Category Archives: Uncategorized

by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director The Red Oak Rain Garden celebrates GivingTuesday with a campaign to fund a RORG Maintenance Endowment. On November 29, 2022, we join millions around the world participating in the GivingTuesday global generosity movement. GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. Their global network inspires generosity aroundContinue reading “Giving Tuesday 2022”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer As of July 7, 2022, a portion of east-central Illinois, including where the Red Oak Rain Garden is located, is now listed in severe drought by NOAA and the National Integrated Drought Information System. This is the driest we’ve been here since the dreaded drought of 2012, which isContinue reading “Rain Gardens & Drought”

By Sydney Nielsen, RORG Student Team Taking a look back at my time with RORG, it’s hard to believe how quickly a semester passed by. To me, it feels like just yesterday I first found the listing with the application to apply for RORG’s internship. But now, I’m writing my final reflection about not onlyContinue reading “Looking back on my RORG experience: Sydney Nielsen”

By Sydney Nielsen, RORG Student Intern I had the honor of interviewing David Wilcoxen about his background and interests, as well as his involvement with the Red Oak Rain Garden. David and RORG Director Eliana Brown initially met in 2002. Eliana joined David’s staff in 2004 and worked with him for 10 years during which timeContinue reading “Interview with David Wilcoxen”

By Sydney Nielsen, RORG Student Intern Japan House is a must-visit location and a haven of tranquility for many on the University of Illinois campus. In addition to being a place of learning and respite, the Japan House gardens are a meaningful source of inspiration for the RORG Team. BACKGROUNDAccording to Japan House’s website, theyContinue reading “Inspirations: Japan House Gardens”

By the RORG Team While the RORG Team and volunteers always keep an eye on the garden’s needs for upkeep and design edits, spring is a critical time to perform inspection. Winter can be rough on a campus rain garden. While snow may cover up some issues, snow melt and spring rains reveal places thatContinue reading “Spring Cleaning at RORG”

Two years ago, following the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Basketball tournament, the RORG team started our own version: MULCH MADNESS. We’re excited to announce the THIRD ANNUAL tournament! This competition involves 28 flowering native plants found in the Red Oak Rain Garden battling it out to find out who will make it to the Final Forb. (Yes, that’sContinue reading “MULCH MADNESS 2022: Hold onto your gardening hats, sports fans!”

by Guest blogger Ryan Pankau, Horticulture Educator Originally published on the Garden Scoop Blog. While this winter has brought little ice and snow cover, this past weekend’s winter weather put a coating of ice on most smooth surfaces. Gardeners, businesses, parks, and others with landscaping near walkways must apply deicing salts for safety, but theseContinue reading “Deicing Salts and Plant Damage”

By the RORG Team While 2020 was the year that we had to scrap and rewrite plans, 2021 was a year filled with new life and vibrancy. We were able to meet stewardship and fundraising goals for our grant, build our bridge, and welcome students back to campus in the fall. Many of those studentsContinue reading “RORG’s 2021 Year in Review”

By the RORG Team OVERVIEWRORG Director Eliana Brown is pleased to announce the completion of a new “expansion” garden across the sidewalk from RORG. This new garden was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, our generous donors, and with the help of our community and student volunteers. The garden’sContinue reading “The 2021 RORG Expansion”