Thursday night we were all dressed up, looking pretty and behaving decorously (OK, except for the occasional bouts of riotous laughter), having a fine time being ladylike.
Saturday morning we were trampling around in the dirt, often on our knees (some of us clutching our backs getting up and down).
Through it all, we were laughing, chatting and having a grand ole’ time. Such is the hallmark of garden club activities.
The Thursday evening event was a fun version of a regular meeting. On Saturday, members of both the Garden Study Club, which is stuck with me as a member, and Martinsville Garden Club planted hundreds of native plants at The Nature Garden down toward the river at the Smith River Sports Complex.
We were guided by Neal Bowman, a horticulturalist who takes care of some significant local landscapes, including at the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Museum (former Henry County courthouse), where I am the executive director, and the Butterfly Station at the Science Center in Danville. He has worked in the gardens at Old Salem. He is very knowledgeable and a specialist in native plants. Becky Farrar of the Martinsville Garden Club and Sally Miller of Garden Study Club are coordinators of the project, which is funded by the prestigious Commonwealth Award by the Garden Club of Virginia.
The Nature Garden covers about 10,000 square feet on an area that before we got to it, was an unsightly spot from a new gravel road down to the river bank, under a powerline that crosses the Smith River, the Paw Path Trail and the beginning of the Dick & Willie walking trail. It goes down to a fine 100-foot-long bridge built by Boy Scout Logan Peters as an Eagle Scout project. Henry County Parks & Recreation did a great job clearing and smoothing the sloped land.
Covering such a large area with native pollinator plants will help stem the decline of pollinators and will help visitors understand that pollination is vital to the community and communities beyond. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about native pollinator plants and wildlife pollinators, and, hopefully, they will be inspired to grow gardens that conserve bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and more.
Indeed, butterflies and bees zoned right onto many of the flowers just minutes after we had planted them, even as we were crouched beside them planting the next plant. What a treat!
Can we take just a moment to ponder how ironic it is that people and organizations have to go through such efforts and expense now to put back what once was everywhere? What a terrible, terrible shame it is that invasive species – creeping Charlie, Japanese stilt grass, honeysuckle, autumn olive, Callery pears and the (inaptly named) tree of heaven, just to name a few, have taken over our lands?
Between about 15 ladies and Neal, it took about 2 ½ hours to get most everything planted. Poor Neal had to come back on his own after lunch to finish up, but he gave us credit – he told me a few times that he was pleasantly surprised we labored away as diligently as we did.
I mean really, Neal, we don’t like messing up our manicures, but that’s what gloves are for. Unless you’re one of the ones who don’t even bother with emery board and nail polish from spring through fall – gardening time!
If you feel you’ve missed out on the fun of being part of that garden, don’t worry – it doesn’t stop with the plants in the ground. In fact, soon we may be knocking on your door as we raise money to install a memorial/honorarium patio in a flat area overlooking The Nature Garden and the Smith River.
Next time you’re aiming for some outdoor adventure, make the start of the Dick & Willie Trail at the Smith River Sports Complex (it’s a little down from the paved walking trails around the pond below the soccer fields) your destination. You will be delighted.
