Join us for Gardeners' Day hosted by Piatt County Master Gardeners at the Monticello Community Building!
$25, Keynote Speaker & 2 Educational Sessions & 4-H Youth Option
Participants will choose one workshop per session.
CHECK-IN: 8:00-9:00 am
Check-in and browse educational displays & resources, ask master gardeners questions, and enjoy light refreshments.
KEYNOTE: 9:00-9:50 am
BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS
Chris Benda, Illinois Botanizer
Learn how to attract butterflies to your home garden by providing food sources and breeding grounds for our native butterflies and other pollinators. Chris will inspire you to incorporate beautiful, native plant species in the home landscape and will discuss which host plants are specific to certain butterflies and other insects.
SESSION 1: 10:00-10:50am
THE HIDDEN HEROES OF THE GARDEN: POLLINATORS, NATURAL ENEMIES, AND SPIDERS
Dr. Kacie Athey, Specialty Crops Entomologist and Extension Specialists, Department of Crop Sciences
Learn about the beneficial insects and spiders you will find in and around your gardens. The focus will be on lesser-known pollinators and natural enemies. Increase your awareness and appreciation for some of the rarer pollinators and natural enemies like parasitoids and spiders.
REDUCE FLOODING & WATER POLLUTION: HOW RAIN GARDENS AND NATIVE PLANTS IMPROVE LOCAL WATER QUALITY
Layne Knoche, Assistant Director of Red Oak Rain Garden and Stormwater Outreach Associate, Illinois Extension
In this session you will learn about rain gardens and native plants, together, these can help to reduce localized flooding, improve local water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and much more. Also learn about the recent renovation of the Red Oak Rain Garden, one of the premier rain gardens in Illinois. The crucial role of rain gardens and native plants in fostering climate-resilient landscapes, and contributing to sustainable ecosystem management will be highlighted.
ART OF DISCOVERY & ZEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Nick Nichols, Local Photographer
Learn about photography as the art of observation. It is an invitation to look more deeply and to look in new ways. Nick Nichols loves to take pictures of common ordinary subjects that are near at hand and showcase their beauty in a unique way that others might not have imagined. For him, photography is less about the final image, but more about the experience of taking the image and connecting with his subject. This is the essence of zen photography.
SESSION 2: 11:00-11:50am
BEEKEEPING FROM A BEGINNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Wayne Beck and Kurt Longden, Family of Beekeepers of Illinois
Learn how bees affect our food supply, a bee’s life cycle, the social caste in a bee colony, basic bee-keeping equipment, and a hive full of bee trivia. The presentation will conclude with a discussion on gathering swarms and doing cutouts in buildings & trees where colonies have decided to move in. Questions and group participation will be encouraged.
POLLINATOR POCKET GARDENS
Janet Townsend, Champaign Master Gardener
The University of Illinois Pollinator Pocket Gardens program is focused on assisting Illinois residents with the establishment of pollinator habitats in the landscape. Learn about the Pollinator Pocket Gardens program, plus new features added in 2022, as well as plenty of information about how you can establish your own Pollinator Pocket Garden.
IMPROVING YOUR GARDEN’S SOIL
Doug Gucker, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator, Illinois Extension
Is your garden not producing as well as it should and you are not sure what to do? In this session, you will learn about ways to test for compaction and nutrient deficiencies, how to add organic matter to your garden soil, the importance of living soil, and other useful soil management tips.
4-H Youth Activities: Adult attendees are welcome to bring youth (ages 5-18) for activities led by 4-H in a separate area.
Please include children on the registration form of their registering guardians only. A limited number of spots are available.
*If you plan to pay by cash or check, please drop off or mail your payment to:
Piatt County Extension Office, 210 S. Market St. Monticello, IL. 61856.
*No Refunds will be issued unless the event/class is canceled.
