Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun - 2024 Rockford

Gardening For Food, Flowers & Fun 2024 - 9:00 a.m.- Noon Saturday, March 9, 2024

Presented by University of Illinois Extension and Winnebago County Master Gardeners at NIU Rockford Conference Center, 8500 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois.

University of Illinois Extension is pleased to announce Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun, an event which offers gardening tips for the growing season. Join us for this early rite of spring - an educational venture presenting fresh horticultural ideas, insights, and techniques. The $20 cost includes admission to the keynote and two breakout sessions.

8:30 a.m. Registration (coffee and light refreshments will be available)

9:00 a.m. Welcome, Margaret Larson, County Director
Keith Krey- Citizen Science Program

9:05 - 9:50 a.m. KEYNOTE: Conservation in a Changing World: Using Science to Conserve Monarch Butterflies by Karen Oberhauser, Director, UW Arboretum (retired)  
Monarch butterfly populations have been declining over the last 25 years—essentially the entire time that we’ve been monitoring them. It is important to move beyond documenting this decline and respond to the challenge posed by monarch conservation and insect conservation. Karen will describe the amazing biology of migratory monarchs, how we can use data collected by scientists and the public to understand what is driving monarch numbers, and what we can do with that information. Our conservation efforts need to take both basic biology and ongoing change into account, and the take-home message from this talk will be how we can address habitat conservation in the face of climate and other human-driven changes.

10:00 - 10:50 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION 1 Combining Beauty and Science: Monitoring Monarchs in the Garden, by Karen Oberhauser, Director, UW Arboretum (retired)  
Celebrate the departure of monarchs from their overwintering sites in Mexico by learning how to get involved with monarch butterfly research and conservation. In this short introduction to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, you’ll learn about making your garden a great spot for monarchs and monarch science, MLMP protocols, and findings, and prepare to monitor monarchs in your garden or community. The session will 1) be appropriate for people new to monarch monitoring, 2) include time to ask questions, and 3) be relevant for people who just want to learn more about monarchs. MLMP is a national citizen science project jointly run by the UW-Madison Arboretum and the Monarch Joint Venture.

10:00 - 10:50 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION 1 Brambles: From Raspberries to Blackberries by Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, U of I Extension

Raspberries and blackberries can be an essential small fruit to grow when you have limited space. With management and selection, you can have a patch consistently producing for you each year. This course will provide you with information on selection, pruning, general management, and integrated pest management.

10:00–10:50 a.m. – BREAKOUT SESSION 1 Forecasting Garden Success- Climate Tools for your Garden by Duane Friend, Illinois Master Naturalist Coordinator and Climate Specialist, U of I Extension
If there is an early spring, can we start our gardens early? Is climate change affecting pollinators? Can we plant things now that could not be planted here 20 years ago? Climate Specialist Duane Friend will discuss several climate tools that gardeners can use before and during the growing season to determine plant risk, research related to insects and climate, and the recent change in hardiness zones and how it may change again in the future.

11:00–11:50 a.m. – BREAKOUT SESSION II Native Plants for the Home Garden by Julie Thomas, Master Gardener, U of I Extension
Native plants can be a beautiful part of your yard and garden. Learn the benefits of incorporating native plants into your home landscape.

11:00 - 11:50 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION II Composting Basics, by Duane Friend, Illinois Master Naturalist Coordinator and Climate Specialist, U of I Extension 
Everyone can make "compost," but what quality is it? Duane Friend will talk about the basics of good composting to make a high-quality, beneficial source of organic matter to add to your garden or landscape.

11:00–11:50 a.m. – BREAKOUT SESSION II Hydrangeas Demystified by Monica Putnam, Owner, Hidden Timbers Gardens
Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful additions to summer gardens, but with so many different varieties, choosing the best hydrangea for your garden can become confusing. This class will break down the different types of hydrangeas, the optimal growing conditions for each type, and how to care for them so you can confidently select the right hydrangea for your garden and enjoy the beautiful summer blooms for years to come.

We will hold a silent auction and have a book/magazine giveaway. 

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To register for this event, use the online registration form below.

We recommend that you utilize the online registration system below and credit card payment method to reserve your place immediately. 

If you would like to pay by check, complete the online registration below, select the cash/check option, and mail your payment with a copy of the registration to our office.

Feel free to contact our office at 815-986-4357 if you have questions or need additional information about this event or other programs.

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