Happenings

                                                         at our Monthly Meetings

2023 -2025       PAST SPEAKER PROGRAMS ARE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM, IN GREEN, WITH PHOTOS.

                                                         PHOTOS of the Field Trips are listed under Club Activities,   ''Field Trips'' 

 color key - Speaker Programs,  Field TripsWorkshops

March 7 , 2023 

* Program – "Sex in the World's Largest Garden"   Julie Edmonds

July 6 

* Program - Flower Designer, Elizabeth Miller  (photos and links, below)

* At -Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street

* Arrangement: Challenge -Match the Designer's Arrangement   "Abstract Creative"


August 1 

* Program – “River Keeper” - Frank Filipy, Speaker    (photos and links, below)

     October 3 

* Program – Luray Caverns Museum 

* At – Burner Barn, Luray Caverns 


     November 7 

* Program - "Fungus" -  Bill Bynum, Speaker

* At - Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street


    March 5,  2024 

* Program - The Natural Garden,  Kirsten Sharp   Presentation and Plants

* At - Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street

      April 9 

* Program - "Leaf Printing"-  Marcia Kaetzel

* Workshop - Making Leaf Prints, Bring your flora

* At -Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street

      April 30, 2024, Tuesday

* Field Trip - Thompson's Wildlife Management Preserve

* Speaker/ Guide - Richard Stromberg, Naturalist

* At - Linden, east of Front Royal, Va.



    June 25, 2024, Tuesday  

    * Field Trip - Madlyn Bynum's Daylilies 

    * At -  Sperryville, VA


   September 3 

     *Program - "Size Relations with Miniatures"   Gretchen Mulligan

     * At – Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street

   

     October 2 

     * Workshop - Bag and label bulbs for sale.

* At- Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street

* Refreshments - BYO-Refreshment


   October 12  Bulb Sale at Luray Caverns

   Time and location to be determined


     November 5 

* ProgramHerbarium,  Isabel Graves

* Workshop

* Bring  - Your plants to make your Herbarium



     February 4, 2025      

* Workshop - Kokedama Balls, with Lesley Mack

* At - Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street


      March 4    

* Workshop - Beginners' Ikebana with Dried Flowers, with Will Daniels

* At - Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street




Julie Edmonds, PhD.  - "Sex in the World's Largest Garden" ~ March 7 , 2023 


Technicolor talk on the scientific investigation of how coral polyps reproduce. The images made clear that none of us have seen such a fabulous garden, unless we’ve been able to visit Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  Julie had a prominent role in the addition to our knowledge of coral reef biology. Not long after several researchers discovered that sexual, not asexual, reproduction is how most coral polyps multiply, she became the first researcher in the world to isolate coral polyp DNA. 

Elizabeth Miller's Abstract Creative Design Presentation ~ July 6, 2023

Elizabeth Miller has been a member of the Purcellville Garden Club for 20 years.  She has been a Flower Show Judge for 5 years.  As she works in the medical field in a "high stress" job she finds that working with flowers helps to relieve any anxieties that she has.

Purcellville Garden Club 

Gray textured background might be even better?

Gray background helps.

Black background doesn't show wire.

Showing movement with barbwire.

Another view of an Abstract Creative Design.

Frank Filipy's River Keeper Presentation ~ August 1, 2023

Frank, and his equally dedicated wife, Lisa, live in Luray, VA.   Frank a key participant and coordinator for Shenandoah Riverkeeper’s Trash Free Shenandoah campaign, and has been on the Host Committee and Sponsor for our Annual Gala. 

https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/profile/frank-filipy/

Frank addressing the club and guests at member Linda's beautiful riverfront home.


Frank discussing the algae found in the Shenandoah River.

"Blue algae" found close to the meeting.

Another view of the algae buildup.

Although the Shenandoah River isn't what it used to be...the view is still charming.

Bill Bynum our guest speaker ~  November , 2023

Bill Bynum an amateur mycologist, lives in Rappahannock County now, since 2016.  He first became interested in fungi in 2005 when curiosity about an intriguing mushroom growing in his yard led him to join the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society(CVMS).  Attending the CVMS club’s weekly forays, he began to learn about all sorts of fungi that were collected and discussed by experts.  Bill was CVMS President for several years before moving to Rappahannock.  Bill and his partner Madlyn have enjoyed walks in the Virginia woods and have been surprised and happy to find morels in much greater numbers than ever found in Connecticut.

Bill has presented Introduction to Mycology programs for many public mushroom events, garden clubs, libraries, and Virginia Master Naturalist training classes.

Some of Bill's photographs and the meeting attendees are attached, below.

Annual Holiday Party at Linda's ~ December 20th, 2023

Maureen Wilcox, the Shenandoah District President, also attended.

Photos included.

Maureen addressing the members.

Group photo - 

Katie choosing her "white elephant" gift.  While Tom was admiring his.

Marcia got the annual "ghastly" white elephant.

Maureen had a game for us.

Linda was the winner!

A relaxing and fun party was had by all.

Chantel Pence and Karl Rand from The Natural Garden ~ Natives

The Natural Garden Inc ,  Karl Shank, owner, Harrisonburg, VA 22802

In 30 years of working in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont area, we know what native plants work!  The Natural Garden is an ecological design-build company that offers a wide selection of regionally grown natives that we use to create a living landscape for our clients.   For those who would love to support their local pollinators and other beneficial organisms, we offer habitat packs – a collection of 5-7 different species that are known to play well with each other.  Our nursery supplies high quality trees, shrubs, and perennial herbs to our local retail markets as well as to our landscaping and habitat restoration clients. The Natural Garden believes in creating spaces that will stand the test of time using old world stonework to complement thenative plant gardens and meadows.

Areas we cover include Albemarle, Greene and Nelson County’s and the Shenandoah Valley.                  https://www.thenaturalgarden.net/

Chantel Pence and Karl Rand

Lesley reading Chantel and Karl's Bio as an intro.

Gretchen Mulligan - Master Judge and Designer,  October 2024
Presentation of Petite Designs 3" - 12"  .  Gretchen brought six designs ranging from 3 inches to 12 inches to demonstrate how one should choose their plant materials and containers to fit the space allowed.

Gretchen Mulligan is a Master Judge, which is the highest level in the Nation for Flower Judging.  Gretchen has been a designer for about 30 years.  She learned mostly around the National Capitol Garden Clubs before moving to Luray.  She is a member of the Luray Garden Club and is a founder of the Shenandoah Designer's Guild for Advanced Designers.  

Gretchen setting up her demonstration.

Gretchen explaining the size relationships.

Hill & Valley Garden Club members.

HVGC member's designs being critiqued by Gretchen.

Lots of suggestions and compliments.

Thanks for coming!