URBANA, Ill. — Gardening is an ever-evolving journey, and each growing season brings fresh experiences and strategies for both new and veteran gardeners. This spring, learn more gardening techniques and grow skills at University of Illinois Extension gardening events across the state.
These spring garden seminars and workshops go beyond deepening your knowledge; they cultivate relationships. Gardeners come together and learn to identify plants of concern and preserve specimens for community science, pick up new plants from their garden wish list, explore hydroponic system benefits, attend stewardship days for hands-on opportunities to maintain pollinator habitat, and more.
"For the past several years, we’ve hosted the Rend Lake Pollinator Garden Stewardship Days, and it’s always energizing to see participants actively caring for the garden after having learned about topics that inspire pollinator-friendly techniques,” said Horticulture Educator Kimberly Rohling serving Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph, and Williamson Counties. “The goal is for visitors to leave not only with a deeper appreciation for pollinators, but also with practical ideas they can use to create welcoming habitats at home."
Get ready to dig into expert tips and gain insights on attracting hummingbirds to your landscape, growing fruit trees at home, and creating soil blocks to reduce transplant shock. From expert-led content to comparing notes with fellow growers, attendees will gain real-world tips for a successful growing season. Participants can also enjoy interactive experiences such as garden walks, plant sales, artisan markets, and educational, hands-on activities that can be applied in their own backyards.
Illinois Extension staff work together to extend gardening education and practical experiences to communities throughout the state. Garden enthusiasts can also increase this reach by getting involved with Extension's Master Gardener program, which equips volunteers with horticulture knowledge to continue growing and sharing in their local communities.
"Last year at our Gardenfest event, we welcomed 143 attendees with several new faces sprinkled about,", said Master Gardener Coordinator Brenda Dahlfors serving Lake and McHenry Counties. "Seeing people return each year, bringing friends and family, reminds me of the impact these programs have on building more confident gardeners."
Connect with local Illinois Extension offices for expert gardening information and get specific questions answered. Extension also offers online gardening topic resources, including home vegetable gardening, herbs, fruit trees for home gardens, small fruits for home gardens, mushrooms, lawncare, plants, houseplants, container gardens, youth gardening, flowers, roses, Illinois pollinators, insects, composting, soil, plant problems, and invasives.
For monthly updates on gardening programs, subscribe to the monthly gardening newsletter. Or share tips and ideas with fellow gardeners in the Illinois Extension Horticulture Group on Facebook.
Photo Caption:
Master Gardener gives resources to children at a Lake County plant sale. Photo credits to Lake County Master Gardener volunteer Mary Zorc. The photo in this article is available to download for media use.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.