Extension news

Monotropa uniflora, also known as Ghost Pipe or Ghost Plant, a plant that is more vampire than ghost. A perennial plant, it grows in wooded areas in small clusters that only reach about 4- to 8-inches tall.

Dangerous heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees are expected Wednesday and Thursday across northern Illinois

Whiteside County 4-H will host a workshop for young animal lovers to introduce them to the field of veterinary science. The workshop will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. July 28 at the Rock Falls Public Library.

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examines how green spaces and outdoor activites near the family residence influence functioning in early childhood.

Training will begin Aug. 2 and conclude Oct. 4. Classes will be held in different locations throughout Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties.

State Rep. Natalie Manley and Joliet Junior College Office of Sustainability launched a new event to encourage sustainability and cutting down on single-use containers.

Finding the right plant for your location’s unique needs is key. Also, paying attention to bloom times allows you to have a cascade of flowers throughout the entire growing season.

Reports are starting again from area residents about mystery seeds they didn’t order showing up in their mailboxes. Simply put, the danger is in the unknown.

There may be “new to you” vegetables or varieties of your favorite vegetables that can add excitement to your gardening life. And it’s not too late in the growing season to try something new.

Join Family Life Educator Kara Schweitzer and learn how the gentle, relaxing movements of Tai Chi can help relieve pain and stiffness from arthritis and improve balance.

Allison Burrs of Carroll County took first place in the Senior Individual Presentation category.

There are many ways to support pollinators and other wildlife in home landscapes, according to University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle.

Concerns over rising food prices and food security have sparked a strong interest in home gardening. Community gardens sold out spaces early this year.

Following these steps can help trees recover from winter damage, boost their health, and promote strong roots and lush leaves throughout the spring and beyond.

As spring creeps closer and closer, gardeners start to get the itch to go outside and start digging in the dirt.

Join keynote speaker, experienced landscape designer and horticulturalist Kim Hartman as she unveils the secrets to shade-loving plants – including fresh and exciting new options – to transform your garden into a stunning sanctuary.

Winter reminded us this week it is still here for awhile, but Illinois Extension is reminding gardeners it is never too early to start prepping for spring.

The public is invited to attend to see what the 4-H’ers have prepared for presentation.

The University of Illinois Extension says its new Four Seasons Gardening webinar series will begin on Feb. 11 with two new winter sessions.

There are some steps to try to get perennial potted plants through the tough winter months and enjoy them again come spring.

The Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit will take place Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road in Freeport.

A Dixon girl received top marks at a national 4-H event as part of the Illinois 4-H State Hippology team.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program marks 50 years this year. In 2023 alone, 2,358 active volunteers invested 165,508 hours of service to improve the well-being of their environment and their local communities.

Pare down holiday-season stress to create more meaningful, joy-filled experiences for host, family and friends as they gather together.

Need something to do this winter? The Whiteside County Extension has you covered with several classes, workshops and other activities.

Pumpkins smashed will be composted into the SVCC field soil to help next year’s pumpkins grow.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Illinois Extension is partnering with several organizations across the Sauk Valley region, including Sauk Valley Community College, Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, CGH Medical Center, and the Lee County Council on Aging.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a Business Structure Basics Webinar at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, via Zoom as part of the Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms Webinar Series.

It's never too late to plant a tree and other woody plant as long as the hole is pre-dug, according to Nancy Kuhajda, Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.

Nancy Kuhajda, whose served for more than 22 years in Will County as an Extension program coordinator, now moves into the role of horticulture educator serving local communities.

Is the current summer-like September an anomaly? No – but Northern Illinois may see more of them.

Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days ‘24 took 338 youths on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of science, engineering and technology that drive today’s farm operations.

An open house will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at The Next Picture Show, Dixon.

In the Business Structure Basics Webinar, led by staff from Farm Commons in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, producers will learn how to apply straightforward decision-making factors to their situations.

Supplemental watering, weeding and managing pests will go a long way to keep landscapes growing through the summer.

ew gardening terms sound so off-putting, especially to novice gardeners. Nonetheless, deadheading can be an important task.

Gardening is often taught through community connections whether cultivated from our families, neighbors, community group, or our chosen families.

Here are three less common native groundcovers to consider; all have attractive foliage and unique flowers and are resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits

Planting Summer is not a great time to plant trees. If you can wait until fall, the tree will probably experience less transplant shock and stress.

The program can benefit anyone seeking to enhance their strength, flexibility and overall fitness as they age.

Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, are on the rise because of the increased exposure to humans and animals. What can we do to protect ourselves?

Classes teach basic dance skills and Tai Chi, stimulate the brain.

Looking for something to do? Here is a list of upcoming Extension courses set in Whiteside and Carroll counties.

In response to the current weather and climate cycle, one change that we can make is how we water plants. Let’s look at some ideas that can conserve water and provide a good vegetable crop.

Friends of Extension and 4-H Foundation will hold a pork dinner fundraiser to raise money for several Kendall County organizations.

The hammerhead worm is perhaps one of the strangest and least well-known invaders to our gardens. They eat other invertebrates, such as earthworms, slugs, isopods (rolly pollies), and other insect larvae.

Viburnum leaf beetle was first reported in the Chicagoland area in 2013. Within two years, it was regularly reported to the Morton Arboretu

Introduced commercially to the United States in 2012, pineberries are hybrid, everbearing, white to pink strawberries with red seeds, and they have a flavor and aroma of pineapple, though not everyone can taste it.

These gardens highlight plants with the purpose of appealing to human senses. The plants are meant to be enjoyed in a variety of ways including being touched, smelled, heard, felt, and even tasted.

Illinois 4-H partnered with Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) to help turn the tide by planting more than 900 oak trees in 38 counties this spring.