Jennifer Fishburn

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 fresher than grocery store produce, and a sense of pride when you feed your family fresh vegetables from your own garden. It’s no wonder […]

Prior to European settlers in Illinois, 60 percent of the 22 million acres was prairie. Today less than one hundredth of one percent of the original undisturbed prairie exists in the Prairie State. Some of these original prairies can still be found in pioneer cemeteries, fencerows and railroad rights-of-way. Prairie plants native to Illinois are […]

One of the worst things to tell a gardener is that their tree is heavily infested with a destructive insect. The U of I Extension office has received numerous calls about magnolia trees. A caller usually describes the problem as “sticky stuff all over the magnolia leaves and the leaves are turning black.” The answer: […]

Among the tents, livestock buildings, corndog and lemonade stands at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, fairgoers can see a wide variety of colorful plants. Just inside gate 2, visitors are greeted by chartreuse colored sweet potato vines, ice-cream (orange) salvia, banana plants, red flowering bougainvillea, dark opal basil, cotton candy lantana and orange marigolds. These are […]

Last week in between the rain showers, I finally had the opportunity to tend to my flower beds. While not the most enjoyable outdoor task, weeding is necessary. Remember the saying, “one year of seeds equals seven years of weeds.” That is enough motivation to get me to pull weeds in this heat, humidity and […]

The other night while dozing I heard the buzzing of a mosquito. After about five minutes the culprit was glued to a flyswatter. Of all the bothersome insect pests, however, mosquitoes are probably the most troublesome. While most mosquitoes are merely a nuisance, some can transmit diseases including West Nile encephalitis. Mosquitoes are best known […]

It’s essential for all of us to practive the three R’s of being a good steward of the earth: reduce, reuse and recycle. Last weekend I walked around my small town on community cleanup day looking for hidden treasures in others’ trash. During cleanup day, residents can put out items that are not accepted in […]

Ready, set, plant! Mother’s Day weekend is not only a time to recognize Mom for all she does, but it is time to plant warm-season plants. This weekend, why not combine the two and take Mom shopping for her favorite plants? Don’t forget that Mom will probably expect some help planting them. Whether shopping for […]

This is one of my favorite times of the year — crabapples and tulips in bloom, peonies budding and perennial plants popping up all over the garden. It is also the time of year when we realize that our perennial gardens may have an unkempt, overgrown look to them. Plants have multiplied beyond their boundaries […]

Native grasses can be welcome additions in the landscape, adding beauty, movement and sound. Let’s define “native” plant. The only truly native plants are ones that still grow where they originated. Most literature refers to native plants in the United States as plants that existed in an area prior to the arrival of European settlers. […]

Butterflies add surprise, beauty, color and motion to a garden. Why not invite them to your backyard? Butterflies are nature’s decoration. Planting a butterfly garden is a great way for children to learn about the life cycle of butterflies and learn to share an interest in nature. Luring and maintaining butterflies requires full-sun gardens with […]