Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Beekeeping is an increasingly popular backyard hobby. It also fits the growing trend to protect pollinators, which are so important to our food supply.
There are many different types of bees. Bumble bees are the only truly social...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Believe it or not, there are actually a lot of gardening tasks you can do in January. Here are some to consider.
For those of you who received poinsettias or other flowering holiday plants, be sure that they are near a bright window...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Winter is so unpredictable anymore. Snow is pretty, heavy snows and cold temperatures do affect plants as well as humans. Fortunately, most of our landscape plants are well adapted to the snow and cold.
Accumulations of snow can...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
My January Plants of the Day will all be of tree bark, which is more visible and often times even more beautiful in the winter. These will post daily in the 6 pm hour on my ILRiverHort...
Farm to School is more than a program – it is a people-powered movement that seeks to teach students where food comes from and how delicious it can taste when eaten in season. There are three basic elements to farm to school: Local food procurement School gardens Food and nutrition...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Each season brings a different look to the garden. I enjoy each one, but I must say that plants are uniquely beautiful in winter. Now is a great time to see a plant's texture and form - each unique and mystical.
Look for the...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
My friend Cindy and I were discussing stevia sweetener the other day and this got me to thinking about all the various sugar products that we often use during the holidays.
The white table sugar we use comes from two different...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Once the Christmas holiday is over, the chore of taking down and disposing of the cut Christmas tree remains. However, Christmas tree disposal does not have to be a problem, because there are several environmentally sound recycling...
