Are you tired of the snow? Today the sun is shining but the temperature will only reach the mid

teens. Winter is certainly here. It is great to get our mind off of the weather and start planning

for the WVGC Convention.

Our Fall Board Meeting was enjoyable. We took care of the necessary business items, plus had

time for a delightful Civil War style show. WVGCI responded with a $500 donation to Gilbert,

WV’s May 2009 flash flood that left the town full of mud. Thanks to the District and club that

donationed funds, allowing Honeysuckle Garden Club to re-landscape the school; plant 600

daffodil bulbs throughout town; plus, redo flower boxes at the three entrances to the town.

Trees have been planted at the school, but more will be done in the spring.

It was great to hear many clubs report increased membership at the district meetings and proj-

ects reported on were impressive. Thanks to everyone for a great job. By the way, thank you for

the response to the ways and means jewelry and wine bottle cheese trays. If you missed them

at your District Meeting, you will find them at the convention. Don’t forget we also have copies

of “A Taste of Almost Heaven” cookbook.

Here are a few highlights from the NGC Fall Board meeting in St. Louis:

NGC can be found on Twitter and Facebook • International Flower Arrangers 10th World

Flower Show June 15-19, 2011 in Boston • NGC will offer thirty-four $3,500 scholarships

during the 2010-2011 club year • Gardening Study School is available on line. • A new

youth sculpture contest was announced. Each sculpture will be made from recyclable, reused

or reduced materials. • NGC will sponsor a tour of Mexico City and Acapulco March, 2010

• The 2010 National Garden Club Convention will be in Atlanta, May 14-16 • Don't for-

get national projects: Golden Daffodil, Plant it Pink and Beautify Blight • And a Day Lily

will be named for the state with the greatest percentage increase in membership.

On December 1, 2009 the Ohio-Guyan District Director, Cheryl Hodge, traveled with my

husband and me to Williamson to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wildwood

Garden Club. What a wonderful experience.

Now that it is 2010, WVGC has much to accomplish. The awards have all been judged and

the awards committee is working on getting them off to SAR and National. Please come to the

convention Capitol River Magic March 25-27, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston

to see if your club was one of the winners. This issue will have the registration forms, so plan

early to attend. Be sure to note that the convention this year is on a Thursday-Friday-Saturday.

Former WVGC president, Sandy Walter, will present the design program on Friday evening.

Our own Carolyn Patterson, South Atlantic Regional Director, will be with us. A “Good Soil”

workshop, learn about controlling and living with the deer population, as well as many more

learning experiences. Remember to park your car yourself, if you allow the hotel to park it you

will pay much more.

We hope to see each club represented at this convention. We have two clubs to welcome to

WVGCI, lets make them real welcome. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way.

June B. Ashworth, President

Page 3

Board Approves Recommendations

at Fall Meeting:

1. To raise District Director’s Allotment fee to $100 per year beginning with the

2010-2011 budget year.

2. That $1,000 per year be budgeted as a restricted fund for the 2015 National

Garden Club Convention beginning with the 2010-2011 budget.

3. That two life membership scholarships be given in 2010-2011 in the amount of

$2,500 each.

4. That $500 be budgeted as a restricted fund for the SAR 2012 Convention.

5. That the Ways and Means project of cheese boards made from wine bottles be

sold for $20 per board.

6. That the By-Laws be changed as follows: Now reads - Article XII Districts -

Section 1 - In order to facilitate the work of the WVGC, the state be divided

into nine districts as follows. Nine Districts listed.

Changed to Read: Article XII Districts - Section 1 - In order to facilitate

the work of the WVGCI, the state shall be divided into districts. All clubs

and their members must belong to a district to be a member of WVGCI.

The districts are as follows (districts listed).

7. That $500 from the World Gardening/Natural Disaster Fund be given to Ohio-

Guyan District to be used to help the Honeysuckle Garden Club in Gilbert, WV

with their flood recovery projects.

8. That Landscape Design School Dates of May 19-21, 2010 be approved.

Page 4

Wyoming Wins Membership Contest

National’s membership contest was won by the state of Wyoming. The prize - The

“Wyoming Wildfire” canna grown by American Daylily & Perennial Company. It has

red/orange blooms with dark purple/black foliage and grows to a height of 3¹⁄2 feet.

