Bulbs provide a good investment for the money spent and they supply years of spring color in your yard. Fall is the prime time for planting hardy spring-flowering bulbs. Most bulb]]> This is the sixth year for Springfield in Bloom, the community-wide beautification program that challenges homeowners, businesses, neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations across central ]]> Untitled Document Controlling and eradicating poison ivy can be a challenge, but for many people elimination of this noxious plant is imperative because it can cause nightmarish ]]> ]]> Untitled Document There’s a lot of science behind the observation that homegrown tomatoes taste better than store-bought ones. “It’s not very hard to taste a ]]> Untitled Document Every fall, people get upset when their evergreens undergo dramatic changes in color. “People are convinced that their plants must have some type o]]> Are you sad at the thought that your cheery geraniums will soon fall victim to winter frost? Why not take them inside for the winter? Gardeners have several alternatives, includin]]> There are some remarkable gardens on the 22nd annual Illinois Symphony Garden Tour in Springfield. “A Symphony of Country Gardens” will be held from 11-4 Saturday, June 18.Shelly and Ken H]]> Regular IT readers are familiar with Springfield in Bloom (SIB), the friendly contest encouraging streetside beautification projects which will be in its fifth year in 2009. Hundreds of neig]]> Spring rains, sweltering summer heat and those dang Japanese beetles made this yet another challenging year to be a flower gardener in central Illinois. And yet nearly 80 individuals and organizations]]> Untitled Document Each vegetable has a critical time during its growth when lack of adequate moisture can be a serious problem.  “Hot, dry weather leads to high mois]]> According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, lawn and garden watering makes up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. One way to reduce outdoor water usag]]> Untitled Document As the line between urban and rural settings continues to blur, human beings will undoubtedly encounter the wildlife they are displacing. Some, especially rabbi]]> Untitled Document Shade has always posed a challenge for gardeners. “Trying to find something unique and different, let alone being able to tolerate and perform well in t]]> Springfield in Bloom — the community-wide beautification program that challenges homeowners, businesses and nonprofit groups to bring beautiful new color and life to their street-si]]> Hot on the heels of her acclaimed book on melons, horticulturist Amy Goldman is out with The Compleat Squash,a new book that features 150 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes, including detaile]]>