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ILRiverHort 2014

Winter's Impact on Insects and Plants

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Unfortunately, the winter has taken a toll on many plants. Evergreens are especially impacted, many showing significant winter desiccation or even death. The severe cold winter compounded plant stresses already inflicted by recent...
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Disposing of Your Christmas Tree

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Once the Christmas holiday is over, the chore of taking down and disposing of the cut Christmas tree remains. Today, because of solid waste regulations, most communities will no longer permit the used Christmas trees to be hauled out...
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Purchasing Trees and Shrubs

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Trees and shrubs are popping up at retail sales areas throughout Illinois. "Retailers sell a variety of plants in a variety of packages or market forms," says Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois...
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Does my tree have Emerald Ash Borer?

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Peoria and Tazewell counties. On July 25th the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced the detections occurred in residential areas of the two central Illinois counties. In Peoria County, arborists discovered the beetle first near Dunlap and...
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Dried Flower Arrangements

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Thanksgiving always makes me think of beautiful fall decorations. In addition to flowers, stems, and leaves that may be dried indoors, there are many materials that can be collected in the fall and used almost directly in...
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Wait-n-See Spring

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator If you are like me you likely have a lot of dead plants or plant parts in your yard. Last weekend while walking around my yard I noticed that one of my redbud trees in the front yard is completely dead. Today as I drove to work I...
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Gifts for the Gardener

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Every year I try to provide ideas for those of you who are searching for the "perfect" gift for a gardener in your family. This year I'm highlighting some new gardening books that I recently read. Entomologist Doug Tallamy has two...
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Hedge Apples – Facts & Myths

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Hedge apples seem to be if great abundance this fall. I've also had some questions about using the hedge apples and the tree's wood for various purposes. This article by retired extension educator Bob Frazee, originally published in...
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Bee-neficials: It's all about the bees this year

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator May brings us our fifth gardening trend for 2014: Bee-neficials: It's all about the bees this year. News on bee and other pollinator populations is everywhere this spring. Obviously, pollinators are an essential requirement...
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Passion Flower

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I taught a Whimsical Garden Fun series for Bradley University's OLLI program this month. This one was a bit different for me because I combined the science of gardening with a bit of art and culture. The first day, during ...
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Learn Something New in 2014

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator My grandma Simmons used to tell me that we should learn something new every day. I still think that is a great idea and have decided to make that my New Year's resolution this year. If you want to join me, University of Illinois...
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Dead and Dying Trees on the Increase

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator The droughts of 2011 and 2012 continue to take a toll on tree health. Rhonda Ferree, Extension Educator in horticulture, says that trees can take three to five years to show symptoms from a severe event such as drought....
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Master Naturalists Learn About Butterflies and More!

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator The Wildlife Prairie Park Butterfly Habitat was awarded a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Teamwork Award at an awards banquet in Champaign on June 13th. The Master Gardener Teamwork Award recognizes groups of Master...
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Bee-neficials: It's all about the bees this year

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Pollinators are an essential requirement for many of our favorite food crops. "News on bee and other pollinator populations is everywhere this spring," says Rhonda Ferree, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator....
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All About Rose Slugs

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Despite making it through a brutally cold winter, knockouts and other rose varieties are being eaten by the larvae of sawfly stated Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup. The larvae, not a slug, is yellow- green and velvety looking, 1/...
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Emerald Ash Borer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions and Answers. Question. Should I do a preventative treatment on my ash tree, even though it doesn't have the pest yet? Answer. University of Illinois Extension recommends doing a preventative treatment for Emerald Ash Borer only when the beetle has been confirmed within...
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FALL PLANTING TREES

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Fall is an ideal time to plant many woody trees and shrubs. Before grabbing the spade and digging a hole, Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, suggests that there are several important factors...
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Garden Trend 11 – Fingertip Gardens

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Time for our next gardening trend of 2014: Fingertip Gardens. It's all about gardening using high tech with mobile apps and technology. It seems that every day I hear about a new garden-related app for smart phones and tablets. I...
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Recycled Leaves Make Inexpensive Mulch

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Fall brings wiener roasts, festivals, and leaf removal. Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, suggests making good use of the fallen leaves in your yard. The tree leaves that accumulate in and...
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