Happenings

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 

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/

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.

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/

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.  

Isabel Graves - HVGC Member's Power Point Presentation on Herbariums,  November, 12, 2024.

Isabel's childhood and love for gardens was influenced by the wildflowers that grew along the roadsides in her neighborhood.  Many of those wildflowers are no longer growing there.   Isabel's presentation on the history, preparation, and storage of Herbariums reflects her lifelong love for creating Herbariums for many uses both historical and for fun.

Lesley Mack - HVGC Member's Power Point Presentation and Workshop on
                                Kokedama, Moss Balls.  February, 4, 2025.

Lesley's presentation included a power point on the history and evolution of Pen-Sai, Bonsai, Kokedama, and other Companion plants.   Lesley also discussed the materials and steps needed to create a Kokedama.  After the power point presentation, HVGC members created their own Kokedama to take home.

Will Daniels - HVGC Member's Power Point Presentation and Workshop on
                              Ikebana with Dried Flowers.   March, 4, 2025

Will's presentation discussed the history of Ikebana and how it has transcended into today's version; and how the freest style of ikebana arose in the 1920’s. It is often interpreted as a “you do you” style, highlighting the designer’s feelings about the elements in the arrangement more than the flowers themselves. At the core of this style of ikebana is still about appreciating nature and highlighting seasonal elements. It still prioritizes negative space and asymmetry.