Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Would you like to learn about growing vegetables, landscaping, trees, insects or community and school gardening from the University of Illinois Extension? The Livingston County Master Gardeners want you to join there volunteer program this fall and take you on a mind blowing garden learning experience. Offering their first ever Master Gardener training class, Livingston residents no l...

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Fire blight symptoms were observed on several Callery pears this past week,” says Travis Cleveland, University of Illinois extension specialist. “The symptoms were more severe than those observed during the 2013 growing season.” Fire blight is a bacterial disease that affects rosaceous plants. Apples, pears, crabapples, and ornamental pears are the most seriously affecte...

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We've shared several articles in in the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter about the viburnum leaf beetle. Up until the last 2 weeks, we've only had a couple of isolated reports of viburnum leaf beetle in the state, in both DuPage and Cook counties. Over the past couple of days, several reports of severe defoliation caused by viburnum leaf beetle have come in from these same two counti...

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The dreaded squash bug is inevitable if you are growing squash, melons and pumpkins says Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup. It is responsible for major crop failure and causes hysterical gardeners running to buy chemicals in which to kill them. Besides this issue these crops can be really easy for even a novice gardener. Adults and the younger nymphs of the Squash bug use piercing mo...

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As a horticulturist, I am often asked to name my favorite plant. After my mind spins from traveling through my past, I am left momentarily speechless. Is my favorite plant the bountiful bunch of cymbidium orchids from Holland or the vivid blue poppies from the Chelsea flower show in London or the pineapple lilies on display at Longwood gardens in Pennsylvania o...

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Most Knockout roses in our area have bounced back from the winter kill by resprouting from the base causing the plants to be smaller and more compact this year. However few, some in our area had to be replanted the one’s that didn’t had a little help from Mother Nature with their garden pruning duties. A good renewal pruning can rejuvenate the knockout roses and keep their flowers numerous and...

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Bagworms will have hatched in southern Illinois. They should hatch by mid-June in central Illinois. When newly hatched bagworms emerge from their mother's bag, they climb to the top of shrubs, trees, and any other erect object. They spin out two to three feet of silk which catches in the wind and blows them to new locations. They repeat this process, called ballooning, for about two weeks...

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Take container gardening to the next level by utilizing bulbs for stunning summer displays. Summer flowering bulbs can bear some of the most beautiful blooms or striking foliage, adding surprise pops of interest to your porch or outdoor garden. This gardening adventure can be very cost-effective because you probably have leftover pots or half-full bags of soil...

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