A perennial favorite

Hostas

“Everyone should have a hosta in their shade garden,” Blogg said. “There are so many to choose from.”

If you’re looking for a large centerpiece for your shade garden, there are giant varieties that can be four feet wide or larger, she said.

Depending upon the variety and what season you’re in, hosta foliage can unleash beautiful shades of blues, greens, and golds in your garden.

Butterfly Weed

Don’t let the name fool you. Butterfly weed is a beautiful plant – not a nuisance like dandelions – and it’s one of Keenan’s favorites.

Even better, this plant attracts butterflies, which can create an exciting element to your garden.

“The monarchs love it,” Keenan said.

Learn more about perennials as a master gardener

People who want to become master gardeners can enter the Illinois Extension Master Gardener program. For more information, contact Meg Overocker, Extension program coordinator for University of Illinois Extension, at 815-433-0707 or by emailing meo@illinois.edu. Overocker has information about the program for Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam county residents.

Ferns

“A nice complement to hostas are ferns,” Blogg said. There are so many varieties of ferns that you may have a tough time choosing which ones to plant in your shade garden. One Blogg recommends is the Japanese painted fern. It has tri-color foliage that includes green, silver, and burgundy.

Standing Ovation

Standing ovation is ornamental grass, which is spectacular for a fall garden.

“It shoots up to about four feet tall in the fall and has blue-green foliage,” Blogg said.

And when winter rolls around, it’s still a valuable asset to your yard.

“It’s still standing, providing winter interest,” she said.

Daylilies

Want a sun-loving plant that won’t require a lot of work? That’s where daylilies enter the picture. They are gorgeous and come in a variety of colors and heights.

“Daylilies are an extremely low maintenance plant,” Blogg said.

Bleeding Heart

For a fun, pretty, shade-loving flower that is sure to please any children who come to see you at your house, Blogg recommends bleeding hearts.

“Bleeding hearts are an old-fashioned type of plant, but there are new variations,” Blogg said.

Cup PlantThis is another perennial Keenan enjoys. “The birds and the bees love them,” she said. “It’s a fun plant. But Keenan suggests using this one with caution. If you aren’t diligent about weeding out the volunteer cup plants, they can take over your garden. Just be prepared to remove some occasionally and give them to friends or family who want starter plants for their gardens.

Red Cardinal

This flower is known for its bright red blossoms that come at a time when other perennials are beginning to fade in the intense summer heat. The red cardinal flower is great for people with wetter backyards, according to Keenan, and for attracting certain birds.

“Hummingbirds love it,” she said.

Monkey Flower

Another perennial, native wildflower that Keenan enjoys is the monkey flower.

“They say the flower looks like a monkey face, but I don’t see it,” she said.

Balsam Impatiens

Keenan has some balsam impatiens that she mistook years ago for the common, smaller New Guinea impatiens many stores sell.

“These are taller with completely different shaped flowers, and although they are annuals, they re-seed and come up again year after year,” she said. “After taking the master naturalist course in 2019, I have been sticking to native plants for my new perennials.”

It’s Time to GOLF!!

The 2021 Starved Rock Country Discount Golf Card entitles the golfer whose name appears on the card with one (1) round of golf with FREE CART for only $20.00 at each of the 18 listed courses. • Good through 12/31/2021 - Some restrictions

Visit newstrib.com, mywebtimes.com or bcrnews.com to purchase yours today.

18 Courses Only $79

130 3rd Street · LaSalle130 3rd Street · LaSalle www.DrGergovich.comwww.DrGergovich.com (815) 223-0647(815) 223-0647

613 1st Street, LaSalle 815.223.1795 • Mendota Golf Club (18) • Earlville Golf Club (9) • Fairways Golf Course (18) • Dwight Country Club (18) • Anderson Fields Golf Course (9) • The Eastwood Golf Course (18) • Dayton Ridge Golf Club (9) • Pine Hills Golf Club (18) • Prairie Lakes Golf Course (9) • Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Club (18) • Kewanee Dunes Golf Club (18) • Spring Creek Golf Course (18) • Hidden Lake Golf Club (18+) • Edgewood Park Golf Club (18) • Shady Oaks Country Club (18+) • Indian Oaks Country Club (18) • Chapel Hill Golf Course (18)AtWitekWealthManagement ourmissionistohavea positiveimpactonthelivesofourclients by helping themachievetheir • Wyaton Hills Golf Course (9+)financialgoals.Ourdedicatedteamprovidesclientswith independent,objectiveadvicethatassiststheminmakingprudent investmentand financialdecisions.

LaSalle 260 Bucklin St. 815-223-7300

Peru 4141 Venture Dr. 815-223-6714

www.myhtnb.com

$250,000

Largest Selection of Refurbished Clubs in Illinois

Also Selling NEW

Clubs!

Starved Rock Golf • 325 Clark St • Utica Sports Boss Golf • 2950 Kane Rd • Leland

You deserve more than 15 minutes!

Pete McGrath 800 Clinton Street, Ottawa (815)-433-2680 mylocalagent.com Jay Bottarini Sue Heider, Mark Witek CFP, Steven Witek-CFP, Kristy Pytel and Amy NoySueHeider MarkWitek SteveWitek KristyPytel AmyNoy 613 First Street • La Salle 815.223.3332 witekwealthmanagement.com

Registered Representatives with and Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC

613 First Street • La Salle • 815.223.3332 witekwealthmanagement.com 613FirstStreet • LaSalle • 815.223.3332 WE’RE ALWAYS HEAR FOR YOU! Registered Representatives with and Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. RegisteredRepresentativeswithandSecuritiesandAdvisoryServices witekwealthmanagement.com

Hammers Hearing Care Center With over 90 years of experience and 4 locations Member FINRA & SIPC SM-LA1852972 offeredthroughLPLFinancial,aRegisteredInvestmentAdvisor. MemberFINRA&SIPC LASALLE, MENDOTA, OTTAWA, PRINCETON 815-224-2445 • 800-937-2609 • hammershearing.com

Caringaring People...Caring. CaringPeople.. TraditionTradition www.cghmc.com

’2015ReadersChoiceAwards 2018Readers’ ChoiceAwards

Voted Favorite GolfCourse! Go Pro Shop • Lessons Driving Range

Just 1 mile westofPrinceton off Route 6& 34 815-872-2641

wyatonhillsgc@comcast.cnet

Gary Hammers BC-HIS Doug Suarez HIS Tricia Mudge HIS Becca Andreano HIS Tim Hammers HIS

A Registered Investment Advisor.

(815) 925-7501

SM-SPAD1207173326

firststatebank.biz 800.362.9623

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON The sheds sold at The Fender Menders in Peru come in an assortment of styles, with some having big windows to let in a lot of light. Some even have beds inside, which can make them great for catching a mid-afternoon nap.

Move over, man caves

She-sheds offer some additional quiet space for women or the whole family

By Brock Cooper

It may look like a standard shed from a distance, but Brad and Angie Jackson’s home-away-from-home is a furnished she-shed overlooking a serene lake in their Mendota backyard.

“We bought it ourselves,” Brad said. “It’s got everything we need and perfect for guests.”

There are countless sheds in the Illinois Valley, but some of them house more than a riding lawn mower and gardening tools. The popularity of she-sheds is showing no signs of slowing.

First, there were man caves created in the basements and garages across the nation. They ranged from simple to extravagant, with everything from full bars to big-screen televisions. Women needed their own place to relax away from the home, so the sheshed phenomenon was born.

Although they are called she-sheds, these structures appeal to everyone, with men, women, and families utilizing them for just about everything. Online, there are countless websites and social media groups dedicated to she-sheds. They cover everything from designs and themes to décor.

Excited she-shedders pin and re-pin ideas on Pinterest and scour the internet looking to enhance an existing shed or create their own.

The Jacksons own Country Lane in Mendota. Along with having a decked-out shed of their own, they also sell the buildings at their business.

“We supply them with whatever they want,” Brad said.

So, how does someone get a she-shed so they can have some extra space at their home? There are several methods of creating the perfect she-shed, including starting from scratch or buying a pre-built model.

Salesperson Michelle Straughn from The Fender Menders in Peru said they’ve been selling these type of sheds for about 12 years. At the most basic, the shed is just a building with no windows, electricity, or other amenities.

In a location where the climate is warm all year, people could simply add some furniture and have a nice area to relax. In Illinois, however, a real she-shed needs additional

See SHEDS on page 12

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Angie and Brad Jackson own a furnished shed that provides a scenic spot by the lake in their backyard. They also shell she-sheds at their business called Country Lane in Mendota.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON Men have their man caves, and women have their shesheds. Some women are turning to sheds, such as these sold at The Fender Menders, as a space for some alone time instead of as a place to store gardening tools.

Sheds

FROM PAGE 10

work to be a comfortable space year-round. For example, most sheds don’t come with windows, so they must be installed. The same goes for electricity and heat.

The Jacksons have a 12 x 26-foot shed with electricity, a wood-burning stove, and 50-inch television connected to their cable. There’s even a second-story bedroom.

