Guest Speaker Schedule

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Friday, March 22

• 5:00 p.m. - Tree Care - Presented by Emily Swihart, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator - So, you want to plant a tree? To ensure that your effort and resources are well spent, join Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Emily Swihart as she reviews the dos and don’ts of tree planting and care. Swihart will discuss tree selection, proper planting depth, supplemental watering recommendations, and how to care for newly planted trees. Join her for an engaging and informative dialog and leave with the knowledge and confidence to plant and care for trees in your landscape.

• 6:30 p.m. - All You Need to Know about Native Plants - Presented by Cindy Lenger, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - The presentation will look at small to medium natives and how they can easily be incorporated into your existing home landscape. You will learn how to create a pollinator pocket and how they support so many different species of bees, butterflies, moths, insects, birds, and bats. Lastly, you will explore growing from seed versus buying plants. 

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Saturday, March 23

• 11:00 a.m. - The Branches of Extension and What It Can Do for YOU - Presented by David Arensdorf, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Class will focus on the Services and Support that The Extension Office provides to the Community with selected examples to illustrate how they benefit all of us.

• Noon - Home Energy Savings-Presented by Jim Knorr, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Join Master Gardener Jim Knorr as he shares his experience in this introduction to residential homes' energy usage. There are an average of 6500 Heating Degree days/year, learn what you can do to reduce your energy consumption. Personal experience and resources, including useful websites, will be shared throughout this presentation.

• 1:00 p.m. - “Lil’ Green Thumbs.” Adventures, ideas, and projects to get kids involved in gardening - Presented by Heather Bonsell, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Projects and ideas will be suitable for kids and gardens of all sizes. Learn more about what both plants and lil’ gardeners need to thrive.

• 2:00 p.m. - Our New Asian Tiger Mosquito - Presented by Margie Estivill, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - The invasive Asian Tigers love Iowa and Illinois! Learn about the diseases they carry, their unusual breeding requirements, and the consequences of mosquitos that survive our cold winters and summer droughts.

• 3:00 p.m. -  All You Need to Know about Native Plants - Presented by Cindy Lenger, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - The presentation will look at small to medium natives and how they can easily be incorporated into your existing home landscape. You will learn how to create a pollinator pocket and how they support so many different species of bees, butterflies, moths, insects, birds, and bats. Lastly, you will explore growing from seed versus buying plants. 

• 4:00 p.m. - Cultivating Community: Where Harvest Meets Heart- Presented by Mitchell Walker, SNAP-Education Program Coordinator with Illinois Extension - Our friends and neighbors experience food and nutrition insecurity at alarming rates. So how do we help? We build up the local food system. Join Mitchell Walker, SNAP-Education Program Coordinator with Illinois Extension, as we discuss how the Floreciente Community Garden is working together with a rock-star network of local growers to provide fresh, free, locally grown produce to those who need it most. Come listen, learn, and be part of the action.

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Sunday, March 24

• Noon -  The Branches of Extension and What It Can Do for YOU - Presented by David Arensdorf, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Class will focus on the Services and Support that The Extension Office provides to the Community with selected examples to illustrate how they benefit all of us.

• 1:00 p.m. - “Lil’ Green Thumbs.” Adventures, ideas, and projects to get kids involved in gardening -Presented by Heather Bonsell, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Projects and ideas will be suitable for kids and gardens of all sizes. Learn more about what both plants and lil’ gardeners need to thrive.

• 2:00 p.m. - Our New Asian Tiger Mosquito- Presented by Margie Estivill, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - The invasive Asian Tigers love Iowa and Illinois! Learn about the diseases they carry, their unusual breeding requirements, and the consequences of mosquitos that survive our cold winters and summer droughts.

• 3:00 p.m. - Home Energy Savings-Presented by Jim Knorr, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener - Join Master Gardener Jim Knorr as he shares his experience in this introduction to residential homes' energy usage. There are an average of 6500 Heating Degree days/year, learn what you can do to reduce your energy consumption. Personal experience and resources, including useful websites, will be shared throughout this presentation.

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