A capacity crowd of 125 garden enthusiasts swarmed the University of Illinois Extension, Vermilion County Unit, building Saturday for their first breath of spring at the annual Garden Day Workshop. The event was sponsored by the University of Illinois Master Gardeners of Vermilion County.

Claudia DeWitt, co-chair of the event along with Marvin McDonald, said, "Our turnout for today's workshop is phenomenal. Unfortunately, we had to turn people away for lack of space. So next year, we may be looking for a larger venue. Our slate of speakers is outstanding, and we have so many wonderful vendors."

Gloria Young, president of the master gardeners, said the workshop was filled up more than a week before the actual event. "I'm really into peonies and roses, so I'm looking forward to those presentations," she said.

Even before the first presentation, attendees already had purchased a wide assortment of hardy blooming perennials, succulent plants, garden art, homemade soaps and essential oils, garden books, and Easter decor from vendors who came from miles around.

This was the first year that Gertrude Blackford of Armstrong and Kristen Burd of Potomac attended the workshop.

"And it certainly won't be our last," Blackford said. "This is wonderful."

She had already bought a table full of succulents, an asparagus fern and other items for her garden.

"I'm finding things here that I can't find other places," she said. Both women have rose gardens and were especially interested in the presentation on roses.

There was also a constant flow of people in the raffle and silent auction room where participants tried their luck at winning a wide assortment of garden-related items. Patricia DePlace of Bismarck regularly attends this event.

"They have a great lineup of vendors and speakers this year," she said. "Last year I won an aloe plant as a door prize, so I hope to repeat my good fortune again this year."

DeWitt's husband, Bill, built the grand prize for the day — a white garden bench with a birdhouse theme.

Rose Gates of Danville said, "Today is a nice escape from everything, like the economy and the weather. And the businesses in the area were so generous to donate so many door prizes."

Judy McCarty of Bismarck and Sandy Calhoun of Danville drove together to experience their first garden day workshop. Calhoun has a renaissance home in downtown Danville, and wanted to learn about new perennials that she can use for landscaping. McCarty is an avid gardener and regularly attends the extension services classes.

"I figure I can always pick up something new," she said.

Marilyn Furnish, owner of the Bloomin' Blossom iris and daylily farm east of Ridge Farm is a regular attendee at the workshop.

"I always learn something at these events," she said. "I look forward to it every year."

Owners of The Herb Basket in Bourbonnais drove to Danville to sell their homemade body sprays, hand creams and soaps.

"We've been coming to this event for about four or five years now," Maureen Chappell said. "There are nice people down in this area."

Danville Gardens had an impressive display of Spring Magic perennial bowls with cold-tolerant plants as well as brightly colored pansies that can be planted right now. The garden center re-opens today after their winter hiatus.

Marc Davidson, one of the speakers on the agenda, especially enjoyed listening to the presentation on peonies.

"I learned something new today," he said. "Peonies don't do well in containers, but they'll perk up once you get them in the ground."

Gary Sackett, owner of Springwater Ponds in Bismarck, greeted participants at his booth before he gave his presentation.

"A water feature in the backyard is just what people need to help them relax in today's stressful world," he said. "Even a small pond in the yard is an eye catcher," he added, "and it will increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell it."

This was the first year that Apple Creek Herb Farm of Waverly participated as a vendor. The pleasant scents of lavender and flax encircled their booth, where they sold soaps, honey, sea salt, sachets, and herb cook books.

Schuren Nursery of St. Joseph had for sale a wide variety of unusual-looking succulents that they propagated themselves. Mid-way through the morning they had already sold many of their plants.

Presenters at the workshop included: Mary Ann Metz, landscape consultant, on "Herbaceous and Tree Peonies;" Davidson, owner of Davidson Greenhouse in Crawfordsville, Ind. on "Landscaping and the Newest Annuals;" Mary Ellen Dorner, master gardener, on "Rose Gardening;" Sackett on "Ponds, Water Gardening and Landscape Design;" and the U of I Internet Masters on "Gardening on the Web."