Monday, April 15, 6 - 8 PM

• Oh Baby, Watch Me Grow! Spring nurseries brim with a myriad of plants. Have you ever wondered how so many can be produced each season? Cindy Descamps, owner of Seeds and Stems Homegrown, will help you explore the 3 most common propagation methods used by industry professionals, as well as some not so common ones. She’ll explain which plants can’t be propagated by the home gardener, and share what to do with your new “plant babies” once you have them growing.
• The Rusty Patched Bumblebee: Quad Cities Contributions to Recovery The federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee, listed in 2017, has been regularly sighted in the Quad Cities area. This provides a unique opportunity for the local US Fish and Wildlife Service office to study the species' behavior and community support for pollinator conservation. Over the past three years, USFWS biologists, in collaboration with local partners, conducted surveys, revealing insights into foraging patterns and leading to new detections. Lauren Larson, Wildlife Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Illinois-Iowa Field Office, will highlight Quad Cities-specific findings and ongoing conservation efforts.

Monday, April 22, 6 - 8 PM

• Homegrown Bouquets: Growing a Cut Flower Garden Discover the joy of homegrown bouquets with Emily Swihart, Horticulture educator, Illinois Extension. During this session, you will learn how to cultivate a beautiful cut flower garden and leave knowing how to select, plant, and care for species that combine to make a stunning bouquet.
• New Plants: Trying Them, Introducing Them, and Mixing with Our Favorites Every year, shiny new catalogs show us the new plants that will be available for the next season. How do you choose what to try? How do you share these new plants with others? And where do they intersect with plants we already love? From bedding plants to garden plants, Shanna Schneiter, greenhouse owner, and grower will chat about how new offerings can spice up landscapes AND dinner plates!