DEKALB, Ill. - The annual Gardener's Pathway and Artisan Market returns to Sycamore on Feb. 22 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W Prairie Dr, Sycamore, from 7:30 am to 2:45 pm.
The Keynote speaker and presenter is Kerry Ann Mendez, who has over 25 years of professional and personal garden experience with a special interest in low-maintenance gardening. Kerry Ann is a garden author and lecturer who incorporates humor, abundant excitement, knowledge, and, above all, passion for low-maintenance garden and landscape design. Proven Winners is sponsoring her appearance.
There will be three breakout sessions. Each breakout session will include unique garden-related classes, including Best New Plants of 2025, Growing Culinary Herbs, Let's Talk Hostas, Northern Illinois Trees, Gardening Simplified: Plants and Design Solution for Time-Presses and Maturing Gardeners, Seed Saving Basics: the Science, Art, and Joy of Saving Seeds, Landscape Design: Using the Principles of Nature and Japanese Philosophies, Slow flowers: Grow Your Own Cut Flowers, and Indoor Plants During the Winter. The Artisan Market will be open, where you can purchase garden-related crafts, plants, and gardening items from local artisans and nurseries.
Local professionals, Extension staff, and U of I Master Gardeners will lead each class. A continental breakfast, lunch, and door prizes are also included. For more information about Gardener's Pathway, call the DeKalb County Extension office at 815-758-8194. Register online at go.illinois.edu/GP2025. Registration is $50.
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 six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.