Programs for 2026-2027
The Garden Club of Johnstown meetings are usually held the 2nd Monday of the month at the Westmont Presbyterian Church, 601 Luzerne Street in Johnstown, 15905. They begin with a light refreshment at 9:45 am followed by a program/meeting at 10:15 am. Check the information below for any changes to the usual time and/or location. Our programs for each fiscal year begin in May.
Monday, May 11, 2026- Plant Sale at 9:30 am
Hospitality: Kim Haluska and Tiffany Taha, Co-Chairs; Charlotte Crissey, Mary Jo Gardill, Sheri Lowry
Program: Flower Show Prep: America: From Sea to Shining Sea at 10:30 am
Flower Show Co-Chairs, Andy Fedore & Charlotte Crissey, and committee members will discuss the basics of exhibiting horticulture, designs and botanical arts for our July 24-25 show. Remember to bring your Flower Show schedule (handbook).
Special Events: Annual Plant Sale
It’s time to divide your overgrown perennials and repot your extra plants to share at our Annual May Plant Sale, hosted by the Horticulture committee. Please label all plants with the name (common and botanical, if known) and their growing conditions. Please arrive early with plants and plan to make purchases for gifts or to plant in home garden spaces.
Monday, June 8, 2026
Hospitality: Debbie Carpenter and Barb Rushin, Co-chairs; Cozette Hupkovich, Helen Melnik, Becky Miller
Program: Flower Show Prep: America: From Sea to Shining Sea
The flower show committee will review the schedule and answer member questions to encourage blue ribbon entries in the Flower Show. Bring your schedule. Entry cards will be available.
Announcement: We will visit our gardening friends from the Somerset Garden Club as they host the joint July meeting. Please see the Seeder for more details.
Monday, July 13, 2026
12 noon Luncheon hosted by Somerset GC at the Somerset Historical Center
Hospitality: Somerset Garden Club
Program: Joint Luncheon with the Somerset Garden Club
Continue the tradition as we join in fellowship and meet new garden friends and share a summer afternoon with the Somerset Garden Club. This is always a fun-filled meeting to share ideas and visit with fellow gardeners.
Please check The Seeder and email notifications for more details as they become available.
Special Event: America: From Sea to Shining Sea
The GCJ will present our biennial flower show on Friday, July 24th and Saturday, July 25th at the Westmont Presbyterian Church. All members are encouraged to volunteer and to participate and share their creative garden talents. Please check your schedule and email notifications for details on the times to submit your entries.
Monday, August 10, 2026
Hospitality: Sharon Davidhizar and Nancy Wojno, Co-Chairs; Maureen Kimlin, Lois Spory, Bob Wilkey
Program: Cacti and Gloxinia Cultivation
Barry Meidl, a member of the Weeders & Seeders Garden Club, will present tips and instructions on how to grow and care for cacti and gloxinia.
Monday, September 14, 2026
Hospitality: Jane Rodgers and Sarah Schott, Co-Chairs; Toni Callahan, Marlene Roberts, Cynthia Vatavuk
Program: Bringing the Garden into Your Home
Carmen Quartararo of the BPL Interior Design Group will share ideas to enhance your outdoor space as well as ways to bring the garden into your home.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Hospitality: Marilyn Alberter and Donna Prothero, Co-Chairs; Lana Custer, Roxie Hauger, Coralie Krisko, Gloria LaMonaca
Program: It’s Limoncello Season
Community Advocate and West End Improvement Group Leader, Marie Mock, will share her recipe and techniques to prepare the sweet, lemon-flavored Italian liqueur, limoncello.
Special Events: Show & Tell – How do you prepare tender plants for their move indoors? Plan to share your best practices.
Monday, November 9, 2026
Hospitality: Aurora Gilmour and Lisa Wagerer, Co-Chairs; Sue Konvolinka, Carla Straw, Cheryl Wytrwal
Program: Springtime Garden Prep
Local landscaper, Gary Lichtenfels of Lichtenfels Nursery, will update us on springtime pruning and ornamental grass cutting and share his expert advice on preparing our gardens for planting.
