Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

by the RORG Team We are saying a fond farewell to the team member who first brought the Red Oak Rain Garden’s voice to life, the amazing Kate Gardiner. Over the past four years at University of Illinois Extension, Kate brought her talents to projects, ranging from documentation at the rain garden to helping buildContinue reading “Farewell, Kate!”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer Amazingly, the first month of fall is already here! As with the past few years, September will be another busy time in and around the Red Oak Rain Garden. There are a lot of exciting things happening! Upcoming Projects The week of September 13, plants are being delivered forContinue reading “In the Garden: September”

By Sandra Bjerga, RORG Student Team It’s bittersweet writing this blog knowing it’ll be my last. I have gained so much experience, so many memories, and amazing connections at the Red Oak Rain Garden. All good things must come to an end and I am grateful to have been a part of the journey.  MyContinue reading “Looking Back on my RORG Experience”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer With students returning to campus in just a few short weeks, the Red Oak Rain Garden is ready to greet them with a new bridge and showy blooms! Our flowering plants this month include Purple Poppy Mallow, Purple Coneflower, ‘Rozanne’ Geranium, Butterflyweed, Yellow Coneflower, Royal Catchfly, Cardinal Flower, JoeContinue reading “In the Garden: August”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer After a relatively dry spring, early summer in the Champaign-Urbana area got off to a very rainy start. In fact, our CoCoRaHS rain gauge watchers reported 5.24 inches of rain in four days at the end of June. It was the first big test of the garden post-renovation, andContinue reading “In the Garden: July”

By Sandra Bjerga, RORG Student Team A big part of why our garden looks as beautiful as it does can be attributed to Dr. Karen Folk, who has been involved with the Red Oak Rain Garden for just over 4 years now. I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen about her experience with, and lifeContinue reading “An Interview with Karen Folk, RORG’s Lead Master Naturalist”

By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer A lot of exciting things are happening at the garden as we move into the summer months! By the time that some of you read this, our new boardwalk bridge will be built – and the RORG team couldn’t be happier. Construction started today (June 3) and is scheduledContinue reading “In the Garden: June”

by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director As you may know, the Red Oak Rain Garden was awarded an ICECF Community Stewardship grant (in partnership with the CCDC). We are grateful for this award as it, in conjunction with our SSC awards, allows for completion of the garden’s renovation. But this grant does even more than that.Continue reading “Improving Campus Sustainability One Green Space at a Time”