Program: Bad Bugs, Bad Bugs, Whatcha gonna Do?

While most insects in the garden are good and a vital part of the ecosystem, there are times when you get a “bad bug”. Come learn how to identify true garden pests and best actions to avoid, deter or eliminate them.

Every garden has its shadows — tiny marauders that nibble leaves, curl petals, and test the patience of even the most devoted gardener. They arrive quietly, like tricksters slipping through the stems, each with its own habits, hungers, and clever disguises. But the garden is not without its guardians.

Speaker: A Master Gardener from the Illinois Extension

In this exploration of Integrated Pest Management, an Illinois Extension speaker will guide us through the art of responding wisely rather than waging war. We’ll learn how to read the signs the garden offers, how to distinguish mischief from true harm, and how to work with nature’s own checks and balances — predators, patterns, and time.

This is not a tale of sprays and panic. It is a story of observation, patience, and partnership. We’ll explore how to invite beneficial insects into the garden’s chorus, how to strengthen plants so they can stand tall against adversity, and how to intervene gently when intervention is needed. The goal is harmony, not conquest.

The speaker will help us understand the “bad bugs” not as villains, but as characters in the garden’s larger drama — creatures that teach us to look closer, act thoughtfully, and tend our landscapes with both firmness and grace.