Master gardeners with the University of Illinois Extension receive hundreds of calls each month from homeowners worried that their prized plants have suddenly taken a turn for the worse. A tree leafed out fine, but then the leaves quickly turned yellow and dropped. Sometimes the problem is easily remedied; sometimes it’s serious. How do you […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 5-19-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: What environmental and health issues, if any, are associated with cut flowers? — Olivia Clark, Seattle, Wash. More than half of all cut flowers sold in the United States at florists and supermarket chains are imported. Holland is the largest source; several Latin American countries, including Colombia and Ecuador, vie for second […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 5-19-05
Butterflies add surprise, beauty, color, and motion to a garden. Why not invite them into your back yard? Planting a butterfly garden not only attracts these beautiful creatures but is also a great way for children to learn about the life cycle of butterflies and develop an interest in nature. Luring and maintaining a butterfly […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 5-12-05
The International Herb Association has declared oregano the 2005 Herb of the Year. Most of us can’t imagine what a pizza would taste like without the warm, spicy flavor of oregano, one of the most familiar herbs used in cooking. Oregano loves heat and thrives in a full-sun garden location with a light to medium-rich […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 5-12-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: Nuclear power seems like such a clean and cost-effective alternative to burning fossil fuels. Why are so many environmentalists against it? — Paul Franklin, Missoula, Montana Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power spares us the carbon dioxide that promotes global warming and the airborne pollutants that cause respiratory harm. But the technology does […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 5-5-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: I recently heard the term “conservation medicine.” What does it mean? — Steve Falbo, San Francisco Conservation medicine (sometimes called “conservation health”) is a relatively new field of research that studies the links among human health, animal health, and the environment. One of its major fields of study is the emergence in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 5-5-05
You can build an exotic oasis in your yard by incorporating tropical plants into an annual or perennial garden. Tropical plants offer great elements for the landscape: huge, shiny leaves; bold, outrageous colors; and ferny textures. Using tropicals in the outdoor garden is nothing new. Plant collectors have grown and collected them for hundreds of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 4-28-05
Looking for a way to decorate a fence, create privacy, complement a good architectural feature (or hide a bad one), or break a monotonous corner? Climbing vines, which have a large effect on a landscape but use a only small amount of ground space, could be your answer. Their diversity of leaves, flowers, fruit, and […]
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history talk 4-28-05
The Rev. Dr. James H. Magee (1839-1912) is one of the most interesting, yet obscure, characters in Springfield history. Were it not for a semiautobiographical book he published in 1873 while serving as pastor of the Union Baptist Church of Cincinnati, scant little indeed would be known about this high-minded, eloquent African-American social progressive and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 4-28-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: Which types of household products are most likely to cause chemical sensitivities? — John Morgan, Somerville, Mass. Household products trigger chemical sensitivities in hundreds of thousands of Americans every year, yet few people make the connection between their skin rash or sneezing and the bottles and cans stored beneath their kitchen sinks […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 4-21-05
Three annual flowers and three vegetables were chosen as the 2005 All-America Selections winners. The mission of AAS is “to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.” AAS is the oldest, most established international testing organization in North America. First, the flowers: ¥ The bright colors […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 4-14-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: What are the environmental impacts of our voracious appetite for coffee? — Augie Dent, Capitola, Calif. According to the Specialty Coffee Association, Americans consume some 300 million cups of coffee every day. Globally, coffee is second only to oil in terms of dollars traded, and it leaves a tremendous social and ecological […]
