Who should attend Gardenfest?

If you're looking to improve your "green" thumb, or you're a seasoned gardener, you'll benefit from Gardenfest workshops.

Please register HERE

PRESENTERS AND INFORMATION FOR GARDENFEST 2023

7:30–8 a.m. | Registration, Exhibits, and Tool Sharpening Drop Off

8–8:15 a.m. | Welcome Leucht Auditorium

8:15–9:15 a.m. | Morning Keynote Speaker
Kim Hartmann—Adding Color with Annuals

9:30–10:30 a.m. | Session #1

• MCC Greenhouse Tour—Mandy Hood (limit 20)
• Making Native Plants A Part of Your Landscape—Garrett Beier
• Growing Epic Tomatoes in Northern Illinois—Jerry Gudauskas
• The Backyard Orchard—Grant McCarty
• Gardening in Comfort—Patricia Donald and Betty Lawlor

10:45 a.m.–11:45 p.m. | Session #2

• The Culinary Garden—Joyce Lande and Raechal Maat (limit 20)
• Growing and Caring for Grapes—Rich Tobiasz
• MCC Greenhouse Tour—Mandy Hood (limit 20)
• A Crash Course in Tree and Shrub Selection—Garrett Beier
• The Shape of Design—Dana Garretson

12:15–1:15 p.m. | Lunch and Exhibits

1:30–2:30 p.m. | Session #3

• The Culinary Garden—Joyce Lande and Raechal Maat (limit 20)
• Basic Pruning—Rich Tobiasz
• Common Backyard Weeds: Identification and Management Strategies—Sarah Farley
• Your First Vegetable Garden? Let’s Plan for Success—Doug Moore
• Midwest Pollinators—The Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation—Carol Elkins

2:45–3:45 p.m. | Session #4

• Tool Maintenance and Sharpening—Rich Tobiasz (limit 24)
• Common Backyard Weeds: Identification and Management Strategies—Sarah Farley
• All About Tea Gardens—Christina Rank
• Native Bees: Attracting Them To Your Garden—Nate Szkil