Weekend Gardener - Saturday, March 1, 2025
Thank you for your interest in the Weekend Gardener in person program. Registration is now closed.
Thank you for your interest in our Weekend Gardener Program. We will be hosting it at the Madison County Farm Bureau, 900 Hillsboro Avenue, Edwardsville, IL.
The cost of the program is $20.
Morning refreshments will be included with the program, beginning promptly at 9.
The topics for our program include:
9 am: Square Foot Gardening—3+ Growing Seasons! Jonathan Svoboda, Certified Square Foot Garden Instructor
Vegetable gardening is made easier for ages 3 to 99! The class presents SqFt gardening concepts and expands on how SqFt achieves even more yield to include the potential to grow fresh vegetables in Spring, Summer, and Fall in our area and more! Come and learn how YOU and YOUR family can enjoy vegetable gardening without breaking your back!
9 am: Nature's Bumps and Lumps: The Mysterious World of Plant Galls, Daria McKelvey, Missouri Botanical Garden
Galls are often described as "an abnormal growth on a plant", but they're much more than that! They may look odd, but they serve as a key structure that many insects, mites, and fungi rely on to complete their life cycles. In this talk, we'll take a closer look at the mysterious world of plant galls, how they are formed, where they can be found, and some of the most common types seen in the Midwest.
10 am: Answers from the Plant Doctor, Daria McKelvey, Missouri Botanical Garden
Are you having trouble getting your hydrangea to bloom? Is your oak tree overrun by galls? Are you scratching your head as to why your rose leaves look like Swiss cheese every spring? If you've got plant problems, the Plant Doctor has answers! This talk will cover some of the most frequently asked gardening questions received by the Horticulture Answer Service at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
10 am: Discover the Pleasure of Growing Herbs, Ellen Rey and Ann Limestall, Master Gardeners
It is the perfect time to create your herb garden. Join us for ideas in selecting, caring, and using herbs for creative dishes, decorations, and crafts.
11 am: Landscaping with Native Plants: A Paradigm Shift, Elizabeth Wahle, Illinois Extension Specialist
In this presentation, we will explore why, how, and for whom we landscape our yards. How can we transition from old to new ways of thinking while creating a bridge using the cues to care? We will wrap up this session with inclusive native plants for all.
11 am: What’s the Buzz with Bee Hotels?: Common Misconceptions About Pollinator Conservation, Sreelakshmi Suresh, Illinois Extension Educator
The recent news about the global pollinator decline has inspired gardeners, landscapers, and farmers alike to prioritize pollinator conservation in their management. While most of these recommendations (for example, growing native plants or leaving leaves for overwintering habitat) were initially backed by science, over time, many have been diluted or misconstrued, such as messages that conflate European honey bee decline with the decline of native bees in the US. This talk will walk through common misconceptions about pollinator conservation (does not mowing your lawn actually help bees? Should everyone be using bee hotels? Spoiler alert: it's more work than you think!) and give audience members science-backed recommendations to support our furry flying friends.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to attend, please contact the local Extension office at 618-344-4230.