Each year I am more distressed by the number of volunteer ornamental pear trees I see growing in fields, roadsides, and other places where they shouldn't be. This is yet another example of a plant that has escaped cultivation and become invasive. Below is an article written by my colleague Jason...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
We get lots of questions each year about abnormal growths on oak and other trees. These abnormal growths, called galls, can be very disturbing to the people whose plants are affected. Fortunately, most galls affect only the...
Originally published in No. 2/April 25, 2016 of the University of Illinois Extension's Home, Yard & Garden Pest Newsletter It's been a great spring for the color...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I have been enjoying walks through our little woods. Many of the earliest wildflowers are about to perform their annual spectacular show. Woodland wildflowers are beautiful and a welcome sign of spring. Here are some examples of the...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The odd weather patterns over the past few years have played havoc on my lawn. As a result, I now have out-of-control crabgrass in areas of my front yard.
Crabgrass is an annual weedy grass that, from a distance, blends into your...
Analytic data from my ILRiverHort Facebook Page shows significant increases since it began in 2011. The number of people following the Page increased steadily, with a slight bump up in 2013. Currently the Page has 636 followers. The number of impressions made a dramatic leap in 2016. Impressions...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
March 19 – 25 is National Horticultural Therapy Week. Its purpose is "to encourage others to help expand and elevate horticultural therapy as a profession."
People who interact with plants are healthier. Thus, using plants in...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Have you ever seen a garden that just took your breath away? You visit two months later, and the garden is again in full glory, and you wonder how do people do it? How do you design a garden that offers visual interest through the...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Several years ago I created a secret shade garden behind my backyard gazebo. What started as a few trees, shrubs, and a bench, has grown to a dense garden of various dry-loving, shade plants. Since I garden in the dry sand of Mason...