2026 Spring into Gardening Conference
We're sorry, registration for this event is now closed. We will be taking a limited number of walk-ins the morning of the event (not all sessions will be available). Thank you for your interest. To see other programming opportunities, please visit our website https://extension.illinois.edu/ccdms.
2026 Spring into Gardening Conference
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8:00am to 1:00 pm
Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street, Charleston, IL
Join Master Gardeners for a fun morning filled with engaging speakers, door prizes, a silent auction, sales booth, and tasty refreshments. This year we will offer three breakout sessions with the opportunity to join a hands-on workshop during each session. Pre-conference registration fee is $25. Day off registration is $30. Not all materials and session choices are guaranteed day of. Hands-on sessions are an additional $15 each to help cover the cost of materials.
Check in: 8:00 am with welcoming at 8:20 am.
Breakout session 1 - 8:30 am. Choose one of the following:
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8:00am to 1:00 pm
Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street, Charleston, IL
Join Master Gardeners for a fun morning filled with engaging speakers, door prizes, a silent auction, sales booth, and tasty refreshments. This year we will offer three breakout sessions with the opportunity to join a hands-on workshop during each session. Pre-conference registration fee is $25. Day off registration is $30. Not all materials and session choices are guaranteed day of. Hands-on sessions are an additional $15 each to help cover the cost of materials.
Check in: 8:00 am with welcoming at 8:20 am.
Breakout session 1 - 8:30 am. Choose one of the following:
- Improving Your Garden's Soil Health with Extension Educator Doug Gucker
- Debunking Garden Products and Homemade Herbicides with Extension Educator Andrew Holsinger
- Create a Nesting Ball workshop with Master Gardener Pat Conner - additional $15, maximum 20 participants
Refreshment break and silent auction - 9:30 - 9:55 am
Breakout session 2 - 10:00 am. Choose one of the following:
Breakout session 2 - 10:00 am. Choose one of the following:
- Vegetable Gardening Tips and Problems with Extension Educator Ken Johnson
- How We Can Compost at Home with Extension Educator Doug Gucker
- Flower Arranging 101 workshop with Extension Educator Christina Lueking - additional $15, maximum 25 participants
Refreshment break and silent auction - 11:00 - 11:25 am (silent auction ends at 11:20)
Breakout session 3 - 11:30. Choose one of the following:
- Pollinator Gardening with Extension Educator Ken Johnson
- Wesley Community Garden presentation and tour with the church "Green Team"
- Plant Propagation workshop with Master Gardener Elaine Manion - additional $15, maximum 15 participants
Closing remarks and auction results begin at 12:30 pm.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please call 217-345-7034. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.