2024-2025 River Walk Garden Club Meetings
Here's a heartfelt look back at the wonderful meetings held by the River Walk Garden Club throughout the year. Whether the gatherings were informative or creative, they were always enriched by the warmth of good friends and the joy of shared community. Each meeting, filled with laughter and camaraderie, stands as a testament to the strong bonds and cheerful spirits of our club members.
September 2024 Meeting
To launch an exciting new year of garden club activities, our September 2024 meeting was a delightful Ice Cream Social! The event was a perfect blend of reconnecting with past members and extending a warm welcome to new members and guests.
The Ice Cream Social was more than just a treat for our taste buds; it was a heartwarming gathering that set the tone for a year filled with exciting projects, educational sessions, and community building. The enthusiasm and camaraderie of the group were palpable, making it a truly memorable start to the new garden club season.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead, nurturing both our gardens and our friendships!
The Ice Cream Social was more than just a treat for our taste buds; it was a heartwarming gathering that set the tone for a year filled with exciting projects, educational sessions, and community building. The enthusiasm and camaraderie of the group were palpable, making it a truly memorable start to the new garden club season.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead, nurturing both our gardens and our friendships!
October 2024 Meeting
The River Walk Garden Club was captivated by the wealth of knowledge shared by our guest speaker, Linda Baskerfield, a Chesapeake Master Gardener. Linda's presentation on creating stunning fall-themed container gardens.
With a mix of expertise and passion, Linda walked everyone through the step-by-step process of designing and assembling the perfect autumn container garden. She emphasized the importance of selecting the right combination of plants that thrive in cooler weather, such as hardy mums, ornamental kale, and vibrant pansies. Attendees learned invaluable tips on soil preparation, drainage, and the optimal placement of plants to ensure a healthy and visually appealing arrangement.
It was an enlightening and motivating session that highlighted the joy and creativity of gardening in the fall season.
With a mix of expertise and passion, Linda walked everyone through the step-by-step process of designing and assembling the perfect autumn container garden. She emphasized the importance of selecting the right combination of plants that thrive in cooler weather, such as hardy mums, ornamental kale, and vibrant pansies. Attendees learned invaluable tips on soil preparation, drainage, and the optimal placement of plants to ensure a healthy and visually appealing arrangement.
It was an enlightening and motivating session that highlighted the joy and creativity of gardening in the fall season.
November 2024 Meeting
The November meeting of the River Walk Garden Club was a joyous celebration of creativity and holiday cheer! Members rolled up their sleeves and dove into a hands-on project, crafting beautiful luminary pieces that would add a warm and festive glow to any home.
Gathered around tables adorned with a delightful array of crafting supplies, everyone was buzzing with excitement and inspiration. The club members, armed with mason jars, twinkling fairy lights, and a variety of decorative elements, set to work under the gentle guidance of our expert crafters. The room was filled with laughter, chatter, and the soft sounds of scissors snipping and glue guns humming.
As the luminaries began to take shape, each piece uniquely reflected the personal flair and artistic vision of its creator. Some members opted for a classic winter wonderland theme with snowflakes and icicles, while others embraced vibrant colors and whimsical designs. The creativity was truly boundless!
It was a meeting to remember, and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with creativity, community, and a touch of magic
Gathered around tables adorned with a delightful array of crafting supplies, everyone was buzzing with excitement and inspiration. The club members, armed with mason jars, twinkling fairy lights, and a variety of decorative elements, set to work under the gentle guidance of our expert crafters. The room was filled with laughter, chatter, and the soft sounds of scissors snipping and glue guns humming.
As the luminaries began to take shape, each piece uniquely reflected the personal flair and artistic vision of its creator. Some members opted for a classic winter wonderland theme with snowflakes and icicles, while others embraced vibrant colors and whimsical designs. The creativity was truly boundless!
It was a meeting to remember, and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with creativity, community, and a touch of magic
December 2024 Meeting
The final gathering of 2024 was a splendid celebration, our beloved traditional wine tasting event exclusive to River Walk Garden Club members. This festive affair was all about cherishing friendship, indulging in delectable food, and savoring exquisite wines. The evening sparkled with laughter, delicious bites, and joyous cheer, creating the perfect ambiance for memorable moments and heartfelt connections.
January 2025 Meeting
The January meeting for the River Walk Garden Club was such a treat as we were whisked away to the vibrant fields of Amsterdam, thanks to our lovely member June Harvey. She led us on a captivating "virtual tour" of her tulip bulb adventure. The delightful photos and fascinating information she shared had us all dreaming of our own tulip-filled journeys!
Could there be a more colorful and inspiring way to kick off the year? We think not!
Could there be a more colorful and inspiring way to kick off the year? We think not!
