DECATUR, Ill. – Gardeners of all levels are invited to learn new tips, tricks and ideas and hear from an inspiring keynote speaker this February at the 23rd annual Gardening Insights. Explore your interests and choose from a dozen exciting hands-on and research-based classes, network with area gardeners and learn from nationally known garden expert Mark Dwyer.

Session topics include pesticide alternatives, living with insects, overwintering plants and bulbs, gardening for all ages, house plant care and smartphone garden photography. Hands-on classes will cover DIY decorative yard art, vertical gardening, natural hand scrubs, card stamping and water can succulent planters.

Gardening Insights is hosted by the Macon County Master Gardeners and will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 22 in Richland Community College’s Shilling Center, 1 College Park, Decatur. Doors open at 8 a.m. for walk-in registration, check-in and vendor shopping. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged as classes fill quickly.

The cost for the day is $35, which includes three classes, the keynote speaker and a buffet lunch. Hands-on classes have additional costs. Sign up by February 18 at go.illinois.edu/GardeningInsights or call the Macon County Extension Office at (217) 877-6042 for a mail-in form.

The keynote speaker Mark Dwyer was previously the Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wis., for 21 years. Dwyer owns and operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD, a landscape consultation business. He has degrees in landscape architecture from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and urban forestry from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. His true passion is obtaining, growing, observing and photographing all types of plants.

For a list of class descriptions, visit go.illinois.edu/GardeningInsights. Gardening Insights is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Macon County. For more information, please contact Extension program coordinator Vasthi Schwarz at (217) 877-6042 or vasthis@illinois.edu.

The Macon County Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by University of Illinois Extension. Master Gardeners fulfill their mission of Helping Others Learn to Grow by volunteering their time and horticulture skills through community gardening projects and educational outreach. Learn more on their Facebook page.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please call (217) 877-6042.

Register Online

Contact

Vasthi Schwarz
Program Coordinator, Master Gardeners
Macon Extension Office
3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 877-6042
Vasthis@illinois.edu