It didn't seem like February would ever end! Too many cloudy days and too many snowy days just didn't sit well with me. I'd much rather endure the cold with sunshine. But spring is on its way (March 20 is the actual date) and the days are lengthening and soon we'll be in the garden planting. Seed...
In the spring have you ever seen a lilac bush and for some reason maybe there are only blooms at the very top and the sides are barren of flowers or maybe wondered why the poor lilac didn't bloom at all? Maybe the same thing happened to a forsythia bush or any number of other spring blooming shrubs...
There is a song that had been performed by Jerry Garcia (and others) that has some lyrics that described a staple part of the diet for Midwesterners for many years. From the song "Shady Grove" comes the following: Peaches in the summertime, apples in the fall. Fifty years ago, that made perfect...
Don't forget that we'll be providing an opportunity for you to learn about apple and peach growing and pruning this weekend. Saturday, beginning at 9am, at Edgewood Orchards, the Zellerman brothers will talk about production practices and demonstrate proper pruning methods for several tree...
How familiar are you with invasive plants? What exactly is an invasive plant? By definition according to the Illinois Invasive Species Council an invasive plant is "any species that is not native to that ecosystem, including its seeds, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating...
This upcoming conference combines the Ill Small Fruit/Strawberry School with the Southern IL Vegetable School. The dates are Feb. 10-11 and will be held in O'Fallon, IL (across river from St. Louis). It's an excellent program that will offer many folks an opportunity to learn more management...
If you've ever thought about trying a new enterprise on a few acres of ground, you need to consider attending an event that we hope will provide you with some excellent ideas to consider. Many folks are investigating opportunities for some extra income on a few acres while others are simply looking...
If you're like me, I'm itching to get out and work in the garden and see plants come to life and watch my garden grow. But sadly, here it is still nearly the end of January and the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 40s and yet we know the cold...
Putting Small Acreage to Work will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14th at John Wood Community College, 1301 S. 48th in Quincy. If you're looking for ideas on how to utilize smaller acreages for income producing activities or for fun and leisure, then this program will provide you with a number of...
We've all heard about the next new herbicide technology that will help with control of glyphosate resistant waterhemp and marestail. Both Monsanto and Dow are introducing new products that contain phenoxy herbicides (2,4-D and dicamba) mixed with glyphosate to be applied to genetically modified...
