Members of the LOW Garden Club support the natural resources of Lake of the Woods in Locust Grove, VA.  They share an interest in furthering scientific knowledge of gardening and horticulture and many want to learn
the artistry of flower design!

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Calendar of Events

There is no general meeting in January.

Monday, February 9th--1 PM in the Clubhouse.  Be sure to attend this one on soil amendment and composting led by Paul Hutchinson, owner of Windmill Heights Nursery.

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General meetings are held at 1 PM on the second Monday of each month in the clubhouse unless noted otherwise.
Board meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month unless noted otherwise.

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New Christmas Clubhouse Video
Click here to watch it!

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Jackie McMahon reminded members at the November general membership meeting to write down any tree questions they may had for Garden Club's new, "Ask The Arborist" column which will be running in the LOW Currents.

Dealing with the Dreaded
Spotted Lanternfly

--By Matt Tierney

Our community's identity is reflected in its name:  Lake of the Woods.  Accordingly, many discussions and concerns naturally focus on both the lake and adjacent wooded areas.  The LOW Garden Club has had the privilege of hosting Matthew Tierney of ArboPro Tree Service on multiple occassions.  As a certified arborist, Mr. Tierney offers knowledgeable and affordable guidance to his clients.  Periodically, he will answer questions from Garden Club members, which will be published both here and in the Lake Currents.  We greatly appreciate Matt's time, input and expertise.

What can we do to combat the Spotted Lantern Fly?
The bad news is that they're coming, and there's little we can do to stop them.  The good news is they're nowhere as problematic as we feared they might be.

While gardeners were originally encouraged to destroy the adults as well as the egg masses, studies have now shown this has been unrealistic and ineffective. 

The good news is they're nowhere near as problematic as we feared they might be.  While gardeners were originally  encouraged to destroy the adults as well as the egg masses, studies have now shown this has been unrealistic and ineffective.

The other good news is that one of their favorite trees to feed on is the Ailanthus altissima, or Tree of Heaven, which is one of our most problematic invasive species of trees.  In the wild, this means the insects will be attracted to, and potentially the most harmful to, these invasive trees.  In our own yards, by removing these trees preemptively, we are not only curbing the spread of the Ailanthus, but we are also taking away one of the spotted lantern fly's most desirable food sources.  

Think of the spotted lantern fly like the Japanese beetle,  While they can damage your trees superficially and appear to be the eleventh plague, for healthy trees they are rarely a concern.  A multitude of reliable sources advise that nature takes care of itself--insects and birds are not eating them!

Be aware that use of insecticides can be detrimental to our pollinators.

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LOW GC Takes Prize for BEST FLOAT at LOW's 2025
Fourth of July Parade!

Next Gathering:

Monday, February 10th

Food Pantry Items to Bring:
Dessert Mixes

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October Meeting Focuses on
Winter Gardening

Terry Osborn (pictured above) and her husband, Bryant, of Corvallis Farms were the guest speakers for our October meeting. Their program focused on winter gardening but the farm is known for it's salad greens, fresh berries (of all kinds), healthy produce and beautiful flowers!

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LOW GC takes a tour of the Rappahannock Education Farm

Several members of the LOW Garden Club recently had a chance to visit the nearby Rappahannock Education Farm (REF).

Richard Larochelle  (above dark blue shirt and hat) presented information about REF and its mission and provided invaluable instruction for growing a successful produce garden!

REF is a volunteer based, non-profit Fredericksburg-area farm committed to reducing food insecurity by donating what they grow to the Food Bank and local food pantries.  

REF volunteers grow fresh produce for the benefit of lower income residents, provide agricultural education, and encourage volunteers throughout the community to join in their mission.  Last year they donated over 200,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need.

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Garden Tour Spotlights Spectacular LOW Gardens!

The LOW Garden Club held its 2025 Garden Tour on Saturday, June 7th and enjoyed both outstanding weather and attendance netting the Club over $1900 on this important fundraiser. 

Many thanks to each of the homeowners who so graciously opened their gardens to our members and the public for this event.  We deeply appreciate all the time and effort you put into making your garden look so lovely and we truly appreciate it. 

Photos by Mariana Choncha

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Katherine Slagle (L) and LOW Garden Club President, Jeanne Allen at OCHS Scholarship Night

LOW Garden Club Awards Its Annual Scholarship

The Garden Club participated in the annual Scholarship Night at Orange County High School and presented a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior who are continuing their education in a horticulture-related field. 

The deserving student chosen this year is Katherine (Kate) Slagle.  Kate is currently Vice President of the National Honor Society and also a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA).  She is attending Virginia Tech University in the fall with a major in Wildlife Conservation to study ecology and population dynamics to help find solutions to a healthy ecosystem.  She hopes to work as a national park ranger or as a biologist in Virginia’s waterways.  

LOW Garden Club
2025-2027 Officers

President - Jeanne Allen
Vice President - Christine Bregar
Programs -Janet Stockman, Renee Hochenberger and Susan Petty-Bailer
Recording Secretary - Deborah Baird
Corresponding Secretary -
                         Shellee Williams
Treasurer - Rita Bowles
Assistant Treasurer - Judy Flynn            
Parliamentarian - Jan Davis
Nominating Committee -Gaylen Smoak
Ex-Officio President - Debbie Hein
                     
The Board meets on the 4th Monday at 10 am in the Community Center.  All members are welcome to attend.

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LOW GC Members at OH

Members of the LOW GC recently got together to enjoy each other AND the fruits of the grape at Old House Vineyards.

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LOW Garden Club Installs New
Officers for 2025-2027 Term

Val Story, installs new LOW Garden Club President, Jeanne Allen at the May 12, 2025 installation.

Shelley Williams presents Debbie Hein with flowers from the Club in appreciation for her three years service as our president.

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The LOW Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., South Atlantic Region and
The Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, Shenandoah District