DANVILLE, Ill. — Is the frozen landscape making you daydream about spring flowers and bountiful harvests? It’s time to shake off those winter blues with Illinois Extension and Danville Area Community College! The Vermilion County Master Gardeners are once again hosting their annual Garden Day Workshop on Saturday, March 8, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Bremer Conference Center at Danville Area Community College, 2000 E Main St., Danville, IL 61832. An annual tradition for over 25 years, this year’s Garden Day will bring you entertaining speakers, unique vendors, a silent auction, donation baskets, and door prizes.
The full day costs $35, and your ticket will include access to the day’s four speakers, lunch from the DACC Culinary Arts School, a bag filled with handouts from the speakers, and more goodies. All proceeds go to help fund Master Gardener Projects in Vermilion County. Can’t commit to the whole day? The spring festival, with garden-themed baskets, vendors, and a silent auction, is open to the public throughout the whole day.
The event features four speakers from both Illinois Extension and local and national businesses to help you gain inspiration for your own garden!
Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Ryan Pankau will talk about raised garden beds. Attendees can gain valuable insights into maximizing their vegetable harvest with Ryan Pankau’s presentation on raised garden beds, focusing on popular crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and more
Extension Natural Resources Educator Karla Griesbaum will share her expertise on flowering native trees and shrubs, highlighting their role in enhancing garden aesthetics and supporting local biodiversity.
University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Professor Mike Ward will guide participants in creating bird-friendly landscapes, offering practical advice on building an ecosystem that attracts and supports a variety of bird species.
Nathan and Lisa Campbell from Danville Gardens will unveil the latest gardening trends and innovations for 2025, providing attendees with fresh ideas to keep their gardens hip and vibrant.
To reserve your seat, visit go.illinois.edu/GardenDay. Your ticket will be reserved upon receipt of payment. This event has sold out in the past, so make sure to purchase your ticket early!
Learn more about the Vermilion County Master Gardeners at go.illinois.edu/VCMG or contact Jenney Hanrahan at jhanraha@illinois.edu. You can also visit our office at 3164 N. Vermilion, Danville. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact our office at 217-442-8615.
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.
Fifty Years of Impact by Illinois Extension Master Gardeners: University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners are celebrating 50 years of positive impact across Illinois in 2025. Master Gardeners enrich communities with their commitment to horticulture education and the art and science of growing. Over 2,000 active volunteers invest their time and talents cultivating collaborative gardens that feed and support healthy communities, foster hands-on learning, enhance neighborhood beauty, and support the environment. Help Master Gardeners grow.