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A person digging into soil in a raised flower bed

New Year's resolutions of a gardener

January 2, 2026

The New Year brings fresh traditions, opportunities, and resolutions. For gardeners, it also signals the start of a new growing season. Why not set a few personal gardening resolutions to become a more sustainable and successful gardener? Here are some ideas for one gardener to another....

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a monarch sips nectar from a purple liatris bloom

Celebrate National Pollinators Week with practices that support pollinators all season

June 16, 2023

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

It is no secret; pollinators are in decline. Did you know, pollinators provide 1 out of 3 bites of food you eat? Over 80% of flowering plants are pollinated by small, but busy animals, like bees and butterflies. They are essential to life on Earth – for plants and humans. With such an important...

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a painted lady butterfly on a mexican sunflower

Help the butterfly lifecycle: Plant a garden of pollinator favorites

May 12, 2023

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Around 100 different species of butterflies call Illinois home. Unfortunately, our fluttering insect populations have declined over the years due to environmental stresses like drought and loss of habitat. Butterflies are a lot like us, they need food, water, and a safe, comfortable space to...

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focus on one sunflower in front of a field of sunflowers lit from behind by sun

Sunflowers symbolize summer, elevate garden displays and double as a snack for wildlife

August 12, 2022

Nothing says summer like a brightly blooming sunflower (Helianthus annus). Often considered a weed in a farmer's field, many homeowners find joy filling their landscape and gardens with these majestic giants. The colorful, sunny blooms elevate a garden display and double as a snack for you...

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butterflyweed with orange flowers and green leaves

Support the Monarchs-Plant Native Milkweeds

July 29, 2022

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Roadsides and ditches are drawing the eye of humans and butterflies alike as common milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca) return to the summer scenery. While this plant proves unpopular for its weedy habit, it is a necessity for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the sole...

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Celebrate National Pollinator Week!

June 16, 2021

Thank a pollinator for that warm cup of coffee in your hands, or for that chocolate sundae you indulged in the other day. National Pollinator Week is June 21-27; celebrate pollinators and support their health this year. Did you know that that...

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Perennial plant of the year: Calamint

May 14, 2021

Sun-loving, season-long blooming, low maintenance, dependable and pollinator-friendly. Sound like a perfect perennial to add to your garden? Calamint (Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta), selected as the Perennial Plant Association’s 2021...

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Stop signs for home landscaping

October 30, 2020

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

With everything going virtual this year, Illinois’ Master Gardener conference followed suit, hosting only one speaker. So she must have been good. Recipient of the National Medal of Science in 2014, May Berenbaum is department head of...

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Sedum is a reliable fall food source for foraging butterflies

September 25, 2020

A few years back, Illinois gardeners learned that there is more to monarch decline than a lack of milkweed to support larvae, or habitat destruction in their overwintering home. Another contributing factor is a lack of floral resources for adult monarch butterflies to make the journey in the fall...

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aster, purple with yellow centers. credit: pixabay.

A different fall-blooming beauty

September 11, 2020

When thinking of fall bloomers for your garden, everyone's usual go-to is the mum, but don’t rule out the gorgeous asters sitting next to the mums. There are 180 species of aster, many of which are native to Illinois. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and aromatic aster (...

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