2018 Home, Lawn & Garden Day welcomes Gold Standard Perennials BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – McLean County Master Gardeners welcome Susan Martin, as their keynote speaker for their 2018 Home, Lawn, and Garden Day. Susan receives accolades as a freelance writer, with features in Garden Gate Magazine,...

Mohammed Babadoost, University of Illinois go to plant pathologist, says, "This year's processing pumpkin crop is the best it has been in the last two decades. " Babadoost attributes the success of the pumpkin crop to new varieties, more successful management of diseases like downy mildew and...

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on October 24, 2018. Are you an avid vegetable gardener or maybe you just want to know more about growing food? University of Illinois Extension has brought you this new resource that is sure to be a "garden changer" for the novice and the expert!...

Vegetable Swap at Heartline and Heart House in Eureka EUREKA, Ill. – It is officially go time and the season for tomatoes, eggplant, herbs, cucumbers, peppers, apples and more. Those who have chosen to grow these favorite vegetables are more than likely getting more produce then...

Join Master Gardeners. Teach gardening in your community. The Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization with the University of Illinois Extension that gives back to the community through gardening and horticulture education. The newest project came...

Blueberries don't like most of the soils in Central Illinois. It's some of the best soil in the world, but for blueberries we have to make amendments that you can easily manage in your backyard. Our soil may be alkaline, but don't call us basic. Blueberries require acidic soil. They prefer a pH of...

Many homes are being purposefully adorned with abnormally large, scary black spiders and their webs to hinge on the fact that a large percentage of the population may suffer from the fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia. In contrast to most of America, I suffer from arachnophilia, a love of...

  EUREKA, Ill – Bring your questions to the Eureka Library on Monday, September 10 anytime between 4:30 to 6 p.m. to get your gardening questions answered by University of Illinois Extension Woodford County Master Gardeners. So far this growing season we have answered...

Fall is coming, and that means it's a great time to bring home a new tree. But before they do,homeowners should repeat the mantra"right plant, right place," according to Kari Houle, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "If you have space for a tree that can only be 30 feet tall...

  Join the Woodford County Master Gardeners on Saturday, April 21 for a morning filled with lots of fun as we unlock secret gardening tips in a celebration entitled "Gardeners' Gathering: Sharing a Growing Secret," in Germantown Hills. Universityof Illinois Extension is proud to present...

Terrariums a century-old trend of bringing nature inside during the winter, terrarium gardening has had a revival gardeners as of late and would make an excellent gift for the holidays. The invention of terrariums is attributed to English Botanist, Dr. Nathanial Ward. He used a closed bottle...

  BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Who knew your kitchen scraps could turn into a bountiful garden to enjoy again? Skip the compost bucket or garbage can, and re-grow your leftover veggies and fruits this winter for beautiful houseplants and garden additions."Kitchen scrap gardening is a great way to...

Join the Woodford County Master Gardeners on Saturday, April 21 for a morning filled with lots of fun as we unlock secret gardening tips in a celebration entitled "Gardeners' Gathering: Sharing a Growing Secret," in Germantown Hills. Universityof Illinois Extension is proud to present Patrick...

Phaleonopsis orchid flowers have awe-inspiring and long-lasting flowers that really make them an ideal gift. Look for a plant where not all the buds are open. This means you would have the maximum amount of time to enjoy the blooms. With a little affection, phaleonopsis (moth) orchid blooms can...

Why do I need fertilizer? When? What kind? How do Master Gardeners fertilize plants? The answer to this question is easy to answer: It all depends on the plant. Now that you have been left even further mystified about fertilizers, learning some basic principles about plant nutrition can help you...

Cicada Killers and the Great black wasp may have already started menacing gardener. However menacing they are in their façade, they are just simply trying to get some nectar from the flowers. About this time of year, inquiries from the public start to flood Master Gardener ran help desks because...

Amaryllis bulbs are commonplace in decorating for the holiday because of their bold, grand, exquisite presences drawing you across the room for a closer look. My experience in growing these show stopping flowers began in the research greenhouse at the University of Illinois. I was t in charge of...

Livingston County Master Gardeners Receive State Awards PONTIAC, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension would like to congratulate the Livingston County Master Gardeners on receiving state awards at the Illinois Master Gardener Conference in Springfield this fall. Diana McGuckin...

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on April 10, 2018. Whether you have grown potatoes for years or never grown a fresh potato in your life, growing them in a straw bale is an easy choice. Imagine pounds of beautiful fresh tubers that are crisper and tastier than any grocery store finds...