Blog Archive

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass 2016

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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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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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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