Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Recently I had a friend ask me what the blue flowers were along the roadside. Have you noticed the beautiful flowers blooming along our roadsides right now? Illinois roadsides are quite beautiful in late summer.
She was referring to...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I have several purple vegetables and herbs growing in my garden this summer.
Botanically, purple plants are fascinating to me. We all learn in science class that plants get their green color from the chlorophyll in their leaves,...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The goldenrod is making a fantastic display this fall in my prairie and other unmown areas. I love watching the waves of gold sway on a sunny fall day.
Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) thrives in sun to part sun and is a deer-resistant...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I grow several different types of basil, and try new ones each year. Usually, I end up preferring the basic sweet basil to other kinds, but not this year. A new favorite this year is lime basil.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) has many...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Have you noticed the huge hibiscus blooms this summer? Hibiscus has magnificent flowers that make quite an impressive display each summer.
There are many different types of hibiscus. The rose-of –Sharon (Hybiscus...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I'm growing several summer bulbs this year. These include cannas, caladium, and elephant ears. Summer bulbs are summer-blooming plants that have some type of underground storage structure, but most of them don't look like bulbs.
The...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I recently attended an Illinois State Horticultural Society summer field day at Christ Orchard near Brimfield. The day included tours of apple orchards, current pest management information, and new technologies for the fruit industry...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Master Gardeners are a special group of people who all have a common interest – a love of gardening and nature and the desire to share that knowledge with others. The Master Gardener Volunteer program is a very successful...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Rain barrels and rain gardens are becoming more and more popular by those wanting to recycle and conserve natural resources.
According to U of I Extension Educator Duane Friend, when we receive rain, a lot of it falls on surfaces...
