Community & Lifestyle

If you own an old home like mine, you’re living with someone else’s decisions, such as where trees are planted in your yard. I’m fortunate to have three 40-year-old trees that provide shade in the summer and great fall color. But they also have provide headaches. A sweetgum tree fills my front yard. While its […]

Yellow and purple crocus peak up through a dusting of snow. Nothing brightens a winter day in March more than the colors of early blooming spring flowers. Now is the time to plant your hardy flowering bulbs. Spring flowering bulbs–classified as “hardy bulbs”–require a cold period before breaking their dormancy. Because of their wide variation […]

You say narcissus, I say daffodil. No matter which name you use to refer to this plant, most gardeners would agree that daffodils are one of the most vigorous and colorful flowers of spring. Daffodil is the common name, while narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for the genus. Jonquil refers to a specific […]

Tip of the week “Autumn Jewels” is the name of this year’s mum show, November 8 through 23 at the Washington Park Botanical Gardens. The conservatory is open noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss this spectacular display of chrysanthemums. By now your petunias are leggy, […]

Tip of the week Lawn mower blades should be sharpened at least two times a year, April 1 and September 1. A sharp blade will make a clean cut, decreasing stress on the plants. If you use your mower to mulch leaves, sharpen the blade again in late October. Some gardeners sharpen their blades after […]

It’s that time of year again: 90-degree-plus temperatures, accompanied by the snap, crackle, and pop of grass under your feet. Strolling through Conservation World last Sunday at the Illinois State Fair, my family complained of thirst. How did the plants feel? A thirsty plant will wilt, and then lose its leaves. Most plants benefit from […]

Tip of the week Regular watering and mulching can help prevent blossom-end rot on tomatoes and peppers. Prevalent during periods of high humidity, blossom-end rot is revealed in small, sunken black areas near the end of the fruit. Are you stuck with bushels of tomatoes and peppers? How about making salsa? One of my favorite […]

Tip of the week If your petunias, impatiens, or other annuals are starting to look straggly and have few flowers, cut them back 6 to 8 inches after flowers have decreased to encourage compact growth and promote a second flowering. Also water and fertilize. It’s never to early to start planning for next year’s garden. […]

Tip of the week To view the best free garden display in central Illinois, drive through the Illinois State Fairgrounds in the next couple of days. The other day I almost lost my one-year-old daughter–she had walked into the garden where the weeds were tall. I had to face up to the chore I’d put […]

One of the highlights of July is garden-fresh tomatoes with olive oil and fresh basil. Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow. The International Herb Association has declared it the herb of the year for 2003. Most basils that you use for cooking are cultivars of the species Ocimum basilicum, or sweet basil. […]