Spring is nearly upon us and the plant world is beginning to wake up, with hints of the growing season popping up daily. A variety of early-blooming garden plants are on display right now, from snow crocus (Crocus sieberi) to daffodils (Narcissus spp.). The spectacular spring...
Roots are always underfoot, whether it’s a forest or prairie, your yard, or a local park; these all-important plan structures fill the upper layers of soil and quietly do their work to support the plant world. Since they are often “out of sight, out of mind,” there are many common...
Gardeners considering the wildlife or ecological value of their plant selections have a lot to consider these days. New information is emerging constantly about the perceived or proven value our landscape plants may provide for wildlife. While the field of restoration ecology has...
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones have long been a standard in communicating plant suitability across the US. Everyone from gardeners and growers to scientists and crop insurance adjusters use these designations to make plant decisions every day. However, the geographic range of these...
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are US households' most popular holiday plant. It is estimated that over 30 million poinsettias are sold each year around the holiday season, accounting for about one-quarter of all flowering houseplants sold in the US year-round. That is a...
Flowers are getting fewer and further between as the fall season transitions to winter. In my garden, aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is about the last blooming plant that is still hanging on to some flowers after starting to bloom almost a month ago.
However, one native...
Some years ago, it was shocking to learn that one of my favorite ornamental shrubs, burning bush (Euonymus alatus), is invasive. It took a while for this news to sink in, and after seeing it invade woodlands across southern Illinois, I finally came to terms with the bad news....
Invasive species are putting continual pressure on plants and animals in Illinois, which is only expected to intensify in the coming years. This means we all need to be vigilant for new threats and aware of their impact when new invasives arrive.
Last month, experts confirmed the arrival a...
Migratory species across North America are on the move as the fall season progresses toward winter. Right now is the ideal time to observe bird migration, with many uncommonly observed species moving through our area on their way to the tropics. I’ve always marveled at the sheer...
Fall is nearly upon us, and while many gardeners lament the end of the growing season, plenty of work remains to be done before winter sets in. I actually enjoy fall gardening tasks as they are a way to end the year with a bang and get all set to hit the ground running in spring. Here is a short...
