December Garden Club Program

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Cocoa & PJs

Join us for a Christmas celebration dressed in your finest PJs! 

Meetings are held at the Dolly Spiering Community Center

817 Holbek, Antioch lL 60002

Doors open at 12:30 and the meeting starts at 1:00

Upcoming Events at a Glance:

November 22nd, Wreath Decorating

November 28th, Christmas Parade

November 29th, Festival of Trees at Hiram Buttrick Sawmill

November, Kris Kringle Tree

February, Lap Blankets for Seniors

March 28, 2026, Spring Cleanup

April 24, 2026, Arbor Day

May 16, 2026, Plant Sale

Tabletops and Tablescapes, by Kathi Rose

How to create a tablescape that reflects your event and personality. Learn how to use a combination of components: china, glassware, and floral accents.

Don't Squash the Bug, by James Rowan

There are over a million species of insects and spiders on the planet, with about 25,000 of them being in Illinois. In this program we will meet some of them, learn how to distinguish them and separate the "good guys" from the "bad guys".

The club members met on a beautiful day to enjoy soups and sweets and a very informative presentation on spiders and insects.  We learned why they are good for our gardens as well as in our homes.  There were gorgeous cabinets of insects collected by the presenter on display.  

 We had a fantastic kickoff to our new fiscal year after a fun-filled summer break! Our first meeting featured a wonderful presentation by Alyse Berman from Wildbird Shack, who shared her knowledge (and enthusiasm!) about owls. The room was filled with “oohs” and “aahs” as we discovered fascinating owl facts—did you know their eye color can tell you whether they hunt during the day or at night?

After the talk, we gathered around a tasty potluck buffet and enjoyed catching up on everyone’s summer gardening and activities. It was such a great way to reconnect and start the year together!

Our June potluck meeting is the kickoff to summer for our club. We awarded the Nancy Zitkus Scholarship to this year's recipient, Javier Sanchez. Congratulation to Javier!

We also inducted our newest member Trina Z.  Welcome Trina, we are excited to have you!

Our program this month was presented by Antioch Garden Club member Stacy Vogt. She demonstrated how to utilize flowers, herbs and fruits in making a sweet treat. We learned how to make jams and jellies, and how to take the intimidation factor out of this rewarding process. A variety of items were offered for sampling and purchasing. 

Our potluck luncheon never disappoints. In addition to savory foods, we had a dessert table filled with sweet treats that were almost too beautiful to eat.

This month's program was all about rose gardening. Dr. Andrew Plasz, a world-renowned rosarian and winner of the American Rose Society's Joseph & Marion Kilma Medal for rose education, explained the characteristics of various roses and how he judges them. He has been a member of the American Rose Society since 1976. He is one of 30 Master Rosarians in Illinois-Indiana District. He maintains a garden of more than 87 roses of all types and is an avid exhibitor

 Meetings are held at the Antioch Senior Center

The address is 817 Holbek Dr., Antioch, Il. 60002 

Doors open at 12:30 pm, meeting starts at 1:00 pm.    

1st Annual Roundtable and Soupfest

During this relaxing kickoff to our 2025 programs we all shared a bowl of hot soup and some interesting gardening conversations. A few members brought crockpots of soup to share and then we enjoyed catching up on what everyone was doing over the holidays. The informal program asked members to bring their favorite gardening tool to demonstrate and recommend

Our next program will be on March 8th

Getting Started with Seeds

This detailed presentation takes you back to the important basics but throws in a lot of "pro" tips for your seed starting success. Even experienced vegetable and flower gardeners will learn a lot! This presentation will get gardeners on the right path for the planting season.

 Our December meeting will be held at the Antioch Senior Center. The address is 817 Holbek Dr., Antioch, Il. 60002 

Doors open at 12:30 pm, meeting starts at 1:00 pm.    

Christmas at the White House

Just as there are 12 Days of Christmas (as in the song) this presentation showcases 12 Traditions of Christmas that have endured at the White House over its history.  From the very public National Christmas Tree to the very humble Cranberry Tree, these holiday decorations and events are presented in all their splendor along with the history behind them.  A look at our First Ladies and their individual contributions to White House Christmases through the years offers a fun perspective.

Turn Your Garden Into a B&B for Birds

This month's program was all about creating a backyard oasis for birds. Presenter Alyse Berman from Wildbird Shack showed us how to transform our backyards into a showcase of bird activity.  The right balance of food, feeders, water and shelter are essential elements for the perfect birdscaping design.  This discussion included: ideal locations for birdscape design, desirable food and feeders to attract your favorite birds, proper hygiene and squirrel prevention.