Past Presenters
2024
"Thoughtful Gardening" with Leslie Harris of "Into the Garden Life" podcast
Leslie Harris decided in 2014 to make her avocation into her vocation after years of independent school teaching and coaching. She started a gardening business that concentrated on the maintenance and installation of containers and garden beds with a wonderful crew of horticulturists.
Seven years later, she spun off her crew and began to concentrate on consulting, speaking, and her gardening podcast, Into the Garden with Leslie. Leslie loves to 'garden-splain' and make horticulture more fun and more accessible for others.
Danielle Racke, founder of Explore Nature By Nurture
For 18 years, Danielle has been helping others learn through the application of science and education principles, and the incorporation of outdoor environments into the learning environment.
Danielle has always attributed many of her passions and professional successes to her mandated childhood instructions to
“Go outside and play.”
Now, driven from the classroom into larger systems by her own search for healthy, educational options for her children, she is focused on helping schools and outdoor educational organizations to leverage the mechanisms that make the study of natural phenomena and outdoor education such powerful learning tools. She is passionate that all children should be able to benefit from the knowledge that science has given us about how to live and learn well.
2023
“An All-Virginia Pollinator Plan” by Heidi James, Chair of Bee City USA Working Committee of Lynchburg
Heidi James, chair of Bee City USA Working Committee of Lynchburg, and a leading voice in the Bee City USA movement, highlighted the steps forward, the many benefits, and the commitments needed to abide by those managing our landscape to create a pollinator-friendly environment.
Bee City USA was established in 2012 by the Xerces Society to provide guidance for cities, counties and campuses to promote more conscientious pollinator conservation and sustainable landscape management. Today there are 300 Bee City USA affiliates, including 20 in Virginia.
James was a founding member of Blue Ridge Conservation and served as chairman of the Garden Club of Virginia Horticulture Committee (2020-2022). Working with Blue Ridge Conservation, she was instrumental in helping Lynchburg become a Bee City in 2019.
Debbie Lewis, President of the Garden Club of Virginia
Debbie Lewis presented a beautiful weaving of history and achievements of the Garden Clubs in Lynchburg. She also highlighted how the members of the Garden Club of Virginia have made an impact executing our mission.
2022
“Stump the artist flower arranging” with David Pippin, floral professional
David Pippin's name is well-known in Richmond's horticultural world. A sought-after designer of inspired floral arrangements, a provider of garden-themed hands-on programs for children & adults, and an educator with a wide range of horticultural knowledge and experience, David is indeed a "man for all seasons."
He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. Prior to founding David Pippin, Inc. in 2000, he worked and became known for his knowledge and creative talents in a variety of horticultural and education venues.
David continues to share his love for horticulture and education by giving lectures, leading workshops and creating floral designs for weddings and special events.
He is an adjunct professor in the Horticulture Department at Reynolds Community College where he teaches floral design, Practical Horticulture, and Horticultural Botany. He has been the floral designer for The Executive Mansion of Virginia since 2014. He has been a facilitator and consultant for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom since 2000.
2019
“Preservation of Beautiful Flora” by Anne Blackwell, Artist & Founder of Blackwell Botanicals
Anne Blackwell Thompson of Richmond, Virginia and founder of Blackwell Botanicals graciously travelled to Lynchburg to present “Preservation of Beautiful Flora” and share her unique passion of preserving beautiful flora and the process of creating her one-of-a-kind composition masterpieces.
While recovering from an illness, Anne happened upon a magazine ad for patio furniture. She was mesmerized by the artwork in the background, which spawned the idea for Blackwell Botanicals. She took a leap of faith and travelled to Turin, Italy where she studied as an apprentice to world-renowned botanical artist Stuart Thornton.
Her work is a culmination of her years of study, her significant training in studio art and art history and her love of the natural world. Her artistry is meticulous, sophisticated, and juxtapose tradition with a modern flair. It was a true honor and privilege for our club to learn about this complex form of art and to share in Anne’s love and enthusiasm for gardening and the outdoors!
