Garden Club Federation plans convention

PRESQUE ISLE — The 60th annual convention of the Garden Club Federation of Maine Inc. will feature national speakers and displays Tuesday through Thursday, June 18-20, at Keddy’s Motor Inn.

Janet Meryweather of Salisbury Cove, president of the federation, and Marie Flewelling of Presque Isle, general chairman of the convention, have organized the convention to include a number of activities for the group’s 4,000 members.

The convention will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday with registration. Frances Flewelling of Presque Isle will provide afternoon tours of the Salmon Brook Agricultural Museum in Washburn and Downing Park, a special project of the Presque Isle Garden Club.

Botanist Allison Dibble will open Wednesday activities at 10:30 a.m., with a discussion on conservation of endangered plants and what home gardeners can do, followed by presentations by garden club members.

A lunch will be offered, followed by a presentation at 1 p.m. by Mary Lou Smith of the Garden Club’s Judge’s Council. Smith will speak on “Creativity: Today’s Challenge in Flower Arranging.”

A tour of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station on Houlton Road will be held at 2 p.m. A reception will be held at 6 p.m., and a banquet at 7 p.m. with entertainment by the Bell Choir of the Presque Isle Congregational Church.

On Thursday, activities will begin with a 6 a.m. walk to observe birds. The annual business meeting will start at 9 a.m., followed by the installation of new officers at 10 a.m.

Current officers presiding at the meeting will be Meryweather; Nancy Atwell of Cape Elizabeth, first vice president; Ellen Gulliver, secretary; and Andrea Nurse of Phillips, treasurer.

The meeting will be followed by a presentation by Judith Robinson-Schaier of Caribou, featured speaker. She will present “Bonsai: An Art, Philosophy, and Science.” She is an instructor and exhibitor of bonsai. Her work will be on display throughout the convention.

An awards luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. Clubs and individuals will be awarded for projects covering horticulture, conservation, flower shows, and other committee and club efforts. The federation’s annual $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a student of horticulture or related subject.

Special guests will be Violette Dawson of Elmhurst, Ill., newly elected president of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, and Sue Saul of Connecticut, a New England director.