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Saving seeds at the end of the season

During fall clean up of garden storage and work areas, gardeners often find partially used packets of seeds. Can or should these seeds be saved? The answer to this question depends on how and where the seeds have been stored. Seeds have specific ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  21 Nov 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Carpenter Ants often mistaken for termites

Carpenter ants are often mistaken for termites. The reproductive forms of both insects are winged. However, there are three major differences between them. Carpenter ants have a narrow waist (like a wasp) and three distinct body parts–head, abdomen and ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  14 Nov 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

What to do with autumn’s fallen leaves

Walking recently through softly falling leaves, I started thinking about what a phenomenal process leaf drop is. Like most happenings in nature, there is an important reason why leaves fall. It’s not just so we can complain about raking them. Plants ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  7 Nov 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Bittersweet makes for ideal fall decor

There’s something special about fall decorations in the Midwest. The pumpkins, corn stalks, Indian corn and other decorative materials seem to blend so naturally and wonderfully into the fall landscape and its colorful palette of changing ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  31 Oct 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Burning bushes produce vibrant fall foliage

Burning bushes (Euonymus alata) consistently produce some of our most vibrant fall foliage. Their glowing red leaves are definitely a show stopper in the landscape. Another benefit of these shrubs is that they are very easy to grow in Central Illinois, ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  24 Oct 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Toxic juglone from black walnut trees can be fatal to some plants

In the fall when walnuts are harvested, I am always reminded of the fact that black walnuts produce a toxic substance known as juglone, which can be fatal to some plants. Sensitive plants can be injured or killed within a couple of months when they ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  17 Oct 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Moss a good choice for typically tough locations

A couple of weeks ago, I found several patches of moss growing in my garden. This would have been a common occurrence in Seattle, my previous home, but it seemed rather unusual for Central Illinois in September, and I attribute it to our cool, wet ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  10 Oct 2009

Related Topics: University of Illinois

Location important for fragile Japanese maples

Japanese maples are prized for their graceful form and lacy, delicate foliage, but many also provide stunning color in the fall. There are several Japanese maple varieties. The most common are the Palmatum and Japonicum types. Palmatums have leaf ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  3 Oct 2009

What’s with all those swarming insects in our area?

A major topic of discussion recently has been the swarming insects in our area, and it appears other Midwestern cities have similar activity. Most of these appear to be various types of aphids. One of the problem insects has been described as being ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  26 Sep 2009

Be on the lookout for magnolia scale

Keep watch on your star and saucer magnolia shrubs for magnolia scale, one of the largest and most visible scale insects found in the Midwestern states. Besides magnolias, these scales may also feed upon Daphne, Virginia creeper and tulip trees. ...

From LINDA SMITH, The Pantagraph,  19 Sep 2009

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