A VERY GARDEN APPEAL

By Rena Malai

One of the earliest memories for Cecelia Rhoads is watching both of her grandmothers garden. Although they had equally impressive green thumbs, she remembers her maternal grandmother, Becky, in particular constantly digging.

“She grew up on a farm in southern Virginia, and she had a remarkable eye for floral design,” Cecelia Rhoads said. “She always had her hands in the soil.”

It runs in the family. Cecelia is current President of the Manassas Garden Club, following in the footsteps of her Grandmother Becky and her mother Leigh Ann, who also held the presidency in the past.

“We have been a part of the club’s lineage for 60 years,” says Leigh Ann Rhoads, who serves as current Vice President.

Together with a team of about 25 members, the mother-daughter duo works to aesthetically enhance the community year round, through planting, design, and annual projects.

Rooted in Community

The Manassas Garden Club is a volunteer organization, founded in 1923, and it is the oldest running garden club in Prince William. The goal of the club is to beautify the city and county. Residents may have passed an outdoor potted plant at a shopping center or walked by a landscape around town put in place by the club’s hard working members.

“We are celebrating 90 years in 2023,” says Leigh Ann. With two main fundraising projects a year — a spring plant sale and a poinsettia sale in the fall — the club uses the funds for its community beautification projects. Most recently, this included designing and maintaining a garden on the grounds of the Manassas Museum and planting trees throughout Manassas and the county.

These kinds of community beautification efforts can take other forms besides gardening, like improving accessibility. The club worked on this within Nelson Park and installed a handicap accessible walkway for park goers to use.

“This was a great project that we worked very closely with the City of Manassas on,” Cecelia said.

Another interesting aspect of the Manassas Garden Club is its devotion to floral design throughout the entirety of the club’s 90 year existence. It involves an emphasis on members learning the ins and outs of arranging flowers as well as participating in flower shows to showcase creative floral designs for both judging and general admiring.

Although floral design is something some folks may be apprehensive to try, Leigh Ann says it’s something most embrace wholeheartedly after learning a few basics.

“Many members, including myself, may not join knowing much about it so there’s some trepidation,” she said. “But everyone brings such tremendous creativity to the table.”

Leigh Ann and Cecilia Rhoads work with a team of about 25 members to support the community, provide educational opportunities, and create fellowship within the club.

According to Cecelia, many people feel concerned about handling flowers and worry they may damage them and ruin the design. But they’re not as fragile as they seem.

“Flowers are not as delicate as you think,” she says. “You can shove them in there, move them around, and it can unleash so many creative aspects.”

She loves seeing members complete a floral design, since it’s almost always apparent which person did each arrangement, and they can be quite unique.

“Some people have a cleaner aesthetic, and go for simplicity and using just one kind of flower, others enjoy lots of color and variety in their design, others will be very symmetrical,” Cecelia says. “It’s always interesting to see what people come up with.”

Starting out with floral design for the first time doesn’t have to be tricky. She advises using whatever is local and available at the moment.

“I like to get outside, and use something that’s seasonal,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be floral. Something like a clipped, curly willow branch in the winter can make a great centerpiece design.”

Growing and Joining

The one thing that keeps the Manassas Garden Club going is its members, and the Rhoads are excited to extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining.

Membership is open to anyone, and no previous gardening experience is necessary, although an interest certainly helps. Requirements include a $25 membership fee, attendance in at least two meetings a year, and participation in one community project.

“We have a wonderful diverse membership, with various skills and talents, and we’re looking to expand,” Cecelia said. “Our club does wonderful, impactful work within the community.”

Potential members can email Leigh Ann at leigharhoads@gmail. com for more information on how to sign up and with general questions.

Even though the club is fast approaching a century in the making, the Rhoads are interested in new, innovative ways to keep things moving, and they welcome fresh perspectives.

“Joining us will give you a wonderful learning experience, and a wonderful way to give back,” says Leigh Ann. “We are looking forward to welcoming new members and all the new ways of improving our community.”

Follow the Manassas Garden Club on Instagram @manassas.garden.club