THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS RELEASE
DANVILLE, Ill. — The Vermilion County Master Gardeners will host their annual Garden Day on Saturday, March 14th. Held at the Danville Area Community College Bremer Conference Center, this full-day event is designed to inspire and equip home gardeners for the upcoming spring season.
With a lineup of expert speakers and a variety of local vendors, this year’s program will offer practical advice on food production, climate impacts, native plants, and Illinois-specific gardening topics. Proceeds from the event will support Master Gardener projects throughout Vermilion County.
“The Vermilion County Master Gardeners are hard at work planning this year’s annual Garden Day,” event organizer and Illinois Extension Program Coordinator Jenney Hanrahan said. “With an expert line-up of speakers and a host of talented local vendors, this year’s event promises just the inspiration and knowledge you need to get your gardens and lawns off to a great start come spring.”
The day begins at 9:10 a.m. with Dr. Jack McCoy, lecturer of horticulture at the University of Illinois, presenting “Maximizing Your Backyard: Resources on Food Production for the Home Gardener.” McCoy will discuss strategies for increasing food production in home gardens by understanding backyard environments, personal goals, and local food systems.
At 10:30 a.m., Dr. Jim Angel, former state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, will present “Gardening and Climate Change,” discussing how climate change affects gardening in Illinois.
Lunch, included with the ticket price, will be served from noon to 1 p.m. and prepared by the Danville Area Community College Culinary Arts School.
The afternoon session begins at 1 p.m. with botanist Chris Benda, the Illinois Botanizer, who will present “Illinois Native Wildflowers for the Home Garden.” Benda will highlight regionally appropriate native wildflowers and emphasize easy-to-grow species available in the nursery trade to help homeowners create habitat-friendly landscapes.
At 2 p.m., Tinisha Spain, host of Mid-American Gardener, will discuss her long-running program and share insights on Illinois-specific gardening topics.
A full-day ticket is $35 and includes access to all speakers, lunch, a bag of educational handouts and additional giveaways. Tickets are on sale now. All proceeds benefit Master Gardener projects in Vermilion County.
For those unable to attend the full program, the spring festival portion of the event — featuring garden-themed baskets, vendors, and a silent auction — will be open to the public throughout the day.
Individuals who need reasonable accommodations to participate should contact Deborah Mikel at 217-300-2616. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit go.illinois.edu/GardenDay.
