How do you get a world-renowned landscape architect to speak at your event? Ask.
Joli Root thought it would be wonderful to have Hoichi Kurisu speak at the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs’ annual convention, which is being held in Lebanon this year.
Root is chairing the event and asked Betty Koehn, executive director of the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation, to reach out to Kurisu.
Root is chairing the event and asked Betty Koehn, executive director of the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation, to reach out to Kurisu.
“He said he would be honored to do that,” Root said.
The convention will be held at the Best Western Premier Boulder Falls Inn in June.
Kurisu designed the healing garden at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital in 2004 and the garden and pond at Boulder Falls in 2009.
“This is a big deal,” said Lebanon Garden Club president Trudie Bason.
Bason said gardeners probably have a special appreciation for Kurisu’s Lebanon gardens.
She looks out at the healing garden during Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Forum Lunches, which are held at SLCH.
“It’s subtle and beautiful,” Bason said. “It wakes up every gardener.”
The theme of this year’s convention is “Take a Walk in Our Garden.”
Garden Club members from throughout the state will attend several days of meetings, workshops and walking tours in Lebanon for the 91st convention.
“Having the convention in the mid-Willamette Valley offers a great opportunity to showcase the beauty of our region and its many local attractions, while offering attendees the chance to learn new techniques and connect with friends old and new, and meet our wonderful community,” Root said.
There are more than 80 active garden clubs in Oregon, which is divided into 14 districts.
The Santiam District of Garden Clubs, which includes clubs in Linn and Benton counties, is hosting.
Sunday, June 10 is devoted to self-guided tours in the Lebanon area. The convention schedule of business meetings, exhibits and workshops runs from Monday, June 11 through Wednesday, June 13.
Events include a train ride brunch on Sunday, a talent show, a guided tour of the Japanese Garden at Boulder Falls, a program on “Indigenous Peoples of Willamette Valley,” a program on Monarch butterflies and a magic show.
Both full- and part-time registration arrangements are available.
For registration information or to locate garden clubs in Oregon, visit www.oregongardenclubs.org. Non-garden club members may purchase tickets for Kurisu on Tuesday evening. Contact Trudie Bason at (541) 521-5677 for tickets. Space is limited.
Lebanon Garden Club Plant Sale
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 4
Where: Ralston Station at Oak and Park streets in Lebanon
For sale: Lots of plants, large and small – shrubs, perennials, lilacs, veggies and more. Great prices and selection. Club Patriarch Dona Townsend will offer dahlia tubers for sale, along with advice for those who need it. Lots of raffle items and a Country Store of gently used gardening merchandise.
Why: Proceeds from the sale will fund the Rose Garden at Ralston Park, donations to 4H students, the Claire Hanley Scholarship, and the school district’s Seeds of Change program.
For Info: Contact Lynne Newman at (541) 258-7568.
Important! No early birds unless you want to work!
Important! No early birds unless you want to work!