Home & Garden

Nature journaling enhances the outdoor or garden experience, while building a more positive and personal connection with nature. “I use nature journaling as a creative form of self-expression, but I find that it also promotes relaxation and calmness,” says Rhonda Ferree, horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension. Many people journal. In its most basic […]

Driving across Illinois in 2017, it can be difficult to imagine what the landscape looked like when Illinois was nicknamed the “Prairie State.” With the plight of pollinators in the public mind, many are looking for ways to reestablish prairies as a habitat for pollinators. The prairie is an ecosystem that can support a large […]

It’s been a great summer, but don’t let the pleasant weather catch you off guard. It’s time to prepare your home for the fall and winter weather to come. 1. Clean the exterior glass. As the weather cools it becomes more difficult to dry the windows because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as […]

The changing of the leaves has us daydreaming over new home hues. From jewel tones to oversaturated oranges, autumnal tones bring a burst of drama and natural allure to any space. As interior revamps go, switching up paint colors via a bold accent wall or full-blown makeover is a cost-effective and wildly transformative design project. […]

Fall is a popular time to enjoy the outdoors, especially with the magic of the change of seasons. The summer is a time when many homeowners may wish to start thinking about fall improvements, especially while the weather is still warm. If you are looking for some ideas for ways to spruce up your home, […]

Fountains have been around since Roman times. In the ancient world, they were purely functional, employing springs or aqueducts to provide water for drinking, bathing and cleaning to even the smallest villages. Modest, centrally located and fed by gravity, public fountains were the focus of a simple communal existence. Fountains went upscale when modern plumbing […]

Introduction to BonsaiApr 19, 6-9pm. Introduction to the basic styles and principles of bonsai. Gain hands-on experience styling and potting your own bonsai. Registration. $25. web.extension.illinois.edu. University of Illinois Extension, 700 S. Airport Dr., 782-4617. Springfield Jaycees Annual Lawnmower ClinicApr 22, 9am-1pm. Inspection to check filters, change spark plugs, sharpen blades and change oil as […]

On March 7, 1929, visionary Harriet Knudson, known as Mrs. T. J. Knudson, hosted a meeting of Springfield residents at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel to establish a club dedicated to creating beauty and conserving the city’s wildlife and natural resources. By the end of the month, a new garden club with the motto “A More […]

Do you give flowers to your loved one on holidays and birthdays? Flowers are a great way to communicate your love and affection, and some can convey a specific message, according to a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension. “Flowers can represent everything from friendship to true love,” says Rhonda Ferree. “For example, chrysanthemums […]

As the season warms up, many gardeners begin looking forward to their first rhubarb harvests. Although it was first cultivated in central Asia more than 2,000 years ago for its medicinal properties, rhubarb is best known today as an ingredient in our early-summer pies. Rhubarb forms thick red, pink or green stalks – or petioles […]

Like many life skills, gardening is often learned directly from family members. Grandparents might recruit the grandkids to help water transplants or drop in seeds, setting the stage for a lifetime love of gardening.“Gardening is classified as a life skill because it not only allows you to grow food for yourself and family, but it […]

To be successful in life, you need things like motivation, focus, planning and perseverance. All well and good. But, if you’re like many Americans, first you have to get organized. You need to find your stuff. And to do that, you must deal with clutter. For this 30-day challenge, we’re going to show you how […]