Make the most of summer.
Find everyday inspiration.
Put research-based knowledge to work for you at home, at work, and in your community. Get inspired, build confidence, and trust Extension’s reliable and relatable information to help you navigate health and resilience in all areas of life.
Find local progams
Title
Explore Cicadas of Illinois
2024 is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois! Two broods will emerge at the same time throughout much of the state as soil temperatures reach 64 F. Besides the noise, which may be substantial, this large group of insects is harmless and can be appreciated and enjoyed by nature lovers of all ages. Learn about the timing, habits, and lifecycles of periodical cicadas and discover how periodical broods differ from Illinois' annual, or dog-day, cicadas.
Connect. Learn. Grow.
![person planting young tomato transplant](https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cards_image/public/paragraphs/cards/young%20tomato%20plant%20700x350.jpg?itok=RggYe_GF)
Plan Your Garden
Growing your own produce brings many rewards. Plan your garden space and find out when to plant your favorite vegetables and fruit in each Illinois plant hardiness zone.
![cupcakes on a counter](https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cards_image/public/paragraphs/cards/cupcakes%20700x350.jpg?itok=PYq8axJ2)
Grow Your Food Business
Learn about the laws, certifications, processes, and practices required to run a home-based cottage food operation safely and legally in Illinois.
![watering can sprinkling young garden plants](https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cards_image/public/paragraphs/cards/GC%20Summer%20Web%20Button%20Card%20700x350.jpg?itok=aGBOW2u0)
Spring Into Summer
Beat the heat this summer and learn how to help birds, plants, pollinators, trees, and gardens thrive with resources from our newest issue of Gardeners Corner.
![Blooming goldenrod on a hot summer day.](/sites/default/files/styles/spotlight_image/public/2024-06/Goldenrod%20In%20Flower%20Bed%20Holsinger%20Web%20Spotlight%201200x800.jpg?itok=tFRmXVyH)
To survive the summer heat, choose plants built for the sizzle
URBANA, Ill. — Summer can be a scorcher, but by selecting the right plants, a landscape can still look sultry all summer long.
Both trialed and native plants can tolerate the heat. Trial plants are evaluated throughout the season for heat tolerance and can be planted in the ground or…
![Funk Farms Offices](/sites/default/files/styles/spotlight_image/public/2024-06/Funk%20Farms%20Offices%201200x800.jpg?itok=4qOQb-NF)
College of ACES celebrates Funk Farm's bicentennial
URBANA, Ill. — The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will take part in the 200th-anniversary celebration of Funk Farms, one of the oldest and most historically significant farms in the Midwest. The free event featuring food,…
![An ear of field corn, dirty worn gloves, and a stethoscope sitting on a wooden table.](/sites/default/files/styles/spotlight_image/public/2024-06/Take%20Charge%20Summer%20AdobeStock_Media%20Spotlight%201200x800.jpg?itok=lrdcxsWR)
AgrAbility provides more resources, expands chronic disease webinar series through summer
URBANA, Ill. — Experiencing symptoms from chronic disease is a daily and often private occurrence for many. Illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, liver disease, bipolar disorder, or other chronic long-term conditions can cause symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety,…
![White flowers with a bee on top of them and a bee with "Rend Lake Pollinator Garden Stewardship Days" text.](/sites/default/files/styles/450_x_253/public/2024-02/152.png?itok=IHrq-315)
![green grass against a sunny background](/sites/default/files/styles/450_x_253/public/2024-06/Web%20Event%20Wide%20-%20Homegrown%20Harvest%20Workshops%20-%20CB%20%282%29.png?itok=QWWhvUVY)
![adult male blue jay on branch](/sites/default/files/styles/450_x_253/public/2024-04/blue%20jay.jpg?itok=Ic0j9bOt)
![animal puppet crafts made with brown paper lunch bags](/sites/default/files/styles/450_x_253/public/2024-05/DKK%204-H%20Pet%20Parade.png?itok=4fKN_OK8)