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Our Center is a drop off point for the
Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia

We glady accept food and monetary donations on the Bank's behalf!
Please call ahead 441-2513 to schedule your drop off!

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New Arboretum Addition

Volunteer Master Gardeners Don Snipes and Bill Smoot complete the planting of a new Japanese cherry tree in memoriam to Alice Herz and presented by her friends to the foundation. Master Gardener Ed Marroni admires the Knockout roses which stand outside the heirloom vegetable garden he helps tend with the greatest of energy and care.

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SUCCESSFUL FHC FUNDRAISERS!
PANSY SALE & WASHINGTON, DC BUS TOUR

In August (2009), FFHF board members- organized by Treasurer Tom West- began an effort that would become a very successful fundraiser for the center. After contacting a local plant grower of fine plants, those involved agreed to produce and distribute pansies by order through the center. In August, order forms were mailed via the previous newsletter and made available at our website for printing. Nearly 1000 plants were ordered and delivery occurred on October 3rd when purchasers showed up to carry their pansies home to gardens throughout the area. We thank Tom West and the board members for their ongoing efforts which raised nearly $800 for the garden fund. Quite honestly, we were surprised with the response of our members and patrons. Thanks to all who contributed to the success of our First Annual Fall Pansy Sale!

Programs Chair and Board President Bill Smoot organized another FHC "world famous" bus tour - Calling All Arrangers- on October 17th, 2009. The daylong trip from the center to The World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA) USA Excursion Botanicus Show and the US Botanic Garden- including the conservatory, National Garden, and Bartholdi Park- was made-up of participants from Hampton Roads, Williamsburg, and Richmond areas! As with most group tours, extra funds for the center were raised for general use in maintaining the center.


While there, our participants learned that FHC urban gardener lecture speaker and former board member Frances Thrash won the 1st place Niagara Falls Class award in the arrangers' competition. Congratulations Frances!! [ Click image to the left to enlarge! ]

THE NORFOLK JAYCEES DEDICATE A NORFOLK MERMAID
FOR PLACEMENT ON CENTER GROUNDS


For years, The Norfolk Jaycees have met at the FHC each second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Over the years, their use of the center for general meetings has been quite welcomed and important to our foundation's efforts in maintaining strong community relationships. For eighty-five years, the Norfolk Jaycees have been helping the Norfolk Community and working to develop their members into leaders as they develop new skills and experiences. Over the years, they have provided members with many memories to cherish and to develop long-lasting friendships. After eighty-five years, it's time to celebrate!

In celebration, the Norfolk Jaycees held a dedication of the Norfolk Mermaid on Saturday, October 3, 2009. The group took a walk down their "Walkway of Memories" and enjoyed great fellowship among current and past Jaycees. Bob Batcher, Public Relations Manager for the City of Norfolk and host of Norfolk Perspectives, conducted the mermaid dedication. Special guests included former US Jaycees President Lisa Parrish. Sally Simon, FHC Director and Bill Smoot, President of the foundation's board of directors represented us at the event.

The dedication was a tribute to the great efforts by the Jaycees in serving the Norfolk Community. While the mermaid made it to the ceremony, "she" was taken away to have final touches made by its creative artist. We expect to see her return soon; so be looking for the Jaycees' mermaid in the gardens on the south side of the building.

RECENT UPDATES TO THE RULES OF MEMBERSHIP

A clarification from board members (view current list with a click here) was sought at their most recent meeting in October. During the past years, the director and office manager adjusted the membership period to the calendar year January 1st to December 31st in order to better expedite the membership process, making the renewal process less costly and time-consuming. However, board members determined that the annual membership period would run 365 days from the date of joining. Regarding another issue, the board reasserted that the organization no longer maintains lifetime memberships once given as a thank-you to horticultural lectures and workshops. This year, the board adjusted membership rates for seniors from $10 to $15. All other rates remained the same.

Fall Reminders from Fred Heutte's
GARDENING IN THE TEMPERATE ZONE
© 1977

October  Work Schedule Checklist

__ Become aware of your growing season as great differences occur, particularly in the first frost dates, from Williamsburg 
to our north, the lower Eastern Shore to our northeast, to Northeastern North Carolina to our south!
__This is the season to transplant as plant roots will have a much longer undisturbed period until spring growth occurs.  
Be sure to top-prune your transplants.
__When transplanting container grown plants from nurseries, be sure to remove the plant from the container and dip it 
in a bucket of water into which a solution of commercial transplanting mixture has been added.  If any root system looks 
container bound, be sure to loosen it.  Do so by rolling the root ball on the ground with some hand pressure.  Then plant 
the root into the ground.  Before transplanting, make sure the area for the plant has been properly prepared.  Place 
nutrients in the area to help your transplant adjust. 
__Factus: Many gardeners keep plant root systems from spiraling by digging square rather than round holes.

November Work Schedule Checklist

__It's time to complete cutting back perennials (not to include mums and fall asters).  Label plants for spring division.  
__Also, plant your spring bulbs now.  Plant tulips 8 inches deep in Tidewater which is deeper than recommended.  
Add some well-rotted humus or native peat moss and bone meal in the planting hole to expand the root system.  Consider 
casting some annual plant seeds among the bulbs area to create an interesting garden in the spring!
__Place an ample supply of organic materials into the soil.  Use humus, bone meal, organic fertilizers, cottonseed meal, 
bloodmeal, fish emulsions, even stockyard droppings!Reserve chemicals for spring and summer use.
__Mulch transplants to protect them during winter months.
__Incorporate new plants which did not grow in a specific location before.

December Work Schedule Checklist

__As frost has usually taken its toll on plants by this month, December is a time to reflect upon the chores of winter 
and preparation for spring .
__Sharpen shears and pruning tools.
__Cut back about half of the previous year's growth on your roses.  However, the main pruning for roses is saved 
for March.
__Make sure all transplanted shrubs and trees have been well-anchored with stakes and guide wires so that root systems 
can establish themselves.
__Be sure than plants have not been planted too deeply, a condition that more often than not contributes to plant 
casualties.
__Take a break inside and browse through your new catalogs which often arrive around New Year's Day.

[ Vendors, be sure to click the image above for more information! ]

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK