If you're like me, I'm itching to get out and work in the garden and see plants come to life and watch my garden grow. But sadly, here it is still nearly the end of January and the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 40s and yet we know the cold weather is not yet done.

Even though we still have time before being out in the garden with the warmth of the sun on our backs, there are plenty of opportunities to spice up your gardening knowledge. University of Illinois Extension is always busy with opportunities for gardeners of all experiences in the spring time with all day Saturday garden events, webinars, brown bag lunch series, and more.

One of the major events sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Unit 14, Adams County Master Gardeners, and John Wood Community College is the annual Gardener's Palette event. We're in our 20th year of hosting this amazing event and we're hoping you'll join us on Saturday March 7, 2015 from 9 am – 3:30 pm at John Wood Community College in Quincy. Gardener's Palette is sure to get you in the gardening frame of mind with a wide variety of sessions and you'll leave with plenty of ideas to implement in your garden this year.

We are also offering the Four Seasons Gardening Series in all five counties and brand new this year is the opportunity for you to join from a person computer. The Winter session begins February 3, 2015 at 1:30 pm with Super Sempervivums with future programs including Introduction to Beekeeping and The Edible Indoor Garden. These sessions are taught by Extension Educators across Illinois and thanks to digital technology we are able to bring you a wide variety of sessions to your local community.

In February and March will be the opportunity to learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer, and exotic invasive pest that attacks Ash trees. These programs will help provide you information on how to identify Emerald Ash Borer, management and control options, and what steps you should take to be ready for its arrival in your local community. It's better to be prepared then caught off guard. Below are the dates and times for the Emerald Ash Borer program.

• February 26, 2015 - 6:00-7:30 pm - Adams County Extension Office (330 S. 36th St. Quincy, IL)
• March 10, 2015 - 3:00-4:30 pm - Schuyler County Extension Office (710 Maple Ave. Rushville, IL)
• March 12, 2015 - 3:00-4:30 pm - Hancock County Extension Office (550 N. Madison Carthage, IL)
• March 16, 2015 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm - Pike County Extension Office (1301 E. Washington Pittsfield, IL)

And finally, we are hosting a Brown Bag Lunch Series in our Hancock County Office called Get Up & Get Growing to get you started growing vegetables in your own garden or local community garden. The next session is on February 9th with Cool Season Vegetables.

For more information or to register for any of these wonderful programs, visit http://extension.illinois.edu/abhps or contact Kari Houle khoule@illinois.edu or 217-223-8380217-223-8380.