Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Burning Bushes are very common landscape plants grown mainly for their intense fall color. Unfortunately, burning bush are becoming a plant of concern for many of us as we watch it reseed and invade nearby natural areas.
I have two...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that I love to grow and use herbs. Herbs are easy to grow, beautiful, fun, and rewarding to use. Most of them are as easy to grow as common vegetables. Whether you use them in...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Easter is just around the corner. Have you purchased you Easter lily yet? If not, be sure to choose an Easter lily with lots of unopened buds for longer bloom enjoyment.
Easter lily history
The popular Easter lily is the Christian...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The National Garden Bureau has named 2015 as the Year of the Sweet Pepper.
Each year the National Garden Bureau selects one annual, one perennial and one edible as their "Year of the" crops. Each is chosen because they are popular,...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Are plants around your house foundation old, overgrown and in need of a change? Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, provides the following tips for updating your homes foundation plantings.
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Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Spring is on its way! Soon the silver maples will be plump with red flower buds, grass will get greener, and bulbs will begin to sprout.
Often the signs of spring are subtle in plants. One such example is Witchhazel. This plant has...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educators addresses Garden Biodiversity with a free webinar series called "The Good, the Bad and the Lovely Plants." Illinois horticulturists and gardeners revel in interesting plant...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Many of us have vegetable gardens that provide us with delicious, fresh produce all summer long, but do you also grow food indoors in the winter?
Gardening is not limited to outside in the summer. I'll teach you how in my upcoming...
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
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Do you have flowers ordered for your loved one? "Flowers are a great way to communicate your love and affection," says Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois...