2017
“Selections from the Country House Library” by Kinsey Marable,
Founder of Kinsey Marable & Co.
Kinsey Marable once an investment banker that subsequently became a curator of private libraries joined us and shared books to collect or perhaps aspire to collect, for our program Selections from the “Country House Library.”
Just a sampling: "The Gardens of Russell Page" by Marina Schinz and Gabrielle van Zuylen, A collection by Beverley Nichols: "A Thatched Roof", "A Village in a Valley", "Merry Hall" and "Down the Garden Path" and of course, "Jefferson" (six volume set) by Dumas Malone.
Kinsey ever charming and knowledgeable had us all laughing and several members were inspired and expanded our own libraries after spending a morning together.
“Windowsill Art” by Nancy Ross Hugo, Author & Speaker
Nancy Ross Hugo lives, gardens, writes and arranges flowers in central Virginia. "Windowsill Art" is her fifth book. Nancy shared her techniques for windowsill arranging at our annual joint meeting with Lynchburg Garden Club. Think forgotten plant material, groupings of similar vases or an unusual container which result in both a simple and joyful arrangement for you to appreciate.
2016
"How to Wow : A Splendid Garden Lecture & Farm-to-table Lunch" fundraiser hosted by Hillside Garden Club featuring Mary Keen (Lady Mary) & her latest book "Paradise and Plenty: A Rothschild Family Garden"
Thank you to the Garden Club of Virginia club members that shared the day with us including: Albemarle, Augusta, Boxwood, Charlottesville, Dolley Madison, Fauquier and Loudoun, Lynchburg, Rivanna and Roanoke Valley.
There were mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces, sisters and our dear friends that joined us in Lynchburg, Virginia for our event at the Academy Center of the Arts. We loved hearing again and again that so many friends enjoyed the day and that they
"did not want it to end."
It was truly a fantastic and memorable day with Mary Keen, generations of families and long-time friends that all share a common passion for gardening.
“Restoring the Ornamental Landscape and the ‘New’ Road” at Poplar Forest by William Rieley, Landscape Architect & Principal of Rieley & Associates
William (Will) Rieley, Landscape Architect and Principal of Rieley and Associates shared how the new planting effort will enhance the current landscape. Visualize sweeps of flowering and large shade trees that will line the road, with a triple row of tulip poplars to greet visitors at the Enterprise Drive entrance. Native plants both ornamental and practical with enhance the roads and other visitor spaces. In addition tree planting will help screen views of the adjacent golf course, keeping our visitors' perspectives firmly in the Jeffersonian era.
After an informative meeting with Will we enjoyed lunch and lingered 'on grounds' at Poplar Forest.
2015
“The English Garden Influences and Design” by Heidi Howcroft, Landscape Architect, Author & Tour Guide
Heidi Howcroft, landscape architect, author and tour guide presented “The English Garden Influences and Design” highlighting her book, "First Ladies of Gardening".
Her book introduced the “grandes dames” of contemporary English garden design and includes the great names of the garden world which have emerged since the 1950s, from Vita Sackville-West and Beth Chatto to Beatrix Havergal. It also presents outstanding women gardeners of the present-day who have likewise had a substantial influence on the development of contemporary garden design.
Heidi and her long-time friend Alexandra Messervy, founder of The English Manner copresented at our annual joint meeting with the Lynchburg Garden Club. Some of our members have been on garden tours led by Heidi and Alexandra in England, so with great pleasure we were able to swap roles and share our lovely private gardens in Virginia.
"The English Manner & Etiquette Connection" by Alexandra Messervy, Founder of The English Manner
Alexandra Messervy FRSA, Founder of The English Manner provided us with an overview of her etiquette and protocol institute and shared her upcoming garden tour with Heidi Howcroft.
The Culture Concierge is led by Alexandra Messervy FRSA, Founder of The English Manner, and Anna Kirkman, who curate and create exclusive luxury tours and leisure experiences for the discerning international traveler. The Culture Concierge (the former tours division of The English Manner) has built a reputation over more than 20 years for the design and curating of bespoke personalized tours and experiences often based on a special theme.