U of I Extension Logan, Menard & Sangamon Counties Horticulture Program

Illinois Extension and Springfield Park Foundation volunteers are giving out milkweed to the public today and tomorrow! Milkweed is a critical host plant for monarch caterpillars. Find the giveaways at:

[Saturday, May 2]
9am-11am at Jaycee Park (shelter)
11am-1pm at Erin’s Pavilion (entrance)
1pm-3pm at Washington Park (shelter near playground)

[Sunday, May 3]
9am-11am at Lincoln Park (shelter in Nelson Center parking lot)

We hope to see you there!

🦋✨Milkweed giveaway!✨🦋

Mark your calendars! Tomorrow, May 2nd, and Sunday, May 3rd, Illinois Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will share free milkweed starts with the community, alongside the Springfield Park District and Springfield Parks Foundation volunteers.

Milkweed is a cornerstone of our local ecosystem. It is the only host plant for the well-known monarch caterpillars, and it also provides food for a variety of other pollinators. Through this giveaway, you have an opportunity to help monarchs successfully grow and migrate while supporting other beneficial insects along the way.

Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be available on-site to answer any questions you may have about milkweed, pollinators, and your neighborhood park pollinator garden. We hope to see you there!

🦋 Celebrate Your Neighborhood Park Pollinator Garden with a Milkweed Giveaway!! 🐝

You'll be able to...
- Meet your neighborhood pollinator garden, University of Illinois Extension volunteers, & Parks foundation volunteers
- Learn all about planting milkweed & importance of pollinator gardens
- Take home your free milkweed!
- Learn how you can help with your neighborhood park pollinator garden
*****

Saturday, May 2nd
Park Pollinator Garden Supporters:
Meet us at -
9:00am-11:00am | Jaycee Park - at the shelter
11:00am-1:00pm I Erin's Pavilion - entrance of the building
1:00pm-3:00pm | Washington Park Shelter - near the playground
*****
Saturday, May 3rd
Park Pollinator Garden Supporters:
Meet us at -
9:00am-11:00am | Lincoln Park - shelter in Nelson Center parking lot

For more info go to: springfieldparksfoundation.org

It's time for spring cleaning!🌼

On Saturday, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners cleaned up the Henson Robinson Zoo Children's Pollinator Garden, planted cold-tolerant vegetables, and handed out marigold seeds during the zoo's opening day.

The zoo garden Master Gardeners are all looking forward another warm season – yet another chance to share a love of nature with children through the Extension's educational programs.

Learn to grow herbs with confidence at our free workshop!

On Monday, April 27 at 1:00 PM, at the Oasis Senior Center in Lincoln, IL, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Jennifer Fishburn will present a free program on growing herbs in the home garden.

Herbs are perfect for adding flavor to meals––and most flowering herbs support local pollinators, making them a perfect addition to any garden.

At the workshop, participants will learn to grow and care for common herbs with tips from Illinois Extension. The program will cover herb selection, basic soil, water, and light requirements, and recommendation for maintaining healthy plants throughout the growing season.

No registration is required for this free event. We hope to see you there!

Spring birdwatching event at Kickapoo Creek Park!

Join us on Saturday mornings in April and May from 9–11 a.m. at the birdwatching station at Kickapoo Creek Park, where a University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist will be on duty to help identify birds visiting the feeders. You might see anything from blue jays to woodpeckers, finches, and even the occasional oriole or rose-breasted grosbeak.

“I can usually get close-ups of at least a dozen species during a visit,” says Master Naturalist Bev Noble.

On Saturday, April 25, birdwatching will coincide with the park’s Earth Day Tree Giveaway. This free, family-friendly stop is always accessible and fun for all ages.

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The birdwatching station, enclosed on three sides and with benches next to the windows, was constructed several years ago by Logan County Master Naturalists. The feeders are within 20 feet of the station’s large windows, so they provide a perfect opportunity for nature photographers and casual observers alike.

[Photo: Master Naturalist volunteer Pam Moriearty and Park Ranger John Fink stand by the birdwatching station sign at Kickapoo Creek Park, with the “Birdwatcher on Duty” section in place.]

Russel Allen Garden Day Was a Resounding Success! 🌿

On March 21, Russel Allen Garden Day brought together gardeners of all experience levels for a day of practical, research-based tips to grow healthier, more resilient gardens.

Core topics included:
– Garden Tool Selection and Care: Choosing the right tools, maintaining them properly, and identifying which helpful tools might be missing from your shed.
– Terrific Trees and Shrubs: Selecting underutilized, Illinois-adapted and native species that offer strong performance, resilience, and landscape value through all four seasons.
– Houseplant Care: Hands-on learning in plant division and taking cuttings for propagation, along with guidance on repotting, light requirements, and long-term care.
– Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Strategies for identifying pests and plant problems, reducing pesticide use, encouraging beneficial insects, and understanding the key role of native plants.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a productive and engaging day. We look forward to seeing your gardens flourish.

Last week, the University of Illinois Extension wrapped up our Introduction to Beekeeping class with an exciting hands-on demonstration.

During the demo, experienced apiarists from Prairie State Beekeepers answered questions on hive health, queen spotting, the honeybee life cycle, and colony management. Participants had a rare opportunity to see inside a working hive, learning firsthand what it takes to care for a healthy colony.

A big thank you to our instructors and participants for making this Introduction to Beekeeping class a success! Stay tuned with the Illinois Extension page for updates on future classes and activities.

“First year they sleep. Second, they creep. Third, they leap!”

Last Friday at Lincoln Memorial Gardens, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists hosted a Native Plant Design Workshop for gardeners interested in expanding their native plantings.

At the workshop, attendees used graph paper to visualize garden balance and ensure proper spacing for each species. Participants also learned essential care practices to support native plantings’ long-term health.

Native gardens support pollinators, improve soil health, and contribute to a more resilient natural environment. Patience is a key part of native plant gardening, as it takes multiple years for the plants to fully establish– but the results are worth the wait.

We can’t wait to see the beautiful native landscapes that will soon take shape!

Early registration for Russel Allen Garden Day closes today! The all-morning event is only $12 today or $15 at the door. You don't want to miss out on this exciting event!

Visit go.illinois.edu/RusselAllenGardenDay to register.

Signs of spring at the Illinois Extension! 🌼

If you’ve visited our office lately, you may have noticed the beautiful white squill in bloom— one of the earliest bulbs to emerge as winter transitions into spring. These small but resilient flowers are proof that soil temperatures are beginning to rise and spring is just around the corner!

In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for more early-spring plants making their debut.