Gardeners are story tellers. We love to tell a good story and to hear other's stories. Before the flurry of spring gardening, join us to hear garden stories and lessons learned from national experts.

On March 2 and 3, U of I Extension Master Gardeners of Champaign County present Garden Day 2007 The Garden Journey at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. Hear from authors and specialists about how we can improve and even enjoy our garden journey. Also enjoy shopping among garden vendors offering unique garden items.

On Friday we will learn from Janet Macunovich in a special hands-on workshop about "Pathways and Focal Points: Improving the Garden Journey." Macunovich is recognized for her down-to-earth style and for taking the mystery out of gardening and garden design. Janet has authored nine books including, Caring for Perennials: What to Do and When to Do It and Easy Garden Design. Macunovich will also present "Landscape Design: Adapting the Best from What You See Around Town" on Saturday.

On Saturday Pam Palechek will present "Garden Color: Tried and True from Start to Finish." Here's help for Midwestern gardeners who want color every day, all season. It's for those who find they say too often, "I wish you had seen the garden last week."

Every garden can give pleasure all year. Pam shows us how to do that by creating a line-up from her "patient performers," using fewer "difficult divas," and showcasing your most reliable cast members' peak bloom periods. Pam Palechek has designed, installed and maintained commercial and residential gardens for over 20 years, specializing in perennial gardens.

Colorful foliage has become very popular in the garden for its ability to provide instant color. Chartreuse leaves can light up a dark shady spot. Variegated leaves can become an eye catching focal point. But is it colorful chaos, or colorful coordination? Fantastic foliage has to live cooperatively with its neighbors. In Stephanie Cohen's program you will discover ways to effectively use purple, chartreuse and variegated foliage in the landscape without giving you or your garden guests a color induced migraine. Stephanie co-wrote a best selling book on design in 2005 called "The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer."

While ecological science is becoming more and more important in choosing plants for landscapes, aesthetics and maintenance remain a huge part of design reality. Roy Diblik will use the knowledge and experience gained over decades of growing plants to show how native and non-native selections can work together, providing diverse, compatible and pleasing gardens that you will enjoy for years to come in his program on March 3 "Plants that Love to Live." Diblik is co-owner of Northwind Perennial Farm. Diblik has recently been involved in the installation of the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park.

Mark your calendar: Garden Day 2007 - The Garden Journey March 2 and 3 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. For more information or registration brochure call University of Illinois Extension Champaign County, PH: 217.333.7672 or e-mail champaign_co@extension.uiuc.edu. Visit our website at champaign.extension.uiuc.edu to register online. Credit cards accepted.

Check out additional programs:

January 28, Central Illinois Orchid Society Show at the Urbana Free Library from 1-4:30 pm.

February 9-10, Midwestern Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall Mt. Vernon, IL. Keynote speaker Mel Bartholomew author of Square Foot Gardening. Show includes vendors. www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com or PH: 800-252-5464.

February 17, Gardeners Day at Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL. Topics include rain gardens, creating backyard habitat, wildlife control, native plants, unique trees, and orchids. Sponsored by Sangamon Menard Master Gardeners.http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/sangamonmenard/ or PH: 217-782-4617.

February 27-28, Prohort Symposium at Ashland House Morton, IL. Topics include perennials, landscape design, and native plant maintenance. www.prohort.org or PH: 888-525-3900.

March 10, Home, Lawn and Garden Day at Central Catholic High School Bloomington,IL. I will give the keynote address on "Fantastic Foliage." Sponsored by McLean County Master Gardeners. https://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/ or PH: 309-663-8306.