I can't think of a more beautiful, colorful, sweet fruit than blueberries. The highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, is a woody perennial plant that is native to North America. The fruit wa]]> Gardens come in many colors and sizes, each reflecting a unique personality. In the coming weeks, you will have some wonderful opportunities to be inspired by what other gardeners have ]]> Untitled Document Did you know that the grapevine is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world? Whether as a source of grapes or as an attractive addition to the landscape]]> While there is no perfect flowering perennial, the daylily comes close. Classified in the genus Hemerocallis, which in Greek means "beautiful for a day," the plants may produce flowers for several wee]]> Vegetable gardening can provide the grower many benefits including exercise, a break from the stress of everyday life, decrease in the weekly food bill, nutritious produce that tastes better and is fr]]> Recently a fellow gardener proudly showed me her six-pound zucchini. Though impressive, this mammoth green monster is better suited to the compost pile than to the kitchen. "Big and green" are ]]> Selecting a tree is one of the most important landscape decisions a homeowner will make. Trees should be considered as an investment for the future, since most people move before a tree that they plan]]> 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]]> 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]]> Plant a Row for the Hungry, a national program promoted locally by the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, encourages all vegetable gardeners and commercial growers to donate ]]> Warm spring temperatures mean different things to gardeners-- lawnmowing, brightly colored spring flowers, fresh produce. My family, for instance, can't wait for the first garden-fresh lettuce-]]> Fried okra, collard greens and fresh salsa have become favorite food dishes of junior gardeners from the 21st Century Program, Graham Elementary School. This summer these students nurtured a 484-squar]]> As the gardening season gets into full swing, we can be assured of a few things: Flowers will bloom, weeds will grow, and our bodies will ache. However inevitable some aches may be, though, ]]> Judging from the heat and humidity, the appearance of fresh-picked zucchini on the table, and the arrival of certain insects, summer is here. Imagine my dismay, while eating a freshly]]> As a child, you probably didn't like eating your vegetables. Fortunately, my son will eat almost any vegetable (except beets, okra and Brussels sprouts). His love for fresh vegetables started w]]> After more than 150 years, many Illinois State Fair traditions remain. Since its beginning in 1853, the Illinois State Fair has encouraged the production of high-quality agricultural livestock and com]]> The arrival of spring is a sure sign of yellow daffodils, green lawns and garden fresh salad. This spring try growing leafy greens, one of the easiest vegetables to grow. You are sure to enjoy the bes]]> 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 ]]> The most exciting garden event of the summer is picking the first red, juicy ripe tomatoes. This passion is shared with many gardeners as tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables grown in the h]]>