Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Latest Posts

Cicada Killers and European hornets by Phil Nixon and Kelly Allsup

July 20, 2014

We have been receiving reports of large wasps in recent weeks that some people have "identified" by using the Internet as Asian giant hornet. This is confounded by several news stories, including some in Illinois, on supposed sightings of the Asian giant hornet. From what I can tell, there have...

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Black Knot on Cherry by Travis Cleveland-Diagnosed in McLean County

July 19, 2014

Black knot is a common fungal disease that affects at least 25 Prunus species, both edible and ornamental. The disease is caused by the pathogen, Dibotryon morbosum, which infects the new twigs, branches, and fruit spurs during the spring. Trunks also can become diseased. Most...

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Click Beetles

July 18, 2014

Top 5 Facts: The Eyed Click Beetle: Good Bug Alaus oculatus Picture taken by Tony Dorley of Normal 1. Picture Taken In suburban Washington DC in May (Range Eastern United States to Texas) 2. White Spots are “false eyes” and considered...

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Tomato Cracks

July 17, 2014

Excessive Moisture can cause Tomato cracking in Blooomington NormalPicture by Missouri Botanical Garden

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Tomato Fungal Diseases Revisted

July 16, 2014

Fungal Diseases of Tomatoes Pictures Missouri Botanical Garden Septoria Leaf Blight (Leaf Spot) Septoria leaf spot is the most co

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Finding the Good Guys

July 15, 2014

If you invite me to your garden for a tour, I probably won't be looking at your flowers, but rather start turning over leaves or inspecting holes, looking for the insects that may reside there. Several clues will prompt me to inspect a plant, like frass (insect poop), holes in the leaves, yellowing...

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Cicadas and the Wasps that kill them

July 6, 2014

Cicada eggs laid 17 years ago are now emerging in northwestern Illinois. University of Illinois Extension entomologist Phil Nixon said this is the Iowa brood that covers portions of western Illinois, northern edge of Missouri and most of the southern two-thirds of Iowa. The Illinois area...

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Tips for Growing Tomaotes

July 5, 2014

Fresh sun-ripened tomatoes are an essential ingredient in many garden-inspired recipes: pico de gallo, caprese salad and salsa. In these dishes, a store-purchased tomato simply will not do. These tomatoes have been chilled, thawed, stored, handled and potentially sprayed with chemicals. For...

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Japanese Beetles by Martha Smith

July 4, 2014

Yes – this news is a gardener's dream come true – for at least the 2014 growing season! All the winter data is in and the experts now say Japanese beetle numbers in northern Illinois will be much lower this year. Many Japanese beetle larvae did not survive the winter – particularly in the northern...

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Oak Leaf Blister By Travis Cleveland

July 2, 2014

Oak leaf blister has started to appear on oak trees on the Illinois. This disease is caused by the fungal pathogen, Taphrina caerulescens. Members or the red oak group are more commonly affected by the disease. Symptoms are distinctive, and appear as scattered blister-like, puckered, or...

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