The Garden Scoop 2025

It’s that time of year again. The time when spring weather is warming, we are all starting to get active in our gardens to plant things. However, lots of folks are wondering if the time is right yet. Last week’s warm weather generated quite a bit of gardening activity, and Illinois...

When most people think about pollinators, they envision the honeybee (Apis mellifera) buzzing from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen.  These non-native bees have become somewhat of a poster child for pollinators but the story of their interaction in the world of insects is...

Spring is a time of an awakening plant world full of blooms and endless possibilities for the coming growing season.  It’s a time that many of us think about updating our landscaping, making it the most popular time of year to plant trees and shrubs. When you combine the mild temperatures...

Plant competition is an instrumental part of natural ecosystems, with winners and losers in all cases. Still, it is really fascinating to consider why and how certain plants come out on top.  In some examples, you can look at climate or other geographic constraints to understand why a...