Garden clubs from across state to converge in Port Angeles for convention starting Tuesday

PORT ANGELES — The Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs will gather at the Red Lion Hotel this week for its 82nd annual convention.

The convention, with the theme “Gardening from the Mountains to the Sea,” opens Tuesday evening and concludes Friday at the hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.

Registration for the event closed May 20, but the vendor room will be open free to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday though Friday.

Local artists and businesses will offer floral design and garden products for sale.

The Olympic Peninsula District of the federation is made up of five regional garden clubs: Bogachiel Garden Club in Forks, Nordland Garden Club on Marrowstone Island, Port Angeles Garden Club, Sequim Prairie Garden Club and Tri-Area Garden Club in Port Hadlock, Chimacum and Irondale.

The district is an affiliate of the National Garden Club Inc. The national organization includes 50 state garden clubs and the national capital area, with nearly 6,000 member garden clubs and nearly 200,000 members, according to a news release.

Outgoing State President Brynn Tavasci and President-elect Terry Critchlow will attend, along with representatives from the 14 state club districts.

Co-chairwomen Mary Lou Paulson and Mary Lou Waitz assisted in the organization of the event with support from district garden clubs, the state Federation of Garden Clubs and North Olympic Peninsula communities.

Events include a kickoff dinner Tuesday and a concert featuring Mark Pearson of The Brothers Four.

Workshops, lectures by state and local speakers and the installation of state officers are among the events planned for the convention.

For more information, visit www.wagardenclubs.com.

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