Holiday Market & Tour
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Westmont Presbyterian Church
601 Luzerne Street, Johnstown, PA 15905
For the second year in a row, The Garden Club will partner with the Old Westmont Neighbors’ Group and their Holiday Home Tour for our annual fundraiser.
GCJ Members will assist with tour registration and light refreshments and assemble a “Holiday Market.” Prospective plans include selling raffle tickets, Ways & Means, garden-related items, and seasonal centerpieces.
All members are encouraged to participate. The monies raised provide the necessary funds to continue our community projects. Please see The Seeder for more information as details become available.
Date: Monday, December 14, 2026
12:00 Noon -Covered Dish Luncheon
12:30 PM-Program/Meeting
Where: Westmont Presbyterian Church
601 Luzerne Street, Johnstown, PA 15905
Hospitality: Jackie Johnson and Nancy Sutherland, Co-Chairs; Andy Fedore, Ben Johnson, Susan Thomas
Special Events: We will gather with fellow club members for a covered dish luncheon. GCJ members whose last names begin with A-H should bring a salad, vegetable dish or casserole. Those whose last names begin with I-P, please bring a dessert. Members with last names beginning with Q-Z should bring an appetizer to share.
Program: Sharing Holidays Memories & Traditions After a brief business meeting, our membership is welcome to share holiday memories and family traditions that highlight the true meaning of the holiday season.
Announcements: Looking ahead to 2027, please complete your membership surveys and submit dues ($25) to Marlene Roberts, Club Treasurer.
Donations: As we celebrate this season of giving, please consider participating in our annual collection of supplies, gift cards, and monetary donations for Victim Services and the Community Help Center. A listing of the needed supplies can be found on their websites. Your generosity is most appreciated!
NO Meeting in January
Monday, February 8, 2027
Hospitality: Connie Alexander and Lana Custer, Co-Chairs; Jean Livingston, Tiffany Taha, Jan Wolfe
Program: Healing with Our Gardens
GCJ Member, Shannon Nicoloff, a licensed psychologist and adjunct professor, will discuss the ways our gardens can enhance our creative process and memory abilities.
Special Events: The 2026-2027 Slate of Officers and Budgets will be presented to the membership.
Announcements: 2027-2028 DUES ($25) ARE DUE BY TODAY’S MEETING. PLEASE SEE MARLENE ROBERTS, TREASURER.
Remember to bring your no-longer needed, garden-related items to the March meeting for the Garden Auction.
Special Events: Show & Tell – Share photos or samples of what you have had blooming in your home over the winter. What are your secrets to winter blooms? Do show and tell!
Monday, March 8, 2027
Hospitality: Linda Orlidge and Diane Taylor; Karlice Makuchan, Shannon Nicoloff, Donna Prothero
Program: Ben the Gardener
GCJ Member, Ben Johnson, owner of Ben the Gardener, LLC, a local landscape and garden design company, will instruct us on ways to improve our gardening practices that offer better results for our outdoor spaces.
Garden Auction – Arrive early to donate your items and purchase tickets. Thank you, Ways & Means for organizing this fundraiser!
Special Event: Election of 2027-2028 Officers
Announcements: Plan to attend the April meeting to celebrate our newly installed 2027-2028 GCJ officers.
Monday, April 12, 2027
Hospitality: Joan Polster and Nancy Rovansek, Co-Chairs; Charlotte Crissey, Barb Rushin, Joy Thwing
Special Event: Installation of 2027-2028 Officers
As a new Garden Club year is about to begin, we thank those members who have volunteered to lead us into our next season.
Program: Springtime Options
Josh Fosbrink of Fosbrink’s Four Seasons Greenhouse will detail Springtime options from his local greenhouse and offer additional selections for the upcoming growing season.
Announcements: Bring plants to sell next month at the May Plant Sale.