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Making the most of fall mums

October 29, 2026

This time of year, garden centers around the area are teeming with a quintessential fall favorite, the Chrysanthemum. This versatile ornamental is more commonly referred to by its abbreviated name of just “mums”.Taxonomy and HistoryChrysanthemum is actually a genus of...

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Carolina Allspice: A fragrant native shrub in spring

May 6, 2026

The Garden Scoop

Chocolaty-brown, almost reddish flowers and an alluring scent are the major attractions of Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus) this time of year. Earlier this spring, I was admiring a specimen in full bloom down in southern Illinois. As its name implies, the fragrant...

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A grove of silver maple trees in a flood plain.

Why Some Plants Thrive While Others Struggle: The Role of Soil, Climate, and Competition

January 6, 2025

The Garden Scoop

Plant competition is an instrumental part of natural ecosystems, with winners and losers in all cases. Still, it is really fascinating to consider why and how certain plants come out on top. In some examples, you can look at climate or other geographic constraints to understand why a...

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Native garden design made simple

December 16, 2024

The Garden Scoop

Gardening with native plants is an ever-increasing trend nationwide as many folks seek an ecological alternative to our traditional non-native landscape species. However, many of us are faced with some challenges as we add a whole new pallet of plants to our garden spaces.I’ve been obsessed...

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Fall's final flourish: Native plants for late-season color

December 2, 2024

The Garden Scoop

These days, the best way to see the lingering fall colors is by looking at the ground. Most of our trees have dropped their leaves, but color remains at ground level in the fallen foliage or in smaller landscape plants that still retain their autumnal hues. This year, I have been really...

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How sunlight can change tree shape

October 7, 2024

The Garden Scoop

Several years ago, we had an extra pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) after all the plants were distributed at the East Central Illinois Master Naturalist’s Annual Native Tree and Shrub sale. Since this poor tree had no home, we decided to plant it outside one of the staff entrances at the...

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Discovering the Common Evening Primrose

August 18, 2024

The Garden Scoop

In recent weeks, I have noticed an unfamiliar yellow flower around central Illinois. It seems to be everywhere I go from ditches and roadsides to local natural areas or even around public gardens. With its prevalence along my routine travel paths, such as the I-72 or I-74 corridors, I’d...

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Native Rose Vervain adds color and blooms to your garden

May 4, 2024

The Garden Scoop

From time to time, there is a plant you may stumble across and bring home to try in the garden that far exceeds expectations and becomes a new “favorite.” Rose vervain (Glandularia canadensis), also commonly referred to as rose verbena, has played that role in our garden space in the...

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How many natives should I plant?

January 20, 2024

The Garden Scoop

Gardeners considering the wildlife or ecological value of their plant selections have a lot to consider these days. New information is emerging constantly about the perceived or proven value our landscape plants may provide for wildlife. While the field of restoration ecology has...

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Surprise lilies shock with late bloom

August 13, 2023

The Garden Scoop

When I try to think of plants that live up to their common name, surprise lily (Lycoris squamigera) tops the list. In fact, this plant has quite a few common names that are equally fitting, including ghost lily, magic lily, resurrection flower, naked lily, and mystery lily, among...

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