About Us

Calfee Garden Club, founded June 13, 1962

Why Calfee?

Berkeley Gilkeson Calfee, “Lovie” to her friends, is the inspiration behind the naming of Calfee Garden Club. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia on August 27, 1875, Berkeley moved to the town of Culpeper in 1909. “I remember well the day” she stated, “It was during a snowstorm that occurred at the time of the inauguration of President Taft.”

Berkeley, a long time writer for the Virginia Star newspaper, continued to write her weekly column, “Most Any and Everything”, even after retiring from the paper. Berkeley had twin hobbies, history and gardening. As a recognized authority of the history of the War Between the States, her writings on the subject were published and are still accessible today.

An avid gardener, she wrote many articles directed at the 'amateur gardener', helping such 'paint pictures' with their gardens. “It takes time, a good deal of money first and last, and loads of determination”. A quote we find is still true today.

When a new garden club in the Town of Culpeper was organized in 1962, it didn't take long to realize the club should be named for this strong woman of accomplishment with a true Culpeper pioneering spirit.

Over sixty years later, members of Calfee Garden Club, with Berkeley's same determination and spirit, gather and share their gardening triumphs, failures, wisdom and thirst for learning. The words of Calfee's purpose from 1962 still ring true today, “The object of this club shall be to aid in the protection and conservation of our natural resources; to stimulate and encourage the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs; to promote civic plantings and beautifications”.

We think Lovie would be proud her legacy lives on in Calfee Garden Club.

— Contributed by Mrs. Melanie Browning, Past President - Calfee Garden Club

Calfee Garden Club’s Edna Thomas

The Force Behind Our Virginia State Insect

Calfee Garden Club member, Edna Thomas, led the crusade to name the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly the official Commonwealth state insect.

In 1978, efforts to name the swallowtail failed when the House of Delegates contended the state insect should be the praying mantis. Efforts to introduce a “butterfly bill” surfaced again in 1989 when Edna Thomas, butterfly chairman of the Shenandoah District of Garden Clubs was challenged by her fellow members to submit the bill once again.

Thomas hand delivered letters to all 40 senators and all delegates. She talked to each senator or their associate and each delegate or their aid. Before the assembly convened, garden club members across the state contacted their representatives.

The House Bill 1519 was passed by both House and Senate and signed into law with Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s signature. The swallowtail butterfly, which represents the Virginia Garden Clubs as their state insect carries historical significance as well as being splendid pollinators. The swallowtail was also the first insect from the new world to be scientifically classified by Swedish scientist Linneaus. Several scientists were so captivated by the beauty of the butterfly, they carried it back to England in the late 1500’s where it remains one of the most showiest butterflies in England.

The push to have the swallowtail represent the state was not just from garden clubs. Edna had letters from the Bureau of Tourism in Richmond. Del. George Grayson, D-James city council was approached by the clubs as well as Michael Kosztarab, an entomologist and professor at Virginia Tech, served as authority on the butterfly.

Thomas, a former biology and home economics teacher said her interest in insects also comes from her husband who was once a state entomologist. - Denise Henderson, Calfee Garden Club

Meetings:

Meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of the Month at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Meetings will be held at Culpeper United Methodist Church unless otherwise noted.
Arrival time for meetings will be 10 a.m.
All DESIGNS and HORTICULTURE must be in place by 10:00 a.m.
The business meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m.
There are no scheduled meetings in January or July.