ILRiverHort 2017

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I've mentioned many times that I love to journal, and I usually write surrounded by plants and nature. I use nature journaling as a creative form of self-expression, but I find that it also promotes relaxation and calmness. Many...

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I grow several different types of basil, and try new ones each year. Usually, I end up preferring the basic sweet basil to other kinds, but not this year. A new favorite this year is lime basil. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) has many...

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Once again, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and their partners have rounded up a top-notch Gardeners' BIG Day. The 18th annual event will be Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 8:00-3:00 at Dickson Mounds Museum....

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Old-fashioned flowers and flowering shrubs like roses, hydrangeas, sweet pea, lilac, and more have always been common garden plants. Technically, an heirloom is defined as a plant that is open-pollinated. These are pollinated by...

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator The winter series of University of Illinois Extension's Four Seasons Gardening program focuses on seeds, houseplants, and orchids. The first session of the series is titled Seed Starting and is offered twice – on January 31...