Colorful flower, eye-catching shrubs and majestic trees aren’t the only things in bloom here at Pioneer Memorial Park, this oasis near downtown Sequim.

In the past six years, notes club president Vina Winters, Sequim Prairie Garden Club participation had nearly doubled.

When the club hosts its annual plant sale — set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, at the park at 387 E. Washington St. — they’ll do it with the back drop of a clubhouse that’s got a fresh coat of paint, a new roof and gutters.

“I think we look good, we’re standing tall,” Winters said, in an interview inside the clubhouse last week.

The annual plant sale, along with the clubhouse rentals, is what helped fund the building’s major repairs, she noted.

Last year’s event was a success, Winters said, bringing in $7,000 to the club.

“I think we’re going to surpass that this year,” she said.

Club members work year-long to bring their expertise and flora to the event. Perennials and shrubs tend to be the most popular, Winter said, but this sale will see “everything that makes a beautiful summer garden.” Attendees can expect plenty of annuals, succulents, house plants, bubs, veggie starts and planted containers, plus baked goods, raffle, a silent auction and more.

Because many club members have their own greenhouses, she said, the variety of plants tend to be wide-ranging.

Added Winter, “[there are] more things of interest for people than just plants,” such as garden art.

Garden club members will be spending much of the week prior setting up for the sale, hoisting tents in case of rain. Plants not yet flowering will have pictures so purchasers can see what they look like, and plenty of members will be on hand to assist. The club can also accept credit cards at the sale now, Winters noted.

Sweet 75

Organized in 1948, the Sequim Prairie Garden Club’s primary mission is “to maintain, improve and beautify the grounds, the clubhouse, and the many historical items of Pioneer Memorial Park,” according to the club website.

The clubhouse, situated on the 4-acre property near downtown that is owned by the City of Sequim, is itself used for dozens of weddings, parties and meetings each year.

“We’re terribly convenient,” Winters said.

“We have a lot of loyal patrons. They thoroughly enjoy coming here.”

Establishing in 1951 as Sequim’s first park, the property is, understandably, quite a draw for new garden club members, too. When Winters started as president six years ago, club membership stood at 39. It’s now at 74 strong.

Winters said she’s seeing a number of recently out-of-state residents join the Sequim club.

“They want to know how to grow what grows here,” she said.

Along with maintenance of the park, meetings that feature guest speakers, and special events, the garden club offers an adopt-a-bed program — it’s “here’s your spot, what do you want to grow here?” Winters said — as well as tours of regional nurseries/farms such as the Far Reaches Farm in Port Townsend.

The club also now offers tours of individual members’ gardens.

“The Olympic Peninsula is a marvelous climate [to grow plants],” Winter said.

Club members are planning a late-July celebration of its 75th year, including a live, free presentation from Pacific Northwest gardening guru Ciscoe Morris.

Attendees can tour the park, view park features such as its cemetery, homesteader cabin and waterfall, and learn more about the organization and park from club members.

For more about the Sequim Prairie Garden Club, the plant sale and its 75th celebration, visit sequimprairiegardenclub.org.

Garden club speaker to talk lilies

Dianna Gibson, owner of B&D Lilies of Port Townsend, is the featured speaker at the next Sequim Prairie Garden Club, set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 1, in the clubhouse at Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St.

B&D Lilies is a major grower and mail order company specializing in many varieties of lilies for both spring and fall planting. Gibson Dianna will share her decades of knowledge and experience with all types of this popular spring flower.

Learn about the latest bulb varieties and best practices for planting these colorful “spring surprises,” club members say.