Small changes can make a big difference in the health and beauty of your landscape. Melinda will cover common landscape mistakes and challenges and provide affordable and attractive solutions you can put to work in your garden. She will cover everything from plant maintenance, garden accents, planting strategies and of course a few structures and hardscape options. 

Discover the fascinating and often hidden world of galls. These unique plant growths are caused by insects, mites, fungi, or bacteria. Learn how they form, their ecological roles, and the surprising diversity they bring to our landscapes. Join us for an engaging session that will leave you amazed by the wonders of nature! 

Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful additions to summer gardens, but with so many different varieties it can become confusing to choose the best hydrangea for your garden. This class will break down the different types of hydrangeas, optimal growing conditions for each type, and how to care for them so you can confidently select the right hydrangea for your garden and enjoy the beautiful summer blooms for years to come. 

Join Joel Barczak of Blumen Gardens for an engaging discussion on some of his favorite tried-and-true perennials, along with exciting new varieties that are earning a place in today's gardens. Joel will share recommendations for long-lasting color, pollinator support, seasonal interest, and dependable performance in Northern Illinois landscapes. Whether you're creating a new garden or refreshing an established one, you'll leave with inspiration and practical ideas for your own outdoor spaces. 

Learn the science, tools, and techniques to help ensure healthy woody plant structure, proper wound closer, and plant vigor. 

Join Tim as he shares a very brief history of Anderson Japanese Gardens, then reveals some of the patterns in nature that inspire Japanese garden design, and the reasons for all the effort. Included will be some of techniques for integrating the garden and architecture into one cohesive space. 

The program will be a look at the marvelous array of butterflies (and moths) that can be found in our area.  You will learn about the various species found here, their status, how you can attract them to your yard with their host and nectar plants and even ways to garden or maintain your landscape so that you don't harm them.  Alan hopes the program inspires some reverence for these amazing insects, that sadly, are in trouble. What you see now is the new normal, but it is not normal.  Luckily, they have resiliency to rebound if given a chance. 

Everyone can have a green thumb with the techniques Vic shares in this fun and informative presentation. Save money and enjoy an amazing bounty of greens, herbs, and vegetables year-round. Vic emphasizes simplicity and successful outcomes with methods that allow him to grow even the most demanding of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, eggplants, and peas, not to mention leafy greens, root vegetables, and herbs. You can do this, and Vic will show you how. 

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners celebrated a 50-year legacy rooted in community and growing through connection at the 2025 annual conference in Springfield. With 300 volunteers in attendance to celebrate half a century of helping others learn to grow, volunteers enjoyed tours of some of the capital's exhibits, like the historic Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the heirloom garden. Volunteers also participated in intensive, hands-on sessions on topics such as native landscape design.

Over the next 50 years and beyond, the program aims to expand its reach and bridge intergenerational gaps to sustain the legacy and provide even more opportunities to grow, connect, and learn.

Read more about the 50th anniversary at https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/2025-master-gardener-conference-celebrates-50-years-growth-connection

The 2024 State Master Gardener Conference was held in Champaign, IL on September 12 and 13.

The 2023 State Master Gardener Conference was held in Peoria, IL on September 7 and 8.

The 2022 State Master Gardener Conference was held in Will County on September 8 and 9.

View Conference Recordings from the 2021 virtual conference.