🌸 AGC Wednesday News: Notes from the Garden 8-5-2020

Dear Ladies of the Club,

August is here and we have been blessed with some rain and sunshine for our gardens to continue to grow! If you haven’t had a chance to look at photographs of our member’s gardens on display during “Wednesdays in our gardens” please click on this link to our AGC website: https://augustagardenclub.org/uncategorized/garden-walk-photos/

I want to send out a big thank you to all the members who were generous to open their gardens and to the members who participated. It was a huge success!

In the news, the AGC hosts of the September 19 meeting are cautiously planning a safe meeting. Please be sure to RSVP when the invitation goes out, keeping in mind your personal decision to attend, as we will make a “game day” decision at our AGC Board meeting on September 9. This Wednesday, Robin VonSeldeneck and Dana Krusz will host the new member orientation in the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library garden and the AGC is planning a “Flower Flash” at Augusta Health Hospital led by our organizer, Susan Laser, and our Floral Designer, Linda Holden. Stay tuned for details so you can be a part of this exciting venture!

The Garden Club of America ENews arrived in our inbox on August 1. It is chock full of news and announcements. They are introducing “zoom how to” videos and I would highly encourage all members to look at these. I am sure the AGC will be holding some zoom meetings in our future and I want to be sure ALL members participate!!!!!

The Garden Club of Virginia has announced that Horticulture Field Day has been cancelled. That is a disappointment, but it is for all member’s safety as Norfolk has become a hotspot for covid in our state. Don’t forget though to be sure to visit the Centennial Exhibition at the VMHC in Richmond: https://www.virginiahistory.org/ and check out the July issue of Virginia Living magazine and it’s feature article on GCV: http://www.virginialiving.com/ever-green-and-growing/

Enjoy these lazy days of summer! Stay safe, wash your hands, and garden on, Ladies!

Virginia

Calendar & Items of Interest

Aug. 5th: New Member Orientation- New members & New Member Committee

Sept. 16th: AGC Meeting- Frontier Culture Museum; details to follow

Sept. 22nd-23rd: GCA Shirley Meniece Horticulture Conference (online)

See a list of all upcoming GCA virtual events here: https://www.gcamerica.org/members:news/get?id=2976

HGW 2021 Update

Garden Club of VirginiaEverything is different in this pandemic. HGW 2021 will be different, but we are moving forward with the expectation that it will take place. GCV has suggested we adopt the mantra K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Sister) That will mean showcasing fewer spaces, eliminating second floors to prevent crowding on stairways, scaling back on extra events such as concerts or luncheons just to name a few changes. What will NOT change is we will work together as a club to create show stopping floral arrangements and serve as hostesses to graciously welcome visitors into the homes. Our committees will work well in advance of the tour to create the best experience possible for our guests and homeowners. We do not know what the CDC guidelines will be next April, but with that in mind, we will have a “plan B”. GCV has set deadlines for decisions, and we will follow their direction and guidance. Look for updates as we navigate a new way for hosting HGW.

Susan Laser

Horticulture Tip

Now that summer veggies are on their way out, time to replant the garden with a new fall crop. Pull out stragglers, remove weeds, and feed the garden with some matured compost. After working in the compost, consider planting some fall vegetables, including leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, collards, kale and mustard. 

Radishes, turnips, beets and carrots can all be started from seeds in August. Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts can be transplanted in August and still have enough time to produce a good harvest. When selecting plants for transplanting at the local gardening center, be sure you are selecting edible (not ornamental) varieties of cabbage and kale. Click here for a helpful guide from the Virginia Cooperative Extension for suggestions for perennials, annuals, and bulbs.

Enjoy,
Joie and Dana

Bulletin Plant Exchange Photo Album

Fondly remember exchanging plants at annual meetings, zone meetings, and the Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference? Where are those plants now? The Bulletin invites you to submit photos and tales of the perennials, shrubs, trees, or vines that came home with you and now grace your garden. Seeds, seedlings, and gift plants included. You may even discover where your Px plants ended up! Deadline September 1, 2020. Click here to submit your photos.

The First Virtual Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference

The Garden Club of AmericaThis is the year to enjoy the GCA’s Shirley Meneice Conference from your own home! Mark your calendars now for this incredible event.

Dates: September 22-23, 2020
Times: 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, both days
Cost: Free
Who is invited: All 18,000 members of GCA clubs
Registration: GCA invitation/registration will be sent out in early August. Please register!
How to attend: This conference will be held on Zoom. Brush up on Zoom Basics here. You do not need a Zoom account. This link will explain how to join a Zoom meeting.
Content: Keynote speakers, Extraordinary Horticulturists, Garden Tours, Workshops, Virtual Seed Share, and Zone Horticulture Showcases
More Information: Go to the GCA Horticulture Webpage.
Can’t Make It Live? The conference will be recorded and placed on the GCA’s dedicated webpage for SMHC 2020
You will love this conference!

GCA National Affairs and Legislation Advocacy Works!

Great news for our National Parks!

On July 22nd, in a 310-107 bipartisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which ensures that our national parks, refuges, and forests are properly funded and America’s treasured lands are protected. The bill passed the Senate in June with a sweeping 73-25 bipartisan vote. It now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.