University of Illinois Extension is pleased to present these horticultural programs to educate and entertain your Lake County group.
Requests should be made four weeks in advance in order to coordinate our volunteers’ schedules.
2026 Presentations -Lake County Office
- Illinois Native Pollinators- This presentation focuses on making plant choices with native pollinators in mind. We discuss native bees, butterflies, wasps, and other pollinators and their importance in our ecosystem, including the plants that attract them and why. Find out how a little effort can go a long way for pollinators and ecosystems while also providing you with beauty and enjoyment.
- Intro to Rainscaping-Discover what you can do to capture the benefits of reducing stormwater runoff both in private and public spaces. This presentation covers the basic principles of rainscaping.
- Water-wise Gardening- Learn how to develop a garden that makes intelligent use of plants to minimize your garden's thirst for water. This talk will cover drought-tolerant plants that survive and thrive in oppressive conditions, as well as a range of other plants. Learn how thoughtful and intentional planting can minimize your dependence on water.
- Container Gardens- Get inspired with gorgeous and creative container ideas. We will also review your options for containers, potting media, and plants, as well as special considerations for care and attention, so you can create beautiful and thriving container gardens.
- Illinois Invasive Species- From jumping worms to Asian carp, alien invasive species have made their way into Illinois. These non-native insects, fish, plants, and animals can spoil the beauty of natural landscapes, endanger the future of forests and prairies, wipe out native plants and wildlife, and cost the state, businesses, and homeowners millions to manage. Explore which species are a concern in Illinois and how you can help at home.
- Cool Season Veggies- Learn how to take advantage of the "shoulder" seasons by familiarizing yourself with cool-season plans so that you can have a vibrant, productive garden from April through October-and maybe even beyond. This program is ideal for January-April, July and August!
- Monarchs!- Learn about the biology, reproduction, and habitat requirements of Illinois' State Insect. We will also cover how important citizen science is in helping with conservation efforts in our own backyards. Presentation contains special stage-by-stage photos.
- Fall Garden Wrap-Up-What needs to be done to put the garden to bed for the winter? This presentation looks at all aspects of the garden- including lawns, flower gardens, trees and shrubs and covers September-December must-do tasks. Fall garden activities can be your first steps to get a jump on a successful spring garden.
- Spring Flowering Bulbs- With a variety of color, flowering time, height and shape, spring bulbs can bring much interest to your landscape. This presentation focuses on selecting, planting, and caring for spring flowering bulbs. You will learn how to plant a bulb garden that is a burst of color from April through June, how to address pest issues, and how to choose the right bulbs for your needs. Since spring bulbs are planted in early fall, this makes a timely program in August and September.
- Edible Landscaping- By combining trees, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers or small fruits and berries in aesthetically pleasing ways, edible landscapes can be just as attractive as ornamental ones. Learn how to eat your yard by creating a tasteful home landscape using edible plants. We will cover both simple suggestions to ease into integration and more ambitious designs.
- Getting Started with Seeds- This detailed presentation takes you back to the important basics, but throws in a lot of "pro tips" for your seed starting success. Even experienced vegetable and flower gardeners will learn a lot! This presentation is ideal for January, February, March, and April to get gardeners on the right path for the planting year.
- Late Season Color- Learn to tap the beauty of late summer and fall with plants that add color and habitat to your yard! We will cover annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs to consider.
- Herb Gardening- Learn how to start and maintain an herb garden. Many herbs that can be grown in northern Illinois will be featured, with information on how to grow and when to harvest them. This presentation is geared towards individuals new to herb gardening.
- Successful Vegetable Gardening- Looking to start a vegetable garden? This presentation covers all the basics, including planning the garden (site selection, vegetable selection, and supplies), preparing the soil, proper planting techniques, and caring for the established garden. Planting times for warm and cool-season vegetables are discussed as well.
- Houseplant Propagation- Propagation is easy and fun! This presentation will primarily focus on the various vegetative options to propagate your houseplants. We will cover tools, techniques, and methods to get you motivated to create new houseplants from your existing houseplants!
- Gardening in Comfort- Gardening in Comfort involves using adaptive tools, equipment, and techniques to best fit the needs of the gardener. Anyone, at any age, can garden with greater ease, preventing injury and reducing stress on the body. Using the tools and techniques presented here, every gardener can enjoy Gardening in Comfort. Included in the presentation will be a display of adaptive tools.
- Container Gardening Design: Get inspired with gorgeous and creative container ideas. We will also review your options for containers, potting media, and plants, as well as special considerations for care and attention, so you can create beautiful and thriving container gardens.
- Spring Spruce Up: Nurturing Nature: You often hear to leave the leaves and to not clean up the yard until May. But why? This presentation answers that question as well as explaining which of our critical species are at risk by not following this practice.
- Compost: This presentation breaks down the science and techniques for backyard composting. Regardless of your level of experience, you will walk away with the knowledge to start or improve your compost scheme.
- Beneficial Insects: Garden Warriors: Discover the important and beneficial role that insects have in your garden. This presentation covers those warrior insects that go after bad bugs and what we can do to attract those warriors to our yards to help keep the ecosystem in balance!
- Seed Saving: All seeds are good seeds, right? It’s not as easy as that! This presentation discusses basic principles of seed saving, including isolation, cross-pollination, and more.
All programs are provided by the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Lake County. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in an Extension program, please contact our office. 100 South U.S. Highway 45, Grayslake, IL, 847-223-8627.
