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Emma Scott Garden Club seeks members

Submitted photos Emma Scott Garden Club members gather once a month to share gardening knowledge and plan community service activities. Each July, members take a field trip to regional gardens or share in the joy of their own gardens. Here members gather at the home of club President Patricia Mayes. The 2017 annual tour, entitled ‘Tour of the Hills and Hollers of Beverly,’ included a walk through the horticultural works of art of Mayes, Vice President Barbara Heasley and local resident Kate Goodrich-Arling.

ELKINS — Any avid gardener knows that winter is just the beginning of spring and the work of an inspired gardener is a year-round obsession.

Once the clock falls back, the days shorten and nights lengthen, most gardeners have “put to bed” their gardens — the vegetable gardens tilled, perennials cut and cleaned, annual beds cleaned and prepared.

For gardeners who enjoy volunteer service within their community and learning more about horticulture and agriculture, a local garden club offers an extra opportunity to learn horticultural techniques, provide garden-related service projects and fellowship among fellow gardeners all year long.

The Emma Scott Garden Club, organized in 1949 by 11 women of Elkins, was rooted in community service and the presentation of flower shows. Originally named the Randolph County Garden Club, the club was renamed in 1974 for its second president, a 30-year member and member of the West Virginia Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The club continues to be active within the community of Elkins and surrounding area. Beautification projects include the welcome sign on U.S. 219, Elkins City Hall parking lot raised bed, the downtown Elkins planter boxes and the Elkins gateway sign.

An avid gardener’s work is never done. Winter is planning time. Pictured is Emma Scott Garden Club Vice President Barbara Heasley in her summertime garden in downtown Beverly during the annual garden tour.

Education projects include the “Saving Seeds” book with its curriculum in the local school system and the Mountain Schools youth projects. Under the guidance of member Bobbi Trimboli, the Emma Scott Garden Club helps develop and coordinate a garden-related project each month for the students at the Mountain Schools.

“The Mountain Schools project is an ambitious undertaking for our club,” said Patricia Mayes, president, at the recent November meeting. “Bobbi Trimboli has done an excellent job the past two years with this project.”

The 52-member club also maintains three Blue Star By-Way Memorials in the county, provides scholarships for the West Virginia Conservation Camp and floral wreaths for the Elkins-Randolph County Library.

Local residents are always thrilled to receive the Yard of the Month award, a project the club has spearheaded for many years.

Monthly club meetings range from social lunches with guest speakers to on-site learning locations within the regional area. Club members are encouraged to share their experiences, as was the case this week during the club’s November gathering.

“Club member Bonnie Branciaroli presented a slide presentation of her recent European trip to Spain and Portugal,” explained program committee chair, Barbara Heasley. “It was one of many programs our members share with other club members.”

Future member programs include West Virginia Make It Shine by Melodee Price in March, and the West Virginia Heritage Program and Heritage Plants in April by Katie McClane.

Other months host guest speakers at various locations. On Jan. 20 at noon Doug Starcher, designer at Tammy’s Floral, will create a European garden at the 1863 Grill & Restaurant. In June Craig Stihler, wildlife biologist from the Department of Natural Resources, will talk about “The Mysterious Orchid,” and in August there will be a presentation on the role, “The Lovable Lichen,” plays in the ecosystem.

An annual club highlight is the July field trip. Each year this tour covers a different location and can involve any type of garden from immaculate, carefully designed, to heritage gardens, to native, “let them be natural” gardens, as well as vegetable and fruit gardens.

This past July members toured three gardens in the Beverly area. The “Tour of the Hills and Hollers of Beverly” included the beautifully designed, artful gardens of member Barbara Heasley in downtown Beverly, the mature, natural gardens of Kate Goodrich-Arling near Kings Run Road and the new landscaping surrounding a very old log cabin owned by club members Patricia Mayes and David Cutlip.

The original 1860s cabin found its way from Webster Springs to Files Creek and was resurrected by the DIY Network’s show cast, Barnwood Builders in 2012.

Mayes started her gardens in 2014 and is the first to admit, “I have an old house and young gardens.”

The 2018 July tour, “Find your Thrill … It’s Blueberries!” includes a trip to Floral Acres, south of Buckhannon, to learn about blueberry varieties, how they are grown and harvested.

If there’s one thing gardeners love to do, it’s sharing plants. Put May 19 on the 2018 calendar of events as a reminder to attend the club’s main fundraiser, “Food, Floral & Fun V.”

Shopping for plants nurtured by “garden gurus” is fun, and the place to be on that Saturday is the basement of Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins. The Emma Scott Garden Club’s annual fundraiser offers a generous portion of perennials divided from local gardens, as well as vegetable plants, garden items, taste treats and a variety of goods at very affordable rates – all for a good cause.

With the holidays just around the corner, the December gathering is a time to rejoice, be with friends and give blessings for community.

Members congregate at the home of B. J. McKenzie to recap the year and contribute to community. This December the club will donate to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, offering safety items that help foster families meet state of West Virginia guidelines to become eligible for or retain qualifications to meet requirements to foster children.

Contact B. J. McKenzie at 304-614-3079 for the Emma Scott Garden Club membership information.

Residents of Buckhannon, Rock Cave, Parsons and other communities may contact the Tygart Valley District of the West Virginia Garden Club (www.wvgardenclub.com/) to find the nearest club.

The Emma Scott Garden Club is a member of the West Virginia Garden Club and the National Garden Clubs Inc.

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