The Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club recently hosted the Garden Club of America's Zone VII Flower Show and, without reservation, it vastly exceeded the club's mission. The impeccably organized and delightfully presented show not only increased the pleasure of country life by exchanging ideas and information on gardening subjects, it was a visual and educational treat for visitors.

Whether you love flowers, floral arrangements, herb propagation, cacti, trees, modern roses, camellias, conifers, dahlias, vines or native plants, each category was presented in a precisely noted and charmingly displayed group on table after table of horticultural specimens. And, there were many, many more categories including an education section in which Missy Janes' beautifully rustic display entitled 'The Evolution of farmland to Habitat,' won the Club's Best in Show in the Conservation and Education category. Janes is the current president of the Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club.

According to Harriett Condon, who chaired the show with Ginger Wallach, "some of the world's top flower show judges from the Garden Club of America," were in Middleburg to judge the show. "Many were the same individuals who judge the Philadelphia Flower Show."

"They thought it was spectacular," Condon explained, "…truly top of the line, which makes the many years of planning and preparation more than worth it!"

Awards presented at the show included:

Club Level Awards:

Daphne Cheatham was awarded the Club Medal of Merit Award for her continuous and competent service, dedication and leadership.

Harriett Condon was awarded the Club Historic Preservation Award of Merit for her quiet perseverance and grace, she has worked to preserve and restore Civil War battle sites while shepherding with care our club's rich history.

Zone Level Awards:

Joe Coleman of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and avid birder and consultant to our historic bridge for his outstanding leadership of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

Polly Rowley received the Zone VII Seipp Award established in memory of Misty Seipp. She conceived and created a landscape that sparks curiosity, promotes observation, highlights details of a plant's character and engages children and families in their surroundings.