News & Photos
Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs
91st Annual Convention
June 2-5, 2025, Shelton, WA
"Wonderful World of Color"
This year's beautiful mural was created by Lisa Libby of the Hill & Dale District of Garden Clubs. Thank you, Lisa!
In early June 2025, the 91st Annual Meeting of the Washington State Federation of Garden Club was held at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington. Members from eight Districts across the state (current membership of over 2034) gathered to focus on activities for the Federation's upcoming 2025-2027 term. The Federation is of one-mind when it comes to what they'd like to see in its future: coordinating the interests of garden clubs to provide education, resources and networking opportunities for its members in promoting gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility.
​
A special thank you to our General Convention Chairman, Linda Maida, and to Kathy Johnson, District Director of the Hill & Dale District of Garden Clubs who guided the convention project from start to finish. The Hill & Dale District played host to the 91st Annual Meeting & Convention and with plenty of helping hands, created a fun and successful convention to support the WSFGC's future endeavors.
​
The convention included the installation of Incoming President, Dorrie Carr. Dorrie is a prior State President and was happy to accept the "gavel" from outgoing President, Suzann Stahl. Dorrie shared that her President's Theme for this 2025-2027 term is "The Healing Power of Nature," with an emphasis on plants and green/blue spaces. Her chosen flower is the Dandelion because of its sunny yellow color! "Nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human wellbeing." Dorrie's State President Project is to assist Girl and Boy Scouts to obtain badges related to nature and the environment. National Garden Club's Past President, Gay Austin, administered the induction of new-term WSFGC Officers and District Directors. Gay has over 40 years as an active garden club membership from NGC to local garden clubs in her home state of Mississippi.
​
The convention included its annual board and committee meetings, instillation of Officers and District Directors, 2024 Awards presentations, out-of-state guest speakers, Invitational Floral Designs (placed though out the hotel floors), hands-on craft workshops for the members, raffle drawings, delicious meals, beautiful table centerpieces and so much more!
​
A special thank you goes out to all garden clubs, committees and individual members, who made this a successful convention. Your diligent work in every aspect of the convention came through with "flying colors" or, should it be said..."A Wonderful World of Flying Colors!"​​​​
2025-2027 WSFGC Officer Installations
The installation of president elect, Dorrie Carr, administered by NGC Past President, Gay Austin.
NGC Past President, Gay Austin reads the Director's pledge to the new 2025-2027 WSFGC District Directors.
Outgoing President, Suzann Stahl, "passing on" the president's gavel to our newly elected President, Dorrie Care.
2024 Awards Recognition
The 2024 Awards Recognition was presented by Awards Chairman, Terry Critchlow. Here a few pictures of Award winners around the State. Rumor has it that comedian Phyllis Diller received an Award this year!
Guest Speakers
Sahshah "Ko Sen" Middleton, of San Franciso, CA, presented 10 hands-on floral designs demonstrations featuring "Ikebana." She shared her philosophy on how plants and flowers speak to us and guide us in our own floral creations.
Neal Sanders, of Medfield, MA, delighted the members with his presentation, "Gardening Is Murder" and the questions that keep him awake at night when it comes to his own home gardens and under the direction of his wife, Betty, a Master Gardener. Neal has authored 15 mysteries, many of which use garden club or horticultural settings.
Patricia Green, of Shelton, WA, is the Program Manager at the Salish Roots Farm with is operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe. Patricia shared with our members the traditional knowledge of cultural teachings that include cooking, gathering, and restoring native plants and foods.
Member Workshops
Our 2-days of workshop fun is always something to look forward to at a convention. Here's a selection of "action' shots of workshops in progress!
Gatherings
Invitational Designs
Design by Debbie Spiller
Black Hills District
Design by Barbara Smith
Chinook District
Design by Diane Franchini
Central District
Design by Tina Cozzolino
Olympia Peninsula
Design by Lenda Sundene
East Lake Washington District
Design by Lona Carter & Mitch Grospe
Greater Seattle District
Design by Jeanie Faulkner
Hill & Dale District
Convention Horticulture Competiion
Additional Photos
.jpg)
Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Rededication Ceremony
Yelm, WA
Saturday, May 17, 2025
The new Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker.
Tim's Pharmacy owner, Will Quinby and Manager, Joel Sponton unveil the new Blue Star By-Way Marker.
From left to right, Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto, Black Hill's District of Garden Clubs Blue Star Program chair, Dee Smith, Pharmacy Manager, Joel Sponton, WSFGC incoming President, Dorrie Carr, Tim's Pharmacy Owner, Will Quinby, WSFGC Chair for the Blue Star & Gold Star Markers, Judy Swortz and Paster Georgie Brown of Living Water Church in Yelm.
An unveiling of a new Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker was held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 outside Tim's Pharmacy in Yelm, Washington. The rededication included community leaders, a local paster, state and local garden club board members and the owner and store manager of Tim's Pharmacy.
The original marker was installed at the same location in 1991 by the now defunct Lake Lawerance Garden Club; however, the marker went missing after landscape renovations were made to the pharmacy garden some years later. The Black Hill's Garden Club District collaborated with the current owner of Tim's Pharmacy, Will Quinby, in the re-beautification of the street corner that includes the new Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker. Two additional plaques were placed to commemorate the Lake Lawerance Garden Club and the other stating the new marker was donated by Tim's Pharmacy.
Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs Chairperson for the Blue Star & Gold Star Memorial Marker Program, Judy Swortz, recognized the large military community in Yelm. "They are our friends; they are our neighbors." They are our future and our present and, of course, our past, because we have such a long history here, (a) very long history of the military presence in this area."
Dee Smith, chair for the Black Hill's District of Garden Clubs Blue Star Program, noted that "Most of the people in Yelm understand how important the military is to their city, both in protecting the country and the city. They are our neighbors, they live here, they shop here, and a lot of the military who get stated at (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) end up retiring here."
After the official unveiling by Tim's Pharmacy owner, Will Quinby and manager Joel Sponton, Yelm City Mayor Joe DePinto accepted the marker on behalf of the Yelm's veterans. Mayor DePinto noted, "The marker was once lost, now finds its rightful place again, reminding us of all the sacrifices made by our military."
Other notable attendees included JW Foster, former mayor of Yelm and current mayoral candidate, Yelm Councilmember Joshua Crossman and Dorrie Carr, Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs incoming president.
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.
​
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.
​
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!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
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.
​
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."
​
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!!!
.jpg)
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
.jpg)
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.