University of Illinois Extension invites community members with a passion for plants, gardening, and lifelong learning to enroll in the Fall 2026 Master Gardener Hybrid Training, running from September 8 through November 24. This program provides in‑depth horticulture education and hands‑on skill-building for adults who want to grow their expertise in horticulture. The course fee is $150, which includes the Master Gardener manual.
All participants receive guidance from horticulture experts throughout the hybrid format, which blends online coursework with in‑person sessions. A reliable internet connection is recommended for the online portion.
After successfully completing the course, participants can join the Master Gardener volunteer program, which “helps others learn to grow”. For the past 50 years, Master Gardeners have donated their time and expertise through projects and programs, including donating produce grown in Master Gardener donation gardens. Last year, local gardens in Macomb and Galesburg produced over 2,700 lbs of produce for local food pantries.
“This is a great opportunity to increase one’s gardening knowledge while meeting a community of like-minded plant lovers”, said Kate Budde, Master Gardener Program Coordinator. “Whether you have been gardening for years or just started, there is a place for you here in this class.”
Weekly Tuesday sessions cover foundational and advanced horticulture topics, including botany, soils, insects, trees and shrubs, annuals and perennials, vegetables, plant diseases, lawns, fruits, and integrated pest management.
Community members interested in expanding their gardening knowledge, connecting with fellow plant enthusiasts, and serving their communities through volunteer projects are encouraged to register at go.illinois.edu/MGTrainingHKMW
For more information about this training and the Master Gardener program, contact Kate Budde at kbudde@illinois.edu.
