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ILRiverHort 2017

Daylily aphid testimonial

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Last week I noticed an unusually large number of daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) leaves turning completely yellow and dying. Upon closer inspection, I found that they have aphid feeding on the lower stems. Aphids are a soft-bodied insect...
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Grow Your Own Hops

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Gardeners have been growing hop as an ornamental vine for many years. Recently, I have seen more hop grown in backyards for home brewing. This is especially popular among younger male gardeners aged 18-34. Hop is a herbaceous...
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Enjoy Locally Grown Popcorn on the Spoon River Drive

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I love popcorn! Each year I buy kettle corn at one or more locations along the Spoon River Drive. It is a good possibility that the popcorn I purchase was grown and packaged locally. Mason County, Illinois grows a lot of popcorn! In...
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Plant Garlic This Fall

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Do you use a lot of garlic in your cooking? If so you might try growing your own. Fall is the best time to plant garlic in your garden. Garlic is a hardy bulb, and thus is best planted in the fall when other bulbs, such as tulips...
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Rhonda's Top FIVE Turf Tips

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Warm temperatures this winter have caused some lawns to green up early. This could impact the timing of various spring lawncare activities, such as seeding, fertilizing, mowing, and weed control. Here are a five turf tips to consider...
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Become a Master Gardener

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator  Master Gardeners are a special group of people who all have a common interest – a love of gardening and nature and the desire to share that knowledge with others. The Master Gardener Volunteer program is a very successful University...
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Hosta Slugs

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator On a recent trip to visit my son Derek in Monterey, California, we hiked among the giant redwood trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. It was a rainy day, which enhanced the overall experience. It also brought out a banana slug for...
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Vegetable Planting Dates

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Our abnormal spring temperatures have many folks antsy to begin gardening, but remember that we could still get freezing temperatures. How early you can plant depends upon the hardiness of the vegetables and the date of our last...
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Grow Your Own Birdseed

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Feeding and watching birds has become one of America's favorite pastimes. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds. The most commonly used birdseed are...
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Holiday Cones

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Each year the Fulton and Mason County Master Gardeners hold a greenery workshop during their last meeting of the year. Attendees bring greenery and other decorations to use in their arrangements. I brought boughs of pine, cedar, and...
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Ferree Provides Garden Tip Videos on YouTube

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator My new horticulture YouTube channel extends my gardening education into another realm of social media. Videos are the latest social media trend, with predictions that 74% of all internet traffic in 2017 will be video. My plan is to...
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Horticulture Educator Team Wins Excellence Award

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator A team of nine University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educators was awarded an Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence Award at University of Illinois Extension's annual conference in November 2016. The Interdisciplinary...
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PERILOUS PEARS by Jason Haupt

Each year I am more distressed by the number of volunteer ornamental pear trees I see growing in fields, roadsides, and other places where they shouldn't be. This is yet another example of a plant that has escaped cultivation and become invasive. Below is an article written by my colleague Jason...
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Test Seed Viability

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I recently found some old seed in my office and wondered if they were still viable. If you save leftover seed to use the following year, here are some ways to find out if they are still good. Seed viability is a measure of the...
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Dog Gone Lawn by Chris Enroth

How do dogs harm lawns? Chris Enroth, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, explains. First is the traffic. Very often backyard dogs will wear down paths in the grass from circling or pacing. Not only is this hard on the lawn itself but it also leads to compacted soils,...
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Indoor Herb Gardens

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I have been enjoying the fresh basil, dill, cilantro, and parsley I'm growing indoors this winter. I use the herbs to make fresh pesto, teas, salsas, and more. Gardening is not limited to outside in the summer. Herbs are probably...
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Give Rosemary as a Sign of Love and Remembrance

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Rosemary is a wonderful herb. It not only looks and smells great but makes a great addition to many culinary dishes. Rosemary is often found at Christmas time in wreaths and topiaries. If you follow the meaning of flowers, rosemary...
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Date Set for 2017 Gardeners' BIG Day

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Get ready, here it comes - the 18th Annual Gardeners' BIG Day! University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners in Fulton and Mason County sponsor this event, which is set for Saturday, April 29th, at Dickson Mounds Museum in...
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