Jennifer Fishburn

As you taste your first garden-fresh tomato of the season, thoughts of planting your next vegetable garden may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, now is the time to extend your supply of fresh vegetables by planting a fall garden. A late-season garden can include frost-tolerant and hardy vegetables that don’t grow well […]

As summer gets into full swing in central Illinois, some things are inevitable: lack of rainfall, the unsightly destruction caused by Japanese beetles, and, on the plus side, fresh vegetables and beautiful floral garden displays. One of the area’s favorites is the demonstration garden cultivated by the master gardeners of the University of Illinois Extension, […]

Just two weeks ago, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that it had identified an emerald ash borer in Kane County, in the northeast corner of the state. It was not good news. This destructive nonnative pest (Agrilus planipennis) feeds on North American ash species (Fraxinus sp.), including white ash and green ash, both common […]

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 picked bowl of raspberries, at finding a Japanese beetle. This year’s invasion by the leaf-devouring, half-inch-long, colorful metallic-green critters with coppery-brown wing covers has begun. […]

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 accomplished.  Five beautifully diverse gardens will be featured in “A Symphony of Gardens 2006,” sponsored by the Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. […]

This past weekend we were blessed with sunshine and warm temperatures. I took advantage of the lovely weather to spend a day planting impatiens, trimming oregano, and pulling weeds, weeds, and more weeds. Here are a few general tips to keeping your garden in shape this month. Inspect all plants on a regular basis for […]

Most of us are familiar with the saying “It only takes a spark to light a fire.” This year I was inspired (in part because of the Yard to Yard challenge) to create a small annual flower garden in my front yard. This garden is a combination of “Terra Cotta” Million Bells, tricolor geraniums, and […]

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, others may be prevented. Gardening can be viewed as a workout activity, and it’s a good idea to consult your doctor […]

At this time of year, gardeners are full of questions: When can I prune my lilac bush? What can I do to get rid of these weeds? I found this bug — what is it? Will it ever warm up so my tomatoes will grow? But even though garden information is everywhere — books, magazines, […]

Name a fragrance — rose, lemon, orange, lime, strawberry, peppermint, nutmeg, apple, apricot, coconut, even camphor — and there’s probably a geranium carrying that scent. Fragrant, easy to grow, and lovely to look at, scented geraniums have been proclaimed the 2006 Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association, but they’ve been a garden […]

Flowers are a great way to celebrate a special occasion — holiday, birthday, anniversary, new baby. Of course, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy fresh-cut flowers or a flowering potted plant: Sending flowers shows thoughtfulness and is a good way to brighten a person’s day. At Valentine’s Day and year-round, roses are the […]