Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Thursday, October 1,2009

Here’s what’s sweet about sweet potatoes

This weekend the anticipation became unbearable. I finally had to dig a hill of sweet potatoes in our garden. They looked beautiful and tasted great. Soon, we will dig all 50 plants and surely have an

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Thursday, September 3,2009

A prairie plant for your landscape

By Jennifer Fishburn

Prior to European settlers in Illinois, 60 percent of the 22 million acres was prairie. Today less than one hundredth of one percent of the original undisturbed prairie exists in the Prairie State. So

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Thursday, August 27,2009

Get on the scales

Sticky stuff? Black magnolia leaves? Here’s what to do.

By Jennifer Fishburn

One of the worst things to tell a gardener is that their tree is heavily infested with a destructive insect. The U of I Extension office has received numerous calls about magnolia trees. A caller usua

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Thursday, August 13,2009

Fair flowers

Color everywhere — up and down and in the ground

By Jennifer Fishburn

Among the tents, livestock buildings, corndog and lemonade stands at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, fairgoers can see a wide variety of colorful plants. Just inside gate 2, visitors are greeted by ch

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Thursday, July 2,2009

Be mean to weeds

Here's what to do about plants out of place

By Jennifer Fishburn

Last week in between the rain showers, I finally had the opportunity to tend to my flower beds. While not the most enjoyable outdoor task, weeding is necessary. Remember the saying, “one year

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Wednesday, June 3,2009

Mosquito, king of the pests

By Jennifer Fishburn

The other night while dozing I heard the buzzing of a mosquito. After about five minutes the culprit was glued to a flyswatter. Of all the bothersome insect pests, however, mosquitoes are

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Wednesday, May 20,2009

Recycle plastic garden pots

By Jennifer Fishburn

It’s essential for all of us to practive the three R’s of being a good steward of the earth: reduce, reuse and recycle. Last weekend I walked around my small town on community

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Wednesday, May 6,2009

Mother’s Day is for planting

By Jennifer Fishburn

Ready, set, plant! Mother’s Day weekend is not only a time to recognize Mom for all she does, but it is time to plant warm-season plants. This weekend, why not combine the two and t

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Wednesday, April 29,2009

For better perennials, divide and conquer

By Jennifer Fishburn

This is one of my favorite times of the year — crabapples and tulips in bloom, peonies budding and perennial plants popping up all over the garden. It is also the time of year when we realize t

Garden - Jennifer Fishburn | Wednesday, April 22,2009

How to lure insect beauties to your butterfly garden

By Jennifer Fishburn

Butterflies add surprise, beauty, color and motion to a garden. Why not invite them to your backyard? Butterflies are nature’s decoration. Planting a butterfly garden is a great way