Jennifer Fishburn

Many gardeners do not have the space, energy, or time to devote to a flower or vegetable garden, but a container garden can add color to a patio, deck, balcony, or walkway. Some gardeners even incorporate containers into an existing garden as a way to add variety. Anything that will hold soil and plants and […]

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-and-spinach salad — and asparagus from Grandma’s garden. One of the first vegetables harvested in the spring, asparagus emerges when the soil temperature reaches 50°F. This hardy perennial is generally […]

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, but most prefer a lawn free of weeds. What’s the best way to defend against weeds, insects, and disease? The answer’s simple: […]

With so many new plant introductions each year, which ones should you try this year? Almost every horticulture industry association or society names a plant of the year. These award programs offer a useful guide to selecting something new and different. The winners, by definition, are plants with outstanding characteristics. Here are a few herbaceous […]

Dianthus is a flower-garden favorite. Easy to grow, dianthus plants produce beautiful, bright and generally fragrant blooms. There are more than 300 species of dianthus, ranging in size from six inches to three feet, including annuals, biennials and perennials. Common varieties include pinks, maiden pinks, carnations, Sweet William, cottage pinks, clove pinks and gillyflower. Because […]

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 with venturing out to his Grandma’s vegetable garden and picking and eating snap peas right off the vine. Peas are hardy, vigorous, and good for […]

As temperatures get colder, most gardeners are starting to have dreams of the first juicy-ripe tomato or heavenly fragrance of a garden-fresh rose. While we may not be able to garden, it is not too early to plan what to grow. Plants and seeds are available from many sources, including local garden centers, hardware stores, […]

While you won’t be able to do many outdoor gardening activities, winter’s a great time to learn. University of Illinois Extension is offering several programs for gardeners to learn more about their favorite hobby. • The U. of I. Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit and the Springfield Civic Garden Club will sponsor “Garden Basics” seminars. This series […]

You enjoyed the beauty and aroma of real Christmas tree this holiday season. Now what do you do with it? Springfield and other communities will have special pick-up services for discarded trees after the holidays. But, before placing the tree on the curb, think of alternatives. Consider using the tree in your garden. Discarded Christmas […]

Many of us have at least one person who is hard to buy for on our holiday gift list. I know, because I’ve been told that I fit into this category. Gardening items could be your rescue. Most of us don’t think about gardening during the winter, but with gardening being America’s No. 1 hobby, […]

The red poinsettia is a traditional Christmas plant, but its origins are decidedly non-Christian. Europeans discovered the colorful Euphorbia pulcherrima in Mexico, near the present-day city of Taxco and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca. We know poinsettias as indoor plants, but in Mexico, they’re large, woody shrubs, often reaching 10 feet in height. The Aztecs cultivated […]

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 of the available space where the tree will be placed. Make sure that you don’t choose a tree bigger than the […]