URBANA, Ill. – After a long winter, gardeners are always eager to get outside again. "Get a head start on your vegetable garden by planting cool-season crops," says Gemini Bhalsod, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "Cool spring weather favors vegetables like leafy greens,...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The nineteenth annual Gardeners' BIG Day is almost here!
This year's event will be Saturday, April 14, 2018, from 8:00-3:00 at Dickson Mounds Museum. Attendees will hear speakers, visit vendors, and see gardening displays....
I love having fresh flowers on my kitchen table. They bring such beauty, energy, and life to the room. Every spring I vow to bring fresh flowers indoors all season, but I never seem to follow through very well. Maybe I would do better if I had a cut flower garden dedicated specifically to this...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
News on the importance of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators continues to grow. Most people think of bees and butterflies when thinking about pollinators, but bats, beetles, moths, flies, hummingbirds, wasps, and more also...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I am excited to announce that we are next University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener training class begins this spring!
Training begins April 17 and is held one day a week until June 19. All sessions are held on Tuesdays, and...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Vines add vertical beauty to a garden. Although most vines are desirable, some can viciously choke out other plants with their aggressive behavior.
Let's look at four examples. The first two examples are annual plants, meaning that...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
In 2017, 167 Master Gardener volunteers contributed over 10,000 hours in the Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell Counties. The value of their volunteer service is $263,000 (as calculated by Independent Sector).
Master Gardeners have...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
The Winter series of University of Illinois Extension's Four Seasons Gardening program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, gets underway this month. The first session of the...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Registration is open for the 19th Annual Gardeners' BIG Day! University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners in Fulton and Mason County sponsor this event, which is Saturday, April 14, at Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown.
Back...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Have you ever thought of combining literature and gardening? Literature gardens do just that.
I remember a past Chicago Flower & Garden Show, where two popular children's books came alive in gardens: "The Tales of Peter Rabbit"...
