University of Illinois Extension-Vermilion County Unit

🌼🍅Explore exciting fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers that performed well this season, discover unusual varieties you can grow right here in East Central Illinois, and leave with fresh ideas for your own garden and kitchen.

Register at go.illinois.edu/Garden2Table
VCMG's Present: Garden to Table 2026

This is one you won't want to miss! Sign up today at go.illinois.edu/EdibleWildPath

🌿Ever wondered what edible treasures are growing right outside your door? Join Illinois Extension for a beginner-friendly seasonal foraging course! Learn how to safely identify and harvest wild foods, explore nature on a guided hike, and finish the day by preparing delicious recipes with your foraged finds.

Visit go.illinois.edu/EdibleWildPath for more information or to register!

Royal catchfly is one of Illinois' most striking native plants, with brilliant red blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. But this rare wildflower has an unexpected defense mechanism that gives it its intriguing name.

Learn why this prairie plant deserves a place in your garden in the latest edition of The Garden Scoop 🌿🦋🐦

go.illinois.edu/GardenScoop

🌽🥕Discover the vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers that stood out in the 2026 gardens of Vermilion County Master Gardeners. Learn about unique varieties that thrive in East Central Illinois, pick up tips for growing your own favorites, and enjoy a tasting featuring fresh garden harvests.

Register at go.illinois.edu/Garden2Table
VCMG's Present: Garden to Table 2026

Prairie plants are at their peak! 🌻
Join the Vermilion County Master Gardeners for an inspiring tour of the Danville Public Library Native Garden. See mature plantings in full bloom, pick up design tips, and take home a garden map filled with ideas for your own yard.
Register at go.illinois.edu/VCMGnativeplants
VCMG's Present: Bloom and Buzz - a native plant experience

Looking for garden inspiration? 🌼
Take a walk through the Danville Public Library Native Garden with the Vermilion County Master Gardeners. Learn about standout native species, their growing needs, and how to create an attractive, sustainable landscape using plants native to central Illinois.
Register at go.illinois.edu/VCMGnativegarden
VCMG's Present: Bloom and Buzz - a native plant experience

Coneflowers are a garden favorite, but did you know not all varieties offer the same benefits for pollinators? 🌼🐝

From classic native purple coneflowers to colorful modern cultivars, learn how breeding has changed these beloved plants—and which varieties pollinators prefer.

Learn more from The Garden Schoop: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2026-07-04-purple-coneflower-garden-native-species-vs-modern-cultivars

Discover the beauty of native plants! 🌿
Join the Vermilion County Master Gardeners for a guided tour of the Danville Public Library Native Garden. Explore stunning summer blooms, learn about native garden design, and gather ideas for your own landscape. Participants will receive a garden map to inspire future planting projects.
Register at go.illinois.edu/VCMGnativegarden
VCMG's Present: Bloom and Buzz - a native plant experience

This popular showstopper in landscapes is also a favorite among bees!

For Week, we are spotlighting Black-eyed Susan, whose two-toned appearance under UV light helps attract pollinators to the center for nectar and pollen. They do best in full sun and are tolerant of warmer temperatures and drought.

-Bloom Time: May, June, July, August, September
-Pollinators They Attract: Bees, flies, wasps, butterflies, beetles, caterpillars

🔗 Find out more about Black-Eyed Susan at https://illinoispollinators.org/plant/black-eyed-susan/

🔗Learn how to design a pollinator habitat at https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-habitat-design/

The new world screwworm in the U.S. has many asking what and where it is, what it is doing, and what's next.

Stay informed with these recent interviews from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts on its impact, problematic nature, its eradication, and how to support cattle herds.

🔗What Have Decades of Eradication Efforts Taught Us About the New World Screwworm? https://news.illinois.edu/what-have-decades-of-eradication-efforts-taught-us-about-the-new-world-screwworm/

🔗 What is the New World Screwworm, and Should You Take Precautions in Illinois? https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article316147912.html

🔗 New World Screwworm: Questions Every Cattle Producer is Asking at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/cattle-connection/2026-06-08-new-world-screwworm-questions-every-cattle-producer-asking

University of Illinois Beef Cattle Extension