Nursery School 2024 Lessons in Gardening
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Get inspired and grow your horticultural knowledge at 25th annual Nursery School: Lesson in Gardening produced by University of Illinois Extension staff and Master Gardeners, Horticulture experts will lead workshops and share tips, pointers, ideas, and information everyone can use - from the novice to the most experienced gardener.
Tickets are $70 from Jan 6-Feb 5. Fee includes classes, morning coffee and rolls, and lunch buffet. Registration ends on February 5. You must register in advance—no walk-ins will be accepted. Your fee includes morning coffee and rolls, the keynote session, taco bar buffet lunch, three additional classes, and access to the Nursery School vendor area offering a host of merchants and agencies selling a variety of garden-inspired gifts, crafts, plants, and resources. Doors open at 8 a.m., keynote session starts promptly at 8:45 a.m.
Keynote: 8:45-9:45 am: “This Isn't your Grandparents Gardening Weather”
Presenter: Duane Friend, State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist, University of Illinois Extension.
We all know the weather affects our gardens and landscape. Are changes in the weather affecting how we plant and grow? Duane will talk about trends in weather over the last few decades and provide some thoughts on how to adjust gardening and landscape activities that make the most of these changes.
Here are the speakers and topics from which you can choose one from each session. Note: class sizes are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Session 1 10-11am
- Ornamental—AAA Winners: The Secret Ingredient to Gardening Success
Diane Blazak, Executive Director of All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau
For over 90 years, All-America Selections (AAS) has been the trusted source for gardeners who want to ensure the success of their gardens. The AAS seal is a promise of superior quality, performance, and beauty. But what does it take for a plant to earn the AAS seal? In this informative and engaging talk, you will go behind the scenes of the AAS Training process. You’ll learn how AAS Winners are selected from the initial submission to the final judging. Be prepared to see some of the 2024 AAS winners. - Edibles---Seed Starting: Learn how to start seeds for seedling to plant this spring.
Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, Horticulture Educator University of Illinois Extension
Learn concepts and techniques for starting seed indoors and outdoors. Starting your own seedlings gives you the opportunity to select unique varieties and have healthy plants ready to go into the garden at the right time. - Nature—Hunters of the night: The Owls of Iowa and Illinois
James Wiebler, Naturalist and Research Coordinator at Nahant Marsh
Learn about the unique adaptations of owls, including how to identify the eight species that occur in Iowa and Illinois.
Session 2 11:15 am-12:15 pm
- Ornamental: Beneath the Canopy: Exploring Spring Ephemeral Flowers
Emily Swihart, Horticulture Educator University of Illinois Extension
After a Midwestern winter, early blooming flowers are a welcome sign of spring for people and pollinators alike. Ephemerals are a group of flowering plants that emerge in the early spring while the woodland remains dormant. But their beauty is fleeting, retreating into the background of the forest as the canopy fills out. Join Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Emily Swihart on a virtual tour of the forest floor and gain inspiration to venture out on your own walk through the woods this spring. - Edibles: Organic Vegetable Gardening
Ken Johnson, Horticulture Educator University of Illinois Extension
Learn about what organic gardening is and how you can implement organic practices in you own vegetable garden. - Nature: Climate/Weather tools for Gardening
Duane Friend, State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist with the University of Illinois Extension.
There are several online weather/climate risk tools that can help make decisions for the growing season. Several will be presented.
Lunch Buffet 12:15-1:15 pm
Session 3 1:30-2:30
- Ornamental: New Plants and Inspirations for the Spring Season!
Molly Blogg, Manager, CEO, Co-Owner of Hornbaker, Inc. Hornbaker Garden Center, Arboretum, and Botanic Garden.
Molly will take you on a historical journey of Hornbakers and give you a preview of what new plants are available for 2024 as well as some of the tried and tested hardy. - Edibles: You can’t go wrong with culinary herbs in your garden/kitchen!
Christopher Enroth, University of Illinois Horticulture Educator, and Chef Elly Voss, Nest (Nourish Everyone Sustainably Together) Café Chef
Culinary herbs are favorite of many gardeners. The leaves and flowers of herbs can give fragrance and flavor to our food. Chris will give a lesson on growing herbs and then Chef Elly Voss will share some of her recipes using culinary herbs. - Nature: Enrich Your Yard with Native Plants
Amy Loving, Director of Education at Nahant Marsh
Yards are a great place to incorporate native plants-but where to start? This presentation will identify yard ecosystem types, native plants that are best suited for those habitats, and the wildlife that benefits from them. Additionally, you will also hear of a variety of resources to start plugging natives into your landscapes.