Learning why moths fly at night was a painful lesson for a group of excited second-graders. All winter, they kept close watch on a paper-thin cocoon resting in a sunny window.

One spring morning, someone noticed the rare Luna moth tearing at the silk, pushing itself out of its dried-out shell.

As they gathered around, the smooth moth emerged, spreading its huge, pale green wings.

The timing was perfect. Horticulturist Don Schmidt was visiting that morning.

"It was the biggest, most beautiful moth you'd ever seen," he said. "And they were so proud of it. They said, 'We saved it for you.'"

After admiring it, they walked outside to release it into the spring air. The rare moth spread its wings and flew about 10 feet before a flock of blue jays came out of nowhere and devoured it.

"They were just devastated," he said. "So we went inside and talked about why moths fly at night. I learned something too."

Schmidt, known as the "Dean of Green" on WGLT, will share 30 years of lessons learned as a speaker at the annual Home, Lawn & Garden Day March 10 at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington.

Workshops on everything from trees for busy people to how to deal with Japanese beetles will be taught by master gardeners as vendors try and get you in the mood with colorful clogs and bird baths.

Gardeners have to make mistakes, Schmidt said, and he'd be suspicious of anyone who hasn't pulled up dead plants.

Lessons learned help predict whether a coral bell will bleach out in full sun or a hibiscus will survive a frost (it won't).

"The ability to predict the future is what gardeners do all the time," he said. "It's a really powerful tool."

Foliage and more

Sandy Mason, a University of Illinois Extension educator in Champaign County, will open the garden day with a talk on "Fantastic Foliage."

Over the past five years, there's been a growing interest in foliage because it provides lasting color.

"Foliage in the past kind of took a back seat to flowers," she said. "We're going to see more of it because it lasts longer, especially on perennials."

Expect to see garden centers showing brilliant colors, from purple to chartreuse, as well as variegated plants. Just be careful before you scoop up too many of them.

"Some of these are almost garish in their colors, so you have to think about how you use them or you get colorful chaos," Mason said.

Maybe you've thought about water gardening but you're not about to dig a pond.

Master Gardener Kathy Mundell-Bligh will demonstrate how to make a container water garden, which can be done with a 12-inch pot.

She'll use an 18-inch pot, with pond-loving plants and a tabletop fountain.

Water gardens need full sun, at least eight hours a day, she said. And since the plants are tropical, wait until at least mid-May to put them on the deck or porch.

Avoid mosquitoes by adding a fountain; they won't lay eggs in moving water. But you can also add a mosquito larvicide, like Mosquito Bits, which kills the larvae and isn't harmful to animals that might drink from it.

Another option is to add a couple of feeder goldfish, which eat the larvae. Just be sure and add dechlorinated water as it evaporates.

Leaf castings

Master Gardener Penny Feehan will show how to turn a leaf into garden sculpture in her leaf castings demonstration.

Bowl-shaped leaf castings can be turned into bird baths or fountains, but she's also seen flat castings used as bird feeders, wall hangings, even place card holders at a table setting.

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Workshops

Following are the topics Master Gardeners and horticulture experts will cover in workshops at the March 10 Home, Lawn and Garden Day:

• What's new at the garden center

• Jump start into spring - starting plants from seed

• Garden travel guide - see the Pacific Northwest through gardeners

• Got shade?

• Color in the garden year 'round

• Water gardening in containers

• Gardening with physical challenges

• Mulch - it's good for you and your garden

• Trees for the 21st century

• Roses to knock you out

• Greenhouse for the do-it-yourselfer

• Growing orchids

• A four-season container

• Flower design

• Design with the flowers you grow

• Apply the principals of design as you plan your landscape

• Blasted beetles

• Advanced garden photography

• Pruning in the landscape

• Landscape design

Hands-on demonstrations

• Leaf castings

• Advanced bonsai

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If you go

What: Home, Lawn and Garden Day

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 10

Where: Central Catholic High School, Bloomington

Cost: $40 (box lunch included)

Deadline: Feb. 28

Sponsored by: McLean County Master Gardeners

Contact: McLean County Extension Office (309) 663-8306 or visit www.mcleanextension.org