Gardening

Events

Drought-Tolerant Plants: A Botanical Workshop

August 27, 2026

County

Rock Island

Master Gardener Help Desk

August 27, 2026

County

Christian

Give a Sip

August 28, 2026

County

Lake

Homegrown Harvest: Composting and Cover Crops

August 28, 2026

County

Macon

More Events

Blog Posts

The confusing carrot family

August 7, 2026

Every family is full of characters—the fun one, the pretty one, the difficult one, etc. The Umbellifer family has that, too. While...

Look at the sky through an autumn forest

Back to school, back outside: Family fun for late summer and fall

August 21, 2026

Classes may have started, but keep up the outdoor adventures this fallWith the onslaught of back-to-school sales, the lazy days of summer are soon to...

What's wrong with my tree? Nature-based approaches

August 20, 2026

Trees provide shade, ecosystem services, and economic value in both urban and rural landscapes. Because trees are dominant features, their health has...

Pictures of the two handbook covers described in the article

Newly revised pest management handbooks now available

August 11, 2026

You have been patiently asking for them for a while now. The long-awaited revision of two pest management handbooks has finally happened! University...

More Blogs

News Releases

August 14, 2026

Big Thunder Pavilion: preserving Potawatomi legacy through landscape, art, and community stewardship
BELVIDERE, Ill. — Big Thunder Pavilion is a monument site in Belvidere, Boone County, IL, which was donated to the Boone County Conservation District (BCCD) by the late Belvidere resident and businessman, Jack Wolf. It is located at Big Thunder Blvd. and Wolf Rd., across from Rock Valley College...

collage of photos from Idea Garden events

August 13, 2026

Illinois Extension hosts free community event Sunday, Aug. 30
ST. CHARLES, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension will host an Extension Connection Community Day on Sunday, Aug. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kane County Idea Garden in St. Charles. This FREE open house will feature activities for all ages highlighting the environment, gardening, food,...

A person sitting on a park bench between two large trees, overseeing a small city in the far distance.

August 13, 2026

Welcome fall season with new Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening webinars
URBANA, Ill. — It is that time again when shifting seasons are near. Keep the gardening conversations growing with two new webinars from University of Illinois Extension’s free Four Seasons Gardening...

July 10, 2026

Master Gardener Hybrid Training: Registration Now Open for Fall 2026 Program
MACOMB, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension invites community members with a passion for plants, gardening, and lifelong learning to enroll in the Fall 2026 Master Gardener Hybrid Training, running from September 8 through November 24. This program provides...

More News

Videos

The Buzz About Bees

What's all the Buzz about Bees? Illinois Extension is here with information

Join University of Illinois Extension and Extension Educator Sreelakshmi Suresh in this info-packed Wilderness Wednesday webinar sponsored by the...

Starting a Garden: Seed Starting Basics

Are you new to starting your own vegetable garden seeds? Doing it yourself can save you money and get you involved with the food you eat from seed to harvest. In this video, Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth demonstrates seed starting while at home during the...