Convenient Accommodations

OMNI Charlottesville
212 Ridge McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 971-5500

The Graduate
1309 W Main St.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 295-4333

Hampton Inn and Suites
900 W Main St.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 923-8600

Contact

Ann Heller 
Garden Club of Virginia 
804-643-4137 
communications@gcvirginia.org 

The 2023 Conservation Forum is Generously Sponsored by

 .

The Garden Club of Virginia presents the 
65th Annual Conservation Forum

Nov. 2, 2023

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
The CODE Building and via Live-streaming
225 W. Water Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902  
Open to the Public

$55 In-person (includes continental breakfast)
$15 Live-stream
Student admission is free.
Recorded live-stream will be available to GCV Members for a limited time. 
Online registration is closed. Walkins are welcome at the CODE Building.

Learn how to unlove your lawn, leave your leaves, rewild and much more from three of Virginia’s leading environmentally minded horticulturalists. 

9 a.m. Check in and Light Breakfast 

9:30 a.m.   Welcome and Opening Remarks
Debbie Lewis, President, Garden Club of Virginia
Sarah Hellewell, Chairman, Garden Club of Virginia Conservation and Beautification Committee

9:45 a.m. Presentations of the Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation and the GCV Conservation Educator Award
Marie Thomas, Chairman, Garden Club of Virginia
Conservation Awards Committee

10 a.m. Guest Speakers
Thomas Rainer
Eliza Greenman
Larry Weaner

1:15 p.m. Panel and Questions from the Audience

1:30 p.m. Adjournment

Lunch on your own.

Optional Post Forum Activity

Oakencroft Farm and Winery
3-5 p.m. Limited to first 30 registrants.
$25 per person
Oakencroftfarm.com

  • Private Tour of the winery and native polinator gardens
  • Cheese and charcuterie. (Wine tasting and purchases additional.)

About the Garden Club of Virginia
The GCV, established in 1920, is a nonprofit organization focused on conserving native beauty and preserving Virginia’s historic public gardens. Today, GCV comprises 48 independent garden clubs with approximately 3,400 members throughout Virginia. The Garden Club of Virginia offers educational programming in horticulture, conservation, floral design, photography, and other areas of interest for its members and the public. Since 1929, GCV has produced the country’s only statewide home and garden tour, Historic Garden Week, the proceeds of which have funded 129 landscape restorations at 50 properties throughout Virginia, a fellowship program in landscape architecture, and a variety of projects and programs at 29 of Virginia's State Parks. Visit gcvirginia.org to lean more.