By Nancy Shevel After writing about native flowers, shrubs, and trees, I thought it might be fun to explore Illinois native mammals and birds. Illinois was discovered in 1673, settled […]
By Nancy Shevel You can’t go wrong with flavorful herbs grown in your own backyard. You can also grow some of the most commonly used spices in your yard with […]
By Nancy Shevel Herbs and spices can do more than provide calorie-free natural flavorings. They are an incredible source of antioxidants, help your metabolism, and improve your health at the […]
By Nancy Shevel About 4,400 different species of worms are grouped into five families. Of those thousands of species, 2,700 are considered earthworms. American gardens are called home by at […]
By Nancy Shevel Feeling old? The earliest fossil records of ferns date back about 360 million years ago (Devonian Period). The first humans (hominins) started appearing only 6 million years […]
By Nancy Shevel Garden cleanup can start in early April or may have to be delayed for a few weeks because of the unpredictable and variable weather in our area […]
By Nancy Shevel One definition of home grown is “grown or produced at home for local consumption.“ When buying produce at the store, do you really know where it was […]
“Plant a tree outside a classroom window and test scores improve. Plant a tree outside a hospital room and the patients in the facility heal faster. Studies show that apartment […]
By Nancy Shevel It’s been said that weeds are just a “plant out of place.” Most of your typical yard weeds were brought here by European settlers. That “ out […]
To prune shrubbery, or not to prune shrubbery? That is the question. It has been said that pruning is both a science and an art. Pruning is used to improve […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
