The Louisiana Garden Club Federation, comprised of 98 garden clubs with almost 3,000 members, is holding its state convention April 15-17 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner with the theme of “All that Jazz.” Hosting the convention is District II, which is made up of the clubs in Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John and St. James parishes. Chairman of the convention is Mary Crumb.
Mary Jacobs of Chateau Garden Club and a resident of Kenner will be honored as the outgoing president, a position she has held for the past two years. Succeeding her will be Yvette Hebert of Alexandria.
A pre-convention tour is scheduled for Monday, April 15, with participants visiting the French Market, Jackson Square, the St. Louis Cathedral, George Rodrigue’s gallery and a lunch at Muriel’s on Jackson Square. The Historic New Orleans Collection is opening especially for the participants to enjoy the history of Louisiana.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Color Guard will present the colors and Parish President John Young, Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni and Councilman Ben Zahn will welcome the guests at the formal opening of the convention on Tuesday, April 16.
Besides the business and committee meetings, there will be breakaway sessions on Luminaries in flower arrangements, the cultivation of butterfly gardens, environmental studies and bird watching.  
Table displays from all parts of the State will include Arbor Day, Birds, Wildflowers, Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl, Circle of Roses, Blue Star Memorial Markers, a Swamp Project by a young Harahan student, Chandler Koch,  the Live Oak Society, Bee Pollinators, National Garden Week, Water Conservation and a Butterfly Display.
Vendors will offer handcrafted jewelry and pottery and honey, and St. Joseph Abbey monks will sell their handmade soaps.
A luncheon on April 16 will feature Dr. John Leonard, who will speak on “Bees and their Importance.”  Petals of North Bridgedale will design the floral centerpieces for the luncheon.
An awards banquet will be held that evening with floral centerpieces presented by the Judges Council.
A luncheon on April 17 will feature Coleen Perilloux Landry who will present a slide presentation and lecture on “The Beauty of the Wetlands and our Need to Preserve Them.”  Acres of Green Garden Club is doing the floral centerpieces depicting the wetlands for the luncheon.
On Wednesday evening an installation banquet will be held at Chateau Estates Country Club with Chateau Estates Garden Club doing the floral presentations. A party after the dinner will honor the new president, and a jazz combo will send the guests home remembering the hospitality of southeast Louisiana.
For more information call Crumb at 504-467-6297 or Landry at 504- 887-1800.