Linda Harkleroad, left, vice president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club and north central district director, accepts the first place award for the bicentennial garden planting project on behalf of the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club from Jodi Meyer, president, the Garden Club of Indiana.

SYRACUSE — The Garden Club of Indiana held its 86th annual state convention hosted by the central district April 3-4 at the Wellington Conference Center, Fishers. Linda Harkleroad from Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club attended the Passport to Gardening Convention along with more than 100 federated garden club members and guests from across the state.

Highlights from the convention included the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club receiving the winning award in the bicentennial garden planting project held in the summer 2016 in conjunction with the state’s 200th birthday celebration.

The club entered the flower beds planted in blue and gold around Syracuse including all the town parks. The plantings were paid for by the club’s fundraising events and with a grant from the Harkless Foundation, Syracuse. The flower beds were planted by club members.

Local federated garden clubs such as Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club promote interest and education in horticulture, landscaping, floral design and environmental concerns. Local clubs are affiliated with a district, state, regional and national garden clubs, which all together grow the world and green local communities.

Members create a powerful voice and expansive network for advancing common interests. National Garden Club is one of the most recognized non-profits in the United States and the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world with nearly 6,000 federated garden clubs and about 200,000 members.

The state club awarded 15 scholarships to horticultural and landscape design students from throughout Indiana who attend Purdue University and Ball State University. The Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club also awards an annual scholarship to Wawasee High School graduates who study these or related fields.

For information about joining the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club email President Pam Schumm at [email protected].