Lake & Valley Garden Club
Programs and Meetings 2026
FEB 28-MAR 8 Philadelphia Flower Show.
Horticulture, Floral Design, Photography, Botanical Arts
“Rooted: Origins of American Gardening”
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Highly recommended for all club members. Travel and fees on your own.
Tickets available online: phsonline.org
MAR 11 WORKSHOP: Horticulture
Templeton Hall 6-7 PM
“Sips and Seeds”
Join in for a glass of wine (or vodka) and learn about seed stratification with native plant seeds to take home from Prairie Moon Nursery. Start growing plants for your field, pond edge, garden or planters. Templeton Hall.
RSVP: Lucy Townsend/ NY900@aol.com
MAR 15-18 GCA NATIONAL AFFAIRS &
LEGISLATIVE 2025 CONFERENCE Conservation
Washington DC
Two club members may attend
APRIL 10 FIELD TRIP Floral Design
Munson Art Museum, Utica NY
“Art in Bloom” annual show with docent-led tour
Museum entrance fee for non-members: $10
Dutch treat box lunch at the museum $20
Carpooling as arranged by attendees
RSVP: Karen Crissman/ karen.crissman.design@gmail.com
APRIL 19 GCA ANNUAL MEETING
GCA Headquarters, NYC and Hilton Midtown
Presidents required to attend
MAY TBD Templeton Hall. Distribution of willow twigs to grow for Zone III meeting 2027 plant exchange along with black plastic pots. Twigs will be available at future meetings as well
MAY 2 WORKDAY: Community Service
“I Love My Park Day”
Glimmerglass State Park
https://www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day/
Meet at Lakeside Pavilion 9 AM.
Bring gardening gloves and tools.
RSVP: Susanna Membrino/ ssmembrino@gmail.com
MAY 6 BOARD MEETING 10AM at Lucy Townsend’s home
7662 State Hwy 80, Springfield Center
Park at the post office and short walk over
MAY 13 GENERAL MEETING: Horticulture
Carefree Gardens and Origins Café 5 PM
Program: Make a Hypertufa Container!
Origins dinner following $45 per person (drinks not included)
Participants to return 2-3 weeks later to fill containers with plants
(plants not included)
RSVP melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
MAY 21 WORKDAY: Conservation; Community Service
Buffer Strip Spring Clean Up
9 AM Lakefront Park (Rain date: TBD)
Bring gardening tools, rakes, snippers, trowels, etc.
MAY 27 FIELD TRIP: Horticulture, Garden History and Design
Root Glen Arboretum at Hamilton College
6909 College Hill Road, Clinton NY
The A.P. Saunders Peonies and Root Glen Arboretum
Car-pooling encouraged. Bring cameras!
RSVP melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
JUN 3 BOARD MEETING Final 2025-2026 Board at Shelley Graham’s home.
2508 County Hwy 33, Cooperstown
JUN 11 LVGC ANNUAL MEETING and LUNCHEON
11:30 AM Cooperstown Country Club
Salad buffet lunch at noon. $27 per person includes tip
Checks made out to LVGC
Speaker: Lynn Marsh
2025 reports from Committee Chairs
Check-in hostesses: Arrive by 11:15 AM.
1. Carol Steigelman
2. Susan Huxtable
Treasurer: Paula Newman
Floral centerpieces created by new members with Karen Crissman to meet at her house day prior. Contact: karen.crissman.design@gmail.com
RSVP for lunch and meeting to:
Melissa Barry: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
JUN 26 FIELD TRIP Garden History and Design
Naumkeag Museum and Gardens
5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262
Museum entrance fee: $20 or $15 seniors
Bring a bag lunch/sandwich. An ice chest will be provided.
Other area museums may be visited depending on time.
Carpooling from Fenimore trolley lot 8:30 AM
RSVP and Contact: Karen Crissman/ karen.crissman.design@gmail.com
JUL 1 BOARD MEETING 10 AM at Shelley Graham’s home
2508 County Hwy 33, Cooperstown
JUL 8 GENERAL MEETING: Garden History and Design, Fundraiser
Fenimore Art Museum
Membership meeting on South Terrace at 1:15 PM, followed by lecture Fenimore Theatre: Time: 2 PM
Program: Speaker Jana Millbocher: Gardens of the Gilded Age Book signing on the South Terrace following lecture
Reception Hostesses: (Lemonade, ice water, cookies)
1. Luann Conlon
2. Peggy Poulson
3. Cathy Howarth
4. Pamela Scurry
JUL 22 WORKSHOP Floral Design
10 AM Fly Creek Grange/Historical Society
Pressed Pansy Notecards with Theresa Hensley
RSVP: Melissa Barry: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
AUG 4-29 GENERAL MEETING: Photography
Smithy Pioneer Gallery
55 Pioneer Street
Program: “Where Winter Sleeps…Sand and Snow.” Photography Show
Time Set up 9 AM. August 4. RSVP jenbrickley@yahoo.com
Opening Party Fundraiser August 5 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM
$50/person includes open bar
Hors d’oeuvres donations: Contact Shelley Graham:
Shelleytgraham@hotmail.com
RSVP to Opening Party Fundraiser: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
