News & Photos
Norland Garden Club - 2024 Winter Activities
The Nordland Garden Club completed its annual Wreath and Swag fundraising event in November 2024 with the assistance of many first-time member decorators and helpers. (2024 Wreath Sales Photo, Carol Self wreath photo, Julie Burns wreath photo and Regina Albert swag photo).
We had the privilege of assisting the Sound View Cemetery with multiple grave markers (2024 swag sales photo) and wreaths to celebrate the completion of their new historic sign on Marrowstone Island. Fun was had by all as we worked throughout the days completing orders, preparing greens, greeting customers, delivering items AND enjoying a fantastic lunch prepared each day by members to fuel us all day long.
We then hosted a Holiday Arts Market on Marrowstone in our clubhouse on small business Saturday (November 30th) which supports our local artisans by showcasing their handmade products, homegrown delights, plants, arts and crafts. Please visit us on instagram @artsmarketonmarrowstone to see the wonderful vendors.
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In December, our club was able to continue to support DOVE House by filling the wish list of family gifts for the holidays. DOVE House offers emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and their children in Jefferson County.
We additionally provided table arrangements at the Tri-Area Community Center for their Holiday Dinner on Christmas Day. We then enjoyed a wonderful Holiday Ladies Lunches with a cookie exchange that far exceeded our expectations. A red bag was provided on the risers for each member and overflowed with goodies to take home! (2024 Dec party photo).​
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A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT OUR
District...
The Hill & Dale District of Garden Clubs has long desired to engage in the Youth Smokey Bear poster contest, but finding a youth group to partner posed a challenge. In June 2024, two of our members attended the NGC Convention in Denver, Colorado, where they returned with numerous promotional items about Smokey Bear to distribute. Our district visited a local Girl Scout Day Camp to discuss the contest while teaching the girls about fire safety, how to build safe campfires, and preventing wildfires through their original Smokey Bear drawings.
On October 20th, members from various clubs in our district gathered with the Girl Scout District, consisting of several troops, at the Fruitland Grange, which generously provided the space at no cost. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service contributed by sending Smokey and another firefighter, along with a forest service truck and 50 Smokey Bear bags filled with educational materials, pencils, rulers, and pins for the girls to take home. We emphasized the importance of trees for our environment and arranged for Silvaseed Nursery to donate 50 Western Red Cedars for the girls to take home and plant in their yards.
With the grant from the Endowment Committee, we purchased paper, colored pencils, and crayons for the girls to use. There were no costs for using the Grange, having Smokey and the fire personnel attend, or providing the goodie bags. The Girl Scout organization covered the supplies for making s'mores, which everyone enjoyed.
Some girls chose to continue working on their posters at home, and we set a deadline of December 1st to return them to the Girl Scout District representative for judging. Our district plans to maintain our collaboration with the Girl Scouts and participate in their day camp again in July 2025!
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Kathy Johnson, Hill & Dale District Director
Chinook District Blue Star Memorial Garden at Tahoma National Cemetery 2024 Fall Cleanup
The Blue Star Memorial Garden at Tahoma National Cemetery. Pictured left to right is Michael and Erin Gregory, and Chinook Blue Star Garden Co-Chair Mattie Munsen. Picture credit goes to Auburn Garden Club member Matt Jennings who also helped with the cleanup. The formal picture of the Garden was taken by Erin Gregory. We performed a general clean up and replaced summer annuals with winter pansies and then top dressed the bed with mulch for the fall and winter. As you can see it is glorious this time of year.
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Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary!
In June, the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (WSFGC) celebrated its 90th anniversary with a gathering that attracted over 100 members. The event, which took place over three days from June 11 to 13, 2024, was hosted at the Little Creek Resort in Shelton, Washington. The celebration included the WSFGC's Annual Meeting, a State Flower Show entitled "Our Extraordinary Earth," a 90-year Dinner Celebration, and the WSFGC Annual Awards Dinner. The event honored the state's heritage, acknowledging individuals whose memberships ranged from one to sixty years and Garden Clubs with twenty to over one hundred years of service.
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The WSFGC organized a series of workshops and activities. Highlights included workshops featuring "Kokedama", (a Japanese mud ball covered in moss) by Jeff Johnson from the Olympia Garden Club, a corsage workshop with WSFGC's Tory Bennett, and "Nurturing Herbs & Uses" by Susan Goetz and who also presented a evening program on "Gardening through the Years". Additionally, self-guided tours in Thurston and Mason Counties covered the Outdoor by Design, Bamboo Nursery in Shelton, Lael's Moon Garden Nursery in Rochester, and the Monarch Sculpture Park in Tenino. The WSFGC made a donation during the event to the Monarch Sculpture Park in recognition of its contribution to the community through its art and outdoor sculptures.
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The WSFGC extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event a success and acknowledges the tremendous effort that ensured a splendid celebration!
Click HERE to view WSFGC's "90 Years of Service." A slideshow created from our WSFGC archives and prepared by Tara Keen. Thank you, Tara!
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1st Vice President, Dorrie Carr presenting a donation to the Monarch Sculpture Park.
Kokedama Workshop presented by Jeff Johnson
Rose Ceremony led by Sharon McKissick for Garden Club members no longer with us.
