Twin City Garden Club

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".

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2024-2025 Calendar

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Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 1 p.m.
Program— Flower Show Recap

Presenters: Club members
Club members will share stories and photos for a recap of the club’s June 29, 2024, NGC Small Standard Flower Show “As Time Goes By.”

 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 1 p.m.

Program—Beneficial insects: unseen, under-appreciated, and under threat—what can you do to save biodiversity?

Presenter: Dr. Tommy McElrath
Let’s talk about the bugs you might not see every day, but that really run the world. From pollinators to decomposers, to predators and parasites, presenter Tommy McElrath will show preserved specimens from the INHS Insect Collection along with a presentation on the under-appreciated arthropods in your backyards, Illinois, and around the world. Dr. McElrath is the Insect Collections Manager, Illinois Natural History Survey/Prairie Research Institute/University of Illinois.
 

Saturday, November 9, 2024 (Time TBA)

Floral arranging workshop: Wreaths
Registration and fee required. All materials will be provided. Participants should bring clippers and/or scissors.

 

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 1 p.m.

Program— Decline of the Whip-poor-wills

Presenter: Michael P. Ward, PhD
Learn about the decline of whip-poor-wills in this program. They are a nocturnal bird that feed on moths and live in forested areas. Whip-poor-wills used to be commonly heard on warm summer evenings throughout Illinois; however, the species is now gone from much Illinois and nearly all of eastern Illinois. He will talk about research in the Midwest and Latin America to determine why this species is disappearing.  He will also provide information on what we can do to help in the conservation of this and other birds. Dr. Ward is the Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Chair in Sustainability, Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Ornithologist, Illinois Natural History Survey.

 

Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Noon

Holiday Luncheon

Join us for a potluck luncheon. Guests are welcome.

Get ready to play some Bingo!

 

Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 1 p.m.

Program— Starting Seeds

Presenter: Gwen Wilson

This program will touch on general information about starting seeds both indoors and using cold stratification outdoors and will include information on timing, materials and seed choices for best results. Gwen is the Park Supervisor of the University of Illinois Arboretum, and a Master Gardener Class of 2009.

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 1 p.m.

Program—All About Hostas

Presenter: Barb Schroeder

In this presentation about Hosta cultivation, shapes, sizes, and colors, and some problems related to hosta areas. Program will also include learning about a few of the top hostas and landscaping ideas. Barb has been involved with Hostas since 1999.  She is an active member in the Illinois Prairie Hosta Society, the Midwest Regional Hosta Society and the American Hosta Society.

 

Saturday, March 15, 2025 (Time TBA)
Floral arranging workshop: Miniature Designs
Registration and fee required. All materials will be provided. Participants should bring clippers and/or scissors.

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 1 p.m.

Program— Big Grove Apiaries

Presenter: Bryan W. Miller

In this program we will learn about Big Grove Apiaries, a local beekeeping operation.  We’ll learn about local floral sources and climate effects on bloom dates. Brian is the co-owner of Big Grove Apiaries.

 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Noon

Manzella's Italian Patio, 115 S. First St., Champaign

Spring Luncheon

 

April 27-28, 2025
Garden Clubs of Illinois Annual Convention, Location TBA
Rooted in Community: Connecting Through Gardens. Highlighting how gardens and garden clubs can serve as hubs for community engagement, education, and environmental stewardship.

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Saturday, May 3, 2025, 8 am to Noon
Twin City Garden Club Plant Sale

 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 1 p.m.

Program—Champaign County Forest Preserves

Presenter: Jennifer Wick
Uncover the natural beauty of east-central Illinois with staff from the Champaign County Forest Preserve District. We’ll introduce the seven forest preserves of Champaign County, highlight key points of interest, and discuss how the forest preserves benefit not just Champaign County, but also the broader region of east-central Illinois.