February 2025 Meeting
The February meeting of the River Walk Garden Club was an unforgettable hydrangea extravaganza! We had the pleasure of welcoming Scott Blair from the Norfolk Botanical Garden, who enchanted us with his profound passion and expertise on hydrangeas. The room was buzzing with excitement as 36 enthusiastic members and guests gathered to soak in every bit of knowledge about this stunning flower with an Ask the Expert Q&A afterwards to help members with this plant in their garden.
March 2025 Meeting
Members and guests gathered for a lively and informative session featuring Les Parks, Director of Horticulture at Norfolk Botanical Garden, who shared his expert insights on “Best Annuals for Long Hot Summers.”
Les captivated the audience with his top picks for heat-tolerant annuals that deliver lasting color and performance throughout the hottest months. From vibrant Zinnias and Lantana to resilient favorites like Angelonia, Celosia, and Portulaca, attendees learned how to select, plant, and care for annuals that thrive in our region’s challenging summer conditions.
The presentation included practical tips from Norfolk Botanical Garden’s own trial gardens, along with a handout of Les’s recommended varieties and planting strategies. Members left inspired and ready to refresh their garden beds with bold, sun-loving blooms.
Les captivated the audience with his top picks for heat-tolerant annuals that deliver lasting color and performance throughout the hottest months. From vibrant Zinnias and Lantana to resilient favorites like Angelonia, Celosia, and Portulaca, attendees learned how to select, plant, and care for annuals that thrive in our region’s challenging summer conditions.
The presentation included practical tips from Norfolk Botanical Garden’s own trial gardens, along with a handout of Les’s recommended varieties and planting strategies. Members left inspired and ready to refresh their garden beds with bold, sun-loving blooms.
April 2025 Meeting
At our April meeting, held on Thursday, April 3rd, River Walk Garden Club members and guests got an exciting sneak peek at the vibrant selection of plants featured in our upcoming Annual Spring Plant Sale. We were delighted to welcome Tom Petry, plant expert and representative from Paramount Nursery, who presented a curated preview of new and noteworthy varieties available this season.
Tom introduced a stunning lineup of annuals, perennials, herbs, and native plants—each chosen for its beauty, resilience, and suitability for local gardens. From eye-catching blooms to pollinator-friendly picks, attendees learned about standout performers that promise to brighten beds, borders, and containers all summer long.
The presentation included growing tips, care recommendations, and insider insights into what’s trending in garden design. Members especially appreciated Tom’s practical advice on pairing plants for color, texture, and seasonal interest.
With the plant sale just around the corner, this preview sparked plenty of excitement and early planning. Thank you to Tom and Paramount Nursery for helping us kick off the season with inspiration and expert guidance!
Tom introduced a stunning lineup of annuals, perennials, herbs, and native plants—each chosen for its beauty, resilience, and suitability for local gardens. From eye-catching blooms to pollinator-friendly picks, attendees learned about standout performers that promise to brighten beds, borders, and containers all summer long.
The presentation included growing tips, care recommendations, and insider insights into what’s trending in garden design. Members especially appreciated Tom’s practical advice on pairing plants for color, texture, and seasonal interest.
With the plant sale just around the corner, this preview sparked plenty of excitement and early planning. Thank you to Tom and Paramount Nursery for helping us kick off the season with inspiration and expert guidance!
May 2025 Meeting
Our May meeting brought members together for a relaxed and energizing evening of connection and creativity. With no formal speaker this month, the focus was on brainstorming future programs, sharing ideas, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
The clubhouse buzzed with conversation as members reflected on past favorites and pitched fresh ideas for the coming year—ranging from hands-on workshops and garden tours to expert talks on native plants, floral arranging, and eco-friendly practices. It was a collaborative, inspiring night that reminded us how much talent and enthusiasm lives within our own group.
And of course, no River Walk Garden Club gathering would be complete without our signature spread of amazing food. From homemade appetizers to decadent desserts, the evening felt more like a garden party than a meeting. Good food, great company, and a shared love of gardening made it a night to remember.
Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas and dishes—and helped plant the seeds for another vibrant year ahead!
The clubhouse buzzed with conversation as members reflected on past favorites and pitched fresh ideas for the coming year—ranging from hands-on workshops and garden tours to expert talks on native plants, floral arranging, and eco-friendly practices. It was a collaborative, inspiring night that reminded us how much talent and enthusiasm lives within our own group.
And of course, no River Walk Garden Club gathering would be complete without our signature spread of amazing food. From homemade appetizers to decadent desserts, the evening felt more like a garden party than a meeting. Good food, great company, and a shared love of gardening made it a night to remember.
Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas and dishes—and helped plant the seeds for another vibrant year ahead!
