Photo Gallery

Avalon Garden Club Events!

Avalon Garden Club Membership Meeting November 19, 2024

The Avalon Garden Club membership meeting on November 19, 2024 was our annual Caring and Giving meeting. Members donated to the Avalon Police Department’s year-round USO Care Package Drive and Holy Redeemer Food Pantry. Members also enjoyed a time of friendship and fun making Christmas Potpourri Bags.

Avalon Garden Club Appreciation Brunch-October 22, 2024

The Avalon Garden Club October meeting was our annual Appreciation Brunch for all Borough employees and those who help us throughout the year. We were fortunate to have 5 students from the Culinary Department of the Cape May Technical School assisting us along with their chef. They even contributed delicious salads and desserts.

Annual NJ Run for Fallen New Jersey Service Members

Members of the Avalon Garden Club came out at two locations on September 26th to support runners in the 16th Annual NJ Run for Fallen. NJ service members, who died during the Global War on Terror, are honored and remembered every mile during the four day 225÷ mile run from Cape May to Holmdel.

September 17th Membership Meeting Program

Our first meeting for the 2024-2025 year!  Emily Reed from the NJ Audubon’s Nature Center of Cape May presented a program on herbal tea blending.  Members learned the benefits and the growing and drying of herbs. We all were able to make our very own herbal tea blend to take home.  Our Hospitality Committee provided teatime treats and our members wore hats and fascinators.

Installation of Club Officers Luncheon, June 2024

Term: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Arbor Day Celebration

On National Arbor Day, the Garden Club observes Arbor Day by planting a tree in Avalon. This year The Club planted a “White Oak Tree” (Quercus alba) a long-lived oak, native to eastern and central North America, documented to live over 450 years. A perfect tree for the island offering a lot to the overall environment. The celebration took place at 48th Street & Dune Drive Island. Event Chair, Pat Fleishman, welcomed everyone. Invited guests included Club President Nancy Hudanich, Club Members, Avalon Boro Department Heads, Employees, Members of the Clergy and other guests. Joe Dvorak, Representative of the Environmental Commission, spoke on the tree and why it was chosen. The ceremony ended with Mayor John McCorristin, proclaiming April 26, 2024 as Arbor Day in Avalon, urging all citizens to support the efforts to plant and protect our trees, and celebrate the riches trees provide both to us and future generations.

Program – April 16 General Club Meeting:

Club Member Sherry Mirakian, gardener and flower arranger, instructs Club Members on “How To” make arrangements to be exhibited at the Flower Show.
Chosen from the Exhibitor’s Guide “Artistic Design” category #2 is “Life’s A Beach”, fresh flowers arranged in an average size beach bucket, and #5 – “We All Scream for Ice Cream”, fresh flowers arranged in a ceramic ice cream cone.

Photos of Club Holiday Luncheon Held December 12, 2023

Holiday Decorations by Club Members

It was a beautiful, sunny, and blustery day, but members of the Club’s Beautification Committee decorated Dune Drive planters, PO entrance planter boxes, and other areas of Avalon. It was a “Flowery Touch” to the town’s “Festive Fanfare” of Lights for Thanksgiving and the upcoming Holidays.

Meeting & Program – November 14

Club members made small arrangements with greens to be donated to Crest Haven Nursing facility. The residents and staff of the facility are always happy to receive these small arrangements, especially those residents who have few visitors.

Members Pat Coyle & Robin Schall, as she picks the winning ticket for a prize a member has won.
President Nancy Hudanich (L) & Joan Matthews, Program Chair

Yard Sale

The AGC held a successful Yard Sale Friday & Saturday, Oct 6/7 to raise funds for the Club. It was held at the 39th St “Greenhouse”. Funds raised help defray the costs associated with the beautification of Avalon Islands, Parks & Gardens.A Club member donated beach tags dating back to the 90s. Sold the lot for over $200, the most amount we made from one donation.

Annual Flower Show June 11, 2022

1st & 2nd Place winners of the 2022 Flower Show

Joan Matthews, 1st VP and Flower Show Chair, conducts a class on the steps to making a topiary arrangement, one of the floral entries for the Flower Show.

Preparing for the Annual Flower Show June 11, 2022

Memorial Day Parade – May 30, 2022

Arbor Day 2022 - Mayor
Arbor Day Group 2022.2

Arbor Day – April 29, 2022

Historically, on National Arbor Day, the Avalon Garden Club observes Arbor Day by planting a tree in Avalon. This year The Club planted a “White Oak Tree” (Quercus alba) a long-lived oak, native to eastern and central North America, documented to live over 450 years. The celebration took place at the 70th Dune Drive Island, beginning with the event Chair, Barbara Small, welcoming everyone. Invited guests included Club Members, Avalon Boro Department Heads, and employees, Members of the Clergy and other guests. The Invocation was given by Rev. Dr. David Montanye, Pastor First United Methodist Church, followed by “Meet the Tree” Speaker, Donna Rothman, Chairperson, Environmental Commission, who spoke on the tree and why it was chosen. A tree blessing was given by Father William J. Kelly, Pastor St. Brendan the Navigator. The ceremony ended with Mayor Marty L. Pagliughi, proclaiming April 29, 2022 as Arbor Day in Avalon, urging all citizens to support the efforts to plant and protect our trees, and celebrate the riches trees provide both to us and future generations.

