Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
In 2016, 169 Master Gardener volunteers contributed 13,920 hours in the Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell Counties. Their volunteer service is valued at $328,000.
Master Gardeners have several large events scheduled in our four...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I recently found some old seed in my office and wondered if they were still viable. If you save leftover seed to use the following year, here are some ways to find out if they are still good.
Seed viability is a measure of the...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Do you plan to grow your own food this summer? Would you like to extend that growing season a bit more in the spring and fall? If so, there are several options you might consider, including cold frames, hot beds, hoop houses, cloches...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The winter series of University of Illinois Extension's Four Seasons Gardening program focuses on seeds, houseplants, and orchids.
The first session of the series is titled Seed Starting and is offered twice – on January 31...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Are you "itching" to start your vegetable garden? One way to jump-start the growing season is to start seedlings indoors. There are many advantages to starting your seeds indoors in addition to allowing anxious gardeners to "get...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
A team of nine University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educators was awarded an Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence Award at University of Illinois Extension's annual conference in November 2016.
The Interdisciplinary...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I have been enjoying the fresh basil, dill, cilantro, and parsley I'm growing indoors this winter. I use the herbs to make fresh pesto, teas, salsas, and more.
Gardening is not limited to outside in the summer. Herbs are probably...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
My new horticulture YouTube channel extends my gardening education into another realm of social media. Videos are the latest social media trend, with predictions that 74% of all internet traffic in 2017 will be video.
My plan is to...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Happy New Year! Where did 2016 go? Whether you toast in the New Year with sparkling grape juice or a more spirited drink, it is interesting to think of all the plants that make up spirits.
Spirits are actually named by the fermented...
Once the Christmas holiday is over, the chore of taking down and disposing of the cut Christmas tree remains. Today, because of solid waste regulations, most communities will no longer permit the used Christmas trees to be hauled out with the garbage and sent to the sanitary landfill.
However,...
