So where do you go for help when the garden is not so perfect?
The first place I always go when there is a problem with the
garden is the Master Gardener program. Almost every state has a program
of some sort. Here in Illinois it is run through the Cooperative
Extension agency of the University of Illinois. No matter what state you
are in they are a great resource for home growers, since they are run through a
local university they will have nailed down growing issues for your area and
some solutions to many garden problems. They are also great for plant identification,
when you do not know if something is a weed or plant to keep.
The Uof I master gardeners has a website that I recommend as a resource. They had tons of
articles on all sorts of topics under Hort links on the webpage. They also produce a digital newsletter for Master Gardeners that you do not have to be a Master Gardener to read. It has book reviews, articles about various Master Gardener program events and other useful information. The events link has programs that can be used for Master Gardner Continuing Education, but if you are not a beginning gardener, I suggest checking out a few of these, they have wonderful details. But if you are new to gardening, you may find them over your head, so start with the Hort Links first.
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| courtesy of mikenowak.net |
Also in
Chicagoland we have Mike Nowak, a radio personality who is a go-to source for
gardening info. His website also has great information and links to even
more! He is doing his show as a podcast presently and the website has links to listen to a wide assortment of recent shows. You can also catch him regularly and repeated on the GDGD Radio Network available in an app for your phone. You can find the link to download the App on his website as well.
Then you can try a
local botanical garden or arboretum. They are always thrilled to help those curious about growing things. Where I live we
have the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and the Morton
Arboretum in Lisle.
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| Sensory Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden |
Master gardeners and plant horticulturalists work at the Botanic Garden
in the Plant Information Center to help ID plants and insects as well as plant
diseases. You can access them online as well
as in person from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday; Noon – 4 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, but they are closed on holidays.
.JPG) |
| Children's Garden At Morton Arboretum |
At Morton Arboretum they have a Plant Clinic. They accept walk-in questions April through
October, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and November through
March, it is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also
contact them via email through their website.
In addition to identification, the plant clinic staff can
help visitors choose landscape plants by directing them to specimens in the Arboretum so they can answer the age old question - how big will this get?
Also if you want to share and learn and search using your phone in a social media setting, I have a wonderful somewhat new app you can download called GrowIt! You can get this for your android or iPhone. And it is all about local growing connections. You can connect with gardeners near you. What are they growing? Will it grow at your home? It eliminates that wonderful plant you saw on Pinterest that only grows in a subtropical climate because you know the information you are getting and sharing is local to your area or zone.
As their website says: "Don’t know what flowers to plant in that container on your patio? GrowIt!™ is here to help you out. Find out what people are planting in your area. GrowIt!™ lets you Garden Socially. Whether you want to show off your plants, or find something that will work in your garden; GrowIt!™ has something for every type of gardener."
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