Signup to receive email updates
Recent Posts
Links
Blog Archives
- February 2019 (2)
- January 2019 (4)
- December 2018 (2)
- November 2018 (5)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (4)
- August 2018 (4)
- July 2018 (7)
- June 2018 (2)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (4)
- March 2018 (3)
- February 2018 (6)
- January 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (7)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (4)
- August 2017 (8)
- July 2017 (4)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (8)
- April 2017 (5)
- March 2017 (10)
- February 2017 (2)
- January 2017 (9)
- December 2016 (2)
- November 2016 (8)
- October 2016 (8)
- September 2016 (8)
- August 2016 (6)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (6)
- May 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (7)
- March 2016 (8)
- February 2016 (3)
- January 2016 (4)
- December 2015 (4)
- November 2015 (7)
- October 2015 (8)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (5)
- June 2015 (7)
- May 2015 (8)
- April 2015 (6)
- March 2015 (5)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (8)
- December 2014 (5)
- November 2014 (6)
- October 2014 (7)
- September 2014 (4)
- August 2014 (7)
- July 2014 (13)
- June 2014 (8)
- May 2014 (9)
- April 2014 (6)
- March 2014 (4)
- February 2014 (8)
- January 2014 (5)
- December 2013 (8)
- November 2013 (8)
- October 2013 (9)
- September 2013 (2)
- August 2013 (6)
- June 2013 (4)
- May 2013 (5)
- March 2013 (9)
- February 2013 (6)
- January 2013 (3)
- December 2012 (9)
- November 2012 (7)
- October 2012 (10)
- September 2012 (4)
- August 2012 (9)
- July 2012 (5)
- June 2012 (1)
- May 2012 (6)
- April 2012 (7)
- March 2012 (5)
- February 2012 (1)
479 Total Posts
follow our RSS feed

Friday, October 31, 2014
Picking Trees that Provide Rich Fall Color
Scientists believe brilliant fall colors may be a sign of healthy trees in the expanse of the North American forests. The presence of brilliant reds of the black tupelo, orange and purples of sassafrass and the luminescent yellows of birch may actually contribute to deterring leaf-eating pests and aid in storing energy and the function of dropping leaves. Fall colors seem to have...
Monday, October 27, 2014
Revolution in Food Boost Garden Projects
Gardening trends have an underlying theme of bettering the community, improving health and developing an appreciation for the environment and can be seen in statistics for the country as well as our backyards in Central Illinois. According to the National Gardening Association, about 35 million households in the United States are growing food in their gardens, up 17 percent in th...
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Dead and Dying Trees from Rhonda Feree
The droughts of 2011 and 2012 continue to take a toll on tree health. Rhonda Ferree, Extension Educator in horticulture, says that trees can take three to five years to show symptoms from a severe event such as drought. Unfortunately trees under stress are less able to fight off insect and disease problems. Plant diagnosticians at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic describe the...
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Saving Milkweed for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars
University of Illinois Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup encourages gardeners to collect seeds from milkweeds to add this much needed plant to the landscape for Illinois monarchs. Kelly warns that you may see butterfly enthusiasts along roadsides collecting seeds from coveted weeds and prairie plants known as the milkweeds this fall. The milkweed species in Illinois is required for mo...
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Tree Walk at Eureka College
Eureka College Campus Tree Tour Would you like to add trees with brilliant fall foliage to your home landscape? Would you like to learn how to identify some common Illinois trees? Or would you like to learn the environmental value of these trees in your community? Please join Kelly Allsup, University of Illinois horticulture educator on a stroll through the hist...
Monday, October 6, 2014
Hosta Problems by Travis Cleveland and Diane Plewa
The hosta is a popular landscaping plant, loved for its beautiful variety of foliage, and ease of cultivation. Around this time, delicate purple or white flowers develop before frost. Below are some of the most prevalent pathogens on hosta in Illinois. Foliar nematodes The plant clinic has received several hosta samples damaged by foliar nematodes ( Aphelenchoides...
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
McLean County Master Gardener Training
Sign up today for Master Gardener Would you like to learn about growing vegetables, landscaping, trees, insects or turfgrass from the University of Illinois Extension? The McLean County Master Gardeners want you to join their training program this winter and take you on a amazing garden learning experience to find your inner gardener. The Master Gardener program is a g...