Dec newsletter 2011 - Gloucester County Virginia

GLOUCESTER MASTER GARDENER’S
JOURNAL
December 2011
Gloucester Master Gardeners
7400 Carriage Court, PO Box 156
Volume 18 Issue 12 (804) 693-1267
Calendar of Events
• December 5– GMG Meeting - 10:00a.m. Abingdon
Church. Annual Holiday Party.
Come at 9:00a.m. to help set up. You are
welcome to participate in a gift exchange
(Maximum value $10)
Please bring food donations for the Church’s
food pantry.
• Saturday February 25, 2012–Third Annual
Master Gardener Day at VSU.
Focus on Food from Field to Table. Topics to
include: Production of Super Food Crops in
VA; School Gardening Programs; Wise Water
Use; Native Plants that attract Alternative Pollinators.
Registration information is inside on
page 5.
Gloucester MG Officers
President: Bonnie Bernard coupdevent@aol.com
Vice-Pres: Wanda Eberle wheberle@wildblue.net
Sec: Gailon Friant
gailon@widowmaker.com
Treasurer: Charles Stubblefield
cstubbl103@cox.net
Member At Large: Kathy Gierlak
kakipa@yahoo.com
EDITOR: Jim Newton
Telephone (804) 684-5457
E-mail: jnewton29@cox.net
Address: 2021 Hammond Court
Hayes, VA 23072
Gloucester Master Gardener Minutes
November 7, 2011
President Bonnie Bernard called the November monthly
meeting to order at the Abingdon Episcopal Parish House at
10:50 am. This followed the program by David Brown and
Thane Harpole, “Archaeological Gardens of Gloucester”.
Attendees: Dru Adkins, Margie Ambrose, Bonnie Bernard,
Bill Blair, Jim Brant, Nancy Choquette, Peggy Cooney,
Lenora Davis, Theresa Denby, Twila Driver, Celeste Dudley,
Betty Durrette, Wanda Eberle, Clarice Ellison, Carolyn
Evans, Joe Fagan, Gailon Friant, Joanne Gallagher, Kathy
Gierlak, Janet Gomez, Magdalene Howell, Nell and Wes
Jones, Sarah Kressaty, Bettsy Lane, Tracy Lanum, Barbara
Lewis, Zack Loesch, Joy Long, Mo Lynch, Nancy Moffitt,
Sally Moore, Beverly Runton-Moorhouse, Joyce Neville,
Debbie and Jim Newton, Sandy Pait, Richard Perez, John
Powell, Jan Price, Noel Priseler, Mary and George Simpson,
Charles Stubblefield, Rose Sullivan, Marguerite Supler,
Henry Thompson, Trudy Vanderhoof, Bill Walker, Elaina
Warren, Frank Watson, Ruth White, Barbara Willard, Kay
Williamson, Clayton Wiltshire, and June Young.
The October Secretary’s minutes were approved as printed.
Charles Stubblefield gave the Treasurer’s Report. He stated
that we have $2, 535.88 in our checking account and
$4,366.46 in our savings account. The report was accepted
as read. Charles requested estimates from committee chairs
as soon as possible so that he can prepare the budget for approval
at the December meeting.
President’s Report: Bonnie Bernard reported that she
would be e-mailing the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
about Woodville to all members with some changes that
were made by the Executive Committee and Parks and Recs.
She then thanked the officers on the Executive Committee
for their support over the past two years. Following this,
Wanda Eberle presented our retiring President with a gift of
appreciation for her work over this same period. Bonnie
asked Jim Newton to pick from the Newsletter “goodie bag”
because as Editor of the Newsletter he was never able to
play in the game since its creation.

