Events

Business in Front, Party in the Back - Designing a Native Landscape Your Neighbors will Appreciate

Even the most thoughtfully designed native landscape can sometimes be misunderstood or even viewed as problematic by neighbors or local municipalities. What begins as an effort to support…

Green Connections: Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery Tour

Growing Gardens, Embracing Nature, Sustaining Conservation in Illinois: Green Connections

Green Connections is an educational and networking opportunity offered by University of Illinois…

Compost Giveback & Ask a Master Gardener Booth

SOIL LOVES COMPOST!

 Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) and learn about the many benefits of this naturally produced soil amendment. We're giving away a truckload of…

Junior Master Naturalist Program – Bug Bytes - Insects Spring 2026

Bitten by the curiosity bug?? Join us to discover amazing facts about our smallest neighbors, the “super hero” bugs in our backyards and around the world. Look thru a “bugs eye”, take a bug challenge…

Gardening with Native Plants | Stillman Valley

Native plants aren’t just beautiful—they play a vital role in supporting local ecosystems by providing food and shelter for native wildlife. Join Ogle County Master Gardener Phil Bratta for a…

Spring Wildflower Hike

Explore the beauty of spring wildflowers on a series of guided hikes at natural areas around LaSalle County. Spring ephemeral wildflowers can only be viewed for a brief period of time, between the…

Mother's Day Flower Walk | Genoa

On the day before Mother's Day, Saturday, May 9, come out to the guided wildflower walks at the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve. The upland paved path allows…

Forestry Skills 101: Using Forestry Tools at Rice Lake

Discover the basics of forestry tools and learn how to identify trees around Rice Lake through simple, field‑ready techniques.
 
Location:  Rice Lake - Meet in the parking lot. …

Amazing Annuals

The University of Illinois Extension Lake County Master Gardeners, SWALCO, and the Lake County Forest Preserve District present the 2026 Garden Learning Series  Programs will be held…

Composting: The Next Batch

You have the power to encourage earths natural decomposing processes to create one of the keys to a thriving yard. Get the most out of your compost by refining your skills during Composting: The Next…