Flowers & Plants for sale at the Annual Plant Sale – April, 2022

Kite Girl celebrates her 31st

Kite Girl Celebrates her 31st Birthday

“The Kite Girl celebrated her birthday with members of the Avalon Garden Club. She was commissioned and donated to the Borough of Avalon and dedicated 31 years ago by the Club. She has greeted residents and visitors alike as they enter Avalon on 30th Street ever since. Due to Covid-19 regulations, her 30th Birthday party was postponed until 2021, but on Tuesday, June 15 this milestone was celebrated. Founded in 1976, the Avalon Garden Club has been promoting the beautification of the Boro through planting on Dune Drive Islands, Parks and Gardens, as well as Public Building sites, and the Business District newly installed planters”.

Yard Sale

The AGC held a successful Yard Sale Saturday, May 8 to raise funds for the Club. It was the 2nd fundraiser for the Club. It was held at the 39th St “Greenhouse” following Covid restrictions. Funds raised help defray the costs associated with the beautification of Avalon Islands, Parks & Gardens.

Arbor Day – April 30, 2021

Annually, the Garden Club celebrates Arbor Day by planting a tree in Avalon.  This year the Garden Club planted a White Oak Tree on the Island of 48th – 49th Street & Dune Drive.  Co-Presidents Pat Coyle & Linda McCullough welcomed everyone.  Guests represented various boro departments, Club Members, and the public.  The ceremonial presentations began with Arbor Day Chair, Babs Delorey, continuing with Deacon, Robert Dooley’s invocation and blessing of the tree.  He was followed by Donna Rothmann, Chair of the Avalon Environmental Committee, who introduced the tree and spoke of its origin and significance.  Mayor Pagliughi closed the ceremony presenting the Club with a Proclamation.
floral arrangements

Pat Coyle (L) & Linda McCullough (R) Garden Club Co-Presidents, deliver floral arrangements to Crest Haven. 

Club Members Create Floral Arrangements for Crest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in CMCH, NJ.

Spearheaded by Joan Matthews, 1st VP & Chair of the Annual Flower Show, Club Members spent the morning of April 20 creating beautiful arrangements at the 39th Street Club Greenhouse. Wearing their masks and maintaining social distance, it did not deter Club Members from getting involved in this annual project.  Bringing joy to the residents of Crest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation, with beautiful floral arrangements.

Avalon Garden Club 2020 events!

Boxwood Workshop

Once again, at the 39th Street Club Greenhouse, Members attended a hands-on workshop led by Joan Matthews, VP, on how to make and maintain a traditional boxwood tree for the holidays. Using fresh boxwood greens, armed with garden shears, they cut and assembled, creating their holiday tree to personally decorate themselves at a later time. Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing didn’t keep Club Members from getting involved in this project, and having some fun. To allow for maximum participants, the workshop was held over 2 days, Nov 17 & 18.

Yard Sale

Chaired by Club Member Cheryl Mattson, the Club held a successful Yard Sale October 10 & 17 to raise funds. It was the 1st fundraiser the Club was able to do concerning Covid restrictions. It was held at the 39th St “Greenhouse” following Covid strict rules. Funds raised help defray the costs associated with the beautification of Avalon Islands, Parks & Gardens.

Club Members Create Floral Arrangements for Crest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in CMCH, NJ.

Spearheaded by Joan Matthews, VP & Chair of the Annual Flower Show, Club Members spent the morning creating beautiful arrangements following the Sept 15 General Membership Meeting at the 39th Street Club Greenhouse. Wearing their masks and maintaining social distance did not keep Club Members from getting involved in this wonderful project, bringing joy to the residents of Crest Haven Nursing & Rehab.

Avalon Garden Club 2019 events!

Avalon Business District gets New Planters…

Nina Ansel, Chair of Parks-Gardens, and Anita Stenger, 2nd VP & Chair of Property, members of the Club’s Beautification Committee, plant newly installed “Planters” to beautify Avalon’s Business District. Donated by the Club, spearheaded by the Beautification Committee, the planters are located in front of the Rock-n-Chair, Sturdy Savings Bank, Ferguson-Dechert Real Estate, Avalon Freeze & Boro Hall. Check them out!!!

Line Dancing Event Fundraiser, August 18, 2019


July 23, 2019 – Mayor Marty Pagliughi Presents the Avalon Garden Club with a Pickup Truck for the Club’s use in their work in the beautification of Avalon boro. 

Avalon Mayor Marty Pagliughi, Co-Presidents Linda McCullough & Pat Coyle.

2019 Flower Show

Memorial Day Parade 2019

Getting ready and day of Parade

Installation of 2019 – 2021 Officers Event, June 18

Joan Matthews

Joan Matthews, 1st VP, installed June 2, 2020.  Due to the pandemic, the Club was unable to officially install Joan and current officers at the Annual Officers Installation Luncheon, June 16.