Latest Posts

Perennial Flower Garden Design

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...
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Plants for a Dry, Shade Garden

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...
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Bush Honeysuckle Increases Tick Numbers

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Now is a great time to remove invasive bush honeysuckle. Not only are bush honeysuckle invasive to native woodlands, new research shows that they also can increase the spread of tick-borne diseases. Bush honeysuckle are upright...
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Pruning Fruit Trees

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Now is the best time to prune many of your trees and shrubs, including fruit trees. Pruning of fruit trees is done to improve fruit quality, develop a strong plant, facilitate harvest, and control the size/shape of the plant....
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Gardeners' BIG Day is April 29, 2017

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Once again, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and their partners have rounded up a top-notch Gardeners' BIG Day. The 18th annual event will be Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 8:00-3:00 at Dickson Mounds Museum....
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Big and Historic Trees

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Big trees seem to fascinate and almost mesmerize us. They bring wonderment as we surmise how old it is and what it has "seen" through its life. Here are some of my favorites. No words can describe what I felt when I saw my first...
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Ten Steps to Successful Community Gardens

Community gardens can turn stark vacant lots into productive keystones in a community. The reasons for starting community gardens are varied, and the rewards are numerous. However various pitfalls can turn noble intentions into negative neighborhood drama. Proper planning, excellent communication,...
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Rhonda's Top FIVE Turf Tips

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Warm temperatures this winter have caused some lawns to green up early. This could impact the timing of various spring lawncare activities, such as seeding, fertilizing, mowing, and weed control. Here are a five turf tips to consider...
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Orchids make elegant houseplants

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I have a couple orchids at home but have not had great success with them. Sandy Mason, Illinois Master Gardener Coordinator, writes the following about orchids. She also teaches a webinar about moth orchids. I'm hoping that Sandy...
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