As the days get longer and the temperatures start to warm, we often get the itch to start gardening. On the first warm day of the year, I often find...
As the growing season draws to an end, temperatures cool, woody plants prepare for dormancy, and we enjoy the last blooms of the season. For many of...
Roadsides and ditches are drawing the eye of humans and butterflies alike as common milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca) return to the summer...
News Releases
Evaluate and adjust: Four Seasons Gardening wins state evaluation award
URBANA, Ill. – A popular Extension gardening program was honored by University of Illinois Extension for its dedication to constant evaluation and adaptation of educational programming. The Four Seasons Gardening series addresses home and community garden issues that encourage residents to...
Register NOW for Home, Lawn, and Garden Day - a day of gardening fun and learning!
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Be inspired to plant a pollinator garden or patio container, fall in love with a new plant at the garden centers this year, or even learn the basics of everyday gardening at the University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners’ 21st annual Home, Lawn, and...
Take small steps to improve, support the environment this winter
URBANA, Ill. – Widespread environmental issues like changing weather patterns and habitat loss can feel overwhelming, but small everyday choices make a difference. Explore sustainable maple syrup harvesting, tornado trends in the U.S., and what research says about how to support pollinators in...
Discover Monarch butterflies at local festival
It’s time to dust off your wings to attend this year’s Monarch Migration Festival. Rain or shine, the festival is a free and fun learning experience for all ages.
Every autumn the North American Monarch butterfly migrates south to Mexico to avoid cold weather and hibernate. In the spring...
Give monarch butterflies something to munch on, plant native milkweeds
URBANA, Ill. – Imagine eating only one type of food your entire life. Your survival depends entirely on being able to find this food. This is the challenge monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, face every day as landscapes change nationwide and fewer native plants are available. But home...
