University of Illinois Extension
MILAN, Ill. — As May flowers arrive and we celebrate the arrival of spring, we also turn our attention to Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial period dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and promoting well-being. During this time, we acknowledge the highs and lows that life can bring, acknowledge the prevalence of…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois is the 20th state to discover the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis). The tick, considered an invasive species, was found on April 12 during routine active tick surveillance in Morgan County as part of an Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) grant-funded active tick surveillance program. Additional surveillance in the area…
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MACOMB, Ill. — Ticks! I can’t stand these parasitic arachnids. I have had far too many run-ins with ticks throughout my life. They seem to find me every year. So far this spring I have found one Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) attached to me, and I have caught several other ticks headed my way…
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MILAN, Ill. — A few weeks ago, we began a discussion about color. We started with complementary colors, those that are opposite of each other on the color wheel. This week we explore analogous colors. Throughout this color exploration, we might be tempted to think only of floral color but many plants offer color in…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Did you notice people’s lawns getting a little long last May? No Mow May has become a popular way to help pollinators. No Mow May began in the United Kingdom in 2019 as a way to help struggling pollinator populations. The idea is that if people don’t mow their lawns during May,…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) has been blooming throughout Illinois. Over the years, it has been a popular tree to plant, especially in residential areas. Trees produce numerous white flowers in the spring and have attractive glossy leaves that will turn a brilliant red-orange in the fall. However, they are also becoming increasingly…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With the arrival of warmer weather in the spring, we start to see signs of new life in our landscapes. Birds begin singing, our landscapes start turning green again, and spring ephemeral plants start to emerge. Among the spring ephemerals in Illinois, one of the most captivating and commonly encountered are Virginia…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Adams County Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Extension are partnering to provide a seminar focused on helping women with farm succession planning and navigating USDA FSA farm programs from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 26, at the Adams County Farm Bureau, 330 S. 36th. Lunch will be provided by Adams…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Can you hear them? Probably not yet, but soon Illinois will be awash in the songs of periodical cicadas. This year is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, where Broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time for the first time since…
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MACOMB, Ill. — The recent weather has been mild. As I write, it is currently 75 degrees outside, and I am using all my willpower to stay inside and type out this article. In addition to fighting the urge to clean up the garden, some people have been concerned about how the warm winter weather…
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MILAN, Ill. — In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I want to share one of my great horticulture loves with you … pruning. I love the idea, the exercise, the science and the potential it has for significantly improving the health and longevity of woody plant material. Since trees are large, long-lived plants in our…
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MACOMB, Ill. — You may be wondering, “What does artificial intelligence (A.I.) have to do with gardening?” Let’s say you have a gardening question. Before the internet, perhaps you reached out to your Illinois Extension office for an answer. With the internet, you could search for your question but had to wade through lots of…
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QUINCY — Within parks, streams and native prairies, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists serve as environmental stewards in their communities. Master Naturalists in west-central Illinois volunteered more than 460 hours in 2023. Illinois Extension is now opening registration for the next training slated for this spring. The course begins April 3. In a press…
Read Full Article MILAN, Ill. — The internet is a wild place full of an endless amount of information, ideas, opinions, advice, arguments and more. Tangled in this web, it will come as no surprise that my favorite spaces are those that relate to plants. I’ve been known to have many, many pages open in my browser window…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Have you ever seen a lilac bush that only blooms at the very top, or maybe not at all? Perhaps you’ve seen or have a forsythia bush that doesn’t bloom nearly as prolifically as it once did. This often happens due to a lack of or improper pruning. When done correctly, pruning…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — We are only a few weeks into the new year, and 2024 has already brought an actual winter! At least for now. In the prolonged cold of this past week, going outside has been, well painful. Being stuck inside I have gotten so much accomplished. We organized our storage totes, I got…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Winter can be harsh, especially with the arrival of snow and sub-zero temperatures. While we often retreat indoors or add a few more layers to avoid cold temperatures, many other critters, like insects, must tough it out outdoors. Insects have developed a variety of strategies to deal with the arrival of cold…
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MILAN, Ill. — With a new year comes and opportunities for a new start… especially in the garden. As we look through seed catalogs and past garden records to develop plans for next year’s planting, crop rotation in an annual garden bed is an important management method to implement. Crop rotation is a cultural gardening…
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MACOMB, Ill. — The holidays are a time of year to refresh and reflect. It brings much-needed time away from the computer, save typing out this article. I am lucky to have a job where I can take extra time off at the end and beginning of the year, and I intend to do just…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — As we hunker down for winter, some may begin longing for summer’s warm, sunny days. Perhaps it’s the cold weather or the desire to return to gardening. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of opportunities to continue our gardens indoors. While we often associate citrus with warmer climates (and possibly Christmas stockings),…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — I thought I was doing better this holiday season. I made a list, checked it twice and then awaited Cyber Monday deals. Here’s the problem about Cyber Monday, I had to work that day! Not only was I at work, but I also had a calendar full of boring work stuff that…
Read Full Article MILAN, Ill. — According to songwriters and composers Edward Pola and George Wyle, this is the most wonderful time of the year, but research indicates it may be that and more. According to the American Psychological Association, two in five adults experience an increase in stress levels between November and January. A nearly equal number…
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QUINCY — “Your Land, Your Legacy” is a landowner workshop series on conservation programs and techniques. According to a recent Illinois Extension survey, western Illinois landowners want to learn more about establishing pollinator plots, managing their forests properly for ecological and financial benefit, controlling invasive plants, prescribed burning and restoring streams and ponds through skill-based,…
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MILAN, Ill. — As the holiday season approaches, many of us will indulge in an alcoholic beverage or two as a part of the celebration. My preferences vary depending on the season, but during the winter I strongly favor a bottle of red wine. If you are like me and enjoy the vino, let’s explore…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The leaves are dropping off trees, and many of us are putting our gardens to bed for winter. While preparing the garden for winter, spend a little time preparing your trees and shrubs. Doing a few things this fall can help protect our trees and shrubs from winter damage. Watering doesn’t stop…
Read Full Article November 19, 2024
DAILY MUDDY: MODEL TRAINS AND TATTOO REMOVAL
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