Our next program is Tuesday, September 19
Speaker: John Forti
Program Title: ‘Heirloom Gardening with Traditional Plants and Skills’
Social Time and Refreshments begin @ 12:30pm
Garden Club Meeting and Speaker's Program begin @ 1:00pm
Location: The Old Mill, West Tisbury
Speaker: John Forti
Program Title: ‘Heirloom Gardening with Traditional Plants and Skills’
Social Time and Refreshments begin @ 12:30pm
Garden Club Meeting and Speaker's Program begin @ 1:00pm
Location: The Old Mill, West Tisbury
'Heirloom Gardening with Traditional Plants and Skills' is John’s newest presentation. This PowerPoint program shares inspiration from our long history of heirloom preservation, garden craft and homestead lifeways. Artisanal lifestyles that are helping us
to rebuild vibrant local agricultural economies and celebrate sustainable cottage industries that
are contributing to our new, homegrown American arts & crafts movement and backyard environmentalism.
This program allows for a look at how you can make a difference in your own backyard and community.
The presentation draws from his book of traditional plants and skills for the modern world.
John hopes that attendees will find a renewed sense of connection to a sense of place and purpose as a gardener.
BIO: John Forti is an award-winning heirloom specialist, garden historian, ethnobotanist, garden writer, and local foods advocate. He is executive director of Bedrock Gardens, an artist-inspired public sculpture garden and landscape in Lee, New Hampshire, and the recipient of a national 2020 Award of Excellence from National Garden Clubs. John was formerly the Director of Horticulture for Plimoth Plantation and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and is involved with Slow Food USA, the national chapter of Slow Food, a global organization and international grassroots movement connecting food producers and consumers to champion local agriculture, farmers markets, and traditional, regional cuisine.
FREE to MVGC Members / Open to non-members @ $20.00 pp
West Tisbury members and VP to provide snacks & refreshments
*** Garden Club members...don't forget to participate in Nancy Cabot's floral design foraging challenge,
with the theme, 'Summer's Over'!
Bring an arrangement you have created, using ONLY foraged materials from your garden
or from the side of the road to display at the meeting and do take the theme into account.
The arrangement that receives the most stars (from other GC members!), will win a prize, supplied by Nancy!
to rebuild vibrant local agricultural economies and celebrate sustainable cottage industries that
are contributing to our new, homegrown American arts & crafts movement and backyard environmentalism.
This program allows for a look at how you can make a difference in your own backyard and community.
The presentation draws from his book of traditional plants and skills for the modern world.
John hopes that attendees will find a renewed sense of connection to a sense of place and purpose as a gardener.
BIO: John Forti is an award-winning heirloom specialist, garden historian, ethnobotanist, garden writer, and local foods advocate. He is executive director of Bedrock Gardens, an artist-inspired public sculpture garden and landscape in Lee, New Hampshire, and the recipient of a national 2020 Award of Excellence from National Garden Clubs. John was formerly the Director of Horticulture for Plimoth Plantation and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and is involved with Slow Food USA, the national chapter of Slow Food, a global organization and international grassroots movement connecting food producers and consumers to champion local agriculture, farmers markets, and traditional, regional cuisine.
FREE to MVGC Members / Open to non-members @ $20.00 pp
West Tisbury members and VP to provide snacks & refreshments
*** Garden Club members...don't forget to participate in Nancy Cabot's floral design foraging challenge,
with the theme, 'Summer's Over'!
Bring an arrangement you have created, using ONLY foraged materials from your garden
or from the side of the road to display at the meeting and do take the theme into account.
The arrangement that receives the most stars (from other GC members!), will win a prize, supplied by Nancy!
What an amazing August the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club had!
![]() To see the entire 'BLUE RIBBON' display and some fun pics from the Ag Fair the MV Garden Club created, click here! |
![]() To see some photos of the gardens on the Edgartown Stroll and read a bit about our event, click here! |
Some noteworthy information from Native Plant Trust!

Native Plant Trust (NativePlantTrust.org), the oldest plant conservation organization in the United States and the only one devoted solely to New England's native plants is hosting three events at the Polly Hill Arboretum this fall. Below is the information for those who are interested in attending!
1) On Saturday, September 30, 1-3:30 PM, Site Preparation for Landscape Transformation, an all-encompassing primer about how to prep a yard or field for conversion into a meadow or pollinator garden.
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/site-preparation-landscape-transformation/
2) Follow up the next day, October 1, 1-4 PM with Meadows 1-2-3, to learn how native plant meadow-making differs from other forms of horticulture and how and what to plant for the first three years.
www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/meadows-1-2-3/
3) On Saturday, October 7, 10 AM- noon, join Polly Hill's executive director Tim Boland for The American Oaks: Diversity, Ecology, and Identification—a lecture and tour of the PHA herbarium and living collections to understand the diversity of oaks throughout New England and North America. Time will also share his work saving oaks from extinction around the world.
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/american-oaks-diversity-ecology-and-identification/
1) On Saturday, September 30, 1-3:30 PM, Site Preparation for Landscape Transformation, an all-encompassing primer about how to prep a yard or field for conversion into a meadow or pollinator garden.
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/site-preparation-landscape-transformation/
2) Follow up the next day, October 1, 1-4 PM with Meadows 1-2-3, to learn how native plant meadow-making differs from other forms of horticulture and how and what to plant for the first three years.
www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/meadows-1-2-3/
3) On Saturday, October 7, 10 AM- noon, join Polly Hill's executive director Tim Boland for The American Oaks: Diversity, Ecology, and Identification—a lecture and tour of the PHA herbarium and living collections to understand the diversity of oaks throughout New England and North America. Time will also share his work saving oaks from extinction around the world.
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/american-oaks-diversity-ecology-and-identification/

