Home & Garden

After spending more time than ever indoors over the past couple of years, we have all likely accumulated more dirt, dust and allergens in our homes than usual. Additionally, this extra time at home may have drawn your attention to certain areas that require a little more TLC. This makes spring cleaning especially important this […]

“A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.” – Michael Pollan Low-impact landscaping is a broad term that describes a rethinking of the traditional American lawn. Fading away are the ideals of a weed-free, insect-free emerald green lawn perpetually cut to two inches in height. Coming into focus is the idea that the 40 million acres […]

During the pandemic, I was one of those extremely fortunate individuals whose worst hardship was having too much time on my hands. In hindsight, I can see how I could have more virtuously used that extra time – say, by filling food pantries or checking on elderly neighbors – but as it was happening, it […]

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, over 400 bird species have been recorded as living in or migrating through Illinois. More than one-third of the world’s birds are migratory and will be moving back into their northern nests and perches this spring in order to meet, eat, mingle and mate.  Interest in backyard […]

Gardening and canning both saw a resurgence in spring 2020 when families were home due to the pandemic and looking for activities to keep themselves busy. Gardening and canning had such a revival that seed suppliers were selling out and canning supplies were in high demand. The last time there had been a shortage of […]

I don’t know if it is the byproduct of spring cleaning, knowing that summer break is around the corner or that I have been binging “The Home Edit” on Netflix, but I am ready to declutter my house – particularly my kids’ items. As all families with young children know, kids often go through toys […]

One out of every three bites of our food, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts and spices, is created with the help of pollinators, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pollinators include not just bees, but birds, beetles, butterflies, moths, bats and more, and are an important piece of food creation around the world. […]

While farmers markets bring us fresh, local fruit in season, and grocery stores bring us everything else, nothing beats the taste – or the carbon footprint – of a freshly plucked fruit from the backyard. Growing fruit in the backyard is easy, even for those without a green thumb. First things first, what do you […]

Butterflies drift lazily over the gardens, bees hum while pollinating flowers and birds feed on petals and at a feeder while the sweet smells of milkweed blossoms drift through an open window – these are the joys of front yard rewilding. Rewilding is an environmental effort involving the repair of damaged and degraded ecosystems and […]

Patches of brown grass are visible in yards all over Sangamon County, and they get larger every day. This area is experiencing an infestation of fall armyworms. Jack Robertson, owner of Robertson Lawn Care, 3441 Constitution Dr., says in his 45 years in business he hasn’t seen this problem here. Armyworms aren’t really worms; they […]