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Gardening Blogs

queen anne's lace flower head

The confusing carrot family

Over the Garden Fence
Every family is full of characters—the fun one, the pretty one, the difficult one, etc.  The Umbellifer family has that, too.  While carrots are the life of the party—sweet, crunchy, and great with ranch, other members like poison hemlock are better appreciated from a distance.  Who...
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soil with vegetables and garden gloves

How to prepare a vegetable garden bed

Over the Garden Fence
Spring has officially sprung in northern Illinois, and with it comes the excitement and opportunity of a new gardening season. Before seeds and transplants make their way into the ground, taking time to properly prepare your garden bed can set the stage for healthier plants, higher yields, and...
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various microgreens growing in nine trays

Microgreens are a big deal

Over the Garden Fence
Have you seen microgreens on the menu of a fancy restaurant and wondered what they were?  Or maybe you saw them over the summer at a farmers’ market but passed them up because of the hefty price tag.  It turns out, with the right setup, you can have this fresh, nutritious add-on all year...
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Nasturtium flowers

Spice up the garden with edible flowers

Over the Garden Fence
May is finally here, when Spring has sprung and homeowners are rushing to get the garden ready. As gardeners start their season, consider something new this year: edible flowers. Integrating edible flowers into gardens and cuisines are growing in popularity amongst home gardeners and chefs and can...
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hand scattering egg shells by tomato seedling

Garden MythBusters: The dos and don’ts of natural remedies

From homemade pesticide applications to adding eggshells to the soil, gardeners are always looking for natural alternatives to current gardening practices. Over the past few years, there has been an influx of gardeners adding eggshells, coffee grounds, and dish soap to their gardens to improve soil...
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collection on houseplants in an office

Gardening inside with houseplants

Over the Garden Fence
The weather has turned cold, and your gardens have gone to sleep.  But your hands still long to touch the dirt and crave a little green in your life. Consider adding some houseplants to your space!  With a bit of research and forethought, even the brownest thumb can keep their space...
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close up of orange mum with red and yellow in background

Mum's the word

Over the Garden Fence
Certain things just say “fall” to me—changing leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, and of course, mums!  This is the time of year every garden store is filled to the brim with mums in every color and size.  With the right care, those blooms will last and maybe even come back next year!...
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