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New homeowners should take time to learn their yard

August 4, 2026

By Deborah Lane, Extension Master Gardener, Serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell CountiesAs a Master Gardener volunteer, I have learned that many new homeowners arrive with the same concern: they have inherited a yard, but they are not sure what they have. Moving day may bring boxes...

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orange ditch lilies spreading through dense green foliage

Landscapes that support life: Replacing invasives with natives

May 14, 2026

Many people recognize bush honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, L. tatarica, etc.) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) as invasive species. Still, some lesser‑known plants are also on Illinois’ invasive species list. invasive plants in are the ones hiding in plain sight, including...

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Top reasons it is important to plant natives

March 30, 2026

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By Gayle Blodgett, Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties Native plants are essential to healthy ecosystems because they support biodiversity, conserve resources, stabilize soils and waterways, sequester carbon,...

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Welcoming spring ephemerals to your garden

March 30, 2026

ILRiverHort

By Bob Streitmatter, Botanical Garden Manager at Peoria Park DistrictSpring is a wonderful time to be in a garden, as it comes to life…bright foliage and flowers seem to be everywhere. Walking through the garden almost becomes a celebration, as you spot Spring Beauty, Dutchman’s...

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Conservation@Home Member Spotlight: Joyce and Gordon Wassell

February 18, 2026

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By Megan Todd, Extension Master Gardener, Serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell countiesDriving up the street in a Morton subdivision searching for the home of new Conservation@Home members Gordon and Joyce Wassell, one needs no house number to know which place is theirs. All...

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Conservation@Home Member Spotlight: Lynda Sharp-Lower

February 18, 2026

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By Sarah Smith, Master Gardener and Naturalist, serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell countiesIn 2018, Lynda and her husband Jeff moved into their current home and set to work on taking care of their almost 2-acre property that sits on a small lake, surrounded by other homes. Encouraged by...

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Poison Ivy: A friend to deer and bird, a foe to many humans

September 8, 2025

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By Jennifer Bass, Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell countiesI love my yard with all of the trees, the wilder areas behind my home, and the small prairie plot in the small sunny patch in the front of my house. But, I am...

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Conservation@Home Member Spotlight: Janine Donahue

August 1, 2025

ILRiverHort

By Janine Donahue, Illinois Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell countiesMy journey into learning about native plants began about 6 years ago when I decided to add native plants to one of the Master Gardener projects. As I looked at a...

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two ladies standing in the woods with five garbage bags full of garlic mustard

Spring Creek Preserve: A haven for spring ephemerals

June 18, 2025

ILRiverHort

By Mike McGraw, Extension Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell counties Even as a teenager, I loved the ephemeral wildflowers that grew in the woods near my home in Alton, Illinois – plants with wonderfully evocative names like Harbinger of Spring, Spring...

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New reading series launched focused on habitat gardens

December 17, 2024

ILRiverHort

Are you interested in learning how to take steps to create a home landscape that is not only beautiful, but also provides ecological benefits for the environment? If so, join us as we start our 2025 book study.We're excited to announce a deep dive into considering conservation minded additions to...

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