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2008 SESSION

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 356 Commending Margaret Thomas.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 8, 2008 Agreed to by the Senate, February 14, 2008

 

WHEREAS, Margaret Thomas is the owner of Margaret Thomas’ Gardens, an extensive flower garden, featuring predominantly irises; the gardens are an oasis of color and fresh air on the busy Reston-Fairfax corridor in Herndon; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Thomas and her late husband, George, purchased the property in 1963, and she started her garden with irises given to her by a neighbor; she became enamored of the delicate, brilliantly colored flowers and expert at growing them; and

WHEREAS, what started out as a hobby became a business when Margaret Thomas suddenly found herself widowed in 1974 and in need of a means to support herself and her young son; the irises came to her rescue; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Thomas began selling irises as well as vegetables and was able to expand the size and variety of her garden to include collections of peonies and daylilies; over the years, however, her garden became much more than simply a place to buy bulbs; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Thomas has opened her garden to photographers, painters, school groups, community adult education classes, and the general public; it is a place to rest, to learn, to play—a respite from the hustle and bustle that has grown up around it; and

WHEREAS, this legendary garden is an integral part of the Herndon community, and its preservation for the continued enjoyment of local residents and visitors is a crucial endeavor; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Margaret Thomas on the creation and maintenance of her beautiful garden; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Margaret Thomas as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and gratitude for the many years she has shared her garden with the residents of Herndon and the Commonwealth.