Bulbs can be ordered – Cost $14 (includes shipping and handling) from:

American Daylily & Perennials, P. O. Box 210

Grain Valley, MO 64029 Phone: 800-770-2777

Page 10

All designated delegates and alternates, including WVGC officers and members

of Board of Directors, must complete this form and include it with your reg-

istration (or mail in prior to convention). Eligibility shall be in accordance

with WVGC Bylaws Handbook page 7, Section 4, Voting. Each club shall be

entitled to one vote which shall be registered by the club president or her alternate.

In addition, those entitled to cast electoral votes at the annual meeting shall be

members of the Board of Directors of the WVGC.

Name: ______________________________________________________

District: ____________________Club: ____________________________

______WVGC Officer ______WVGC Board of Directors

______Club President ______Alternate Club Delegate

Mail to Gaytha Jones, 1538 Mount Vernon Road, Charleston, WV 25314

Convention Memorial Service Information

Name of deceased: ____________________________________________

Date of death: ________________________________________________

District: ____________________Club: ____________________________

Any special information including years in club, committees, offices held, etc:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Person submitting information: __________________________________

Phone number: ______________________________________________

Submit by March 1 and mail to

Barbara Anderson

6723 DuPont Rd., Washington, WV 26181

Page 11

Linda Wichman-Hager, Judges Credentials Chairman

Expiration Date

Master Judges

Baker, Norma, 22 Willow Lane, Wheeling 26003 12/31/11

Beheler, Clarice, Box 97, Gilbert, 25621 12/31/11

Brown, Phyllis, 686 4-H Lake Road, Daniels, 25831 12/31/11

Diamond, Mary Ann, 306 Park Street, Bridgeport 26330 12/31/11

Hager, Linda Wichman, Little Lick Farm, Barboursville, 25504 12/31/12

Hamilton, Eileen, 2610 Hollister Drive, Charleston, 25302 12/31/12

Hollandsworth, Marjorie, 1535 Ritter Blvd., Huntington 25701 12/31/11

Hudson, Patty, 1101 Heatherwood Road, Bluefield 24701 12/31/11

Koonce, Mrs. Stafford, P.O. Box 244, Summit Point, WV 25446 12/31/10

Kozakewich, Cynthia B. 515 Stanley Ave., Clarksburg 26301 12/31/11

Lundblad, Jane 211 N. Hills, Parkersburg, 26101 12/31/11

Newell, Darlene, P.O. Box 130, Lochgelly, 25866 12/31/11

Paisley, Mrs. Kenneth, 101 Jarvis Street, Charleston, 25302 12/31/11

Reynolds, Mrs. Guy, 205 Ferndale Dr., Charleston, 25302 12/31/11

Sampson, Ann 1301 Lebanon Street, Bluefield 24701 12/31/11

Shriver, Jerry, 413 Woodlawn Ave., Beckley 25801 12/31/11

Snyder, Mrs. B.E., Rt. 3 Box 269C, Philippi 26416 12/31/11

Stacy, Phyllis, 695 Hollywood St., Gilbert 25621 12/31/11

Thomas, Leah, 635 Lundale Drive, Oak Hill 25901 12/31/11

Trochlil, Rose, 1324 Ramsever Lane, Winchester, VA 22601 12/31/12

Karr, Polly, 1098 Valley View Ave., Wheeling 26003 Jenkins, Jane, Crawford Farms, P.O. Box 68, Swoope, VA 24479 Lumsden, Sandra, Wheeling Garden Center, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV 26003 Southall, Eve, 745 Speed Road, Spencer, 25276 Judges Emeritus Allsion, Jean, c/o Holly Boring, 6665 Kimesville Road, Liberty, NC 27298 12

Judges Council Create Scholarship

WV Flower Show Judges Council is offering a new scholarship for those studying to

become flower show judges! Students who have already successfully completed two

schools can apply for the scholarship which will pay for registration. Eligible students

are encouraged to submit the application at least one month in advance of the date

of the qualifying school they plan to attend.

