Iris-Elm president David Zahrt accepts national award from TGCI president Linda Harkleroad.

Members of the Iris-Elm Garden Club attended The Garden Club of Indiana (TGCI) state convention April 25-26, in Edinburgh, IN. It was the first in-person state convention in three years.

After the business meeting, attendees learned about good and bad weeds, insects and wildflowers in Indiana. The attendees also learned of the new TGCI Land Trust project in support of Waller Woods in southern Indiana. The caves in these woods house 13 species of Indiana Bats, some of which are endangered.

During the Presidents Banquet, Iris-Elm Garden Club received the Bev Kevler Arbor award for the most outstanding tree program. With the win of the Bev Kevlar Arbor award at the state level, the project was then submitted to the National Garden Club for an additional award.

At the National Garden Club’s convention in May, TGCI president, Linda Harkleroad, was notified that Iris-Elm was the overall winner in the Community Improvement class at the national level.

David Zahrt, president of Iris-Elm said the award was for the Club’s dogwood tree planting along the Winamac Park Pathway as a continuation of the Winamac Blue Star Memorial Marker at the historic Freight Depot. Zahrt said that the dogwoods were a re-creation of the original 1944 planting of 8,000 dogwoods by the New Jersey Garden Club as a memorial to the World War II veterans. This was adopted by the National Garden Club to become the Blue Star Highway Marker program that now covers thousands of miles across the U.S., Hawaii and Alaska.

Blue Star Banner

The Blue Star program was inspired by a flag families hung in their windows if they had a family member in the service. The marker program has now expanded to honor veterans who have served, are serving, or will be serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The awards to Iris-Elm were the culmination of four years of efforts to establish the Blue Star Memorial By-Marker and maintain the grounds around the railroad station.

Zahrt said the club is thankful for the community support with the donations of money, time, and supplies.

The Iris-Elm Garden Club, founded in 1930, meets the first Thursday of each month, March through December. The club has a variety of programs and community development projects. Those interested in joining visit the Iris-Elm Facebook page or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..