The Lebanon Garden Club encourages community members of all ages to enter its annual Flower Show, a cost-free tradition dating back to 1909 when the first Strawberry Festival included displays of roses with its crates of strawberries.
In 1910, the Women’s Civic Improvement Club was formed and its members continued to prepare floral arrangements for the festival. In 1936, the Lebanon Garden Club was formed and included many members of the civic club, so both groups continued participating in a flower show during Strawberry Festival. In 1941, after the civic club disbanded, the Garden Club took over management of the flower show, and has been continuing the 113-year-old tradition since.
Though the Strawberry Fair Board regulated the flower show in the early years, it eventually evolved into a function through the Garden Club but continues to take place as a tradition of the Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Festival Queen and Strawberry Fair Board Chair are invited every year to select their favorite specimen.
Entries for this year’s flower show will be accepted from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 2, and from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, June 3. Entrants can bring their designs and horticultural specimens to Santiam Place, 139 Main St. The contact person for flower show entries and any general information is Lynne Neuman at (541) 990-3894.
Flower show schedule books explaining which entries (including individual specimens, terrariums and dish gardens) and designs will be accepted can be found at the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon Senior Center and Lebanon Public Library. Or download a PDF version.
The public is invited to view the entries and an educational display from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, and from 12 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Santiam Place, 139 Main St. The Garden Club welcomes anyone to attend its monthly meetings.