Mark your calendars for the 26th annual Joys of Gardening program offered by the University of Illinois Extension and the U of I Extension Master Gardeners.  Slated for Saturday, February 24, at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport, registration will begin at 8 a.m., the program starting at 8:25 a.m. with a keynote, and breakout sessions following.

The Keynote presenter is Tim Gruner, Garden Curator - Anderson Japanese Gardens. Tim will discuss Patterns in Nature that Inspire Japanese Garden Design. Tim will share a very brief history of Anderson Japanese Gardens, then reveal some of the patterns in nature that inspire Japanese garden design and the reasons for all the effort. Included will be some techniques for integrating the garden and architecture into one cohesive space.

Following the keynote presentation will be two breakout sessions.  Each breakout session will include unique garden-related classes. Session 1 classes: Myth-Busting Nature, Backyard Cover Crops, Designing with Perennials—Looking Beyond the Bloom, and Bees as Pollinators. Session 2 classes: The Right Tool for the Job, Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape, Spot the Spotted Lanternfly: Illinois’ Most Unwanted Invasive Species, and Lilac Care and Pruning.

Local professionals, Extension Staff, and U of I Extension Master Gardeners will lead each of the classes. For more information about Joys of Gardening visit go.illinois.edu/jog or call (815) 235-4125.  The registration is $15.