follow the green arrow

277 Pages·2014·25.52 MB·English

FOLLOW THE GREEN ARROW

:Follow the
(;reen drrow
THE HISTORY OF THE GARDEN CLUB
OF VIRGINIA, 1920-1970
MRS. JAMES BLAND MARTIN
Historian/ Editor
THE DIETZ PRESS, INC.
Richmond) Virginia
ONE THOUSAND COPIES OF THIS
FIRST EDITION OF
Follow the Green Arrow
HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND NUMBERED
THIS COPY IS NUMBER .............. .
Copyrighted by The Garden Club of Virginia 1970
DESIGN BY RICHARD STINELY
With affection
this book
is dedicated
to every member
of
THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA
past and present
but especially to her ... and especially to you

FOREWORD
T HE WORDS of our deeds are now committed to paper. The deeds are golden.
The words are unworthy.
From the beginning, back in 1964, it seemed an almost impossible task to
capture on paper the essence and contributions of these charming, sometimes
capricious gentlewomen as they lived and changed the very face of Virginia. Our
founders were of an era and were typical of that era. Feminine to a delightful fault,
they accomplished, they achieved. They preferred to maneuver in gracious fashion.
But they were determined, and when the gentlemen of Virginia treated them and
their ideals with indulgent disdain, the ladies were known to take aggressive action.
They always tried the artful approach first. They resorted to finnness only when it
was the last stratagem. Their heirs and successors have not scorned the same tactics.
Looking back to the attainments of over half a century, it seems the inauguration
of this group, with such a potential for good, would have been greeted with open
arms by Virginia's officialdom and commercial interests. To the contrary. Just as it
has not been all tea and cookies, as our few detractors would believe, it has not
always been a smooth road of uninterrupted success. Legislators called us "those nosy,
meddling women"; billboard advertisers made derisive reference to "the scenic sisters";
utility companies called us "a threat to progress" at the same time automobile grave
yard owners were terming us "a threat to free enterprise." Among the more gentle
comments was that of an amused gentleman who referred to us as "The Senior
League of Virginia, where old Junior Leaguers go to die-but don't."
The first breakthrough to public esteem came in 1929, the beginning of our
restoration program started at Kenmore and continued at Stratford Hall. To finance
this ambitious undertaking, Historic Garden Week became an institution and the
directional green arrows a familiar sight during that last week of each April. So,
grndging inch by grudging inch, the critics gave way. Fruitful year followed fruitful
year, and the whole picture has changed. We are praised editorially; officials ask our
help, heed our counsel, and the commercial interests regard us warily and respectfully.
They now know we serve no selfish interest, and that in all things we have been
motivated only by the desire to bring more ordered beauty to this beloved Common
wealth. The green arrow not only points the way during Historic Garden Week; it
points the way to a green and fertile future - our future.
The author is aware that some readers will think certain incidents overemphasized
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Follow the Green Arrow
and others touched lightly or ignored. This is unquestionably true. When so much
activity is condensed in so few pages, history becomes a Procrustean bed. For example,
an additional volume could easily be written on the specialized subject of the test
gardens, the ninety-six B.ower shows held, and the challenge cup vvinners. Then
there have been thirty-five Massie medalists and four winners of the deLacy Gray
Medal Award. Here is ready copy for another oook. Except for occasional references,
the glory of all these adventures is, regrettably, found only in the Appendixes.
Every attempt has been made to get facts straight within the frail framework of
availability. Too often the source material has been found inaccurate since our records
were made and kept by amateurs, dependable and undependable. Other accounts
were removed from the files and destroyed, or ruthlessly scissored and expurgated by
early members who wanted no hint of discord bequeathed to posterity. (A treasure
trove of such disharmony was recently turned over to the writer, retrieved from the
bureau drawer of a past president who had removed and secreted the documents over
twenty years ago.) Acting in the realm of thoughtful kindness, another lady burned
the voluminous correspondence exchanged between two of the more powerful and
vocal founding members. These letters had to be frank and tart, and the historian
regrets the loss of this insight. On the plus side, many contemporary members have
