University of Illinois Extension

Blog Posts (47)

Leave grasses intact in the garden through fall and winter

grass covered in ice

Autumn allergies: don’t blame goldenrod

Autumn allergies: don’t blame goldenrod bee on yellow goldenrod bloom

Methods for identifying plants is a great learning experience

Clearing up the science on Monarch butterflies

multiple monarch butterflies on a flower

Sunflowers symbolize summer, elevate garden displays and double as a snack for wildlife

focus on one sunflower in front of a field of sunflowers lit from behind by sun

Support the Monarchs-Plant Native Milkweeds

butterflyweed with orange flowers and green leaves

Lawn Care and Pollinators

False Indigo - A Native Shrub for the Home Landscape

Southside Occupational Academy horticulture program seeds community

Kristen Dimas standing in the humming bird habitat at Southside Occupational Academy

Pollinators in soybean production- Are you in the know?

photo of a sweat bee covered in pollen

Bee on the lookout for native bees this summer

Bee on the lookout for native bees. Native bee on an orange and red flower.

5 ways to attract Hummingbirds to your yard

ruby throat hummingbird feeding from flower

Native wildflowers support pollinators but may be declining at the state-level

Bluebells

New Research Assesses the Value of Urban Pollinator Gardens

monarch

Pineapple Sage

Pineapple sage is an interesting annual that is currently in full bloom, providing a rare splash of color late in the gardening season.

Fall Bulbs for Pollinators

Daffodils are one of many bulbs that need to be planted in fall for an early spring flowering display.

Fall Flowering Asters

The star shaped flowers of New England aster provide a much needed floral resource for migrating pollinators, like the monarch butterfly.

Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind

Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind. Gold finch feeding on purple coneflower seeds

The best monster movies get their ideas from nature

chinese mantid

Gardening in comfort

The hunt for orange September, searching for monarch roosts

Many Monarchs roosting in an oak tree

Celebrate the colors of fall with autumn flowers

Pollinators and Roadways

Roadside plantings of pollinator habitat can present some risk of insect mortality from passing traffic, but the benefits outweigh the risks. Photo Credit: Jeff Kohmstedt, Prairie Rivers Network

Zinnias

Zinnias are spectacular annuals that produce abundant blooms throughout the season.

Aphids on Milkweed

Common milkweed in bloom

More than monarchs - What are those bugs on my milkweed?

More than monarchs - What are those bugs on my milkweed? milkweed bugs on seed pod of butterfly milkweed.

Celebrate Pollinator Week by Growing Native Plants

Two-spotted bumble bee on a spirea flower

Celebrate National Pollinator Week!

Monarch on a flower

Perennial plant of the year: Calamint

calamint and Echinacea

Spring brings spring beauties to the landscape

Spring brings spring beauties to the landscape - a clump of blooming spring beauty plants in turf

How not to retire when you retire - join the Master Naturalists

How to create butterfly habitat in your garden

Gray hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus) feeding on a Coreopsis flower. Flower has bright yellow petals with a dark red center

Spring Garden Cleanup

Standing dead stems are important overwintering habitat that should not be removed from the garden until insects emerge later in spring.

Master Naturalist Profile: “The Butterfly Lady”

Master Naturalist, Rhonda Brady on school bus full of kids

Stop signs for home landscaping

sphynx moth

Sedum is a reliable fall food source for foraging butterflies

butterflies on sedum by Candace Hart

Charles Darwin and Orchids

The Monarch Butterfly

National Pollinator Week

Pawpaw

Fall Garden Cleanup and Wildlife

Goldenrods for Landscaping

Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ is a cultivar of our native wrinkle-leaved goldenrod that provides a spectacular display of fireworks-like flowers for up to 2 months in late summer and fall.

A different fall-blooming beauty

aster, purple with yellow centers. credit: pixabay.

Magnolia Pollination

Saucer magnolia is currently in full bloom in our area with an abundance of white to pinkish, showy flowers

Break bad fall garden cleanup habits

Black Swallowtail by Deanna Frautschi

Fall planted bulbs welcome bees with early spring bloomers

Mowing for Monarchs

orange and black monarch butterfly perched on milkweed plant

News Releases (28)

Discover Monarch butterflies at local festival

Give monarch butterflies something to munch on, plant native milkweeds

Free workshop teaches about monarch butterflies and how to support them

Microclovers making a comeback as lawns grow in biodiversity

Help bees and butterflies with I-Pollinate training May 15

Every bloom matters when it comes to helping pollinators

Researchers call on backyard scientists to help save pollinators

Join local beekeeper and master gardener to learn about bees and their homes

Magnolia blooms, beetles are nature’s spring flower odd couple

Give caterpillars a chance with soft landings under trees

Attract more butterflies to your garden with tips from an expert

Dig in to gardening at Piatt County Master Gardeners’ educational day

Feed the bees next spring with bulbs from this year’s Fall Gardeners’ Gathering

Monarch Migration Festival to take place in person

Free hands-on monarch butterfly event is fun for all ages

Free hands-on event to spread education on monarch butterflies

Small bees attracted to small flowers

Latest conservation practices will highlight Southern Illinois Conservation Workshop

Learn how to make your landscape attractive to pollinators

Get to know the incredible Illinois milkweed

Large yard not required to support pollinators

Researchers call on backyard scientists to help save pollinators

Learn how to attract pollinators to your garden and why it is important

Pollinator Partnership honors Extension Master Naturalists

Gardening benefits body, mind, wallet

Birds, bees need growers' help to keep pollinating

Perennial plant of the year, calamint, a perfect pick for pollinators

Partnering up for a pollinator garden in Normal

Staff (3)

Christopher Enroth

Christopher Enroth

Horticulture Educator

Ken Johnson Staff Photo

Ken Johnson

Horticulture Educator

Ryan Pankau

Ryan Pankau

Horticulture Educator