QCCA Flower & Garden Show – Speaker Schedule

March 13–15, 2026 • Free with Admission

Illinois Extension has arranged a full weekend of expert-led presentations as part of the QCCA Flower & Garden Show. Visit our display garden and information booth throughout the event. Explore showcase gardens designed by local companies and browse a wide range of gardening vendors. 

Show Hours: 

• Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.(Friday is Veterans & Seniors Day - All Veterans and anyone over age 65 enters for $6.00.)
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Sunday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Admission: Adults: $8, Kids 6-15, $1, Kids under 6 are free.

Friday, March 13

2:00 p.m. – When Weather Strikes: What Every Tree Owner Should Know. Emily Swihart, University of Illinois Extension, Horticulture Educator. Trees are wonderful plants to incorporate into our landscape and have in our communities but what happens when Midwestern weather events threaten the health and safety of these plants? Snow and ice can weigh heavy on trees resulting in branch failure. Wind events can whip and twist limbs, influencing the structural stability of tree canopies. Periods of drought or flooding may not produce immediate symptoms of stress but may emerge over time.  This session explores the factors of weather that impact our trees and how to respond in the aftermath of a storm.

4:00 p.m. – How to Reduce Light Over Spill, Jason Schillig, Musco Lighting, Muscatine, Iowa. Learn how to reduce light over spill. Musco Lighting has successfully completed projects in the Quad Cities such as Modern Woodman Park, TBK Sports fields and Augustana fields. The Muscatine plant produces LED and HID light fixtures and control systems with sales in 135 countries. 

Saturday, March 14

12:00 p.m. – Bees, Hives, and Honey, Illinois Master Gardeners Andrea & Ray Churchill. Learn about the exciting world of caring for honeybee hives. From flower to hive to home the journey of honey production. Including how honey is harvested and processed. How to identify the Queen Bee, hive hierarchy and more. 

2:00 p.m. – What’s New in 2026, Stacee Millett, Greenhouse Horticultural Expert & Co-owner, Eve’s Garden. Learn what new in 2026 from Stacee whose mission at Eve’s is to inspire and support customers to create beautiful, thriving, gardens. Stacee believes gardening is more than just a hobby, it's a way to connect with nature, enhance your living space, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. 

3:00 p.m. – Hauberg Estate Garden Rejuvenation, Dr. Todd Linscott, Hauberg Estate Executive Committee Chair. Explore the Hauberg Mansion and its ongoing garden renovation. Noted landscape architect Jens Jensen artfully designed the original gardens. Jens Jensen was a pioneering Danish-American landscape architect, naturalist, and conservationist. 

Sunday, March 15

12:00 p.m. – What Is a Bee City? Dick Potter, Moline Pollinator Preservation Committee & Illinois Master Gardener. You may have heard or seen that Moline is now a Bee City. Explore what a bee city is, how you get the designation and what it means in terms of reducing pesticide use in the city. 

1:30 p.m. – Native Plants for Every Garden, Illinois Master Gardener Cindy Lenger. Explore native garden types, design elements and plants - big and small. There is a native plant for every yard, discover what works for you. Improve the environment and create a beautiful garden.