The Lombard Garden Club will host the “Language of Flowers,” a program given by Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh on , at 1 p.m. Aug. 22.

When planning a shady retreat, pay close attention to the existing soil conditions. Choosing these local beauties not only bolsters regional biodiversity but should also be a priority over introducing non-native species.

There are a number of animals that feel very exotic to me, here in Northern Illinois: platypuses, lions, capybara, and armadillos. At least one of those may not be so exotic for much longer.

As August approaches, it is important to scout for any heat stress symptoms in the garden to make proper production decisions to avoid crop loss and damage.

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.

A fascinating and immersive dive into a magnificent period of Japanese art and culture is as close as Glen Ellyn.

Bringing forth the freshest flavors of the season is the motivator at Bothwell Farms, offering its own retail locations in Manhattan and New Lenox, and delivering its produce to farmers markets in Will, Grundy and suburban Cook counties.

When it comes to our health, times have really changed – but a Tampico woman would like to change them back, to a time when nature would nurture us, and she’s offering an oasis where people can do just that: a retreat where they can regroup, relax and recharge.

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.

Garden enthusiasts are invited to stroll through seven private gardens, peruse vendors and explore the museum grounds during the Kankakee Kultivators Garden Club’s annual Garden Tour & Artisan Faire on Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will celebrate their 50th anniversary with free community garden tours on Saturday, June 29 in Henry, Toluca and Ottawa.

The baton at Benoit Greenhouses, a longtime, family-owned operation in Kankakee, has been passed to the next generation as the business celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Morton Arboretum unveils its latest whimsical sculptures, while classical orchestras and choirs along with a Taylor Swift tribute shake up the musical scene, native plants buoy the environment and a walking murder mystery takes a Japanese twist.

May Fest will bloom at Cantigny, while Wheaton separately plays host to a mac-and-cheese festival. Concerts will showcase folk and classical artists, while the game's afoot for "Miss Holmes Returns."

Art in Wilder Park and Lilac Time lead off festival fun, and there's also a DuPage and Cook lineup of hit rock bands, classical gems, kite flying and history tours.

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

The upcoming meeting of the Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will focus on how to use rainwater in gardening.

The original peace pole garden at the Joliet church was installed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and dedicated on April 21, 2002.

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

Annual banquet is May 5

The Lombard Garden Club’s lilac sale, the Lilac Village, will be held from noon to 7 p.m. May 8 at Lilacia Park.

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.

Sale to be in the Polo High School's FFA greenhouse.

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.

Learn the do’s and don’ts for birdhouses and bird feeders at a Forest Preserve District of Will County webinar Wednesday, Feb. 26.

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 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 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.

Students and volunteers started building the greenhouse in June.

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.

Learn how to plan before you plant to extend your home garden veggie harvest.

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.

Wasco Nursery & Garden Center, 41W781 Route 64, St. Charles is hosting self-guided garden tours weekends in July.

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

Founded on Dec. 10, 1948, the Morrison Garden Club is charged with taking care of the grounds at Odell library, Veterans Park, and the planters near Illinois 78. Members also volunteer for Morrison’s annual Paint the Town and care for the plant life in Morrison year round.

The Fields on Caton Farm, Inc., 1850 Caton Farm Road, Crest Hill, will host Art in the Garden on Sunday.

Kane County will feature the Windmill City Festival with live music, a craft fair, a pet competition, a carnival, food, drinks and more.

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

Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners club will hold its garden walk featuring seven gardens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will host their biannual Garden Walk to honor former Club President Diana Sharp. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event.

Beautify Dixon, the face of Discover Dixon’s beautification committee, aims to promote and encourage community members to take pride in the appearance of their community by hosting monthly town cleanups, creating corner gardens and recognizing beautiful properties.

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