Edwardsville Garden Club

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Edwardsville, IL
Edwardsville Garden Club

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The Edwardsville Garden Club is an active group with programs and activities for all levels of interest and experience. Join us and make some gardening friends!

We have events every month of the year and there are many opportunities to become involved.

10/16/2026

With all the recent rain, this is a great time to plant perennials. Even better, a fabulous time to plant some native plants! For a diverse & healthy selection, visit Watershed's plant sale on MONDAY the 19th.

10/14/2026

Are your hummingbirds gone? 😢 Don't worry, they'll be back next year.🙂

10/09/2026

Repost from last year. Still a good idea!

Bulb buying season is just around the corner and, if you haven't heard, there's a new reason to buy a bunch of bulbs. A recent article by Erica Browne-Grivas in Horticulture magazine suggested using inexpensive, small, spring bulbs (like crocus) to explore the microclimates of your yard.

It is easy to plant them in small groups throughout the yard, then make a note in spring of when they come up and bloom. You'll notice which areas are warmer than others and may be surprised to find new sheltered spots. It's best to use the same variety and plant on the same day so you can be assured the most accurate information.

This kind of information is particularly useful come Autumn (like now...) if you are gazing with hesitation around the yard, trying to find a spot to overwinter a maybe-not-completely hardy plant. 😄

10/05/2026

If think you haven't heard of any of the Illinois Extension's programs, you probably have heard of one, the Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who dedicate thier time and expertise to help the public with gardening issues. These are the folks who answer the phone at the Horticultural Helpline (618.344.4230), work at local gardens and help out at all kinds of plant-related activities.

The Master Gardener program is nationwide, but because each state is so different, each state tailors a program to the horticultural needs of its citizens. The Illinois program was started in 1975. Today, it reaches nearly all Illinois counties and includes volunteers from farms, small towns, suburbs and cities.

Extension Educators and State Specialists with U of I provide training throughout the year. Classes are in person or online. Master Gardener training covers various home horticulture topics, including Vegetable Gardening, Insects, Tree and Small Fruits, Basic Botany, Integrated Pest Management, Turfgrass Care, Plant Diseases, Tree and Shrub Care, Soils and Fertilizer, and Flower Gardening.

Training costs $250 (hybrid) or $300 (online only). Participants spend 40 hours volunteering as interns. After becoming a Master Gardener, volunteers are required to have 20 volunteer hours and 10 continuing education hours per year.

If you are interested in participating, email our local extension agent, Sarah Ruth ([email protected]). She will put your name on the list for training an informational announcements.

For detailed information about the program, visit the Master Gardener's website https://extension.illinois.edu/mg

10/02/2026

Thinking about a new tree for your yard? If you live in Edwardsville, you may be able to get some money from the city to help defray the cost.
Interested? There are a few things to know: there is an approved list of trees, you MUST get your application approved in advance, and the deadline for applications is November 1st.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DveyuBkwB/

09/30/2026

It's Fall nest box season! Wait, what?

If you have nest boxes in your garden, now is the time to take them down and clean them out (if you haven't already!). Some songbirds start scoping out potential nest sites for next Spring in the Autumn, so it's a good idea to have clean, tidy options available now. Also, some birds use nest boxes as shelter as weather becomes cold.

If you don't have nest boxes and are thinking of having one in the garden, it is important to consider your garden habitat and what birds you want to attract. Different birds require different types of boxes. The size and shape of openings is important to deter sparrows and starlings. Decorative birdhouses purchased in stores often lack ventilation, are not big enough for a nest and babies, and may not even be weather proof!

The good news is that sturdy, comfortable boxes are easy to make. The Aububon Society has published a book (The Audubon Birdhouse Books) with plans for all kinds of songbird and raptor nests. The two boxes in the pictures are examples of the wren and bluebird boxes. Our local library has a copy, so start planning for nestboxes next year.

Thanks to EGC member Alana T. for photos of her boxes.

09/28/2026

Have we recovered from our Fall Plant Sale? Maybe - whew, it was HOT.

BIG thanks to Pam for bringing popsicles and Tatiana for bringing a portable power supply so we could have a fan. That fan saved the day!

A lot of (thirsty) plants found new homes. Thank you to everyone who braved the heat and humidity and bought a plant (or two, or three...).

Our Spring sale will be early May of 2027. Get ready!

09/25/2026

Sarah Ruth, from the local Illinois Extension Office, shared a wealth of resources available to gardeners. These days there are many ways to get the word out about the latest horticultural news and the U of I has options for you.

If you like to listen to podcasts, there are a wealth of options available for you. These podcasts (and lots more!) are available through all the major distribution services.

For a list of all the podcasts, and to listen on your desktop, visit the website https://extension.illinois.edu/global/podcasts

The Illinois Extension Horticulture Youtube channel is home to the Four Seasons Gardening Series, Good Growing, and gardening how-to videos. Good Growing is a weekly video podcast hosted by horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson. Each week the duo tackles gardening topics, answers viewer questions, or interviews experts in the horticultural field.

To subscribe or watch videos, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYBGqFXZS6Sn37n1mVcY1g

09/23/2026

The Autumnal Equinox just passed (Tuesday, Sept 22, 8:04PM), which means it's officially Autumn. Although there may not be a chill in the air just yet, it is time to start thinking about end-of-Summer gardening tasks. Some things to think about: dividing perennials, moving plants, cleaning/sharpening tools & gathering seeds.

Thanks to L. Klenke for her photo of late-summer blooming sedums and Cyprus Climber.

Address

P. O. Box 294
Edwardsville, IL
62025

Website

https://www.edwardsvillegardenclub.org/

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