The Polo Garden Club, formerly Polo Woman’s Garden Club, will be hosting its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 9. This group is new and growing to meet the community’s interest in flower and vegetable gardening.

Two opportunities to purchase plants – and support good causes – take place Saturday, May 16, by the Harvard Garden Club and at a church in Crystal Lake.

Illinois Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who use their love and talents for gardening to share with others.Registration for the program ends Monday.

Pick out quality plants and take advantage of free advice from trained master gardeners with University of Illinois Extension events and services.

Elisabeth Patton, Fairmont School principal, said Rachel Clayton’s “dedication and strong work ethic are evident in everything she does.“

The Lee County Master Gardeners will host a plant sale Saturday, and the Amboy Depot Museum will hold a “Junk in Your Trunk” rummage sale Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, in the parking lot of the Depot Museum.

As the warmth of summer approaches, Sauk Valley Community College and University of Illinois Extension are proud to announce a unique educational initiative designed to cultivate healthier lifestyles through the Homegrown Healthy program series.

Kaity Siegel, manager of Siegel's Cottonwood Farm in Lockport, said the decision to close the garden center wasn’t quick or easy.

Students across Ogle and Carroll counties have been busy making a seed starting project with the Agriculture in the Classroom program.

The warmer temperatures also bring the return of insect and disease pests. How can we keep one step ahead of these unwanted visitors?

The two statewide volunteer programs, run through the University of Illinois Extension, train residents to grow food, support pollinators, and protect natural resources.

Bring your extra houseplants, seeds, and cuttings, and swap with neighbors who actually want them.

Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm is a fourth-generation farm that offers a country store, an annual pumpkin festival, barn weddings, corporate events and special events throughout the year.

Bloom Lockport and the Lockport Township Park District are the latest Will County community organizations to launch a community garden initiative, designed to help residents grow their own produce.

Before seeds and transplants make their way into the ground, taking time to properly prepare your garden bed can set the stage for healthier plants, higher yields, and fewer headaches later in the season.

They’re great for dipping, fresh eating, and quick snacks straight from the garden. This variety is bred to resist bacterial leaf spot, an important advantage in humid growing conditions.

The Forreston FFA and high school agriculture program is preparing to once again open their greenhouse doors to the community.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will be having its annual perennial plant sale on Saturday, May 2, at the Polo Community High School ag department.

Online training is again being offered starting June 30. The self-guided course is for Illinois residents and can be taken from the comfort of home on a desktop, laptop or tablet.

The Extension’s work spans youth development, agriculture education, community wellness, and horticulture programming.

Mosses are incredible plants that come in a range of colors beyond just green and have diverse textures.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will host an informational meeting open to the community regarding a late afternoon/evening group for those interested or active in flower and vegetable gardening.

The spring series begins April 7, with sessions to help with building gardens and get spring moving.

The Ogle County Master Gardeners invite community members to a free educational program offered Wednesday, March 25, at the Mt. Morris Public Library.

The University of Illinois Extension in Lake County will host an introduction to the School and Community Gardens Asynchronous Course Offering from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 16 in Grayslake with additional resources to use to apply for grants.

Mike Nowak will make a presentation on “Fixing Climate Change in our Back Yards and Front Yards” to the Lombard Garden Club on March 27

Lee County 4-H is excited to announce Project Pool, an engaging and educational event for youths 5-18. This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. March 28 at the Lee County Fairgrounds.

Spring came early to Dixon with the success of Blooming Fusion 2026 at The Next Picture Show Community Fine Arts Center.

The Lee County 4-H Program is thrilled to announce another season of the Jr. Gardener Special Interest (SPIN) Club, a club aimed at empowering young minds to explore the wonders of gardening.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will host an informational meeting open to the community regarding a late afternoon/evening group for those who are active or interested in flower and vegetable gardening.

The Sandwich Park District would like to invite anyone interested in gardening or anyone who just wants to “think Spring” to come to the 18th annual spring gardening workshop.

Illinois Extension is launching a flexible vegetable gardening webinar series to help gardeners of all levels save money and grow produce successfully

The Ogle County Master Gardeners invite community members to grow their gardening knowledge through two free educational programs offered in March and May at the Julia Hull District Library, 100 Library Lane, Stillman Valley.

Doors open at 8 a.m. with the keynote presentation beginning at 8:30 a.m. Join Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Nancy Kuhajda for a lively discussion about Milk Jug Gardening.

Nancy Kuhajda, horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension serving Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties, will teach the classes.

Illinois Extension staff offer gardening education throughout the state.

Shrubs with colorful stems, interesting seed pods, or textured bark can also add depth and create a stunning winter display.

Bruce Blake will deliver a presentation on “Bee an Advocate for Nature” at the Feb. 20 meeting of the Lombard Garden Club

What began as a small circle of people online interested in gardening has blossomed into the McHenry County Plantings Facebook group with about 14,000 members and in-real-life events like the Great Seed and Soil Event, planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at MCC's cafeteria, including seed swaps, vendors and demonstrations.

The Next Picture Show is now accepting submissions for Blooming Fusion, a juried exhibition celebrating artistic interpretations of flowers, plants, and gardens. The exhibition will be on view Feb. 18 through March 28 at The Next Picture Show.

There are a variety of plants that can be eaten as microgreens, and each one will add a slightly different flavor to your meals. One good choice includes things in the brassica (broccoli) family, like radish, broccoli, kale, cress, etc.

Stay indoors and out of the cold with new webinars from the University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening series.

Landowners and operators looking to enhance their property through conservation practices are encouraged to apply for the Partners for Conservation cost-share program.

The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library in conjunction with Ogle County Master Gardeners will be hosting a seed library kick-off event Saturday, Jan. 31.

One year ends and another begins, there is no better time to reflect on the news stories that inspired happy feelings in 2025.

Master gardener Cindy Crosby will speak on “Bison Tales and Tall Grass Trails” at the Jan. 23 meeting on the Lombard Garden Club.

Looking for activities to do when the winter weather keeps me indoors. Try plant propagation.

Turn your food scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizer for all your planting needs.

The Algonquin Garden Club has successfully transformed a small plot of land in the Dixie Briggs Fromm Nature Preserve in Dundee Township into a “mini-forest,” the first of its kind in the area.

What is an invasive species? An invasive species is an introduced species – often a plant, animal, or insect – that causes some kind of harm.