As the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler, many species of insects will search for places to spend the winter. Depending on the insect, they may seek out a variety of locations, such as in soil, under leaf litter, under tree bark, or even in our homes. One that we commonly...

The natural process of trees shedding leaves in the fall is the most visible sign of trees preparing for winter dormancy. Shedding leaves is a tree’s way of self-preservation, reducing plant material that require resources that become scarce during the cold days and short daylight of winter.While...

Autumn is a time for…life? This may seem perplexing, as we often link fall with plants dying, wildlife migrating, and us retreating indoors. However, this is when conservationists managing prairies get excited to sow new life.Managing prairies, forests, or wetlands often involves battling nonnative...

Annual geraniums (Pelargonium) are among the most popular flowering plants grown in gardens. These easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants provide color to landscapes from May until the arrival of frost. After the first hard frost, they are typically destined for the compost pile, but that...

During this first week of October, many of the plants blooming in our landscape are mums, asters, goldenrods, sedums, and ornamental grasses. But what if your lilac is blooming? A lilac blooming in autumn is unusual unless you have planted one of the new varieties bred to bloom once in the spring...

Habitat was once thought of as something outside of town in the countryside. Today incorporating habitat into home landscaping in and around towns and cities has become a top trend across the United States. However, a naturalistic landscape design style does not always fit our HOA...

The recent turn in the weather has me feeling all the fall vibes. I’m ready for leaves to turn, for pumpkin spice to be in everything, and for sweater weather. Although as a kid and young adult, Halloween hasn’t traditionally been my favorite holiday, my kids love it which means I love it. As our...

Despite the bad name they get, yellowjackets (Vespula spp.) are beneficial insects. The larvae are meat eaters, consuming caterpillars and other insects (and occasionally carrion) that adults have captured and brought back to the nest. Adults, on the other hand, primarily feed on flower...

For the most part, we think of fungal infections as undesirable and cause adverse effects on plants. Fungal pathogens can destroy crops, weaken and deform plant parts, or kill the host plant entirely. Fungal pathogens cause billions of dollars of economic loss annually. Within this context, as we...

You sprayed what? Where? There are a few occasions when it is a good thing people can’t read my facial expressions over the phone. One of those situations is when I get a phone call where someone has used a pesticide that is way off-label. By off-label, I am referring to spraying a pesticide...

If you’ve driven along any interstates or highways in Illinois, there’s a good chance you’ve seen tall plants with spiky flower heads. Teasels have become an increasingly common sight across Illinois. While they may appear attractive, especially for cut flower arrangements, these troublesome plants...

Finding interesting insects is fun! At least for me. I enjoy observing the intricacies of most insects. However, there are a few creepy crawlies I do not want to see, especially in my house. What insect has been on my “Most Un-Wanted” list? Termites. When we bought our house a few years ago we...

Magnolias are popular trees and shrubs in many landscapes. Their large, showy flowers can range from white to pink to yellow and provide a burst of color in the spring. While they are relatively pest-free, one of the biggest pests is the magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum), which...

Generally speaking, native plants are considered desirable since they support wildlife, can improve water quality while requiring less water themselves, are beautiful in the landscape, are generally more tolerant of climate conditions and soil types, and much more. However, from time to time a...

We are stuck with the trees planted by those who came before us. At least I am at my house. Mostly because they are so expensive to cut down. One species I am left dealing with is Norway maple (Acer platinoides).Am I referring to the maple with purple leaves? Yes, that maple. The original...

Summer officially begins this week and for many, it means melon season. According to the UDSA, in 2022, approximately 21.1 pounds of melon was available per U.S. consumer. Of the melons available and enjoyed by consumers, the three most popular melons ranked, in order of availability:...

It seems like every social media exchange where the topic of ticks or opossums comes up, I see a meme or photo glorifying the opossum and saying they will keep ticks out of your yard. This statement is based on a 2009 study that showed opossum grooming led to them devouring ticks from their bodies...

Roses are grown in many gardens for their large, showy, often fragrant flowers. If you grow roses, you may have noticed something eating the leaves of your plants, causing them to become unsightly. While Japanese beetles often get much of the blame during the summer months, they aren’t the only...

The other day, I had the opportunity to chaperone a school group at a local state park. While on the field trip, a volunteer-led the students on a nature hike through the woodlands. At one point during the hike, the group leader grabbed a handful of two plants to share with the students but in...