CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- DANIELS - The president of the National Garden Clubs of America, Barbara May of Boston, is at the Resort at Glade Springs today as part of the West Virginia Garden Club's ninth annual convention.

May will induct officers on Tuesday night following a speech, with a reception in her honor to follow. June Ashworth of Huntington is the incoming president.

Beckley resident Jerry Shriver, outgoing president of the WVGC, said this year's theme is "West Virginia Garden Club Goes Green."

"Our numbers are down a bit," Shriver said. "We have 150 coming, and last year we had 200. It's still a good group, though."

Sessions, which run through Wednesday, include a flower show, exhibits and vendors. A tour of Daniel Vineyards with a wine tasting will take place on Monday. There will be workshops about bats in West Virginia and a how-to about rain barrels, as well as sessions on various garden topics including a discussion by Morgantown landscape architect Laura Cox on rain gardens. Two WVGC members Phyllis Brown and Diane Law, will give a design talk titled, "Better Later Than Never."

"Sherry Hunter will do a little trash talkin'," Shriver said. "She's the educational representative for the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority."

The WVGC helps sponsor campers at the annual 4-H Conservation Camp, and the director, Dr. Ben Spong, will speak at the convention.

Many awards will be presented as well as the $500 Esther Hinchman Scholarship to high school senior Joseph Douglas Brown. The West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association sponsors two $500 awards that will be given - one to Katie Powell for an essay contest and one to Jonathan Stewart for winning the group's speech competition. The WVGC will pay for each of these winners to go to the Conservation Camp, as well.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- DANIELS - The president of the National Garden Clubs of America, Barbara May of Boston, is at the Resort at Glade Springs today as part of the West Virginia Garden Club's ninth annual convention.

May will induct officers on Tuesday night following a speech, with a reception in her honor to follow. June Ashworth of Huntington is the incoming president.

Beckley resident Jerry Shriver, outgoing president of the WVGC, said this year's theme is "West Virginia Garden Club Goes Green."

"Our numbers are down a bit," Shriver said. "We have 150 coming, and last year we had 200. It's still a good group, though."

Sessions, which run through Wednesday, include a flower show, exhibits and vendors. A tour of Daniel Vineyards with a wine tasting will take place on Monday. There will be workshops about bats in West Virginia and a how-to about rain barrels, as well as sessions on various garden topics including a discussion by Morgantown landscape architect Laura Cox on rain gardens. Two WVGC members Phyllis Brown and Diane Law, will give a design talk titled, "Better Later Than Never."

"Sherry Hunter will do a little trash talkin'," Shriver said. "She's the educational representative for the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority."

The WVGC helps sponsor campers at the annual 4-H Conservation Camp, and the director, Dr. Ben Spong, will speak at the convention.

Many awards will be presented as well as the $500 Esther Hinchman Scholarship to high school senior Joseph Douglas Brown. The West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association sponsors two $500 awards that will be given - one to Katie Powell for an essay contest and one to Jonathan Stewart for winning the group's speech competition. The WVGC will pay for each of these winners to go to the Conservation Camp, as well.