Events

Blog Posts

wine-red spathes of skunk cabbage emerging from the snow
Read article: Skunk cabbage: Spring’s earliest and hottest native plant
Skunk cabbage: Spring’s earliest and hottest native plant
The cold winter temperatures may make it seem like spring is a long way off, but before we know it, spring will arrive, bringing warmer temperatures...
A person digging into soil in a raised flower bed
Read article: New Year's resolutions of a gardener
New Year's resolutions of a gardener
The New Year brings fresh traditions, opportunities, and resolutions. For gardeners, it also signals the start of a new growing season. Why not set a...
plastic zip top bags labeled with various species of native Illinois prairie seeds
Read article: Start a native prairie garden using seeds
Start a native prairie garden using seeds
Many homeowners are beginning to incorporate more native plantings into their home landscapes. There can be a variety of reasons people choose to...
birds in the snow
Read article: Top 10 pursuits to fall in love with winter
Top 10 pursuits to fall in love with winter
By Jill Meints, Extension Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties1. RestJust like with our gardens & plants, it...

News Releases

A large green circle with the words Gateway Green Conference in the center.
Conference strengthens communities against emerging environmental challenges
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Natural resource professionals play a key role in protecting our communities’ environmental assets. With ongoing research and changing conditions, it’s increasingly important to adopt responsible stewardship, manage new diseases and pests, and apply sustainable practices...
A person raking leaves in a yard
Recycle your leaves for a better garden and suprising environmental benifits
MATTESON, Ill. – After raking leaves this fall, consider recycling them on your property rather than bagging them for curbside pick-up. For the typical home gardener, fallen leaves are one of the most readily available forms of organic matter. Organic matter aids plant growth and can...
Bee sitting on flower
Buzz Into Fun at Pollinator Palooza, August 2!
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles are vital to our world—they’re responsible for nearly a third of the food we consume and support the growth of more than 80% of flowering plants each year. Their role is crucial not only in sustaining ecosystems but in supporting human...

Videos

The Buzz About Bees

What's all the Buzz about Bees? Illinois Extension is here with information

Join University of Illinois Extension and Extension Educator Sreelakshmi Suresh in this info-packed Wilderness Wednesday webinar sponsored by...

Tricky Pollinator Questions and Answers

Are my annual plants “junk food” for bees? Can I help pollinators by not mowing my lawn? How can I help pollinators thrive if I don’t have a garden? This presentation explorespollinator questions that have nuanced, uncertain, or controversial answers. 

Staff

Staff photo Shiba Kar

Shiba 'Shibu' Kar

Assistant Dean: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Program Leader. Associate Director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant