Sign up by March 29 for McHenry County Gardenfest
Explore the latest gardening trends, techniques, and tools at McHenry County Gardenfest, a daylong series of seminars and workshops for gardeners of every skill level.
The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in the Luecht Auditorium, B170, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake.
Attendees can choose from more than 20 breakout sessions presented by industry experts covering topics such as natural lawn care practices, garden insects and diseases, tool care, composting, vertical and container gardening, shrub selection, and more.
The morning keynote, “Gardening for Nature,” will be presented by Daniel Gerdes.
In the session, attendees will learn about the meaningful steps that anyone can take to support pollinator populations, bird life, soil ecosystems, and wildlife — all while reducing their carbon footprint, providing healthy habitats, and enhancing genetic diversity.
Choose one of the following for each session:
• In the first session, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., “New and Underused Perennials” by Brent Horvath, “My Plant Has a Disease … What Can I Do?” by Rich Tobiasz, “Sustainable Yards: Native Replacements for Invasive Shrubs” by Sarah Michehl; “When Your Nearest Neighbors Aren’t Human” by Peggy Anesi (Doty); and “More Garden by the Foot” by Doug Moore.
• In the second session, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Sensational Shrubs” by Kim Hartmann, “Compost — Pile It On!” by Cathy Klink and Suzie Morrissey; “Convert Lawn to Wildflower Meadow From Seed” by Sarah Michehl; “Garden Insects: Good, Annoying, and Invasive” by Nate Szkil; and “You Planted Vegetables. Now What?” by Rich Tobiasz.
It will be followed by a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
• In the third session, from 1:30-2:30 p.m., “Hosta — America’s Favorite Shade Perennial” by Mike Kraus; “Container Gardening” by Heather Moister; “Natural Lawn Care Practices for a Healthy Environment” by Sarah Zack; “Rain Gardens” by Nancy Gonsiorek; and “Foraging for Mushrooms” by Garrett Beier.
• In the fourth session, from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., “Going Vertical: Using Vines in the Garden” by Kim Hartmann; “Monarch Conservation 101” by Carol Elkins; “Common Tree Mistakes” by Garrett Beier; and “Historical Kitchen Gardens” by Christina Rank.
“The Culinary Garden” by Joyce Lande and Raechal Maat will be offered at 10:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. It is limited to 20 students.
Greenhouse tours with Mandy Hood will be offered at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. It is limited to 20 students.
Join Rich Tobiasz as he discusses the ABCs of tool care in “Tool Care and Sharpening” at 1:30 and 2:45 p.m. If you bring a hand tool, he will teach you how to sharpen it. It is limited to 24 students.
Held annually, Gardenfest is sponsored by McHenry County College and the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners.
Registration costs $49 and is now open at www.mchenry.edu/gardenfest. The fee includes lunch.
Space is limited, so those interested are encouraged to register early. The registration deadline is Friday, March 29; no refunds will be issued after this date.
Tickets can also be bought on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event for an extra $5 (as long as seats are available). MCC Horticulture students can attend for $29.
For more information, visit www.mchenry.edu/gardenfest, email conferencecenter@mchenry.edu, or call (815) 479-7570.
If you need an accommodation or a sign language interpreter, contact MCC’s Office of Access and Disability Services at (815) 455-8766 or disabilityservices@mchenry.edu.