URBANA, Ill. — Get ready to spend summer days outdoors gardening, exploring, and enjoying the growing season by adding in Four Seasons Gardening webinars beginning June 11. 

University of Illinois Extension horticulture experts will share tips for supporting the ladybug population in Illinois, pairing up companion-style planting decisions, and adding foodscaping to an entrance flower bed. Sessions are free, with live online sessions from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays. Registration is required.

Extension educators Ken Johnson, Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, and Christina Lueking will lead the summer series. Find more information and sign up for sessions at go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons.
 

• Garden Guardians: Understanding and Supporting Lady Beetles in Illinois | June 11
  Ladybugs, lady beetles, or ladybirds, whatever name is used, are beneficial insects in home gardens. However, native beetle populations have been declining across North America for a number of reasons. Learn about some lady beetles found in Illinois and ways to help the population thrive.
   
• Companion Planting: Bountiful and Beautiful Together | July 23
  Growing certain plants together can benefit the whole garden. Discover plant partnerships that offer strategies to break up heavy soils, combat weeds and disease, lure pests away, attract specific beneficial insects, and improve pollination. Companion planting is a way to combine thriving vegetable gardens with the beauty of flowers and herbs.
   
• Foodscaping: Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds | Aug. 13
  Foodscaping is a design concept that intentionally adds edible plant varieties to existing beds of ornamentals. The result is growing food that saves money and is a healthy activity that produces fruits and vegetables to enjoy all season long. The main appeal of foodscapes is that they are valuable and beautiful. Get tips on designing and maintaining a foodscaping project by having the right plant in the right place.
   

Can’t make a session? Every program is recorded and available on the Illinois Extension Horticulture YouTube channel. Videos are available about two weeks after the live program.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact the coordinator by session: Lady Beetles, Gemini Bhalsod at gbhalsod@illinois.edu; Companion Planting, Andrew Holsinger at aholsing@illinois.edu; and Foodscaping, Nancy Kreith, kreith@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs. 

SOURCE: Gemini Bhalsod, horticulture educator, Illinois Extension

WRITER: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension