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The Garden Scoop

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Blooms on a spicebush

Bring spring alive, fill the gap with native shrubs

Spring is nearly upon us and the plant world is beginning to wake up, with hints of the growing season popping up daily.   A variety of early-blooming garden plants are on display right now, from snow crocus (Crocus sieberi) to daffodils (Narcissus spp.). The spectacular spring flower...
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A picture of tree roots that have been pulled out of the ground

Clearing misconceptions around tree roots

Roots are always underfoot, whether it’s a forest or prairie, your yard, or a local park; these all-important plan structures fill the upper layers of soil and quietly do their work to support the plant world.  Since they are often “out of sight, out of mind,” there are many common misconceptions...
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A picture of pink flowers in a garden

How many natives should I plant?

Gardeners considering the wildlife or ecological value of their plant selections have a lot to consider these days.   New information is emerging constantly about the perceived or proven value our landscape plants may provide for wildlife.  While the field of restoration ecology has naturally...
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A snowy forest

Updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zones released in November

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones have long been a standard in communicating plant suitability across the US.  Everyone from gardeners and growers to scientists and crop insurance adjusters use these designations to make plant decisions every day.  However, the geographic range of these zones is...
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Berries on Burning Bush

Burning bush threatens migrating birds

Some years ago, it was shocking to learn that one of my favorite ornamental shrubs, burning bush (Euonymus alatus), is invasive.   It took a while for this news to sink in, and after seeing it invade woodlands across southern Illinois, I finally came to terms with the bad news.  This time...
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A spotted lanternfly on a red flower.

Spotted lanternfly spotted in Illinois

Invasive species are putting continual pressure on plants and animals in Illinois, which is only expected to intensify in the coming years.  This means we all need to be vigilant for new threats and aware of their impact when new invasives arrive. Last month, experts confirmed the arrival a new...
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A monarch butterfly on an aster flower.

Monarch butterflies migrating through Illinois

Migratory species across North America are on the move as the fall season progresses toward winter.  Right now is the ideal time to observe bird migration, with many uncommonly observed species moving through our area on their way to the tropics.  I’ve always marveled at the sheer distance some of...
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