Grasses are an often-underappreciated component of landscaping.  They don’t have the showy flowers of many forbs and are thus overlooked.  But when it comes to keeping out weeds, adding structure and winter interest, or preventing erosion, you won’t find much better than grasses.While...

Are they “lightning bugs”? Or do you prefer “fireflies”? Either way, these living, glowing little lamps are an inimitable sign that summer is truly in full swing.LifecycleThere are more than 20 species of lightning bugs in Illinois, all within the family Lampyridae. Like all beetles, they have a “...

Walking outside on a nice fall day, you may be greeted by a strange, primal rattling sound coming from way high up in the sky. No, it’s not an alien invasion. It’s a ...