AUG 12 BOARD MEETING 10 AM at Lucy Townsend’s house Note date change
7662 State Hwy 80. Park at the post office lot and short walk to Lucy’s.
AUG 19 FIELD TRIP GETOGETHER: Horticulture Note date change
Fly Creek Fruit and Flora Day
10-11 AM Hollyhock Farm with Byron and Sabrina Thomas 176 Stonehouse Rd
11AM-12PM Fly Creek Flowers dahlia farm tour with Deborah Miller. 2189 County Hwy 26; Fly Creek
12 PM Fly Creek Cider Mill apples shopping and lunch (Dutch Treat)
After Lunch: Jerry’s Place Ice cream cones (Dutch Treat)
RSVP: Melissa Barry/ melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
AUG 26 FIELD TRIP Conservation
Goodyear Swamp 11 AM
Directions: From the Thaw Pavilion at the Glimmerglass Festival, look for the shelter on the right where the drive curves to the left.
OCCA Director Shelby McLeish will fill us in on plans for the swamp.
Bring a cell phone with plant ID app loaded or a guide book, and identify native and invasive species. Sensible shoes for steep uneven pathway recommended.
Prize goes to the member with the most plant IDs.
RSVP melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
AUG 29 PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW
Smithy Gallery. Photography Show breakdown.
SEP 2 BOARD MEETING 10:00 AM at AM at Shelley Graham’s home
2508 County Hwy 33, Cooperstown
SEP 9 GENERAL MEETING: Conservation
Location: Lizzie Uhrig’s Home
Program: Speaker Ellen Pope, Director Otsego 2000
Cooperstown Farmers’ Market History, Successes and Future
Husbands and guests invited!
Bring something you like to drink and using Cooperstown Farmers’ Market ingredients create a savory appetizer or finger food dessert to add to the Local Foods buffet.
Time: 6 PM
Hostesses: Setup and organizing
1. Shelley Marcus
2. Mickie Richtsmeier
RSVP: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
SEP 10 PROGRAM: Community Service
Autumn Decorating at The Fenimore Farm
10 AM at Museum stone barn entrance
Rain date: September 11
RSVP: Barb Cannon/ bcannon1221@gmail.com
OCT 7 BOARD MEETING
10 AM at Fly Creek Grange/Historical Society prior to the general meeting.
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OCT 7 GENERAL MEETING and WORKSHOP: Floral Design
Fly Creek Grange/Historical Society
11 AM
Create a Pumpkin Masterpiece
Bring a pumpkin, seeds removed and fitted with a receptacle for water
Bring flower cutting/arranging tools and any extras desired for your piece
Autumn flowers provided by LVGC
Pumpkin Soup, Cider and Pumpkin Pie and Cookies Buffet
Hostesses:
1. Lucy Townsend- Pumpkin soup and croutons; cider
2. Shelley Graham- Pumpkin muffins
3. Pat Hanft
RSVP: Jeannie Grampp / gramppj@hotmail.com
OCT 20-22 SHIRLEY MENEICE HORTICULTURE CONFERENCE
San Marino CA
One member may attend
NOV 4 FINAL 2026 BOARD MEETING 10 AM at Shelley Graham’s home
2508 County Hwy 33, Cooperstown
NOV 15 HOLIDAY BRUNCH Floral Design
12 PM Mel’s at 22
Program: Holiday Décor Demonstration by Phoebe’s Floristry of Mohawk
$40 per person (bar service not included).
Make checks payable to LVGC
RSVP: Melissa Barry/ melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
NOV 19 PROGRAM: Community Service
Holiday Greens for Main Street
9 AM at Cooperstown Fire Hall, 24 Chestnut Street
Hostesses: Coffee + Donuts
1. Barb Cannon
2. Doug Schoppert
RSVP: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
NOV 30 PROGRAM: Community Service
Decorating the Fenimore Art Museum for the Holidays
9 AM Fenimore Art Museum
Coffee and pastries provided
Contact Shelley Marcus or Jeannie Gramp
RSVP: melissapetersbarry@gmail.com
DEC TBD PROGRAM: Community Service
Holiday Decorations at Thanksgiving Home
Member volunteers to assist if needed
Contact Elaine if interested
RSVP: Elaine Bresee: elainebresee8@gmail.com
Please check back for updates!
