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Authors
Rhonda J. Ferree
Former Extension Educator, Horticulture
Recent Posts
Categories
- Disaster Resources
- Fruits, Vegetables, & Herbs
- Garden Basics
- Garden Trends
- Gardening with Kids
- Holiday and Seasonal Topics
- Horticulture Resources
- Indoor Plants (Houseplants & more)
- Invasive Plants and Plants of Concern
- Just for Fun
- Landscapes (Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers)
- Lawncare
- Master Volunteers (Gardeners & Naturalists)
- Pests (Insects, Disease, & Weeds)
- Pollinators
- Sustainable Gardening
- Wildlife and Nature
Blog Archives
- September 2018 (4)
- August 2018 (6)
- July 2018 (6)
- June 2018 (6)
- May 2018 (4)
- April 2018 (12)
- March 2018 (9)
- February 2018 (4)
- January 2018 (4)
- December 2017 (12)
- November 2017 (7)
- October 2017 (9)
- September 2017 (8)
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- July 2017 (6)
- June 2017 (11)
- May 2017 (9)
- April 2017 (13)
- March 2017 (11)
- February 2017 (8)
- January 2017 (6)
- December 2016 (9)
- November 2016 (8)
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- August 2016 (8)
- July 2016 (7)
- June 2016 (9)
- May 2016 (6)
- April 2016 (6)
- March 2016 (7)
- February 2016 (5)
- January 2016 (14)
- December 2015 (5)
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- September 2015 (6)
- August 2015 (10)
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- May 2015 (10)
- April 2015 (4)
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- February 2015 (5)
- January 2015 (7)
- December 2014 (6)
- November 2014 (7)
- October 2014 (10)
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- June 2014 (11)
- May 2014 (7)
- April 2014 (5)
- March 2014 (2)
- February 2014 (7)
- January 2014 (7)
- December 2013 (5)
- November 2013 (6)
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- August 2013 (10)
- July 2013 (3)
- June 2013 (7)
- May 2013 (7)
- April 2013 (8)
- March 2013 (11)
- February 2013 (7)
- January 2013 (7)
- December 2012 (6)
- November 2012 (8)
- October 2012 (6)
- September 2012 (8)
- August 2012 (8)
- July 2012 (12)
- June 2012 (6)
- May 2012 (3)
- April 2012 (4)
- March 2012 (5)
- February 2012 (2)
589 Total Posts
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Friday, September 27, 2013
Fall Lawn Care
The summer of 2013 has been much better for lawn care than last year considering the amount of rainfall this spring and milder, daily temperatures, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "The lawns have had a good year to recover, and lawns are looking so much better, yet there will always be some areas in the lawn that could be improved," Richard Hentschel...
Friday, September 27, 2013
Fall Garden Tips
Fall is a fun, exciting, and busy time for gardeners. Many gardening activities are done now. Think of fall as the start of next year's growing season, not the end of this gardening year. Mums (chrysanthemums to some) are a very popular fall flowering plant. They have been described as "the last smile of the departing year" because it takes a pretty good frost to discou...
Friday, September 27, 2013
Fall Color on Spoon River Drive
People go on the Spoon River Drive for many reasons, but fall foliage is enjoyed by all. The Farmers Almanac predicts peak fall color for central Illinois from around October 9 to 24. Due to last summer's drought and our dry late summer leaves are changing color earlier than usual. However, color intensity is always dependent on whether or not we get warm days and cool nights. While enjoying th...
Friday, September 13, 2013
Herbal Teas in the Garden Provide a Charming Respite
Tea is very important to my family since my Grandma Kinsel emigrated here from South Wales. Over the years, I've found that teas are much more than just a beverage. Sitting down to a cup of tea is a great way to lift us out of the hurrying present, even if just for a little while. Teas have been used for millennia to help with relaxation and nourishment. As a horticulturist I can't spea...
Friday, September 13, 2013
Freshen Up Houseplants Now
Houseplants are an important feature in my house year round, but are especially important to me in the winter. I find that fall is a great time to spend some time to spruce them up a bit and give them new life. If you haven't brought your houseplants indoors for the winter yet, do that soon. First, check to see if the plant has any insect or disease problems. Over the years I've...
Friday, September 13, 2013
Fall wildflowers create interest
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Nancy Pollard recently wrote a news release on fall wildflowers. I've highlighted my favorites below. The entire release is found here...
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Cover Crops Trialed by Junior Master Gardeners
The sands of Mason County do not always contain necessary nutrients needed for good garden growth. To fix this problem, Mason County Junior Master Gardeners (JMG) are trying cover crops in their gardens located at the Mason County fairgrounds. Cover crops are plants grown in a garden to improve a soil's structure and fertility. They are a living mulch that competes with weeds, helps wi...