Standing Committees:
Horticultural Therapy: In an effort to recruit some
more members to help with Horticultural Therapy at
the Gloucester House and Walter Reed, Bettsy Lane
gave a presentation on some of their responsibilities.
She gave the membership 10 reasons why they should
volunteer to help and 10 special skills needed for this
position. She also brought some of the crafts that had
been made by MGs and patients. Walter Reed has requested
the possibility of adding a couple of more days
to our current schedule as well as a request from Sanders
for our participation there.
Horticultural Help Desk: Jim Newton first thanked
Michelle Farmer who led members in making Quikrete
the big leaf bird baths. He then addressed some concerns
with the Horticultural Help Desk at the Extension
Office. It’s important to take care of identifying bugs,
leaves or whatever samples are left for resolution as
soon as possible. Do not leave them from week to
week. If you are unable to identify the problem, prepare
them to be sent to VA Tech. It will make solving
the concern a lot easier if they are not allowed to decay
further. Bill Blair reminded members that you must
stay for the entire 2:00 to 4:00 shift on Thursday. This
is what is published to the public and it is important
that we meet those expectations.
Woodville: Jim announced that Jim Brant is going to
head the committee for the creation of the woody area
demonstration gardens. There will be a work session
on Wednesday, November 9 at 9:00 am to begin cleaning
the area of unnecessary plants. Then on Saturday,
November 12 at 8:00 am, our members will join other
groups in the community (Boy Scouts, Soccer Clubs,
Rotary Club, “Giving Garden”, etc.) for a “Community
Work Day”. Tree stewards are needed to help plant
some trees that were recently donated to the Parks
folks. Jim suggested that folks bring garden gloves and
heavy shoes.
Mentoring: Kathy Gierlak stated that more members
are needed to mentor incoming new members and she
passed around a signup sheet.
Gateway to Gloucester: Hurricane Thompson is looking
for some artists to assist with the Thanksgiving project
at the Gateway. He is also looking for Christmas.
If you are interested in getting the boxes ready for the
holidays, please meet on Monday, November 21 at 10
am at Noel Priseler’s house.
Gardening in Gloucester Books: Noel Priseler reported
that the books have been printed and are for sale
for $12.50. She and Charles Stubblefield have already
placed them in a number of businesses that were willing
to sell them.
Christmas Party: Kathy Gierlak announced that the
party will be held on December 5 from 10 am to 12 am.
Everyone should bring a brunch type dish. We will be
welcoming our new interns into our program that
morning. If you wish to exchange gifts, bring a
wrapped gift ($10.00 or under) to put under the tree.
Also bring food items to donate to the Abington’s Food
Pantry. She passed around signups for set up and decorating
of tables.
Special Committees:
Election Committee: In October our Vice President
presented a slate of officers for the 2012 year. It is as
follows:
President – Wanda Eberle
Vice President – Kay Williamson
Secretary – Trudy Vanderhoof
Treasurer – Frank Watson
Member at Large – Sally Moore
Members voted unanimously to accept these nominations
to serve for the coming 2012 year.
January Master Gardener Training Class: Bill Blair
reported that there was only one paid person at this
time that has signed on to participate in this class. The
classes will be held at the Gloucester Library. He encouraged
everyone to help recruit more folks and to
give him a call if you have any suggestions. If you are
interested in helping with the class in January give him
a call. He will need help for field trips, grading tests,
etc.
Fall Master Gardener Training Class: Graduation for
the fall class will be on 17 November. An orientation
class will be held at Ann Gentry’s house on November
29. This would be an opportunity for mentors to meet
with their mentees if available. This could also be an
opportunity for folks who chair some of our programs
to recruit folks for their committees.
Bluebird houses from the Audubon Society will be for
sale at the Christmas Party.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:50 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Gailon Friant, Secretary
2

