January 22, 2024 – The U of I Extension and the Macon County Master Gardeners will be hosting a convention “Gardening Insights 2024” on February 24th.
Registration is now open for the one-day event featuring informative sessions, a keynote speaker, hands-on workshops, and 4-H led activities for the kids. Gardening Insights 2024 is for gardeners of all levels.
Gardening Insights 2024 will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 24 at Life Foursquare Church, 2954 W. Ash Ave, Decatur.
Participants can choose to attend three sessions from the twelve offered. There are two hands-on sessions available this year. Expert horticulturists and Master Gardeners will present on topics such as common Illinois invasive plants, weather trends and projections, pollinators, backyard berries, growing hops at home, rain gardens, Kokedma string gardens, starting seeds at home, and more.
Keynote speaker Amanda Thomsen will discuss 150 ways to make a fantastic yard totally tailored to you. Amanda is a horticulturist, garden designer, keynote speaker, freelance writer, backyard consultant, and author living in suburban Chicago. She is half of The Garden Girls podcast and produces a one-woman gardening show, Mud Life Crisis. She has a monthly column in the garden center industry magazine Green Profit. Amanda was chosen to attend the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker event in New York City in 2017 and 2018.
Thomsen’s published works include Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Terrific Yard Totally Tailored to You and Backyard Adventure: Get Messy, Get Wet, Build Cool Things, and Have Tons of Fun.
Gardening Insights is a family-friendly event; children ages 5 to 18 are welcome to attend with their caregivers. A separate area supervised by 4-H staff will provide activities and lunch for the kids.
Register online until Feb. 18 at go.illinois.edu/GI2024. There is a $35 registration fee that includes three sessions, the keynote speaker, and a boxed lunch. For more information, contact wallison@illinois.edu.
