Flowers, Fruits, and Frass 2016

Late-blooming beauties URBANA, Ill. - Just as most flowers are frying or fading, late-blooming perennials take off and steal the show, says Sandra Mason, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.Mason shares a few late-blooming beauties to create a fantastic fall flower garden....

Brussels Sprouts "Brussels sprouts were the high point of numerous meals over my holiday season. I must admit I have never grown this delectable vegetable because it is known to be a slow-growing vegetable, but now have aspirations to make it part of my fall...

Hostas are among some of the most cherished perennials of all time, creating a lush pallet of bright greens, muted greens, chartreuse greens, variegated greens and creams, and blue greens. They come in miniature versions to lofting leaves as tall as a small child. Hostas are commonly described as...

CELEBRATE HERBS AT WESTVIEW PARKGRIDLEY, Ill.– Interested in getting an herb garden started or expanding your knowledge on how to use the herbs you grow? Join the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners at 6:30 p.m. on June 14 at Westview Park for their...

Please join Ginny Hodgson and the University of Illinois Extension Woodford County Master Gardeners at the "Gardeners' Gathering" from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16 at the Great Oaks Community Church, located at 515 Rt. IL-116 in Germantown Hills. Past participants have said this is the...

Adult Japanese beetles have been reported in southern, central, and northern Illinois. Early control reduces damage through the six weeks that they are actively feeding as beetles are attracted to previous feeding damage. Japanese beetles feed on the upper leaf surface, eating through the...

She's unassuming. She's loud. She's somewhat inappropriate -- that is, if you were thinking you were going to get gardening advice from your grandma. She describes herself as a grade below Martha Stewart and uses common sense to distill her gardening woes. Her name is Amanda Thomsen and she is...

Join the University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners for the third herb class of the summer at their Herb Garden located in Illinois State University Horticulture Center on Raab Road in Normal. On August 17 at 10 a.m., a program entitled "What to do with your fragrant herbs"...

Planting a fall vegetable garden URBANA, Ill. - Planting a vegetable garden doesn't just happen in the spring. "Many of the vegetables that we grow in the spring can be planted in late summer or early fall," says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson."By the time...

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on September 28, 2016. Praying Mantis may be stalking prey in our gardens and startling our young but they are a good sign of a healthy ecosystem. Praying Mantis get their name from a Greek word meaning "prophet," "seer" or "diviner." How they...

It was the second week in September, and he saw the robust sweet potatoes sticking their spuds out of the soil. He had planned on harvesting the sweet potatoes later just before the first frost. However, like many vegetable growers, Reid Young, changed his harvest plan and freed the sweet...

Learn plant propagation techniques at Sarah's Garden BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Propagating plants can be one of the most exciting tasks a gardener can do. The University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners invite you to learn about propagation techniques at the historic Sarah's Garden....

BLOOMINGTON, IL. — The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference (ISCAOC) will be held January 11-13, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The conference, which features nearly 100 speakers and 60 trade show exhibitors, will again host four concurrent preconference...

Fertilize your spring flowering bulbs with a slower-releasing granular of one to two pounds of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet when shoots first appear in spring and ideally four to six weeks before bloom. Adding fertilizer in spring produces healthy and robust foliage which consequently allows bulb's...

Woodford Master Gardeners win state awardsEUREKA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Extension would like to congratulate Woodford County Master Gardeners, Barry Ankney, Karel Kaufman and Karen Kaufman-Dixon for their 2016 Outstanding State Master Gardener awards. The Outstanding...

The popular tree pruning workshop is back, and this year will be led by Illinois State University's own Patrick Murphy. Patrick is a horticulturist and curator of the Fell Arboretum that boasts thousands of trees, including 154 different species. Patrick will demonstrate the correct pruning...

Would you like to try growing something new in your vegetable garden this year? "These unusual but elegant vegetables are sure to give you restaurant-quality meals throughout the summertime," claims University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup. Haricot verts...

Manage pests on your favorite trees URBANA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Kelly Allsup cautions to watch out for insect pests on favorite landscape trees this late summer and fall. "If you don't take necessary management actions at the appropriate time, the battle...

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on June 4, 2016. Pollinator gardens are on trend whether you are novice or a professional. University of Illinois Extension has developed a program called Pollinator Pockets giving homeowners resources to start their own pocket gardens. They have...

Add A Fresh Evergreen Centerpiece to Your Holiday Table BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Simplify the holidays by purchasing an evergreen centerpiece created by University of Illinois Extension-Livingston County Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners are celebrating the holidays with rich,...