Freeport, IL---The University of Illinois Extension and the Freeport Public Library have teamed up to offer the Joys Spring Gardening Series. Extension Staff and Volunteers will be leading classes to get you geared up for spring and the growing season ahead. The series will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. in the main floor meeting room at Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport.
Success with Succulents will be offered on Thursday, April 21. Succulents continue to be a popular plant for sale in garden centers, and for good reason! Their amazing colors and textures, combined with their minimal need for care, make them a great plant to grow indoors as a houseplant or outdoors on the patio for the summer. Join John Miller, U of I Extension Master Gardener, to learn the most common species of succulents available on the market and offer some tips on successfully growing these interesting plants.
On Tuesday, April 26, join U of I Extension Educator, Jay Solomon, for Rainwater Management in Your Landscape. Learn about options to put rainwater diverted from the hardscapes in your yard to use instead of lost as runoff. Jay will discuss how rain gardens, bioswales, and other structures can be designed into your landscape to retain this valuable resource.
Join Grant McCarty, U of I Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, for Totally Tomatoes, Perfect Peppers on Thursday, April 28. With the weather and soil warming up in April and May, the planting of tomatoes and peppers is just around the corner. This class will help you determine what varieties to grow, diseases and insects to look out for, methods to trellis for success, and troubleshooting of these two popular summer vegetables.
Creative Container Gardening will be offered on Thursday, May 5. Growing annual plants in containers is a great way to highlight a front door, add an accent to a porch or deck area, or garden in a small space. Nikki Keltner, Program Coordinator at U of I Extension, will discuss how to mix annual plants together to create unforgettable plant displays and offer tips on proper planting and care.
To register for one or all of the classes offered at the Joys Spring Gardening Series call the University of Illinois Extension at (815) 235-4125 or on-line at go.illinois.edu/jsw. There is no charge to attend but registration is required.
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