It’s the end of January, and yet I can feel the excitement of the approaching growing season. As the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 50s it is important to note we still have more winter ahead.
Even though we still have time before being out in the garden with the warm sun on our backs, there are plenty of opportunities to enhance up your gardening knowledge. University of Illinois Extension is always busy with opportunities for gardeners of all experiences in the springtime with weekend garden events, webinars, and more. All of our garden events and classes are sure to get you in the gardening frame of mind with a wide variety of sessions to share ideas for implementing in your landscape this year.
In 2025, the authors of Good Growing Ken, Emily, and I are organizers of local garden events in our respective areas and will be guest speakers at others across Illinois. Here are some garden events you will find us at:
- Emily Swihart is the keynote at Nursery School in Rock Island, Illinois presenting on Perfectly Paired: Plants, Pollinators, & You. Nursery School is on February 22.
- What plants would you never plant again? That’s my topic at this year’s Gardener’s Palette in Quincy, Illinois on March 15.
- Also on March 15, Ken will be in Jacksonville, Illinois talking about managing pests without pesticides.
- See both Ken and me at Gardener’s Day in Macomb, Illinois on March 22 where we host classes ranging from taking care of fruit trees to installing retaining walls and patios and more!
We love meeting and learning with gardeners in person, but learning online from your home is so convenient and you can stay in your pajamas. This spring Illinois Extension has some great upcoming gardening webinars you can attend from home:
- Community Tree Care Series – We have already started this series, but you can still sign up for the remaining four classes. If you have any interest in caring for trees as a professional, volunteer, or homeowner, this series is for you.
- Tips and Tricks for Winter Sowing on February 11 at 1:30 PM – Let Mother Nature do the seed starting work with winter sowing!
- Growing Great Vegetables Series kicks off on March 4 at 6 PM – This series takes beginner gardeners through the steps of starting a vegetable garden.
- Root Awakening: Spring Tree Tips on March 4 at 1:30 PM – This class will teach you how to check for winter damage, boost tree health, and promote strong growth for the summer.
Sometimes it’s tough attending a live presentation whether it’s in-person or a webinar. I get it! I probably get most of my information from recorded presentations, videos, or online articles. You can check out our Good Growing articles online, plus we have a weekly Good Growing Podcast you can check out on YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. Find our blog at go.Illinois.edu/GoodGrowing and our podcast at go.Illinois.edu/GoodGrowingPodcast.
If you have read this far you may be wondering, “How do I sign up for these events?” All these events have an online registration that can be found with an internet search. Can’t find it? Fortunately, for you there is an Illinois Extension office in every county. Give your local Extension office a call to get more information. Or contact me! I’ll do my best to get you the information about the garden event you want. Email me at cenroth@illinois.edu or call 309-837-3939.
Good Growing Tip of the Week: If you are the type of person who prefers to subscribe to email newsletters, we have got you covered. Subscribe at go.Illinois.edu/GoodGrowingNewsletter to get weekly Good Growing articles and videos.
SOURCE: Chris Enroth, University of Illinois Extension, Horticulture Educator, cenroth@illinois.edu or 309-837-3939
***Courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension***
