Submit plant ID and disease questions to the Horticulture Hotline.
Champaign County Master Gardeners
Since 1992, nearly 600 Champaign County residents have completed Master Gardener training and contribute more than 11,000 hours per year to Champaign County. Master Gardener volunteers have a sincere desire to learn and share home horticulture information, have practical experience or knowledge of gardening, and want to positively impact the community.
June 17, 2023
Champaign County Garden Walk
The Champaign County Master Gardeners host their annual Garden Walk each June. Over 100 Master Gardener volunteers donate time to coordinate and plan the event each year. Garden Walks are the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy the beauty of summer as you meander through private gardens. The featured homeowners have spent years preparing for this year’s events and are eager to inspire all who visit their gardens. Tickets will be on sale at several area businesses.
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Our Projects
Champaign County Master Gardener projects are approved projects that fulfill a community need and allow our volunteer educators to "help others learn to grow". Read below for more information about our community projects or watch our video.
Island of Safety
Crisis Nursery
The Crisis Nursery garden creates an "Island of Safety" dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect by providing 24-hour emergency care for children and support to strengthen families in crisis. The garden provides a safe haven for children at Crisis Nursery and introduces them and their parents to gardening.
Juvenile Detention Center Garden
The Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center Master Gardener Community Garden is a year round educational program targeted to at risk youth ages 12-17 that are remanded at the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). The JDC garden has two educational goals:
- To provide didactic and interactive lessons on gardening, healthy eating, horticulture, related career ideas, nature, and environmental stewardship.
- To provide hands-on gardening experience for the youth.
The Idea Garden
Located on the University of Illinois Arboretum in Urbana, the Idea Garden is considered a local jewel among the community.
Senior Grow Boxes
The Senior Grow Box Gardens works to provide seniors with the opportunity to produce their own vegetables despite limited mobility, space, and tools. The Senior Grow Box Gardens works with seniors at local assisted living facilities such as Youman Place in Rantoul.
Yingying's Garden
The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners welcome returning and new students to the Urbana Champaign campus! As students and faculty go forth with their busy days, we welcome them to stop by Yingying's Garden. The 600 square foot garden is at the corner of North Goodwin Avenue and West Clark Street in Urbana. This "healing garden" was dedicated to Yingying Zhang, a talented visiting Chinese scholar who went missing June 9th 2017. This calming space is filled with plants and shrubs representing beauty, remembrance, friendship, and new beginnings.
