The West Virginia Garden Club will be holding its 81st Annual Convention this weekend, which began Thursday, April 7, at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.

This is the first time the convention has been held in Shepherdstown in 25 years, which will celebrate the “Treasures of the Shenandoah Valley.”

The WVGC is a member of the South Atlantic Region of the National Garden Club, the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. It prides itself on educating the community and promoting the preservation of natural resources through furthering interest in horticulture and conservation.

Excursions are planned for today, April 8, and will include trips to the historic Grist Mill and Museum, owned and operated by Shepherdstown resident Patrinka Kelch, as well as a tour of the National Conservation Training Center, just outside of Shepherdstown.

“Garden club members from all over the state will be attending, and we wanted to offer them a break from all of the meetings and business of the convention to really get out into the community and have a chance to explore the treasures of the Eastern Panhandle,” said Debra Cornwell, the convention excursion chair.

Cornwell is also the president of the Shenandoah-Potomac Garden Council and said she couldn’t be more excited that the convention is being held locally this year.

For more information about the WVGC or for a full list of the conference’s events, visit the WVGC’s website at www.wvgardenclub.com.