Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

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Flat green mottled leaves of snake plant against a brown background

Discover new ways to garden with ease at the 21st Annual Home, Lawn, and Garden Day

January 27, 2023

As dormant plants slowly extend bright green limbs from under a blanket of soil, garden enthusiasts thumb plant catalogs in eager anticipation of another growing season. Are you making plans for your bountiful garden? It may be cold outside, but spring fever has hit many gardeners – including this...

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Round leaves of nasturtium are a mound of growth with red flowers peaking out

Fortify the spring vegetable garden with marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums

January 20, 2023

In late spring, a gardener walks out to their vegetable garden ready to collect a harvest, only to discover shot holes through kale and bites taken out of cabbages – even the tomatoes suffered, with many plants nursing broken stems. As the gardener returns to the kitchen, excitement for the...

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Dark green and mottled leaves of snake plant

Brighten up dim interiors with low-light houseplants

January 13, 2023

Uplift any room with the look and life of a lush houseplant. While common in the corner of a bright room or displayed in the front picture window, houseplants grow well, even thrive, in low-light rooms; the key to success is choosing the right plant for the right place. Boost indoor air quality...

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Love tree fruit, love the planet: Enjoy a fruiting plant for many years

January 6, 2023

Imagine a warm summer’s evening in the not-too-distant future. A glance out the back door reveals something exciting: the fruit trees, shrubs, or canes that the family planted in spring 2023 are ready for their first harvest. This winter, find a good nursery catalogue to make that dream a reality....

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A red and green Poinsettia against a brick wall

Keep your Poinsettia looking great and boost your post-holiday mood

December 23, 2022

With an estimated 35 million Poinsettias sold annually, you may spot this colorful plant on many holiday tables every year. Native to Mexico, Poinsettias are large perennial shrubs growing over 12 feet tall. Introduced to the United States in the early 1800s, it has become one of the most popular...

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Sunset behind evergreen trees on a snowy banked river

Slow down this Winter Solstice: Learn to love winter like the farmer

December 16, 2022

“How I hate to hear winter cursed. Winter is bad; summer is good. Cold, bad; warmth, good. January in Illinois, heaven forbid! January in Florida, paradise. Bah, I say, humbug! Winter is not to escape; it is to embrace… I go upstairs to warm my hands in front of the wood stove and gaze into the...

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Give someone a green holiday season with the gift of plants

December 9, 2022

If picking the perfect holiday gift stresses you out, this year visit your local garden center for a natural gift that keeps on giving. Gardening and growing plants is an experiential gift that is both rewarding and fun. If you are gifting a plant this season, remember to keep your gift recipient...

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Male and female mallard ducks sit on a foggy pond

Notice nature’s calendar using the science of phenology

December 2, 2022

Dawn is breaking over a quiet pond. An early December wind sweeps through rustling Big Bluestem, Bottlebrush Grass, and seedhead ghosts of late-season blooms. A muskrat slowly retreats to a half-built lodge as the morning grows brighter. It is unseasonably cold. All is quiet, until a feint...

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a mix of green herbs sit on a chopping block next to a large kitchen knife

Make your Thanksgiving gathering special with the perfect herb additions

November 18, 2022

The smells of Thanksgiving dinner highlight a holiday centered around family, friends, and giving thanks. Heartwarming and tempting, the aromas of freshly baked dishes would not be the same without the addition of herbs like thyme, sage, rosemary, and parsley. This holiday season, consider herbs...

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Discover how people are working together to make science better

November 11, 2022

Children dream of being great things. With imagination and energy, children envision their futures in many professions – some humble, some in the light of fame. As adults, our jobs do not always align with our youth ambitions, but if your childhood dream involved being a scientist, Citizen Science...

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