Contact Us

Nikki Keltner
Program Coordinator (Stephenson County)
University of Illinois Extension
Building R, Highland Community College,
2998 W Pearl City Rd
Freeport, IL 61032
Phone: 815-235-4125
FAX: 815-232-9006
nkeltner@illinois.edu

Stephenson County Master Gardeners

Stephenson County Master Gardeners

Who are the Stephenson County Master Gardeners?

The Master Gardeners of Stephenson County are an enthusiastic group of trained volunteers that link the home gardener with the knowledge of the University through several educational programs offered throughout the county.

Educational Programs Offered by Master Gardeners

The Master Gardeners strive to offer a variety of informational and fun programs through out the year.

The Master Gardeners offer the "Joys Series" of educational programs. "Autumn Joys" is a half day program offered in the fall that provides sessions led by Master Gardeners and other local experts. A full day spring gardening event titled "Joys of Gardening" is known throughout the county as the premiere gardening event of the season. The program offers a variety of knowledgeable speakers that cover hot topics and current interests. The "Spring Joys Library Series" are evening programs offered at the Freeport Public Library showcasing Master Gardeners and other local speakers in a variety of garden related topics.

Display Gardens

Display gardens are offered throughout the county by the Master Gardeners. Gardens are located at the Stephenson County Visitors Center, Lena Historical Society, Krape Park, and Freeport Public Library. All the display gardens are planted and maintained by the Master Gardeners. The display garden at the Stephenson County Visitors Center is a native plants garden that was planted in 2007. All the plants on display are labeled for easy identification and handouts about plants native to Illinois are available in the Visitors Center so that individuals can learn about natives that they can use in their own garden.

Community Gardens

Master Gardeners work in two community gardens in the county. One garden is located in Freeport and offers plots for individuals to rent and it also offers a Plant a Row garden that is maintained by the garden volunteers and grows produce for the local food pantry. The second garden is located in Lena and is in cooperation with Adkins Energy Ethanol Plant. Master Gardeners and employees of Adkins Energy work together to offer plots for rent to individuals plus maintain the Plant a Row garden which had sweet corn and pumpkins that benefited the local food pantry.

Telephone Helpline

In May through September Master Gardeners staff a helpline to answer homeowners horticulture related questions. The helpline is staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Master gardeners provide timely, research based answers to homeowner's questions.