The Church Point Garden Club is not an official part of the Church Point Homeowners Association but as you can read below, the Garden Club has provided and still is providing valuable contributions to the neighborhood.
History
In September of 1995, with the permission of Church Point developer, Jann Summs, Dave Cullen and Suzie Duckworth established the Church Point Garden Club. Eight brave souls came to the Manor House for the first meeting. Each month during the first year, the Garden Club membership grew. By the second year there were 25 members.
Meeting at the Manor House from 1995 to 1999, in the downstairs pub, allowed plenty of room for the members’ favorite activity, making floral arrangements. With a strong membership of 34 talented women, the Club joined The Council of Garden Clubs of Virginia Beach and became very active with their programs: The Neptune Senior Ball, Holiday Wreath making for the Municipal Center, floral arrangements for the Francis Land House, the Empty Bowls Charity Dinner and Arbor Day activities among others. Several of the members have served terms as Council Officers and Committee Chairs.
One of the Club’s first neighborhood projects was to decorate the Church Point entrances for the Holidays. “Garden of the Month” originated in 1996 in order to recognize individual Church Point homeowner’s for their efforts in maintaining a beautiful yard. The title was changed in 2002 to “Landscape of the Month”.
In 1999, with the sale of the Manor House, the Garden Club moved to Bayside Baptist Church for its programs. In December of that year, the membership brought Mr. and Mrs. Claus to the gazebo for the first time, giving the children of Church Point an opportunity for a personal visit with Santa. This year also began the annual project planting spring and fall annuals at the entrances, with the help of the Church Point Homeowners Association.
The Church Point Garden Club has conducted many different types of fundraisers: plant sales, silent auctions, a wine-tasting, creating and selling personal note cards for Church Point homeowner’s and soliciting ads for the yearbook from our neighborhood businesses. In 2003, the Club members raised $1,500 to donate to the “Celebrate Children Garden” at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center Courthouse, an ABC Project of The Council of Garden Clubs. Church Point Garden Club is among those recognized on a plaque at the garden site for giving $1000. Over the years donations have been made to Angel Flight, the local Rescue Squad, Meals on Wheels, Council ABC Projects and the Council Scholarship Fund.
The Garden Club Today
Today, the Garden Club is alive and well. It is still associated with the Council of Garden Clubs of Virginia Beach, it still contributes to the neighborhood, it assists the Landscaping Committee in selecting the Landscape of the Month and it is seeking new members. If you are interested in joining the Church Point Garden Club, please contact the president, Suzie Duckworth at suzied44@cox.net.