Join us for the 2026 University of Illinois Extension Garden Learning Series!!

This year we have a fantastic variety of topics being presented by the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Educators, along with Educators and Ecologists from the Lake County Forest Preserve District and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO).

Presentations are scheduled on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm starting in February 2026. This year we have 11 sessions. All sessions are free, virtual, and held on Zoom; they are not recorded.

Registration closes on the Tuesday before each session at 11:59 pm. Zoom link, slides, and handouts will be emailed to registrants by 2 pm the day of the presentation (Check ALL your email folders, including SPAM).

We cannot wait to see you at the 2026 Extension Garden Learning Series!

Register for individual programs below. You cannot register for all programs at once.

Session 1 – Seed Starting for Your Garden

When: February 11, 2026   6:00 PM- 7:30 PM 

Presenter: University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners

Description: Master Gardeners will deliver timely tips on how to start seeds to grow your own seedlings for your garden. Basic requirements, including time, light, growing medium, water, and attention, will be shared as well as suggested plants to start from seed. Seed starting is not limited to vegetables. Annuals and perennials can also be started to get a jump on the growing season. 

Registration: Seed Starting for Your Garden

Session 2 – Soft Landing at the Dunn Museum 

When: March 11th, 2026. 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Dunn Museum (1899 W Winchester Rd, Libertyville)

Presenter: Lake County Forest Preserve District

Description: Soft Landings are landscaped areas under native trees that provide important habitat for beneficial insects during one or more stages of their life cycle. Join us at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville to learn more about adding a Soft Landing to your yard. Installation, plant choice, and maintenance will be covered. We will tour the For the Love of Pollinators temporary exhibit as part of this session.
Note: This presentation will be taking place in-person, as opposed to our typical, virtual presentation format. The Dunn Museum is located at 1899 W Winchester Rd in Libertyville, IL. 

Registration: Soft Landing at the Dunn Museum 

Session 3 – Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us

When: April 8th, 2026  6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 

Presenter:  SWALCO

Description: Learn about the wonders of compost. Merleanne Rampale from SWALCO, a long-time gardener and composter herself, will share information on the various types of composting, share some fun facts on composting in general, and talk about the many benefits and impact it has on our soil and environment.  Gardeners will also learn about adventures, events, and opportunities taking place here locally and across Illinois during this year’s celebration of International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) in May.  These include Compost Givebacks (free compost!), garden tours, backyard and large-scale composting demos, plant sales (including native), bin building demos, vineyard tours/tastings, compost bin giveaways, plant and seed giveaways, activities for kids and families, and farm festivals, to name a few. ICAW also incorporates the related topics of climate, wasted food reduction, soil health, waste diversion, hunger, growing healthy food, biodiversity, conservation, and more. Bring your composting questions and we’ll try to answer all of those too!  And speaking of “spilling the compost tea”, we’re letting you in on a little secret and we’ll be giving away a couple of fun prizes for our April attendees as well!

Registration: Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us