 University of Illinois Extension is presenting four programs to
help you reflect and plan for next year. The summer-fall series
offers "Beyond Ash & Maple -- Tree Selection & Care," "Tea
Gardens," "Bloomin' Bulbs," and "Coneflowers Gone CRAZY." All
four programs are on Tuesdays and will be presented at the U of
I Extension building, 980 N. Postville Drive in Lincoln.
"Beyond Ash & Maple -- Tree Selection & Care"
In the past 40 years, ash and maples have dominated the trees
planted around homes, and for good reasons. Most ash and maples
are fast growers and adapted to many types of soils. Specific
named selections provided outstanding fall color and limited
seed production. However, the emerald ash borer signaled the end
to ash planting. And maples, long a staple in the landscape, are
overplanted like the ash, making them the potential next plant
to suffer, just like the American elm and American chestnut did.
While there is no perfect tree, there are many adapted to
Illinois landscapes. Selecting something different cuts down the
risks of insect or disease problems. With proper care, trees in
your landscape should form the backbone to the garden and last
for decades if not centuries.
David Robson, University of Illinois Extension specialist,
will present "Beyond Ash and Maple -- Tree Selection and Care"
on Aug. 28 at 1 p.m.
"Bloomin' Bulbs"
Flowering bulbs planted in autumn add cheer to gardens from
midwinter through summer. They are very easy to grow if you know
a few tips. They bloom in a rainbow of hues and a range of sizes
and shapes. Learn about plant selection, planting, care and how
to keep them coming back year after year.
"Bloomin' Bulbs" is offered Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. Nancy Pollard,
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator in Cook
County, will instruct this class.
"Tea Gardens"
The tradition of making and taking tea in the garden is
steeped in English and Japanese garden history. Today we know
that tea gardens also provide enchanting outdoor spaces that are
soothing, productive, sustainable and lovely to visit. For a new
twist on local foods, learn how to create your own tea garden.
The program will cover several types of tea gardens and the tea
garden design components that make these great spaces to enjoy
tea. Various plants used to make tea will also be covered.
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"Tea Gardens" will be presented by Rhonda Ferree, educator in
horticulture for University of Illinois Extension, on Sept. 25
at 1 p.m.
"Coneflowers gone CRAZY!"
It all started harmlessly with purple coneflower, Echinacea
purprurea. Breeders started to discover crosses between
different Echinacea species, offering unusual flowers and colors,
and the explosion began. Razzamatazz was the first unusual
flower-shaped Echinacea, with unique purple double pompom flowers.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens had their breakthrough introduction,
Orange Meadowbrite, in 2004, and from there the new introductions
have been nonstop. But which ones really perform up to their
professionally written labels? Martha Smith, horticulture educator
for University of Illinois Extension, will explain the recent
history of this coneflower craze. Trial gardens have been studying
the different cultivars, and this program will introduce you to the
coneflowers that have rated very high in these trials.
"Coneflowers gone CRAZY!" will be presented on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.
___
The programs will be via the University of Illinois telenet
system and local computer PowerPoint presentations, allowing live
discussion between the instructor and gardeners throughout Illinois.
Each program is $5. To reserve a packet of handouts, preregister
online at
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/. For more information,
call 217-782-4617.
[By JENNIFER FISHBURN, horticulture
educator,
University of Illinois Extension, Logan-Menard-Sangamon Unit]
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