The Bella Vista Garden Club will travel to Moss Mountain Farm in Roland, AR, the country estate of P. Allen Smith, for its 2023 Spring Field Trip.  The farm is the home of well-known horticulturalist, P. Allen Smith.  We will leave Bella Vista on Wednesday, May 17th around noon and return at approximately 6:00 pm on Thursday, May 18th. (Bus transportation details will be provided later once we know the number of attendees.) We will arrive in Maumelle in the late afternoon on May 17th and enjoy dinner at Milano’s Italian Grill. Club members will pay for their own meals. The Hampton Inn will provide breakfast. Immediately following we will tour of Moss Mountain Farm, and return to Bella Vista.

You will need to register for the tour online on P. Allen Smith's website.  A four-hour tour of the farm, gardens and lunch costs $99 per person.  You will also need to make your own hotel room reservation. We will stay at the Hampton Inn in Maumelle, AR. A special rate of $119.00 plus 20.5% tax will apply. (The normal rate is $146.00 plus tax.)  The information needed for each of those reservations is provided below.

Moss Mountain farm registration: To register for the farm tour and lunch, go to: https://www.pallensmith.com/tours/tours/ and register for the tour on May 18, 2023. These tours are open to the public, and reservations are accepted in the order they are made. Do not wait too late to register or the tour may be fully booked. You will need to pay at the time of booking. The fee is a total of $108.41 which includes $9.41 in state taxes.

Lodging registration: Hampton Inn in Maumelle, AR. The block of rooms has been created and guests can begin making their reservations for May 17th by either calling in to the hotel directly or by using the below link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=LITMMHX&groupCode=CHHBVG&arrivaldate=2023-05-17&departuredate=2023-05-18&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

The group code is BVG and the last day to book is April 26, 2023. The room rate is $119.00 plus 20.5% tax. (The normal room rate is $146.00). If you are making your reservation via phone, the number is 501-851-6600.

Dory Hammeke is the field trip coordinator. Please contact her via phone or e-mail to let her know that you have made your reservations. She will need to know your name and the number of people that you have registered. This will help inform our decision regarding the size of bus needed. Contact Dory if you have any questions at: 913-209-4623 or dehammeke@gmail.com

The Farm Tour & Lunch includes:

• A guided tour through P. Allen Smith’s three-story Greek Revival-style home.  Guests will learn about P. Allen Smith’s authentic design approach that pays homage to the history of the farm.

• Explore Arkansas’ beautiful countryside overlooking the Arkansas River while touring Allen’s Terrace Garden, the Hidden Rose Garden, Hydrangea Alley, and his one-acre Vegetable Garden.

• Connect to the land as you sit down to a farm-to-table lunch featuring a recipe from P. Allen Smith’s book, Seasonal Recipes from the Garden. For dessert, enjoy a slice of Allen’s famous buttermilk pecan pie with homemade whipped cream.

• Last but certainly not least, a visit to Poultry Ville to meet the chickens and other animals. Learn about Allen’s effort to conserve America’s early poultry breeds and why he started the Heritage Poultry Conservancy. While you are there, say hi to your favorite farm animals from Allen’s television show—Trudy, Moose, Smudge & Squeak, just to name a few.

Anyone who has visited Moss Mountain Farm will tell you this is a wonderful experience. We hope you’ll plan to join us!

BVGC Members, one of my goals as your president is for every club member to have the opportunity to become involved in our projects.  This involvement covers a wide range of needs and talents.  Some needs involve outdoor, physical labor others will be less physically demanding, but ALL are needed for an active and effective Club.

Please look in your new Yearbook (pages 7-9) for information on committees and projects.  Contact the Committee Chairman for more details and to express your interest in participating.  I especially encourage our newer Members to find activities that suit their interests, talents and desires to learn.

A critical part of participation is communicating the needs and opportunities of the committees.  Therefore, Committee Chairs, please address the entire Club when emailing etc. requests for help or scheduling activities.  Alternatively, you can advise me and I will forward the information to the Club.  Members, let the Committee Chairs know of your interest in participating and pose any questions you have about that Committee or project.  The Yearbook has their contact information.

I also request Members to communicate directly with me on any suggestions you have for improving or broadening our Club. While I am presently serving as your Club President, I am primarily a member who has enjoyed working alongside some very knowledgeable gardeners and mentors with a willingness to share their knowledge.  So, new and seasoned Members do not miss out on the opportunities the Club offers to learn new things and make new friends….PARTICIPATE!

Stay well and safe

Pat Meyer

2021-2023 President

• Plan an educational program and/or workshop at your local library, public garden or garden center.

• Sponsor a hands-on "How Do You Select Flowers/Shrubs for Your Garden" workshop at an area nursery.

• Plan a garden tour. This is a great time to share your knowledge of growing while sharing ideas.

• Beautify a manageable blighted area or enhance an existing garden. This would be a good opportunity to work with other groups.

• Plan an activity with a youth group or school students.

• Place a plant or flower arrangement at public facilities, along with one of the beautiful National Garden Week posters.

NGC website, gardenclub.org