OGLESBY, Ill. - Spring has arrived, and many people are thinking about gardening. This is the time of year when your local University of Illinois Extension offices receive many phone calls, emails and face-to-face visits hoping to get answers to questions related to gardening and horticulture. Although all University of Illinois Extension Offices are currently closed for the foreseeable future due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Master Gardeners volunteers are still available to answer any questions you may have.

Are you curious about the best way to care for your tomatoes? Do your plants look sick and need some help? Do you need information on seed starting? This and many other questions can be addressed by our seasoned University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener volunteers from Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties.

If you have any questions you would like help with, please send them by email to meo@illinois.edu with “Gardening Question” in the subject box. You may also call our Extension office headquarters at (309) 224-0889. Please leave both an email address (if you have one) and a phone number so that volunteers can get in touch with you. Many of the common questions we receive will also be published in the following local newspapers on a bi-weekly basis:

• Lacon Home Journal/Toluca Star Herald

• Henry/Wenona Index

• Mendota Reporter

• Bureau County Republican

• Bureau Valley Chief

The Mission of University of Illinois Extension is to provide practical education you can trust to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. Visit our website at https://extension.illinois.edu/blmp/