Our Speakers: David Brown and Thane Harpole,
“Archaeological Gardens of Gloucester”
Our new officers, Trudy Vanderhoof, Sec. Sally Moore
Member at Large, Kay Williamson VP and Frank Watson,
Treasurer. Wanda Eberle, President was camera
shy.
Photos courtesy of Zack Loesch
_____________________________________________________________
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
My Final Words
As I begin this last report, I have mixed feelings. To be
truthful I have enjoyed my last two years. It has been
busy, challenging at times, especially this year with a
lot of personal travel. But for the most part while in
this position I have been afforded opportunities as well.
I have had a chance to get to know a lot of members
better and I have learned a lot more about this organization
and its importance to our community. As a result
I have developed immense pride and respect in
what we accomplish year after year and how we continue
to build on the roots of its foundation.
At the November meeting, because our program lasted
3
longer than normal, I did not get to thank and recognize
some folks as properly as I wanted. An organization
cannot run well without its leaders and speaking for the
Executive Committee, we were lucky to have a strong
team supporting us.
We had several excellent Executive Board Meetings
where good ideas and suggestions were incorporated
into our normal routine. We are grateful to the following
members who stood up and chaired the following
events for us over the past two years: Kay Williamson
& Trudy Vanderhoof for Celebrate Families; Hurricane
Thompson for Daffodil Festival & Botetourt; Flo Arnold
and Ros Tharp for Daffodil Tours; Deb Newton,
Bill Blair & Pat Yost for Ready, Set, Grow; Theresa
Denby for the County Fair and the VCE Planters; Betty
Durrette for our Plant Extravaganza; Mo Lynch & Deb
Newton for Guinea Festival; Lance Gardner for the
State Fair; Bill Walker for Winter Gardening Series &
Program Speakers for GMG meetings; Bill Blair, Bill
Walker and John Powell as Master Gardener Training
Class Facilitators; Bettsy Lane and Charles
Stubblefield for Horticultural Therapy; Zack Loesch
for Publicity and Photography; Bev Runton-Moorhouse
for our Website and Bev and Bill Blair for the Virginia
Management System Plan; Noel Priseler for Gateway,
Photo Directory and our “Gardening in Gloucester
Book”; Susan Malcolm for Scholarships; Jim Newton
and Wanda Eberle for Horticultural Help Desk; Sandy
Pait as our Coordinator and for Rosewell; Betty Hegamyer
as Timekeeper; Jim Newton, Mo Lynch & Jim
Brant for Woodville; Celeste Dudley for our weekly
Gazette Journal Gardening Column; Lenora Davis for
Beaverdam; Flo Arnold and Carolyn Evans for Coffee
& Refreshments; Roz Tharp for Long Range Planning;
Marion Baker and Pat Yost as Clothing Coordinators;
Jim Brant and Flo Arnold for Abingdon Episcopal
Church gardens; and Lucinda Carlton, Jo-Ann Gallagher,
Mary Simpson, Jim Newton, Bill Blair, Lance
Gardner, Sandy Pait and Joy Long who offered to
speak to the public on gardening topics throughout the
past two years when requested. If I have forgotten anyone
or anything I apologize. Did I not mention that it
was a busy two years and have I not said that there is
power in numbers more than once? Many of these
leaders also went well beyond the call of duty supporting
many of the other events with their presence and
expertise.
The challenges mentioned above started early with severe
2010 legislative budget cuts to VT and the possibility
of shutting down offices and even our land grant

program. In addition to other routine ongoing events,
in April 2010, we hosted over 50 VMGA unit reps
from around the state at the historic Ware Episcopal
Church. New computer technology and a mandatory
new computer system from VT to document hours
were put in place early this year. Woodville Park was
voted to become an area where we will create new
demonstration gardens – perhaps one of the most ambitious
endeavors we have taken on to date. We are
on our way to seeking a nonprofit 501 Federal Tax
Exemption status and to renew our VA State Tax Exemption.
We amended our By-Laws twice and created
Articles of Organization to meet criteria necessary for
the tax exemptions. We even weathered through a
number of personal medical issues as well. Ordinarily
this might have sent anyone into oblivion but I was
able to keep it together because of five very special
people. Wanda Eberle, Gailon Friant, Charles
Stubblefield, Kathy Gierlak and Debbie Bartok-
Newton, the folks who served on your Executive Committee
for the past two years, were always there with
wise counsel, a positive attitude and some giggles
along the way. I will truly miss our almost monthly
executive committee gatherings but will continue to
enjoy the friendships we developed along the way.
The heart of any organization is the sum of all of its
members. Our past success has been dependent on
everyone’s support and our future will as well. Your
new Executive Committee will be looking for your
continued leadership and support. I am confident that
you will heed the call.
We had three goals at the beginning of 2010,: (1) to
make sure the left hand knew what the right hand was
doing, (2) to not bite off more than we can chew and
(3) to remember to have fun. As I look at what we
accomplished together as an organization I wonder
about #2 but hopefully we met and exceeded the other
two goals. Hope you all have a safe and happy extended
holiday season and I look forward to seeing you
all next year.
Bonnie Bernard
President
____________________________________________________________
From Your Member at Large
Our Christmas/Holiday Party will be from 10:00 AM-
Noon on 5 December. Everyone should bring a
brunch-type dish to share. We will have an optional
gift exchange. If you wish to participate, please bring
a wrapped gift costing $10 or less. Nonperishable food
items (not out of date) for the Abingdon Episcopal
Church food pantry would be greatly appreciated in
the giving spirit of the season for those less fortunate.
As a reminder, generous people signed up to help at
the following times:
9:15 AM - SET UP TABLES AND CHAIRS:
Kathy Gierlak, Sandy Pait, Rose Sullivan, Magdalene
Howell, Mo Lynch, Joe Fagan, Bill Walker, Twila
Driver. Frank Watson, Jim Brant and Carolyn Evans
9:30 AM - DECORATE TABLES/ARRANGE FOOD
AS IT ARRIVES:
Kathy Gierlak, Rose Sullivan, Magdalene Howell, Bettsy
Lane, Barbara Willard, Nell Jones, Jim Brant,
Joyce Neville, Clarice Ellison, Carolyn Evans and the
Newtons.
NOON - CLEAN UP AND RETURN TABLES AND
CHAIRS
Kathy Gierlak, Mo Lynch, Bill Blair, Bill Walker,
Twila Driver, Frank Watson. Jim Brant and Jim Newton
Let's get ready to celebrate the season, our achievements
of the past year and enjoy each other's company!!
Kathy Gierlak
____________________________________________________________
4
Walker Reports
Training class – We had a wonderful graduation and
12 talented people who will be joining our ranks. Onward
to the 2012 class starting in January in the
Gloucester library.
Graduation Day Photo courtesy of John Powell and
Bill Blair.
Web site – we are churning along. George Bains the
head of IT for Gloucester had his last day Friday. We
will see what will pass.
Winter library lectures – these are firmed up and will
be posted at the library and on our web site. The em-

