Master Gardeners

Each year in late summer and fall, beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) catches my eye and reminds me of its fantastic fruit display. This near-native shrub hails from the southern United States and is commonly planted in the Illinois landscape. Its name is quite appropriate, as the...

A few weeks ago, I was exploring a woodland near Springfield and ran across a fuzzy cluster of feeding insects. It was slightly out of reach, congregated in a lower limb of a young black walnut tree (Juglans nigra).While grabbing a nearby stick and attempting to pull the limb down and get a closer...

Plants in the genus Hosta, collectively referred to as hostas, are one of the premier plants for ornamental gardens that lack full sun.  These resilient perennials are a mainstay of Midwestern shade gardens and remain popular in temperate regions worldwide. However, that wasn’t...

Tomatoes are the most commonly planted garden crop in the United States, as evidenced by the wide range of tomato plants available every year in garden centers.  Beyond home production of tomatoes, the U.S. has historically led global commercial production, with California being our top...

Winter is a stressful time for many plants in the landscape, given the drought conditions brought on by freezing temperatures and the effects of extreme cold. Although these stressors typically don’t impact our houseplants the same way, indoor plants experience their own form of winter stress,...

Mentioning the ripe beets coming out of the ground this time of year doesn't get much excitement out of my kids, but they are certainly a favorite of mine. I have such fond memories of fresh beets from my grandmother's garden. She served them pretty regularly as a side, fresh when possible,...