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Flowers, Fruits, and Frass 2016

Mysterious Modification:Plants That Grow in Unusual Ways

Four Seasons gardening program offers fall series The fall series of University of Illinois Extension's Four Seasons Gardening program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, is underway this month. The first session of the...
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Chestnuts by Elizabeth Whale

URBANA, Ill. – Many Americans only know chestnuts from the famous line, "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," from the 1945 song, "Merry Christmas to You," by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. Prior to its demise in the first half of the 20th century, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the...
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Square Foot Gardening

Square Foot Gardening Have you ever attempted to grow vegetables with grand visons of fresh produce that would litter your kitchen counter? Instead your broccoli went to the worms, your tomatoes were riddled with disease, or your garden was overrun with weeds....
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Companion planting workshops

Companion Planting Workshop Please join University of Illinois Extension Horticulture program in Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties for a series of workshops designed to teach the community how to grow. The workshops teach both novice and avid gardener's skills to grow...
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Welcome Beneficial Guests with an Insect Hotel

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on June 21, 2016. Did you know that with minimal investment, you can open a hotel? Insect hotels offer places for beneficial insects and pollinators to survive winter's chill and to nest in spring and summer. You can use them to employ garden warriors...
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Trench, Keyhole and Mound Gardening reuses plant materials

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on December 3, 2016. Start your gardening endeavors this fall by using plant materials (organic matter) that you would normally put on the curb for pick-up. Whether you use the trench, keyhole, mound (also known as Hugelkultur) gardening methods, you...
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Is it a bee or a fly? by Phil Nixon

Large numbers of syrphid, or flower, flies are being seen. They are small flies, usually 1/4 inch or shorter, with yellow and black or brown bands on the abdomen. They hover around your arms when you have been perspiring and land to lap up the sweat. This hovering also gives them the name of hover...
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Strawberries Revisited

Spring Sweetness: Strawberries Strawberry Facts 1. It takes 15-60 visits from pollinators for one plump strawberries. Adding pollinators to the garden can increase yield by over 500%. 2. Strawberry plants decline in quality and production after a few years so...
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Red-Tailed Hawk by Jason Haupt

One of the most prolific birds of prey seen in Illinois is the Red -tailed Hawk. They are frequently seen along roadsides perched in trees, on light poles, and fence poles. When you see a hawk, you are most likely seeing a Red -tailed Hawk. Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks with rounded wings and...
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Wooly Aphids by Phil Nixon

Woolly aphids typically feed on two hosts during a 1-year period, with most species apparently having to switch hosts. This host-switching occurs in various species from late June to late July, and fuzzy adult females that look like flying lint seemingly drifting on the wind are their means of...
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Should you grow grass under Trees?

One thing I constantly get asked when assisting with the Master Gardener help desks, is "How do I grow grass under a tree?" The answer usually is, "You don't grow grass under trees." It can be very difficult to create a nice-looking stand because most grasses need sun to grow and the roots of...
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Heat Stress by Dave Robson

Few people like 90+ degree temperatures. Plants aren't far behind. On hot days, plants can lose water faster than roots absorb it, even if sufficient soil moisture is available. In these conditions, you can watch the plants wilt, leaves droop, and stems seem to flop. If the soil is moist, the...
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Two gardening tasks for Autumn

Two gardening tasks for autumn BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Kelly Allsup recommends two essential gardening tasks to do this fall: fertilize your trees and refrain from cleaning up your perennial garden. Fall is a great time to...
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Don’t Let Your Herbs Go to Waste

Peas, leafy greens, potatoes, Swiss chard, tomatoes and numerous herbs have thus far been harvested from my straw bale garden this year, states University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup. The bales are lined up in pairs standing just east of her driveway, close to a water...
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