phasis will be native plants and we have some outstanding
films and speakers.
Grasses for the masses – Publicity has gone out and we
will pass out kits and do a presentation at Beaverdam
Park in February. Please spread the word.
December Mtg.– there will be no speaker just fun and
camaraderie among friends to celebrate the holiday season.
_________________________________________________________________________________
From Beverly
VMS
We are looking forward to the Christmas Party, but remember,
social activities do not count as service to the
public and should not be entered into VMS as volunteer
hours. If we have a business meeting at the same time
as the party, you can claim volunteer hours for only the
time spent in the business meeting.
If you have not been trained on the new timekeeping
system or if you would like a refresher or help entering
your hours, please contact Bev Moorhouse, (804 693-
6736 brmoorhouse@cox.net) or Bill Blair
(varanger@cox.net 757 871-8022) and we will be
happy to work with you. Don’t get frustrated, give us a
call!
We will soon be into the new year and we will be pulling
end-of-year reports so try to get your hours in as
soon as possible.
_____________________________________________________________
MASTER GARDENER DAY AT VSU
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25TH 2012 at Ettrick VA,
near Petersburg. Registration opens January 2, 2012,
and is limited to 200. Forms will be available mid-
December at VMGA.net.
_____________________________________________________________
November 2011 Hort Therapy
At Walter Reed Convalescent Center, thoughts turned to
turkeys. The ladies made colorful turkeys out of pine
cones, bright feathers, little pompoms for eyes and noses
finished off with a waddle (or is it gobble?). In the 2 nd
session in November (led by Jane Hedgecock), thoughts
continued to focus on food –artificial but beautiful
fruits and vegetables were arranged in baskets to emulate
a cornucopia look. The 3 rd session (led by Carolyn
Evans) had the residents giving thanks. They made a
folded hand cut out from the shape their own hands and
wrote inside in the hands all for which they are thankful.
The Master Gardeners got more than one mention so we
know they appreciate our sessions. No session occurred
during Thanksgiving week. The 4 th session of the
month had Jane Hedgecock returning to the lead with a
project involving pine cones and RED glitter; the details
have not been released but it will be spectacular.
At Gloucester House, on the 2 nd Monday in November,
the residents decorated small corn stalks with miniature
and even tiny objects placed on the stalks led by Mary
Gornick. During the session on the fourth Monday, the
transition to Christmas began with Ruth White in the
lead. The residents opened their holiday season by making
Christmas cards which they can keep or give to
friends and relatives.
Bettsy Lane
5

Woodville Workdays
Our GMGs had a workday on November 9th and
then joined the Community workday on November
12th.
GMG members who worked those days were: Linda
Blanchard, Bill Blair, Michele Farmer, Tracy
Lanum. Jim Newton, Hurricane Thompson, Frank
Watson and Clayton Wiltshire. Zach Loesch took
photos of the GMGs and others. Most of the work
was clearing the area for our Native Woody Plants,
suggested name— John Clayton Woody Garden.
Additionally, mulch was laid out around the planting
areas to help control weeds and unwanted shrubs.
Both workdays accomplished a great deal. Photos
show the changes that we achieved.
Before
After
A1
A2
B1
Early Saturday GMGs get out power tools and clown
around briefly for the photo.
B2
6

By Afternoon everyone was powered down.
Photos courtesy of Jim Newton
Why did everyone power down-Hard Work
Photos courtesy of Zack Loesch
Other Community groups working that day included:
Bay-Star Parents; Boy Scouts; the Rotary Club from
the Point; Park Partners, Midnight Riders (a children’s
group with parents) a team from the Home
Depot and a team from the Giving Gardens. Home
Depot team with new GHS Horticultural teacher in
the center.
7