by Erin Harper, University of Illinois Extension There are several native plants that are great for landscaping and can provide food. These include nuts from trees such as maple, pecan, and hazelnuts; fruits such as ground cherry, persimmon, and plums; berries: blackberries, raspberries, and elderberry; leafy greens; roots: chicory, garlic, and sassafras; and many more. […]
gardening
Edible (Native) Landscaping – Strawberries
by Erin Harper, University of Illinois Extension Strawberries can make an excellent groundcover for your planting beds. The plants get 8 to 10 inches tall and are just a beautiful shade of green which is lighter than most plants used as a ground cover. There are two types, Junebearing and everbearing. Junebearing plants typically produce […]
Gardening on Your Patio
Submitted by Cassie Carroll on Tue, 05/02/2017 – 10:52am I get excited each year when the weather gets warm to jump out in my garden and start planting all the things: vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, annuals, and perennials. For the first time this year, I planted lettuce, radishes, sugar snap peas and beets out in […]
Got Gardening Questions? Extension Has Answers!
by Ryan Pankau, University of Illinois Extension In recent months, many of us have found plenty of time around the house for new gardening ventures, which has led to an explosion of gardening activity this spring. I have been thrilled to hear from gardeners around the state who are doing everything from planting a tree […]
Growing A Great Garden As We Grow Old
Submitted Mon, 06/12/2017 – 3:21pm Guest blog by Sally Writes (www.shieldmysenior.com) Many of us can probably remember those days outside as young children when we’d get our hands and feet dirty in the soil of our gardens without rhyme or reason. The garden is a place where small pleasure can be found; in growing our […]
Guest Blog: Digging Your Way Out of Social Isolation
Submitted Mon, 07/17/2017 – 1:55pm This week we feature a guest blog from Sally Writes with a look at the benefits of gardening as we age. Maintaining quality of life is one of the biggest challenges for many aging adults. Quality of life includes not just one, but many facets of life. Mobility, loss of […]
