Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

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Spring cover crops help start the season weed-free

April 23, 2021

Do you struggle with weed control in the spring before planting your summer garden? Does your garden lose topsoil after a heavy rain due to slope? Would you like to improve soil structure and add organic matter to your garden? Backyard cover cropping is for you! At the time of...

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Callery Pear on forest edge - Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois Extension

A certain air around Callery Pear

April 16, 2021

Do you see those beautiful white flowering trees lining the streets and backyards? These delicate white blossoms, made brighter by the months of winter endured, are actually an environmental hazard to the Illinois wilds. Callery Pear season is upon us. It’s actually ...

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cool season blooms - photo by Terrance Raper on Unsplash

Plant cool-season annuals now!

April 9, 2021

As winter slowly fades, every gardener is getting anxious for spring—to dig their hands into the dirt, smell the fresh-cut grass, and fill their containers with annual combinations bursting with color. While it is still a little too early to plant most annual plants, there are a few you can plant...

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beet greens and red lettuce. Photo by Kelly Allsup

4 Super cool greens to grow in early spring

April 2, 2021

Every gardener should be thinking about growing their own greens in the spring. They are easy to grow, have large harvests, and taste best when grown in slightly cooler weather. The plants should be grown in full sun beds or containers. Kale is a cool-weather crop that...

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How do you bring an office plant back to life?

March 24, 2021

When people walked out of their workplaces last March, most did not think it would take a year to come back. While working from home, I missed my office. It housed my collection of horticulture books, notes from all my past programs, and my...

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CSA: What is it, and why should I care?

March 23, 2021

We have enjoyed some pleasant weather recently, and it makes me think on the coming growing season, and the abundant locally produced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, cut flowers and everything else available at farmers markets. However, there is another way to get some of these goodies for you...

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Spot early ephemeral blooms on post-winter walks in the woods

March 19, 2021

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on March 19, 2021. Early spring is a great time to take a walk in the woods when the spring ephemerals are blooming. The small and short-lived flowers are able to make the most of water and sunlight...

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terrarium with roman soldier - photo by Brittnay Haag

Garden fun for families on Spring Break

March 12, 2021

You may not be able to travel for the kids’ spring break this year, but make it a memorable one and spend time in your own backyard, or at a local nature space. The weather is finally starting to warm up, and your garden and yard will be coming back to life soon. Get...

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witch hazel (fothergilla) flowers - photo by kelly allsup

Smart tips for shrub success

March 5, 2021

When creating a landscape, shrubs make up a large portion of the design. Shrubs are a great way to start building the blue print and creating a framework in you landscape design. Most landscapers plant them in groups and always account for mature size rather than trying to control size...

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Black currant: growing favor for a blast of flavor.

February 26, 2021

With the end of winter near, it’s time to start planning for the garden season. At the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, many people attempted to grow some of their own food, re-popularizing the concept of WWII “victory gardens.” Increase ...

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