Freeport, Ill—Mark your calendars for the 28th annual Joys of Gardening program offered by the University of Illinois Extension and the U of I Extension Master Gardeners. Slated for Saturday, February 28, at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport, registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the program starting at 8:25 a.m., featuring a keynote, followed by breakout sessions.
The Keynote presenters, Kathi and Michael Rock, will present Gardening for Hummingbirds. Learn how to create a sanctuary for hummingbirds in your own backyard with perennial and annual plants, wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and hummingbird feeders. The presentation will cover identification of the Ruby-throated hummingbird, ideal habitat, migration, nesting, feeding, importance of water features, and how the best hummingbird feeders and plants can bring you up close to these special birds.
Following the keynote presentation will be two breakout sessions. Each breakout session will include unique garden-related classes. Session 1 classes: Salvias: Hidden Treasures for your Pollinator Garden, Growing Forward: What's New for 2026, and Seed Starting for Success: Pocket-Friendly and Eco-Smart Methods. Session 2 classes: Native Plant Solutions for Challenging Landscape Situations, Tree and Shrub Establishment, and Your Toolbox for a Showcase Landscape.
Local professionals, Extension Staff, and U of I Extension Master Gardeners will lead each class. For more information about Joys of Gardening, visit go.illinois.edu/jog or call (815) 235-4125. Registration is $15.
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.