University of Illinois Extension, Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit is pleased to announce Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, of East Peoria, has joined the team as the new horticulture educator. Her new role will include a wide range of horticulture programs, educational resources, and overseeing the unit...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
It is difficult to write this article, as it is my last one. After 30 years of service, I retire October 1 from University of Illinois Extension.
Over the years, writing this blog has been one of my favorite tasks. Through these...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
As I wrote last week, I retire on October 1 after 30 years with University of Illinois Extension and am focusing my last couple columns on my favorite plants. Although I love many flowers, the poppy is probably my favorite. I am not...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I retire on October 1 after 30 years with University of Illinois Extension. I've decided to focus my last couple columns on my favorite plants. I'll start with herbs. As most of my regular readers know, I grow a lot of herbs and use...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
While enjoying coffee in the garden, I noticed that my largest ornamental banana is starting to flower. For many years I've been growing banana plants around my pool to give it a tropical feel in the summer. By autumn they have large...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I love the taste of Concord grapes. As a child, I remember eating grapes directly from the vines. TO me, there is no flavor comparison between concord grapes and store-bought grapes.
Concord grapes grown in central Illinois are...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Begin your spring flower display by planting bulbs this fall. It seems like a lot of work now, but after the long winter, you will really enjoy those blooms.
In addition to the standards, such as tulips and daffodils, try some of...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The fall series of University of Illinois Extension's Four Seasons Gardening program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, gets underway soon. As always, programs are available...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I love sitting in my backyard listening to the many garden sounds. Wrens sing. Frogs croak. Grasses rustle. Bees buzz. The longer I listen, the more sounds I hear.
In addition to natural sources, you can design music into the garden...
Some plants don't seem to play well with others. In particular, a few plants release chemicals to try to keep other plants from growing too near. This botanical war tactic is known as allelopathy. Black walnuts (Juglans nigra) are one of the best-known allelopathic plants. Black...