Award Presentations
Tory Bennett hosted the Corsage Workshop.
Olympia Garden Club's Centennial Celebration
Click HERE to view the Olympia Garden Club's Centennial Slideshow!
The Olympia Garden Club's 100th anniversary celebration was held on July 18, 2024, at Bergford Farm and Gardens in Olympia, Washington. The event attracted more than 150 attendees who relished the serene gardens, tasty cuisine, stunning floral displays, and a unique video presentation that highlighted the club's history over the years.
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It's hard to think that in 1924, the club was formed and named the "Olympia Flower Society" by the first President, who was the Washington State Librarian, Mr. J. M. Hitt. In 1938, the Olympia Flower Society joined the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs and became part of the "Capitol District", now called the "Black Hill's District of Garden Clubs." In 1945, the Olympia Flower Society changed its name to the "Olympia Garden Club."
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Over the years, the club has dedicated itself to numerous local and state projects to benefit their community. They have collaborated with local 4-H Clubs and honored Blue & Gold Star families through the Memorial Markers program, organized various fundraisers to provide scholarships for local and college students, contributes annually to the WSFGC Scholarship fund, and offers teacher grants to local schools. They've created and distributed holiday stockings for those in need during the holiday season. In 1973, the club partnered with the Olympia Parks Department to establish the "Washington Memorial Garden" in Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park). The club remains a supporter of the memorial garden, planting a new tree annually within the exquisite rose garden. Throughout its history, the club has been committed to educating and advocating for anti-littering and recycling.​
The aforementioned are just a few of the numerous programs, projects, and donations made along the years. The Olympia Garden Club continues to follow its Mission Statement: "To provide education, resources, and networking opportunities for its members to promote gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility." Congratulations to 100 Years as the Olympia Garden Club!
Gratitude is owed to the OGC Centennial Committee, the club volunteers, and the family members whose dedication made this event unforgettable. A special note of thanks goes to Jackie McCoy for preparing the slideshow that we all enjoyed.
Our deepest gratitude goes to Pat and Scott Bergford, the proprietors of Bergford Farms and Gardens, for allowing OGC to hold the event at the farm. The beauty of your home and gardens provided the perfect setting that was essential for its success!
Bergford Farm Pond
2023-2024 President, Dorrie Carr
Photos by Donna Bogumill & Chris Hill
AUBURN GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY!!!
On April 13, 2024, the members of the Auburn Garden Club celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with an Afternoon Tea at the Millennium Ballroom at Les Gove Park in Auburn, WA. Honored guests included WSFGC President Suzann Stahl, immediate past Chinook District Director Linda Haas, Marine Hills Garden Club President Carrie Asselin, Des Moines Garden Club President Christine "Teenie" Dillinger, and Enumclaw Garden Club President Marily Cooper. Our guest speaker was Marianne Binnetti who delivered a fabulously entertaining program on spectacular English style gardening. The club members and their guest enjoyed a wonder afternoon of fun, reminiscing and camaraderie. Congratulations to the Auburn Garden Club!!!
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WSFGC President, Suzann Stahl
Guest Speaker, Marianne Binnetti and AGC President, Erin Gregory
Honoring All Who Serviced Our Country
On August 12, 2023, Chinook District of Garden Clubs held a rededication ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA, to celebrate the recent restoration of the Blue Star Memorial Marker and the completed refurbishment of it's surrounding flower bed. Originally dedicated in April 2000, all donors to this project's fund, as well as many garden clubs' individuals, were invited to revel in this success. Jill Cooke, past President of Parkside Garden Club, gave the inspiration, and Jeremy Meade, the Assistant Tahoma Cemetery Director, gave a brief history of the ceremony. Before breaking for refreshments, Tanya Galat, co-chairperson for the project, thanked all those who helped on the project. A special word of appreciation goes to Past District Directors, Barbara Smith, Susan Nash and Linda Haas, and their officers for their encouragment and support, especially during the covid pandemic, that enabled the successful conclusion of this venture. The generous outpouring of not only money but appreciation from various organizations and veterans' groups, was overwhelming and the District is grateful for their contributions. Tanya Galat, Tahoma Blue Star Memorial Marker & Chinook District of Garden Clubs
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Co-chairperson's Tanya Galat and Matti Munson, next to the Gettysburg Address Memorial adjacent to the Blue Star Memorial Garden.
An inspirational reading by Jill Cooke of Parkside Garden Club by the renovated Marker and Flower Garden.
Photos: Erin Gregory, VP Auburn Garden Club
Floral Arrangement: Tory Bennett, Enumclaw Garden Club
The renovated Tahoma Blue Star Memorial Marker
To view before and after photos and to thank all who helped along the way! Click HERE
Has your District or Garden Club given thought to participating in the Blue and Gold Star Memorials program? Click HERE for more details.
Happenings in October, November & December, 2023 with our Garden Clubs...
The Kelso Garden Club dedicated a new Gold Star Memorial Marker on November 11, 2023, in Tam O'Shanter Park, Kelso, WA.
The Port Angeles Garden Club dedicated a Gold Star Memorial Marker on October 25, 2023, in Port Angeles, WA at the Captain Joseph House.