URBANA, Ill. — It is that time again when shifting seasons are near. Keep the gardening conversations growing with two new webinars from University of Illinois Extension’s free Four Seasons Gardening series.
Bookmark the fall series webinars happening on Sept. 15 and Oct. 20 and add them to any fun fall activity list. Attendees can take away tips on where to start and when to bring in overwintering perennials, as well as how to become an advocate for the trees bringing life to communities across the state.
Extension horticulture experts will present tips, how-to’s, and answer questions about each monthly topic. The series focuses on home gardening, environmental stewardship, and backyard food production. Sessions are free and presented live online beginning at 1:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays. Registration is required at go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons.
Fall Four Seasons Webinars
Bringing the Outside In: Overwintering Tender Perennial Plants, Sept. 15
Zonal geraniums, black and blue salvia, coleus, and lemon grass are just a few of the dozens of plant varieties northern gardeners often treat as annuals. But these plants have a secret. They are tender perennials that can be overwintered indoors to enjoy again next year. Attendees will walk away from the discussion with options and strategies for overwintering and propagating tender perennial plants.
Speak for the Trees: Community Advocacy for Urban Forests, Oct. 20
Community trees are an essential part of the urban ecosystem and add great value to the places we call home. Discover practical ways to become an advocate for the trees that strengthen communities. Through this program, residents will be provided with an assortment of strategies to get involved. Large and small actions make a difference. Attendees will gain tools, resources, and actionable strategies to champion a healthy, thriving forest so they can speak for the trees.
Extension educators Nancy Kuhajda and Emily Swihart will lead the fall series sessions. To find more information and to sign up for each session, visit go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons.
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 series coordinators for Sept. 15, Andrew Holsinger at aholsing@illinois.edu, and for Oct. 20, Gemini Bhalsod at gbhalsod@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.
SOURCES: Gemini Bhalsod, Andrew Holsinger, and Nancy Kreith, horticulture educators, Illinois Extension
WRITER: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension
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 500 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 five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.