Meet The Members

The Rapid Ann Garden Club was formed in 1938. It's 85 years old at the time of this posting and still going strong; not only strong but growing! Meet some of the newest members who joined 2020- 2022.

Susan Duhring

2021 - present

I had recently moved to Central Virginia and retired. I was looking for a way to get to know the community and get involved. I have always loved gardening and wanted to learn from the experts about gardening as well as flower arraigning. From my first time at Rapid Ann Garden Club I have always felt welcome. I always look forward to our monthly meetings, connecting with other members and learning about great topics.

Mary Jane Ewing

2021 - present

My husband and I moved to Orange in 2017 to help care for a property well over 150 years old. Some of the original gardens were still blooming beautifully but needed attention. Since I had absolutely no gardening experience I decided a garden club would be a place to get some information. Needless to say I found the most wonderful ladies who have been so generous with their time, knowledge, and most important, their friendship. The Rapid Ann Garden Club has been a blessing.

Jan Farrow

2022 - present

have always loved flowers and nature but never had time until retirement to explore this interest. When we moved to Louisa in 2018 I was fortunate enough to have two avid gardeners as neighbors. What a wealth of information at my fingertips. When my neighbor invited me to join Rapid Ann garden club with her I agreed. I have learned a lot about gardening and nature through the special presentations.

Vicki Horn

2020 - present

Shortly after I moved to the Orange area in 2019, Martha Jeen Jacobs invited me to join the Rapid Ann Garden Club. I declined her invite. Although I appreciated and had a sense of awe for those who made them, my idea of creating an arrangement was cutting the plastic wrap off the grocery store bouquets and sticking them in a vase.

The following year , Martha Jeen’s invitation was more insistent, so I agreed to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised to find a lovely group of friendly, talented, fun loving women who were willing to share their talents and accept me as a blank slate into the community of gardening. Due to the long Covid pause, I am not sure if I officially joined in 2020 or 2021. I remain a work in progress and enjoy the variety of presentations, hands on opportunities, field trips, and friendships I have found through the Rapid Ann Garden Club.

Sheila Kepple

2022 - present

My mother had the greenest thumb of anyone I've ever known. She grew all our fruits and vegetables. She especially loved flowers, plants and anything to do with gardening and nature. As is so with many women, I've become my mother!

I was so happy to be invited to join the Rapid Ann Garden Club by Martha Jeen Jacobs. The club is a wonderful group to talented, knowledgeable, cheerful ladies. The club aligns with all my interest of flower arranging, gardening and nature. I look forward to every meeting!

Susan Prock

2022 - present

One of the things I hoped to do in retirement was to learn more about gardening and flower arranging. I was delighted when Anne Meade Faulconer invited me to a meeting of the Rapid Ann Garden Club. While my mother truly had a green thumb, I am a weeder. I was fortunate to buy a house with lovely, mature flower beds, so I can learn while reaping the benefit of someone else’s vision and dedication. I’m happy to be back in Virginia, where I thrill to the magic of our early springs. Fellow members give me welcome guidance and the educational speakers at club meetings provide a wealth of information. Being in RAGC brings knowledge, color, and friendships to my life.

Marian Quigley

2020 - present

I’ve always loved flowers even since I was a little girl however I didn’t get much of the creative gene my parents had. Their Christmas wreaths won many times in the annual subdivision Christmas contest. I guess I just needed some inspiration so once I met my neighbor, Cynthia McCarthy who is an avid gardener, I really wanted to learn more. I joined RAGC and loved it - meeting new people and learning so much. Then last year we decided to become Master Gardeners for Louisa Extension. Both opportunities have broaden my knowledge and love for gardening. It’s been a fun filled last few years!!

Brittney Yager

2022 - present

While I am a new member, as of 2022, I had the unique opportunity of tagging along to meetings with my grandmother as a young child. I am a third generation Rapid Ann Garden Club member following in the footsteps of my grandmother and great grandmother. While I do not have the "greenest" of thumbs, all the members of RAGC have welcomed me with open arms and I am so lucky to have these incredible women to turn to for tips, tricks, and all of the best gardening advice.

Meet more members here.