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The purpose of the Orcas Island Garden Club is to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening, to cooperate in the protection and conservation of nature, and to assist in the beautification of the community. 

JOIN A MEETING

Orcas Island has a population of approximately 5,000 people (which more than doubles in the summer!) and an area of 57 square miles. The island is shaped like a saddlebag, with a narrow isthmus at the top and the two distinct sections surrounding fjord-like East Sound. The island topography is quite varied, with farm valleys, bays and inlets, and several mountains: Mt. Constitution, the highest point in the county, is 2,409 ft.; Turtleback Mountain is almost 1500 feet; and Mt Woolard, is 1,180 feet. 

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Due to the hilly topography and lengthy shoreline, Orcas Island boasts a variety of micro-climates that creates both gardening opportunities and challenges. In past years, in a citizen-science project, club members have charted rainfall and temperatures around the island in order to map the micro-climates. Most of the rain falls in spring and winter. Summers are dry, and water is a precious commodity for many gardeners. While the low-lying valleys typically have good soil, the higher elevations and shoreline areas usually feature thin soil over bedrock or no soil at all. The most damaging garden predators are deer, with bunnies running a close second. (Our members are always interested in deer-resistant plants.) Other member interests include flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees, and organic and sustainable practices.

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BOARD

President: ​ Nita Couchman                 Click here for Nita's email. 

Program:  Lene Symes                              Click here for Lene's email.                      

Membership:   Perri Gibbons                    Click here for Perri's email.
                            Karen Hiller                       Click here for Karen's email. 

Garden Tour: Sally Hodson                        Click here for Sally's email.
                         Laura Walker                        Click here for Laura's email.

Recording Secretary:  Janet Jacobson    Click here for Janet's email.​

​Treasurer: Tony Suruda                               Click here for Tony's email.

​Communications: Helen Huber            Click here for Helen's email.

Past President: Linda Armstrong

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COMMITTEES

Programs 
   Lene Symes

Finance 
   Tony Suruda

Hospitality
​   Geri Turnoy

Set-Up
   David Turnoy

Membership & Directory
   Perri Gibbons & Karen Hiller ​

Communications
  Helen Huber

Garden Tour
   Sally Hodson & Laura Walker
​ 
Audiovisual
   Cyndi Hawkins-Rahilly ​

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DECEASED*

• Gladys Groper *          1958
• Emma Maas *             1959
• Violet Boede *             1960
• Mary Ross *                 1961
• Mary Moran                 1962
• Violet Boede *              1963-64
• Emma Maas *             1965-66
• Mary Leckrone *          1967
• Lillian Rowland            1968
• Susanne Bratsano      1969
• Henri Morgan *            1970
• Hazel Woods                1971-72
• Marilyn Warnes            1973
• Helaine Bayles *           1974-75
• Averil North *                1976-77
• Emily Reid *                   1978-79
• Evelyn Trumbull            1980
• Jean Guthrie *               1981
• Louise Good                  1982-83
• Elaine Granville *           1984
• Phyliss Harbidge *        1985
• Michelle Barach            1986
• Lorraine Mathies *        1987
• Hazel O’Brien*               1988-89
• Joan Barber ​& Heather O'Malley       1990

• Ginger Reinhardt              1991
• Jeannie Hofmann            1992
• ​Pauline Hunter *               1993
• Sherri Harpman                1994
• Louisa Lundren *               1995
• Vivian West                        1996
• Judy Evans                         1997
• Michelle Barach                 1998
• Richard Evans                    1999
• Anne & Larry Weingarth    2000
• Margaret Greever               2001
• Tom Burg                             2002
• Gordon Greiner *                 2003
• Yvonne Ashenhurst            2004
• John Greever                       2005
• Lina McPeake  *                  2006
• Jackie Abell                          2007
• Ken Walker                           2008
• Midge Kraetzer                    2009
• Marlyn Myers *                    2010 & 2012
• Carol Kulminski                   2011
• Margaret Payne                   2013-15
• Kate Yturri                            2016 & 2017
• Vanessa Julian                    2018​
• Linda Armstrong.                2019 & 2020 

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Honorary Members Awarded Lifetime Memberships for Outstanding Service to the Garden Club
DECEASED*

• Kate Adams
• Michelle Barach
• Judy Evans
• Sara Hennessey
• Sally Hodson
• Dianne Jordan*
• Heidi Lindbergh
• Hazel O’Brien*
• Margaret Payne
• Emily Reid*
• Barbara Trunkey
• Marlyn Myers*