Gardening For Food, Flowers & Fun 2026 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026

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

Illinois Extension is pleased to announce Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun, an event offering 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
9:00 to 9:50 a.m. Keynote Speaker: David McKinneyCurator of Collections and Grounds, Iowa Arboretum

Gardening in a Changing World: planning now for your garden’s future
David McKinney, Curator of Collections and Grounds, Iowa Arboretum
As the Midwest’s temperatures continues to become more like that of latitudes further south, severe storms become more frequent while precipitation is less predictable. Journey with David through what future gardening may look like, gain insight into planting decisions for the next 50 years, and explore strategies to make your garden successful in a changing world. We’ll discuss designing for water management, building habitat, and evaluate the process of plant selection.  You will walk away with tools and resources for help, while also understanding how to make decisions now for an unpredictable future.

10:00 to 10:50 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION I: Choose one of the following:

Beyond the Bees: an up-close look at many of the other important creatures involved in pollination
David McKinney, Curator of Collections and Grounds, Iowa Arboretum
What makes a creature a pollinator? Are there species beyond just bees that are important for pollination? In this talk, David sheds insight into the vast and diverse world of pollinators. Learn about the important roles and functions that wasps, beetles, birds, bats and even mosquitos serve in plant reproduction. Then, glean tips and tricks for attracting and keeping these crucial organisms in your landscape.

Happy Houseplants 101: Make and Take (Cost: $15)
Vicki Hubbard, Pepper Creek
Bringing your love of gardening indoors lets you bring life to nearly any space. Join this hands-on session to learn simple tips for choosing and caring for popular houseplants, from light and watering to pots and soil. We’ll bust a few plant myths along the way, then you’ll pick a plant, transplant it, and take your new leafy friend home with everything provided!

Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers
Joan Burden, Master Gardener, University of Illinois Extension

Do you want to take your gardening to the next level? Learn techniques used in raised bed gardening that will help you get the most from the gardening space you have. Learn the basics of vegetable gardening regarding proper planting times, planting techniques, soil preparation, and after-planting care. Best practices for utilizing containers and raised beds for vegetable growing will be reviewed.

11:00 to 11:50 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION II: Choose one of the following:

Myth Busting Nature 2.0
Connie McIntosh, Master Naturalist, Illinois Extension

Some myths are based on a misunderstanding of facts, and some are just downright incorrect. During this program, we will bust ALL NEW myths about our local wildlife that many people may believe as fact. Test your knowledge as we separate fact from fiction.

 
The Joy of Growing Your Own Food
Julie Thomas, Master Gardener, University of Illinois Extension

The key to a successful garden is good planning, taking care of your soil, and growing what you love to eat. Learn about companion planting and rotating crops, growing plants from seed versus buying plants, composting, and more.

 
Inside the Moonlight Garden at Midway Village
Fiona Fordyce (Master Gardener), Kathy Crandall (Master Naturalist), Greg McQueary, Moonlight Garden Volunteers, University of Illinois Extension and Midway Village

Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep a garden eye-catching after dark? Master Gardeners invite you behind the scenes of the moonlight garden at Midway Village, sharing its historical beauty through pictures and stories. The session will include how to create your own Moonlight Garden, along with an interactive panel of Moonlight Garden volunteers, giving you the opportunity to get the answers to your burning questions.

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

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

If you would like to pay by check, please complete the online registration below, select the 'cash/check' option, and mail your payment along 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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