This 100-mile-long canal, long since decommissioned, has been reborn as an outdoor recreation heritage site.
A 2.5-acre garden in Chicago's Millennium Park offers sweeping city views in a tranquil setting. Visit the Lurie Garden for free all year round as different plants bloom each season.
Fishing tips, tricks, and musings from a first-time angler.
This herbaceous perennial is not only a beautiful plant for your landscape, it has many uses in the home.
A list of my all-time favorite Metal vocalists. Are these some of your favorites as well? Check out the article and see if your favorite made the list!
For Metal fans, this genre never really went away. Many of the bands we listened to in the 80's are still putting out new music and touring.
These old-world beauties look great in every yard and are long-lasting.
These climbing beauties add height and interest to your garden landscape.
These North American native perennials are a great choice to add color to your shade garden.
Whether you are looking to add a specimen tree to your landscape or a tree that provides seasonal interest, these flowering trees are easy to care for and provide a spectacular spring show!
This easy-to-grow annual will keep you in colorful blooms summer through the first frost.
Lilies add that special, exotic touch to your garden landscape. There are several different types available on the market today to choose from.
There's a vibrant culture of insects right in your backyard! Let's explore some interesting helpful and harmful insects in your Midwestern garden!
Nasturtium: Is it ornamental or edible? It's both! Nasturtiums can beautify your space and provide a nutritious treat!
These summer-blooming bulbs are great for adding color and height to your flower bed.
Home Garden Year In Review 2014
Commonly associated with Christmas, this tropical plant adds color and vibrancy to wintertime.
This beautiful nature preserve, located close to Chicago, is perfect for a stroll around the lake or for nature viewing.
Illinois boasts over 70 wineries located throughout the state that produce a wide variety of wines. You can find something for everyone's taste.
Halloween wasn't always about kids, dress-up or candy. It has a rich and interesting history steeped in ancient pagan traditions and lore.
What once covered 62% of the state of Illinois, native prairies provide many benefits to our ecosystem.
This article features nine well-documented haunted Joliet locations, geared toward paranormal buffs.
Take a self-guided walking tour to view some of Chicago's most iconic public artworks.
Graceland Cemetery is home to prominent artists and historical Chicago figures. Learn about who's buried here and see photos of the grave markers, statues, and tombs.
Visiting this beautiful State Park will leave you awestruck at the sandstone rock formations and cascading waterfalls.
Chicago is known for its iconic buildings. Take a self-guided walking tour in Downtown Chicago to discover these 1920s-era gems.
Also referred to as the Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs has a rich history connected to the Gulf of Mexico.
Coneflowers have beautiful blooms and boast both ornamental and medicinal uses. Not sure how to grow and care for them! Learn how!
Agritourism is a booming business for Illinois Farmers and Rural Towns.
The old concept of the Victory Garden is making a comeback, with new reasons for home growing in our modern environment.
Garden of the Phoenix, Formerly known as Osaka Garden, is a hidden gem in the heart of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago which transports you to tranquility .
This versatile vegetable is easy to grow in both spring and fall.
Located on over 640 acres of land, Pilcher Park is a nature oasis in the heart of Joliet, Illinois. Explore the park's history, activities, wildlife, and more.
San Diego is a great place to enjoy perfect weather, boutique shopping, wide variety of dining options (especially if you enjoy seafood) and sightseeing.
There is more to explore in areas outside of the common tourist areas. Check out Mountain Barrios and the seaside towns that dot the Puerto Rican landscape.
A beautiful place to visit, Puerto Rico has a lot to offer people looking for a variety of tastes and interests.
Deeply hued plants add depth and drama to your garden landscape.
Illinois has a long history of wine making. Follow the wine making trail throughout the state to find scenic wineries and B&B's on your next visit to our lovely state!
Bush beans are great choices for first-time growers and work perfectly for those limited on space.
An introduction to color theory and how to use it when planning your home garden.
This old-world cottage flower makes an excellent and tidy ground cover.
Vines are versatile plants that can soften the look of your landscape, provide shade, provide privacy or use as groundcover for difficult areas.
This unusual and under-appreciated vegetable is not only easy to grow, but very versatile and nutritious.
This native flowering perennial is great for part-shaded areas and come in a wide range of colors.
This perennial herb is a snap to grow for the home gardener and has many uses.
Adding a splash of color to your landscape is easy with easy-care summer annuals.
Your planting guide to popular plants for your summer vegetable garden.
Use the unusual Love-in-a-Mist flower to add that certain sparkle to your cottage garden.
A beginner's guide to growing hot peppers and an introduction to the Scoville Heat Unit of measurement.
Growing veggies are easy! This article will demonstrate how to create a garden bed and some easy vegetables for the beginner gardener. This article also touches on companion planting techniques.
This ornamental biennial will add loads of charm to your cottage garden. I'll show you how to grow Foxgloves and suggest some great companion plants.
Morning glory is a fast-growing annual vine for many applications in the home garden.
This Old World plant has many uses, including ornamental, medicinal, and culinary.
Showcasing 10 heirloom and hybrid varieties that perform well in the home vegetable garden, including tips on growing them from seed.
Mums add color to the fall garden when all other summer plants have faded for the season.
Planting Sunflowers is an easy way to add height in the garden, attract birds, use as a food source and provide a fun gardening experience for children.
This stunning, old-world flower is making a resurgence with home gardeners looking to add that special cottage garden touch to their landscape.
These five great shrubs to improve your outdoor area (including double flowering plum, burning bush, and purple leaf sand cherry) provide three seasons of interest and massive curb appeal.
This ancient herb comes in many flavors and is a snap to grow in home gardens.
Alliums are great, fuss-free plants to add color and structural interest to your garden.
Showcasing some new and improved plants from the show, plus photos of the beautiful art installations and garden design landscapes.
Have troublesome spots in your yard where grass won't grow? Here are five low-maintenance ground-cover plants that are easy to incorporate into your landscape.
Daylilies are an easy care option for your garden landscape.
How to grow this old-world plant and it's many uses.
Planting tips to create a stunning Victorian cottage-type look to your garden.
Winter is almost over and Spring is upon us. Learn which vegetables you can direct sow into your garden now for your spring veggie harvest.
This article explains how to forage for the most common edible wild plants in USDA Zone 5. Which plants are the most edible in this zone? Read on to find out. Plant identification and preparation tips are included.
Growing bearded irises are easy and rewarding with minimal care.
A quick and easy recipe for making pickles from your own home-grown cucumbers and herbs.
Tea making with easy to grow herbs fresh from your garden.
This Article will discuss how to attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
The feature in this Article is Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL where one can find inspiration for their native woodland garden.
Learn how to make your own compost bin, how to turn it, and how to determine when compost is ready for use. Plus, find out which items are compostable and which to avoid.
Planting spring blooming bulbs in the fall to ensure an end to the winter blues.
Add a tropical feel to your shady spots with hostas. This perennial plant comes in all shapes and sizes. Easy-to-grow and long-lived, hostas will provide a striking contrast to your shade garden.
Welcome to my Page! Here you will find information and advice about gardening specifically tailored to novice growers.