Need Spring bulbs to plant in your garden this Fall?
Well, you've come to the right place!
DO buy your bulbs through Bloomin' Bucks at Brent and Becky's. The MV Garden Club will receive 25% of every order placed when you use the link below and the drop down menu choosing 'Martha's Vineyard Garden Club'. It's not too late to place an order which will be sent in the fall at the proper time for our zone. If you need delivery before heading south for the winter you can call with a special request or make a notation in the comments section which they should be able to accommodate.
Visit www.bloominbucks.com, and select our Club's registered name
(which is Martha's Vineyard Garden Club, Inc.) to begin your shopping.
Well, you've come to the right place!
DO buy your bulbs through Bloomin' Bucks at Brent and Becky's. The MV Garden Club will receive 25% of every order placed when you use the link below and the drop down menu choosing 'Martha's Vineyard Garden Club'. It's not too late to place an order which will be sent in the fall at the proper time for our zone. If you need delivery before heading south for the winter you can call with a special request or make a notation in the comments section which they should be able to accommodate.
Visit www.bloominbucks.com, and select our Club's registered name
(which is Martha's Vineyard Garden Club, Inc.) to begin your shopping.

Huge Congratulations to Samuel Gurney,
our 2023 Scholarship winner...
and to the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, class of 2023!
To learn a bit about our Scholarship recipient, and the
Club's Charitable Initiatives, visit this page via our website.
our 2023 Scholarship winner...
and to the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, class of 2023!
To learn a bit about our Scholarship recipient, and the
Club's Charitable Initiatives, visit this page via our website.

Blooming Art, 2023 @ The Old Mill is behind us... and thanks to all who contributed!
CLICK HERE to see a photo gallery of the Blooming Art Show, 2023
CLICK HERE to see our members with their floral designs and some more pics from BA, 2023!
Click here for a Facebook video of Blooming Art 2023!
CLICK HERE to see a photo gallery of the Blooming Art Show, 2023
CLICK HERE to see our members with their floral designs and some more pics from BA, 2023!
Click here for a Facebook video of Blooming Art 2023!

Our Dear Judy...You are sorely missed!
It is with great sadness that we let our members know about the passing of dear, beloved and past MVGC President, mentor and visionary, Judy Bryant. To say we were shocked and extremely saddened puts it mildly since the last time we were all together at our October member meeting she was 'the same Judy’, all smiles, sharing good advice and full of positive exuberance for the next chapter of her life to come with her daughter in Pennsylvania. There is not a lot to say at this point from the MVGC perspective, other than to let you know that we plan that the 2023 MV Scholarship will be given in her memory. In addition, we feel that the 'Greenhouse' should somehow reflect her devotion, love and dedication to this integral part of the MV Garden Club, but there is more info to come as we figure this out and how we should proceed. We extend our deepest sympathies to Judy’s sister, GC Member, Nancy Cabot and to the rest of Judy’s family. Our hearts are with you and we send love to you all at this difficult time. Judy’s obituary is here.
Our Love & Thanks to You Always, dear Judy. You are and always will be an inspiration to those of us
who were privileged to know you.
It is with great sadness that we let our members know about the passing of dear, beloved and past MVGC President, mentor and visionary, Judy Bryant. To say we were shocked and extremely saddened puts it mildly since the last time we were all together at our October member meeting she was 'the same Judy’, all smiles, sharing good advice and full of positive exuberance for the next chapter of her life to come with her daughter in Pennsylvania. There is not a lot to say at this point from the MVGC perspective, other than to let you know that we plan that the 2023 MV Scholarship will be given in her memory. In addition, we feel that the 'Greenhouse' should somehow reflect her devotion, love and dedication to this integral part of the MV Garden Club, but there is more info to come as we figure this out and how we should proceed. We extend our deepest sympathies to Judy’s sister, GC Member, Nancy Cabot and to the rest of Judy’s family. Our hearts are with you and we send love to you all at this difficult time. Judy’s obituary is here.
Our Love & Thanks to You Always, dear Judy. You are and always will be an inspiration to those of us
who were privileged to know you.
If members have any news or announcements to share on the website, please email the Garden Club at: news@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org
MARTHA'S VINEYARD GARDEN CLUB
The Martha's Vineyard Garden Club, established in 1924, is an island-wide community organization of almost two hundred members (including many seasonal residents), who share a passion for gardening, conservation, and maintaining our unique environment. Our monthly meetings are both educational and social; our programs are varied and designed to meet personal and community needs. We value Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and everyone is welcome to be a member or guest of our club.