Feature image courtesy of Thomas Jefferson Foundation
The Southern Garden History Society extends a hearty “congratulations!” to Peggy Cornett and Judith B. Tankard
for being awarded honorary memberships in the Garden Club of America. The Garden Club of America awards this distinguished honor annually to recognize those who achieved outstanding efforts in gardening, botany, conservation, education, and design. The achievements of Peggy and Judith merit not only this award but also our esteemed respect in celebration of their contributions to historic gardens through their tireless dedication and many publications.
Peggy Cornett is well known to members of the SGHS through her decades-long involvement in the Society and her excellent work as editor of the Society’s quarterly journal, Magnolia. This honor celebrates Peggy’s dedication to the education of gardeners and scholars across the globe on early plants and Thomas Jefferson’s botanical legacy. As a Longwood graduate student in 1981, Peggy wrote a thesis that was later published as a book by Dumbarton Oaks, Popular Annuals of Eastern North America, 1865-1914. Peggy has been my guest on Virginia Home Grown, VPM/PBS. Her love of plants, her depth of knowledge, and her kindness are evident in all she undertakes.
Judith Tankard has been a long-standing active member of the SGHS. She is held in high esteem for writing and lecturing on the groundbreaking work of two important women in landscape architecture history – Ellen Shipman and Beatrix Farrand. These women were pioneers in the fields of landscape architecture and garden design at a time when the field was male-dominated. Judith has brought historic gardeners and their gardens to life on the pages of every book and publication she has written. The SGHS applauds Judith for her recognition by the Garden Club of America for her tireless commitment to historic gardens and women garden designers of the past.
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