By Shekina Mullen As they flutter through plant and flower blossoms, spreading pollen with every landing, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators quietly sustain healthy ecosystems, successful home vegetable gardens, and agricultural production. Pollinators move pollen from one flower to the next, fertilizing and producing fruits, nuts, and seeds. Some plants
June is here, and 4-H is offering two low-cost workshops to help build new skills, meet new people, and just have fun! Sewing 101 will start June 5 in Yorkville In this four-part program, youth and teens will learn the parts of a sewing machine, practice sewing and turning corners,
By Jenna Braasch and Chris Evans Illinois is home to beautiful wild spaces, but invasive species are a growing threat in our forests, lakes, backyards, and agricultural fields. Invasive species pose a serious threat to native species and natural ecosystems and cost the country billions of dollars to combat. Two
By Susan Glassman and Lisa Peterson Probiotic-rich foods can enhance digestion and improve overall gut health. All are produced through fermentation, a food preservation method that has been used for thousands of years to naturally reduce the risk of food spoilage and foodborne illness. Common foods include sourdough bread, kombucha,
Families planning Winter break activities or looking for new youth experiences can explore hands-on learning stations with 4-H January 5, 2023 in St. Charles. “Kids and teens can explore three 4-H project areas, create and bring home cool stuff, and get to know 4-H opportunities in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall,
By Emily Swihart Spring showers, Summer thunderstorms, Winter dusting of snow, are familiar weather events for Midwesterners, but as climate changes so do weather events. Extreme weather is increasing in Illinois. Over the past 120 years, significant changes have occurred that are causing more extreme weather events, according to a
By Brittnay Haag Fall blooming plants extend the season of our gardens after many plants have dried up or are done blooming for the year. They are a much-needed food source for pollinators who are still foraging and getting ready for Winter. You can prolong the floral show in your
By Chris Enroth When confronted with lawn weeds, typically we think of dandelion, creeping Charlie, and violet. These plants and many others are classified as broadleaved weeds, or dicots, and are easily distinguished from grasses which are monocots. Scientists have engineered herbicides that target broadleaved plants, while the chemical does
By Nancy Kreith Taking time to select plants for difficult growing conditions helps long-term success Difficult growing conditions leave gardeners stumped when selecting plants. These planting areas may include alkaline soils, dry shade, over a septic tank, a large local deer population, and more. Always consider the existing site conditions
By Brittnay Haag Imagine eating only one type of food your entire life. Your survival depends entirely on being able to find this food. It is the challenge monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, face every day as landscapes change nationwide and fewer native plants are available. But home gardeners can help.
By Sarah Vogel Throughout the growing season, gardeners and arborists talk about the benefits of pruning woody ornamentals while they are dormant, and that time is almost here. “Pruning can seem like a daunting task, but it is an important cultural practice for the health and vigor of many trees
By Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants. Using cover crops in the home garden is one way to promote soil health. Cover crops are non-harvested crops that add organic matter to the soil, transfer nitrogen to plants, and break up heavy clay or compacted soil. They are
By Brittnay Haag Free your houseplants’ roots this Winter by creating organic art for your home through kokedama, a form of Japanese bonsai, where plants are grown in a special soil mix and wrapped in moss. Kokedama is a uniquely-beautiful way to grow houseplants in a non-traditional way. Kokedamas can
By Ken Johnson Once holidays are over, the Christmas trees tend to come down. Instead of hauling this year’s tree to the dump or having the city pick it up, consider repurposing it in your landscape. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Ken Johnson said one popular use for Christmas
By Kelly Allsup, Horticulture Educator, Illinois Extension With their vibrant, floral displays and low-maintenance needs, holiday cacti are a great holiday gift. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus are each different species. They bloom reliably each year without much up-keep. “Every December, one plant in my office comes to life despite
By Bruce J. Black, Horticulture Educator, Illinois Extension Winter is that time of year where gardeners rest and plan for Spring. But with the holidays, why not make loved ones plant gifts? Impossible bottles, or bottles with an object inside that doesn’t seem like it can fit through the bottle’s
Every Fall, an onslaught of leaves drop relentlessly into yards and leave homeowners to rake, bag, and haul them out to the curb. But what many don’t know is that those golden-hued leaves are gold in the garden. “After raking leaves this Fall, think about recycling them on your property
Although the bumblebee is likely the most well-known pollinator, pollinators come in a variety of shapes, species, and sizes. “Many entomologists believe the tiny sweat bee nectaring on your flowering weed is just as important to a healthy ecosystem as the more well-known bumble bee and honey bee,” said Kelly
Fall gardens may need some added pops of color this time of year to maintain beauty and diversity until Winter arrives. Asters are a late-blooming, pollinator-friendly flower that looks great in the garden and in a Fall floral display. “Think beyond the obvious, fall-blooming favorite mums this year,” said Brittnay