promptly and satisfactorily responded to the detailed letters; later, brief postcards;
and still later, frantic long distance calls, asking that facts be verified and more in
formation supplied to feed into the maw. At each of several inquiring visits to member
clubs during this last history writing year, mistakes came to light and could be cor
rected. It is unfortunate that lack of time prevented a history correcting session at a
meeting of every club. Even though truth and exactness have been diligently sought,
the lines of errata will please form on the right ... and communicate.
This editor started off shackled to a degree. Some long-time members admonished
her to keep the history dignified and panegyric, to confess no stubbed toes. The
younger members took the opposing view and said, "Interest us. Amuse us, if pos
sible, but tell it the way it was." Neither faction will be completely happy. All his
torians are faced with this Scylla and Charybdis, the choice of being factually dull
or unsuccessfully sprightly. I have trespassed in both camps.
From the last seven months at hard labor has emerged The Martin Maxim:
Nothing can numb the edge of creative instinct, slice the syntax, spoil the spelling,
and pollute the punctuation like the growl of a printing press that wants copy NOW.
Proofreading is agonizing to any writer, and errors seem to compound themselves, by
themselves. Information on one page contradicts infonnation on another. Consistency
is the jewel desired and not achieved. Occasionally the printer will make a mistake and
enliven a tedious day of reading galleys by leaving out one letter and turning a
"bushy tree" into a "busy tree," or by adding one letter to the sentence, "The presi
dent urged the membership," making it read, "The president purged the member
ship." Perhaps other unorthodox statements will crop up in the finished print for
viii
Foreword
your diversion but as we go to press, there is a state of armed accuracy existing be
tween the writer and the printer.
A host of keen minds and helpful hands have contributed, but specific appreciation
must be expressed to:
Hunter Perry and Lillian Perry Edwards vvho started the Historian's Fund, and
Mrs. John Tyssowski who served as Historian at the time of this gift;
Mrs. Benjamin F. Parrott who took charge of advance sales, functioned as treasurer,
and provided photographs of each restoration and award;
Mrs. Leon Dure for other photographs and for perpetual liaison between the Alder
man Library, depository of our records, and the desk at Kittery Point;
Mrs. Roger L. Mann who with patient sleuthing authored the invaluable Ap
pendixes;
Mrs. Webster S. Rhoads, Jr. whose drawings grace the end papers;
Mrs. Frank J. Gilliam, Mrs. Powell Glass, Mrs. Burdette S. Wright, and Mrs.
Stanley N. Brown, who recorded the decades from 1930 to 1960, and whose
immaculate copy I have added to, deleted from, mutilated, and fingered into
conformity until each will probably disown what remains;
Mrs. N. E. Clement whose published decade of 1920-1930 is re-printed. Since she
wrote largely from memory rather than records, her account is accordingly in
disputable and emerges fairly unscathed;
J.
Mrs. Lucius Kellam, President 1968-1970, and to the members of her Board who
recognized the vision, faced the financial crisis, and with money and words of
kind encouragement saw this history to print;
The historians of the forty-four member clubs, those unsung heroines who made
the priceless gift. Through their perceptive eyes and ·words, we are given an
illuminating serial - from the rural quietness of the early part of the century in
a Virginia without telephones, electricity, paved roads, and automobiles to the
1970 fight for clear and green spaces in an industrialized State.
Lastly and fervently gratitude is expressed to two people who were motivated sdely
by personal friendship and affection: Mrs. William Ingles of White Marsh, who
volunteered as typist, punctuation expert, and proofreader, and who shared daily
the throes of creation and execution of this book; and my paragon of a husband
who pouted, permitted with reluctance, and echoed Arthur Collins: "You'll never
do this again, will you?"
March, 1970
Kittery Point
Gloucester, Virginia CmnsTINB HALE MARTIN
ix
The familiar designation CCV has been used instead of The Garden
Club of Virginia, and only key words have been given in club titles in
order to save space and avoid repetition. Other abbreviations frequently
used are:
GCA The Garden Club of America
RHS Royal Horticultural Society
NALS North American Lily Society
ADS American Daffodil Society
VALC Virginia Advisory Legislative Council
APVA Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
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