decoy’s in Suffolk, where we enjoyed good food and great conversation reflecting on the day’s inspiring program.

Community-Sherry Maynard

Sherry shared with the group about the rededication of Alice’s Garden at CNU.   She thanked the 13 HRGC members for attending and special thanks to Maureen Hutchens for her special words about Alice.  Alice was a member of the HRGC for 59 years.   She received the Lacy Grey Medal and was appointed to the James River Conservation Committee by the Governor of Virginia.  Full details and photos can be found in October Ivy Achor.   

Collections: 

Daffodil-Sarah Huddleston

Bulbs are available for pick-up at today’s meeting.

Annual Fund: Mary Johnson 

Mary Johnson reminded everyone as the end of the year approaches to please donate to the GCV Annual Fund. 

Announcements-Ann Fisher

Ann reminded members to read The Ivy Anchor for information about the club each month.  Ann also wished all the November birthdays a very Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Adjournment:

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Ann Fisher.  

Respectfully Submitted,

Jennifer Dick

Recording Secretary