Container gardening offers a practical and beautiful solution for growing flowers, vegetables and herbs in central Illinois where weather extremes and limited space often challenge traditional gardening. For leafy edibles, start with herbs and salad greens, which tolerate a wide range of light conditions from windowsill to kitchen garden and actually favor a little shade […]
DiAnne Crown
DiAnne Crown is a longtime freelance writer based in Springfield and former editor of Springfield Parent Magazine.
Posted inCapital City Wedding
This year’s wedding trends
Festive, fun or formal — this year’s weddings can be as personal as the couple’s imagination. Local experts share this year’s trends. Regan Duffy offers wedding planning and day-of coordinating. Often, brides have already made their selections by the time they hire Duffy to make sure their special day goes according to plan. So, Duffy […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Organized parents, organized children
Corners and countertops are cluttered, you’ve stepped barefoot on a Lego again and you just found your crumpled fun fair assignment in the bottom of a backpack, due tomorrow. Happens all the time. Take a breath and listen to Joe Scruggs’ delightful song “By the Way” from Deep in the Jungle. He gets it. But […]
Posted inFall Home & Garden
Prepare your yard and garden for fall
It’s a great time of year in the circle of garden life. Autumn in the garden. Cool weather crops. Final summer harvest. A few weeks to tuck in the garden for winter before the spring seed catalogs arrive. Here’s what area gardeners are doing this fall, what they recommend to start a new garden and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Take a family day trip to Decatur
Less than an hour from Springfield, Decatur offers a wide variety of ever-changing wonders for families with children in search of indoor and outdoor play. From the constructive playthings of the Children’s Museum of Illinois to the animals at the Scovill Zoo and woodland experiences of Rock Springs Conservation Area and Nature Center, discover Decatur […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Springfield teen publishes first book
“My consciousness blended into my unconsciousness” begins the new young adult fiction page-turner, Amoeba, by Rayna Vincent, published on Amazon in May. It’s the first novel for the Springfield 14-year-old, but it probably won’t be her last. “A lot of people have asked me if there is going to be a sequel,” Vincent says of […]
Posted inNews
Engineer in the Classroom
Engineers in fifth grade? Definitely. And not just the cadre of volunteer engineers who bring science fundamentals to life in area classrooms each winter through the Engineer in the Classroom program. Students themselves learn an engineering approach to creating, correcting and collaborating on what they hope will be prize-winning Rube Goldberg machines at the spring […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Anniversary of a comfortable home
Set back off the corner of Chatham Road and Lawrence Avenue on nearly 30 acres of grassy lawn and woods, Illinois Presbyterian Home provides “comfort in a community” for area seniors. The staff and volunteers are excitedly beginning preparations for the home’s 70th anniversary. But the historic property began its service life well before 1954 […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Palmer’s 1911 advice to parents
Dr. George Palmer was well known for his commitment to medical science rather than popular “signs and omens and charms” of the day, and for his fresh air-and-sunshine approach to good health and vitality. The Sangamon County Historical Society published excerpts from Palmer’s 1911 speech to the Illinois Farmers Institute’s Department of Household Science, including […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
AARP stands for service, advocacy and fun
With its ubiquitous membership pitches, bold red presence at community events, and sales offers for services featuring photos of sublimely happy customers, AARP looks like the Try Hard organization for seniors. Maybe a little too hard? Look again. AARP really is a useful service and advocacy hub. Something for everyone Head to website aarp.org for […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Mr. Southern View
The Village of Southern View on Springfield’s south side has functioned like a small, friendly oasis for 85 years. It’s one of Springfield’s three villages, with Grandview and Jerome, and, to hear residents speak of it, Southern View is a 400-acre gem of history, generations of families who have stayed put, and heart. “We are […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Take a nature walk. Revive your spirit.
Two area walking paths offer gentle exercise, natural beauty and the gift of quiet reflection. Visit Jubilee Farm and Lincoln Memorial Garden for re-creation and peace. Jubilee Farm — Center for Ecology and Spirituality 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, approximately four miles west of Veterans Parkway www.jubileefarm.info. Map available online. Free to visit. Please call ahead. […]
