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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass 2014

Invasive Callery pears by Rhonda Feree and Sandy Mason

Although ornamental flowering pears are beautiful in the spring, they have several severe problems. Below is a portion of an article written by Sandy Mason, Extension Educator in horticulture based in Champaign, IL. Since this article was published in 2005, ornamental pear problems have...
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Rose Slug

Most Knockout roses in our area have bounced back from the winter kill by resprouting from the base causing the plants to be smaller and more compact this year. However few, some in our area had to be replanted the one’s that didn’t had a little help from Mother Nature with their garden pruning...
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Finding the Good Guys

If you invite me to your garden for a tour, I probably won't be looking at your flowers, but rather start turning over leaves or inspecting holes, looking for the insects that may reside there. Several clues will prompt me to inspect a plant, like frass (insect poop), holes in the leaves, yellowing...
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Hedge Apple Pest Control by Iowa State University

"Hedge apple" trees (also called Osage orange, Maclura pomifera) are not related to apples or oranges and their fruit is inedible. The large, grapefruit-sized, brain-like green fruit are better-known that the trees and show up in the fall of the year in stores and farmers markets where...
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McLean County Master Gardener Training

Sign up today for Master Gardener Would you like to learn about growing vegetables, landscaping, trees, insects or turfgrass from the University of Illinois Extension? The McLean County Master Gardeners want you to join their training program this winter and take you on a amazing...
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Opt for Sticking with Illinois Natives

As a horticulturist, I am often asked to name my favorite plant. After my mind spins from traveling through my past, I am left momentarily speechless. Is my favorite plant the bountiful bunch of cymbidium orchids from Holland or the vivid blue poppies from the Chelsea flower show in London or...
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Picking Trees that Provide Rich Fall Color

Scientists believe brilliant fall colors may be a sign of healthy trees in the expanse of the North American forests. The presence of brilliant reds of the black tupelo, orange and purples of sassafrass and the luminescent yellows of birch may actually contribute to deterring leaf-eating pests...
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Growing Salad Greens by Nancy Pollard

Mesclun is a mixture of assorted small, baby salad leaves also known as a mesclun mix. You can purchase mesclun bagged in cellophane at your grocer. Yet freshly harvested from a few square feet in your patio, garden, or front stoop, mesclun is an easy tender treat, said a University of Illinois...
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Last Minute Gift Ideas For Gardeners By Jenifer Fishburn

- Looking for a gift for the gardener on your list? A short list of items most gardeners will appreciate might come in handy this holiday season, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "There are hundreds of gift ideas for the gardener, and this list will focus on items...
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Seeing Beauty in the Natural Cycle of Life

For Christmas, my father, asked me to pick out a piece of art from his studio to take home to add to my collection of all things "Karlton Allsup, the potter." I was conflicted between two pieces: one, a pristine turquoise and white plate that was perfectly symmetrical with not a flaw in sight; and...
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Woodford County Open House Menu

Goat's Milk Chevre Cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm in Champaign Apple Cider Cider from Rockome Gardens Foods in Arcola Aronia Berry Muffins with Jam or Jelly Berries, jams, and jellies from Sunny Lane Aronia Farm in Eureka Meatballs...
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Dividing Perennials in the Spring by Nancy Pollard

Divide and conquer: Preparing spring plants URBANA, Ill. - Spring is here and we are starting to get the gardening itch, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "Warm days tease us and blooming crocus encourages us," said Martha Smith. "But we know Mother Nature is still in...
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Tips for Summer floral Designs

As a hired hand in the gardening world, I would gather blooms from the recently tended landscape to create a floral arrangement for the inside of the home. The transition from gardener to floral designer seemed effortless since landscaping and floral design share common principles: repetition...
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Butterflies Enjoy Nature's Camoflauge

Illinois butterfly identification programs have been popular among prairie walkers and flower gardeners. It is these delightful visitors of flowers or tree sap or —in some cases, dung and mud puddles —that capture our interests and cause us to ask, "What kind of butterfly is that?" and "Where did...
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Dead and Dying Trees from Rhonda Feree

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. Unfortunately trees under stress are less able to fight off insect and...
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Fall planted bulbs welcome bees with early spring bloomers

Get your gardens buzzing next spring by planting bee-friendly bulbs and spring bloomers this fall. Bumblebee queens, honey bees, and solitary bees start emerging from their winter homes ready to feast on the landscape as early as March. Feed them from your garden by planting a mix of crocus, snow...
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Don't get started too early on planting seed

Don't get started too Early on Seeds University of Illinois Extension Educator, Kelly Allsup, warns gardeners with that early onset gardenitis from starting their seed too early but rather encourage using the following guidelines. Just as snow, ice, fierce wind and tough driving conditions are...
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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

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