Flower Show School Scholarship Application

Complete and send to:

Jerry Shriver, Flower Show Schools Chairman

413 Woodlawn Ave., Beckley, WV 25801

Submit at least one month prior to date of school for which you are applying.

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________Phone: ____________________

City: __________________ Zip: ____________ E-mail:________________________

Club: ______________________________ District: ______________________________

List two school you have attended and passed (Course #, Date, Location)

1) ______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2) ______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Which school are you planning to attend? (Course #, Date, WV Location)

________________________________________________________________________

Rules:

1. Applicant must be a member of West Virginia Garden Club, Inc. who is study-

ing to become a flower show judge.

2. Applicant must have successfully completed any two prior flower show schools.

3. Only schools sponsored by West Virginia Garden Club, Inc. are eligible for

scholarship.

4. Scholarship shall be equal to the registration fee for the school, and shall be paid

directly to the school registrar on behalf of an approved applicant.

5. WV Flower Show Judges Council shall have complete discretion in awarding

scholarships.

Page 14

Blue Star Marker at WVU

On Memorial Day, May 25, 2009, Brenda Moore, 1st Vice President WVGC, dedi-

cated a Blue Star Memorial Marker on the WVU campus in memory of her father,

Gerald O. Stephens. Mr. Stephens attended WVU on the G.I. bill and loved his state

and school. The marker is next to the path in front of the Creative Arts Center on

Monongahela Blvd. Funding was provied through the Eleanor Cain memorial fund.

Susie Hart, WVGC Blue Star chair, spoke of the history of the Blue Star markers in

West Virginia, and stated that this marker is the 65th placed in our state. The

Westover VFW performed Taps and a 21-gun salute. Family, friends and club mem-

bers enjoyed the celebration.

WVGC Life Membership Scholarship

Deadline Near

The deadline for Juniors, Seniors and Graduate students from WV (attending any

college) to apply for the $2500 Life Membership scholarship is March 1. The student

must be majoring in Horticulture, Floriculture, Landscape Design, Botany, Biology,

Forestry, Agronomy, Conservation, Plant Pathology, Environmental Concerns, City

Planning, Land Management and/or other allied subjects. Approval must be granted

by the Scholarship Committee for consideration of any field of study not listed on

page 2 of the NGC Scholarship Application. The WV recipient is then eligible for

one of 35 scholarships of $3500 awarded by the National Garden Clubs, Inc (NGC).

For more information, contact WVGC Scholarships Chair, Claire Alexander, PO Box

911, Bluefield, WV 24701, 304-409-4661, c-jalexander@comcast.net.

Page 15

Use Air Layering to Propagate

Too Tall Houseplants

Rejuvenate leggy, overgrown houseplants by air layering. This is a technique that

encourages roots to form on aboveground stems wrapped in spaghum moss. The

technique works well for tall houseplants such as:

schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)

croton (Codiaeum varigatum)

dracaenas (Cordyline ssp),

dumb cane (Diefffenbachia spp.)

fatsias (Fatsia spp)

rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and other Ficus species

Swiss-cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Choose a healthy, vigorous stem for air-layering and then follow this technique:

1. Using a razor blade or small, sharp knife, make a shallow, 2-inch-long slit in the

stem anywhere from 6 to 18 inches behind the growing tip.

2. Sprinkle some rooting hormone on the cut, insert a wooden matchstick to keep the

cut open, and then wrap with damp, long-fibered (unmilled) sphagum moss.

3. Cover the moss with clear plastic, and secure the bundle at its top and bottom with

masking tape.

4. When you see roots poking through the moss, cut off the new plant just below the

new roots and remove the tape and plastic. Soak the root ball of the new plant for

about three to four hours and pot it up.

Probably buds below the cut off top will be forced to break and you will have gained

a plant.

Phyllis Brown, Horticulture Chairman

Golden Days

How Many Daffodils Did

Your Club Plant

Club presidents – e-mail President June

Ashworth (jj.ashworth@verizon.net)

with the total number of daffodil bulbs

planted. National President Renee

Blaschke is requesting this information.

Page 16