Events

Blog Posts

Healthy pepper plants are lush and green but show no fruit yet.
Read article: Pepper production problems
Pepper production problems
At this point in the growing season, ripe produce is typically coming out of the vegetable garden daily since most warm-season crops are in full...
a naturalized landscape bed
Read article: Nature by design: Naturalistic landscapes
Nature by design: Naturalistic landscapes
In recent years, landscape design trends have migrated toward naturalistic aesthetics- a style that equally prioritizes ecological function, native...
native plants
Read article: Conservation@Home Member Spotlight: Janine Donahue
Conservation@Home Member Spotlight: Janine Donahue
By Janine Donahue, Illinois Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell countiesMy journey...
Blooming yucca with tall flower stalks and shorter foliage.
Read article: Yucca's Exotic Appeal
Yucca's Exotic Appeal
In the last few weeks, a peculiar plant has begun to draw attention as it reaches full bloom across central Illinois. While its towering flower...

News Releases

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...
DNR Resource Trunk kits with contents shown
IDNR Resource Trunks available throughout southernmost Illinois
ANNA, Ill. – Teachers, homeschool groups, youth leaders, and curious learners across southern Illinois now have access to a unique, hands-on way to explore the natural world thanks to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Through a special partnership,...
Local Gardeners Embrace Native Plants at Educational Workshop in Breese
Local Gardeners Embrace Native Plants at Educational Workshop in BreeseUniversity of Illinois Extension in Clinton County buzzed with excitement on June 7 as 21 local gardening enthusiasts gathered to deepen their knowledge of native plants and their role in supporting...

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