Programs and Events
Twin City Garden Club meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2101 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign, IL, (corner of Prospect and Devonshire), unless otherwise noted in calendar. Parking for our meetings is in the back parking lot of the church. Enter through the door marked "Office".
2026-2027 Calendar
September 15, 2026
Program—Beauty of a Pollinator Garden
Presenter: Mike Skreiner
Pollinators and their associated plants are inextricably linked, indeed they coevolved for millions of years. To display their beauty, this program presents a gallery of pictures by a number of photographers. Examples of learning by observing nature are demonstrated.
Mike Skreiner was an avid gardener in Australia, the East and West Coasts, and now in the Midwest.
October 20, 2026
Program—All About Apples
Presenter: Heather Miller, Master Gardener and Horticultural Professional
Discover the history of apples, how to pick the perfect apple for baking, snacking and more! After the talk, enjoy sampling apple varieties and take home a handy worksheet to guide your future apple picks!
November 17, 2026
Program—All About Bats
Presenter: Tara Hohoff, Illinois Natural History Survey
Come learn about bats in Illinois and the research being done by the Illinois Bat Conservation Program. Discover how your gardening practices can help your backyard bats.
December 15, 2026
Holiday Luncheon, NOON
Note: This luncheon will be held at the home of Cheryl Weber
Join us for a holiday luncheon. Guests are welcome. Get ready to play some bingo!
January 19, 2027
Program—Pruning Shrubs
Presenter: Ryan Pankau
Pruning can feel intimidating, but understanding a few key principles can make all the difference. Horticulture educator Ryan Pankau from the University of Illinois Extension will walk us through the science and strategy behind proper shrub pruning.
February 16, 2027
Program— The Role of Shussho in Ikenobo Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging)
Presenter: Susan Haney
Susan has studied the art of Japanese flower arranging (ikebana) in Kyoto, Japan over a dozen times. Ikenobo, Susan's school, has a written history of over 550 years and is the oldest school of ikebana. She is now enrolled in Ikenobo Chuo Kenshu Gakuin (Ikenobo Central Institute of Ikebana) in Kyoto, Japan, which trains all the top professors and is set to graduate in December 2026. In March of 2027 Susan will participate in Chuken-sai, the invitation-only graduation exhibition in Kyoto, which lasts four days and is actually two exhibitions. She has won a Tachibana Award for her classwork. She teaches and demonstrates throughout the Midwest. This program will consist of a slide show and demonstrate the art of Ikenobo Ikebana with a focus on shussho, which is the way a plant grows, or in other words, its essential essence.
March 16, 2027
Program—Aestival Beauty: Summer Wildflowers of Central Illinois
Presenter: James Ellis
Summer days are long, hot, humid, and filled with the blooms of many flowers. Please join us to learn about common summer wildflowers in and around east-central Illinois, how to identify them, and where to find them. James (Jamie) Ellis is the natural areas coordinator for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has training and work experience in botany, plant ecology, and natural resource management with degrees from the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. He is a long-time member and volunteer with Grand Prairie Friends, a natural areas conservation organization and land trust based in east-central Illinois.
April 18-19, 2027
GCI Annual Convention, Location TBA
April 20, 2027
Spring Luncheon, NOON
Manzella's Italian Patio, 115 S. First St., Champaign
May 1, 2027
Plant Sale
8 am to Noon, front parking lot, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Champaign
May 18, 2027
Program—TBA
Stay tuned for more information.
June 15, 2027
Summer Picnic, NOON
Note: the picnic will be held at the home of Cheryl Weber.
July, 2027
Garden Clubs of Illinois Summer Meeting, Date and Location TBA
Plant Sale
Visit us from 8 am to noon on Saturday, May 1, 2027, for our annual plant sale. Perennials, herbs, and much more – all dug from member gardens!
Sale is held in the front parking lot of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2101 S. Prospect Avenue, Champaign, IL.
Floral Design
Unique to Twin City Garden Club is our instruction in both floral design and preparing horticulture specimens for exhibiting in flower shows.
Floral design workshops for 2027 to be announced.
Registration will be required and will include a fee to cover the cost of materials. Participants should bring clippers and/or scissors.