This is the time of year when flower gardens start to look tired. However there are a few plants that love the cooler temperatures and brighten the fall garden. Chrysanthemums, as]]> Untitled Document One of my favorite summer treats is a ripe, juicy, fresh-picked tomato from my garden. I think that we can all agree that the quality of produce picked from the]]> This week, a little behind schedule, the first fragrant purple flowers have begun to adorn the lavender plants in the master-gardener Herb Demonstration garden. Lavender flowers typically appear in Ju]]> Does anyone remember what rain looks like? According to the U.S. drought monitor (drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html), central Illinois is experiencing a moderate-t]]> Spring rains and warmer temperatures have brought beauty to our yards -- bright-yellow daffodils and, for most of us, lush green lawns. Of course, a few folks are happy with anything that's green, bu]]> A collection of 122 different hosta plants, an extension vegetable garden, a Japanese-inspired backyard with bamboo fencing, a low-mow yard and a pond with a waterfall are all features of an upcoming ]]> 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 ]]> Native grasses can be welcome additions in the landscape, adding beauty, movement and sound. Let’s define “native” plant. The only truly native plants are ones that sti]]> A freshly cut Christmas tree can be a beautiful sight. With proper selection and care you can safely enjoy a fresh tree throughout the holidays. Before you leave home, measure the height and width o]]> Untitled Document Though you may not be able to engage in many outdoor gardening activities at this time of year, this period of enforced inactivity is a great time to learn more]]> Untitled Document This fall while adding daffodils to your landscape, don’t forget to plant some garlic. Garlic has been cultivated for thousands of years and is still popu]]> Don't let recent cool temperatures make you think that the gardening season is over. Fall is a great time to get a few last chores done and get a head start on next spring. Here a]]> Sightings of adult Japanese beetles began in mid-June. Since then they have been seen munching on roses, crabapples, lindens, raspberries, apple trees, basil and much more. Feeding on plants generally]]> Butterflies add surprise, beauty, color, and motion to a garden. Why not invite them into your back yard? Planting a butterfly garden not only attracts these beautiful creatures but is also ]]> Untitled Document I park my car under the canopy of a large bur oak tree. For the past several weeks my car has been covered in a sticky substance: honeydew. Aphids are s]]> When I was a child, my grandmother would take the family to pick strawberries every Memorial Day weekend. We would pick at least 20 quarts of berries, enough for dessert and jelly. Grandma alwa]]> Just a short 15-minute drive northwest of Springfield is a unique roadside market that offers freshly picked sweet corn, a variety of garden-fresh produce and Illinois agriculture products. Seaney Far]]> 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]]>