Garden – Jennifer Fishburn

Untitled Document Growing plants can be great fun — especially if the plants are easy to care for. The plants that grow in my yard must do so with minimal care, and that’s why my favorite group of plants is culinary herbs. Not only do these plants add a variety of color to the landscape […]

Untitled Document Seesawing temperatures fool plants and gardeners and remind us that March and April weather is unpredictable. As temperatures get warmer, many gardeners want to start planting, but they need to understand their plants’ ability to withstand the cold. The average date of the last frost in central Illinois (Zone 5B) is April 15. […]

Untitled Document Though you may not be able to engage in many outdoor gardening activities at this time of year, this period of enforced inactivity is a great time to learn more about your favorite hobby. University of Illinois Extension is offering several programs for gardeners. Garden Basics — In cooperation with the Springfield Civic […]

The sound of tree branches cracking, snapping, and crashing to the ground is definitely something I’d rather not hear again. As daybreak approached on Friday, Dec. 1, it became apparent that our 45-year-old sweet gum tree had been turned into a big stick and that half of our 40-year-old white birch and our neighbor’s 60-year-old […]

My favorite winter scene is branches of bright green holly leaves with sparkling red berries against fresh winter snow. Holly is a great addition to the landscape, but careful consideration must be given its planting. Several holly species will provide colorful fruit for three to six months of the year, but fruit persistence depends on […]

If you have a gardener on your holiday shopping list, consider yourself lucky. Gardening enthusiasts may be the easiest people to please when it comes to buying gifts: We’re always excited about the latest gardening gadgets, and we can’t refuse a good gardening book. With the vast selection of garden books available, where does the […]

This week we celebrate the many things for which we are thankful. Many of us will sit down to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with our family and friends. A traditional meal for my family includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn pudding, a cranberry relish, and pumpkin pie. Our tradition of celebrating […]

Except for leaf-raking, your fall garden chores are probably nearing completion. Before you lock up the garden shed for the season, though, be sure to care for your tools. A little preventive maintenance now can help prevent frustration next spring, and just think how nice it will be when you go to the garden shed […]

Many symbols indicate that Halloween is on its way. Yards are decorated with pumpkins, ghosts, witches, spiders, and bats. Fake bats and spiders may be popular decorations, but the real deal makes people scream. Bats are a highly misunderstood mystery of the night. They are mammals, meaning that they are warm-blooded, have hair, bear live […]

The highlight of my job as horticulture educator for Sangamon and Menard counties is providing direction for the master-gardener volunteer program. I have the pleasure of working with 125 individuals who have a passion for gardening. University of Illinois Extension master gardeners not only enjoy learning more about gardening practices, they also have a desire […]

I have not-so-fond childhood memories of being force-fed cooked spinach topped with sliced hard-boiled eggs. As an adult, I still have trouble eating cooked spinach, but I do enjoy fresh spinach in a mixed garden salad. Spinach has gotten a lot of bad publicity recently. Because of the contamination scare, fresh spinach may be in […]