URBANA, Ill. – Many Americans only know chestnuts from the famous line, "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," from the 1945 song, "Merry Christmas to You," by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. Prior to its demise in the first half of the 20th century, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the...
Staghorn Fern: A Growing Work of Art BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Do you have an empty spot on your wall that is just screaming for a touch of green? "Create a unique art installment this winter in the form of a beautifully mounted Staghorn Fern," states University of...
Kokedama String Ball Garden WorkshopEL PASO, Ill. – Due to its recent successes at the Eureka Library, the Kokedama String Ball Garden Workshop is back by popular demand. This exceptional make-and-take workshop, presented by the Woodford County Master Gardeners,...
BLOOMINGTON, IL. — The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference (ISCAOC) will be held January 11-13, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The conference, which features nearly 100 speakers and 60 trade show exhibitors, will again host four concurrent preconference...
Holidays, Simplified The University of Illinois Extension is here to help you have a less stressful holiday season! Learn how to make and use evergreen swags, create healthier desserts and discover ways to stick to a budget at our "Holidays, Simplified" workshop. The workshop will...
What is that green stuff growing on my tree, and will it kill it? a homeowner wonders. They are lichens, and they are not harmful to your tree but an indication that you live in an area with good air quality. It can be common to see lichens growing on trees in Illinois, but they can also grow on...
Woodford Master Gardeners win state awardsEUREKA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Extension would like to congratulate Woodford County Master Gardeners, Barry Ankney, Karel Kaufman and Karen Kaufman-Dixon for their 2016 Outstanding State Master Gardener awards. The Outstanding...
Sign up today for the Master Gardener training and volunteer program BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Would you like to learn about growing vegetables, landscaping, trees, insects or turf grass from the University of Illinois Extension? The Livingston, McLean and Woodford County Master...
Two gardening tasks for autumn BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Kelly Allsup recommends two essential gardening tasks to do this fall: fertilize your trees and refrain from cleaning up your perennial garden. Fall is a great time to...
It was the second week in September, and he saw the robust sweet potatoes sticking their spuds out of the soil. He had planned on harvesting the sweet potatoes later just before the first frost. However, like many vegetable growers, Reid Young, changed his harvest plan and freed the sweet...
