DANVILLE, Ill. – Seed catalogs have been arriving for weeks and for gardeners this means it’s time to start planning next summer’s garden. Get ready with the newly virtual annual Garden Day Workshop hosted by the Vermilion County Master Gardeners on Saturday, March 13.
For more than 20 years, the University of Illinois Extension Vermilion County Master Gardeners have provided a spring garden workshop, which is a great way to learn new garden trends and get inspiration. This popular event returns in 2021 with five speakers, a virtual silent auction and a garden goodie bag with curbside pickup.
This year’s lineup includes Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth on “How to Not Kill Your Tree”, Master Gardener and radio personality John Bodensteiner, on “Creating a Garden for Hummingbirds”, Illinois Extension educator Eliana Brown on “Sustainable Water Practices in the Garden”, Illinois Extension educator Erin Harper, on “Seed Starting and Vegetable Garden Design”, and Master Gardener Pat Sollars on “Fill Your Garden with Four Seasons of Color.”
A limited number of the traditional Garden Day tote bags, filled with coupons from local garden centers, speaker handouts, garden gloves and assorted treats, will still be offered for a small fee. Contactless curbside pick-up is available the week of the event at the Vermilion County Extension office, located at 3164 N. Vermilion, Danville.
The free workshop will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 13. Registration is open at go.illinois.edu/VirtualGardenDay2021. The event is free, but the Master Gardeners will be accepting donations by check or credit card. For more information, call the Extension office at (217) 442-8615.
Proceeds fund Master Gardener involvement in horticulture programs working with adults, children, and veterans. In 2019, Master Gardeners volunteered 8,300 hours in the community. They grew and donated 2,500 pounds of fresh produce to the local food pantry and senior citizens through the Plant a Row program and Garden Share at CRIS Center. They also provided garden classes and programs at no charge for children, veterans, and the general public.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Vermilion County office (217) 442-8615. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
SOURCE: Jenney Hanrahan, Master Gardener program coordinator, Horticulture.
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