Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

By Sandra Bjerga, RORG Student Team Member [Although Sandra has graduated and taken full-time employment (congrats, Sandra!) and isn’t our student anymore, she wrote this piece earlier this year for us. Enjoy!] Did you know that the current renovation of the Red Oak Rain Garden is building upon work from almost 15 years ago? InContinue reading “RORG’s First Builder: Interview with Professor Tony Endress”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer Since the garden’s renovation, this time of the year has been a favorite of the RORG team. While a very warm and wet October has put a bit of a damper on fall foliage, there are still some beautiful colors in and around the garden this month! The fruitContinue reading “In the Garden: November”

by Guest blogger Erin Garrett, Energy and Environmental Stewardship Educator, Illinois Extension IN THE WOODSMy two favorite times of year to hike in the woods are fall and spring – fall to see the changing colors, a multitude of mushrooms, and colorful berries; and spring to see the spring ephemerals. When I walk in theContinue reading “Soft Landings”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer September has come and gone, and was a month full of work in and around the Red Oak Rain Garden. For more on all of the work, watch for an upcoming blog covering the fall 2021 installations. For now, let’s look ahead to one of our favorite months inContinue reading “In the Garden: October”