The 25th Annual Gardener's Day sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and McDonough County Master Gardeners will be Saturday, April 4, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Spoon River College Outreach Center in Macomb, Illinois. Check-in registration begins at 8 a.m. with our first speakers beginning at 9 a.m.

Registration includes speaker sessions, lunch, access to vendors, and materials for most of the sessions.

Early Bird registration is $30 for participants that register prior to March 6 at 5 p.m. After March 6th, the fee is $40.

Half-Day registration is available! The fee for half-day is $20. Lunch is NOT included in the half-day option.

Class numbers are limited and will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. All enrollments, online or mailed in, will be dated upon arrival.

Mail-in and online registration deadline is March 27. Late registration and walk-ins will be accepted only on a space-available basis. Late registrations and walk-in registrations will be $40, but lunch will be on your own. Contact Wendy Ferguson for space availability.

This year we are offering four hands-on workshops with limited capacity. These workshops also cost an additional fee for the added materials.

• The Joy of Succulents!: $15 (Limit 18)* Please note: This workshop will be offered twice.
• Hand-stitched Garden Journal Workshop: $10 (Limit 15)
• Make-n-Take Floral Arranging: $15 (Limit 15)
• Nature Impressions Tile Workshop: $15 (Limit 12)

Master Gardeners are selling Spear Head Shovels, a tool that is coveted in our gardens. You may purchase this shovel in person at Gardeners Day or you can reserve one online by registering here.

All participants have a chance to win one of two short-handled Spear Head Spades offered as door prizes this year along with other door prizes offered by local businesses. We will draw door prize winners during lunch.

Lunch will be sandwiches, soup, salad, and fruit and is provided by Whytehouse Catering.

To register; simply choose your schedule, let us know if you need accommodations, and pay online, mail a check, or bring exact cash to the office.

Session One - 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

New Plants for the 2020 Growing Season

Jeff Johnson

Join the owner and head grower at Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Garden Center as he covers cultural information on new annuals, perennials, vegetable and nursery stock for the 2020 growing season.

Positive Power of Plants and Landscapes

Jeff Vancil

In today's stressful world, it is more important than ever to have places in your home and work, inside and out that are designed to relieve stress (anxiety) and to promote physical and emotional well-being. Science shows green spaces improve healing and productivity while giving a boost to one's mood and mental health. Join the owners of Hart's Nursery for this class focused on tips and techniques to create your own oasis through the use of outdoor lighting, fire, water, color, fragrance, and texture in your living space or landscape.

The Joy of Succulents!

Bill Wallace

Learn how to use succulents in your home and garden with University of Illinois Master Gardener Bill Wallace. After learning what is needed to be successful in growing these beautiful plants, create your own succulent masterpiece to take home. An additional $15 fee for this session will be charged to cover the costs of materials. (Limited to 18 participants)

Session Two - 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. 

East to west and in between- gardens to see

Martha Smith

What are your favorite top 10 gardens? Inspired by this question, Martha Smith, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator created this travelogue of must-see gardens located across the United States, Canada and beyond. Join her as she highlights each garden and why they are a part of her top 10 list.

Design Your Own Living Landscape

Carey Boehm-Corrie

Learn how to invite life into your landscape! Join landscape designer Carey Boehm-Corrie from Boehm's Garden Center and take a hands-on approach in designing your own landscape. From removing invasive plants to creating spaces and ways to invite native critters to your landscape. Layout a design for your own property with Carey's guidance. Graph paper and pencils provided. Come with your property size (Google earth images are fantastic) and your imagination.

Hand-stitched Garden Journal Workshop

Natalie Shelly

Join Natalie, naturalist educator at Lakeview Nature Area, and create your own hand-stitched journal that's perfect for your garden notes, sketches, memories, and inspired ideas! Walk through a series of simple steps to drill, stitch and assemble your journal. Learn ways to use your newly created journal that will leave you excited and inspired! An additional $10 fee for this session will be charged to cover the costs of materials. (Limited to 15 participants)

Session Three - 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. 

Illinois Insects: Curious to Charming

Kelly Allsup

Illinois boasts an abundance of the most curious and charming insects and they are most likely hiding out in your garden or favorite trail in the woods. Join Kelly Allsup, University of Illinois Extension Educator as she shares with you all of the interesting and unique facts about these magnificent insects.

Make-n-Take Floral Arranging

Kim Bush

Join designer and farmer, Kim Bush to learn how to create your own floral arrangement. Using a mixture of landscape materials and fresh-cut flowers, Kim will guide you through the process so you too can create your own beautiful arrangements. An additional $15 fee for this session will be charged to cover the costs of materials. (Limited to 15 participants)

The Joy of Succulents!

Bill Wallace

Learn how to use succulents in your home and garden with University of Illinois Master Gardener Bill Wallace. After learning what is needed to be successful in growing these beautiful plants, create your own succulent masterpiece to take home. An additional $15 fee for this session will be charged to cover the costs of materials. (Limited to 18 participants)

Session Four - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Soil Science is Not Rocket Science

Ross Braun

To most people it is just dirt, but to gardeners it is potential. Join retired NRCS conservationist and Missouri Master Naturalist, Ross Braun to learn how to increase that potential. How to improve soil health, basic soil science and techniques to help you understand your soil better will be covered during this interesting talk.

Quality Garden Tools for Amateurs and Professionals: Where to find them and how to use them

John Curtis

With the ever-growing number of tools and techniques designed to make gardening easier and more efficient, along with the wide range of quality of tools found in stores today, how do you choose the best tools for your garden or farm? Local farmer, John Curtis shares his insights and the answers he has gained in his 20 plus years of market gardening.

Nature Impressions Tile Workshop

Natalie Shelly

Make your love of nature permanent during this fun hands-on clay workshop! Naturalist educator, Natalie Shelly will guide you from selecting natural items to arrange, impressing them into our tile and finally glazing your creations. Participants are highly encouraged to bring a small collection of natural items (grasses, nuts, small twigs) from their own garden to make the piece more meaningful. Please note: Tiles need to be fired and so will be available April 13th for pick up at the Extension Office (more details will be given in class). An additional $15 fee for this session will be charged to cover the costs of materials. (Limited to 12 participants)

AND DON'T FORGET TO VISIT OUR VENDORS DURING BREAK!

Sweet Briar Corner Market: With a selection of plants and information about their market.

Hart's Nursery: Selling plants and garden center wares.

Boehm's Nursery: Selling plants and garden center wares.

Folk Art by Linda: Original works of art.

Purple Prairie Lavender: Selling lavender bath and body products.

Little Creek Alpacas: Fertilizer and other garden items.

Vine and Stem Creations: Floral arrangements

Herron Holler Barn Quilts: Quilts

Lakeview Nature Center: 80+ acres of nature, part of the Macomb Park District

Master Gardener's Booth: With educational materials, books, and Spear Head Shovels