Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

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Orange and yellow maple tree in foreground of a line of colorful trees in fall

Colorful fall trees and shrubs in the Central Illinois landscape

October 21, 2022

Fall is the season of change. With shades of red, yellow, orange, bronze, brown, and purple scattered through the landscape, Central Illinois becomes a beautifully painted scene. Deciduous trees, those that lose their leaves every fall, create a stunning fall display as they prepare...

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A child holds an small orange tomato close to the camera

Gardeners support the community as they Grow & Give Back

October 14, 2022

The gardens of Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties grew with great pride this summer because they were deemed Giving Gardens. In 2021, amid poor economic conditions and stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Illinois Extension serving Livingston, McLean, and Woodford Counties began...

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Red kuri, delicata, and acorn squash in wicker baskets with pie pumpkins.

Purchase more than pumpkins this season: Discover the savory side of cucurbits

October 7, 2022

Imagine your last visit to a beloved family home, arriving as a freshly baked pumpkin pie was pulled from the oven. If you take a moment, I bet you can almost smell it. Many people have this olfactory memory of the most well-known winter squash: the pie pumpkin. Others are also familiar...

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A wood bin on a finished wood table filled white and purple hydrangea flowers and a small potted geranium.

Save money and save plants with a garden of overwintered favorites

September 30, 2022

Keep your thumb green this winter by caring for beloved garden plants indoors. The chill of winter may seem far off, but the threat of frost is nearly here. On average, the first frost in Central Illinois is mid-October, but it can occur sooner. Act now - move your favorite garden plants indoors...

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An orange filter fade with the words September 17 Nature Trails Day overlays a view up into the tree canopy.

Explore or relax in your favorite green space at Nature Trails Day

September 16, 2022

Growing up on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin I spent my weekends, and sometimes weeknights, in bogs, old-growth forests, and hilly landscapes formed by glacial deposits. Few kids have the opportunity to develop an interest and purpose from up close interactions with these rich ecosystems....

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Bundles of white and pink flowers hang upside down to dry

Three simple techniques transform prized flowers into beautiful home decor

September 9, 2022

Your garden's floral showcase may be ending but the flowers need not disappear. Extend the life of floral garden favorites by preserving them for indoor decor. The art of preserving flowers and plant materials has been practiced for hundreds of years; colonial Americans harvested and dried flowers...

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Interesting and Brief: A History of Apples & Their Uses

August 26, 2022

When local orchard branches are laden with delicious jewels of fruit, the apple season has arrived. Before sinking your teeth into this year’s harvest, consider the rich history of this commonplace fruit. When planting America’s roots in the colony of Jamestown... John Smith was pleasantly...

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focus on one sunflower in front of a field of sunflowers lit from behind by sun

Sunflowers symbolize summer, elevate garden displays and double as a snack for wildlife

August 12, 2022

Nothing says summer like a brightly blooming sunflower (Helianthus annus). Often considered a weed in a farmer's field, many homeowners find joy filling their landscape and gardens with these majestic giants. The colorful, sunny blooms elevate a garden display and double as a snack for you...

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Let plants do the work, it's time to plant fall cover crops

August 5, 2022

Illinois vegetable growers are entering the toughest six weeks of the year. Despite the seasonal demands, soil health depends on timely planning of a fall cover crop. A fall cover crop is planted in August, grows in fall, and terminates after several hard frosts in winter. Why plant a fall cover...

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butterflyweed with orange flowers and green leaves

Support the Monarchs-Plant Native Milkweeds

July 29, 2022

Roadsides and ditches are drawing the eye of humans and butterflies alike as common milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca) return to the summer scenery. While this plant proves unpopular for its weedy habit, it is a necessity for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the sole...

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