Horticulture Award of Merit, 2023
The GCV Horticulture Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the GCV 2023 Horticulture Award of Merit and a (partial) description of their many talents.
Jane McClure Booth, The Virginia Beach Garden Club
Jane is known for her beautiful yard, but goes beyond in sharing her knowledge. A true club "horticulture educator" she holds annual special propagation workshops, and has additionally traveled to the Albemarle GC to spread the word. Jane has also conducted potting workshops, "How to Groom and Show Horticulture,'' and a workshop on Botanical Arts. She has orchestrated a Holiday Bulb Sale fundraiser for her club. Among her many accomplishments, she also is involved with judging local and GCV flower shows and is studying to be a Horticulture Judge through GCA. Also a member of GCA, she has served as a GCV Zone VII Horticulture Representative.
Amy Walker, Chatham Garden Club
Amy shares her knowledge and passion of horticulture through her gardening blog, I Go To The Garden. There Amy shares her knowledge and passion as she plants, harvests and preserves produce and flowers. Followers of her blog are engaged through her descriptive entries and her expert photography. Amy encourages the use of native plants and frequently shares seeds, always packaged with identification and planting suggestions, with her happy club members. Her newest experiment is plant-dyeing on fabric. She often leads programs demonstrating creative ways each of us can enjoy arranging our garden bounty.
Kathy Watson, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton
Renowned for her knowledge and love of roses, Kathy has over time cultivated a garden of over 50 rose bushes, inspiring others in her club and across the state to start their own rose gardens. She is current Chair of the GCV Rose Committee, part of the Horticulture Committee. Her unparalleled knowledge of roses and their care, she has won many awards for her roses at GCV shows, recently winning the Hundley Cup for the most Blue Ribbons for Roses and The Broyhill Memorial Trophy for Best Hybrid Tea Rose at the 2022 GCV Symposium. Kathy has co-chaired her club's annual Plant Sale for over six years, and for Richmond Collegiate School for many years. Kathy has opened her home and garden to Historic Garden Week and generously hosts Club events including flower and pruning workshops and "Flower Hour," a continuing hands-on educational forum for newer members and potential legacy members.
Sonya Wodicka, Hillside Garden Club
A retired pharmacist, Sonya brings a scientific perspective to her interest in gardening. She makes it a point to know the scientific name of every plant in her garden. Known for her club programs, Sonya has brought in speakers by experts on Daffodils, Trees, Hellebores, Tropicals and more. Best known to her community and the gardening community beyond is her leadership to maintain the Anne Spencer Garden, the nationally recognized garden at the home of renowned Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer. Sonya has dedicated countless personal hours raking, weeding, planting, and pruning the garden, after working alone and occasionally bringing her obliging husband to double the effect. While she works, she pauses to answer questions and share her wealth of scientific knowledge. When Hillside Club recently hosted the GCV Board of Governors meeting in 2021, Sonya served as co-chair of Horticulture Exhibits. Sonya is a self-taught gardener and believes that gardening is a stress-reliever. She and her husband opened their home and garden for HGW in 2017.