“There’s enough room up there to sit up and sleep,” Brad said.

People can choose to have local installers do everything to create a she-shed exactly the way they want or order it with all the bells and whistles from a dealer. Once the shed arrives and has all the amenities, the sky is the limit on what can be done.

The sheds are designed tough with grade A lumber to withstand everything Mother Nature can throw at them. Straughn said they can withstand 90 mile-per-hour winds.

Many people turn them into relaxation spaces away from the house and the hustle and bustle of family life. They’re outfitted with couches, chairs, and even small appliances.

Others turn the shed into a home office, which has been a popular choice for some people who have been working remotely. They put in a desk, computer, filing cabinet, and whatever else they need to create the perfect space for working from home without working in the home.

“They’re like tiny houses,” Straughn said. “They can turn them into whatever they want.”

Some she-sheds are a place for creativity where people can write a book, practice art, or create a crafting area. It can be difficult to find a time or place for creativity in a home filled with the sounds of daily life. Television, music, and the pitter-patter of little and not-so-little feet make creativity a chore.

Some parents also use the sheds to create large dollhouses for their children. There are pre-built kits tailored for that purpose as well as many other designs to meet an owner’s needs. The sheds come in numerous colors and stains. Straughn said people often buy the sheds in the same color as their house, so they match nicely.

Customers don’t often tell Straughn they’re creating shesheds with the buildings or whether they are simply buying them to hold equipment for lawn maintenance and gardening. But Brad Jackson said he sold more than 100 of the sheds last year, with about 23 of them being used as she-sheds.

The she-shed is an oasis for many from the stresses of daily life. It’s also a landscaping project that never ends as people incorporate more decors and designs into it.

The small houses can be ornately decorated with flower boxes on the windows and custom flooring. They can look like a rustic cottage ripped from the pages of a storybook or a utilitarian building that is more function than form.

For the Jacksons, the sheshed is for the family. It’s a place to sit and enjoy watching their children play by the lake. It’s a spot where they can have some privacy when needed and where friends can stay.

“Sheds can be so versatile,” Brad said. “From she-sheds to craft barns, the possibilities are endless.”

Monika Sudakov, a certified culinary professional with the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the chef/owner of the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield, loves cooking with asparagus.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Amazing Asparagus

A versatile, nutritional powerhouse

By Shannon Serpette

Long before tomatoes have ripened for the season, asparagus, a spring nutritional superstar, is ready in vegetable gardens throughout Illinois. This vegetable is low in calories, coming in at only 27 calories per cup. It also contains a good amount of protein, fiber, Vitamin A, iron, Vitamin C, and many other essential minerals and vitamins.

Monika Sudakov is a big fan of asparagus. She is a certified culinary professional with the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the chef at the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield that she owns with her husband, Jeff.

“I love the slightly crisp texture and nutty flavor of it when it is cooked properly,” Monika said. “It complements meat super well and is earthy enough to balance out bold flavors.”

Part of the appeal of asparagus is its versatility. It’s great when grilled on its own with a bit of olive oil and seasonings, or it can play a starring role in a more complicated recipe.

“Not only can it be used as a side dish, but it is great in soups, breakfast dishes with eggs, and in salads paired with robust flavors like bacon, eggs, and nuts,” Monika said.

The key to cooking with asparagus is buying it or fixing it when it is tender instead of tough, or knowing how to handle it if it is tough.

“The ideal asparagus texturally is approximately the diameter of your pinky or index finger. However, thicker stalks can be used if prepared properly,” she said. “All asparagus should be firm, not floppy, and the tips shouldn’t be mushy.”

Monika, who has authored three cookbooks and teaches cooking classes, shared some tips for getting the asparagus stalks ready.

“To prepare stalks for cooking, I recommend snapping the tips off where they naturally separate. For really thick stalks, you can peel around the bottom of the stalks with a vegetable peeler to make them more tender,” she said.

The cooking method can also have an impact on how much you enjoy your asparagus.

“The best way to cook asparagus, in my opinion, is to roast or grill it, rather than steam or boil it,” Monika said. “By roasting or grilling, you allow the natural sugars in the asparagus to caramelize, giving it a nice flavor, and the vegetable maintains the integrity of its texture without becoming stringy, which often occurs with steaming or boiling.”

Mortadella-wrapped Roasted Asparagus with Caper Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

1 pound asparagus 8 slices Mortadella 2 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white wine 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon capers

DIRECTIONS

To roast the asparagus: Snap the asparagus spears to remove tough ends. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with two tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss gently and arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet. Place in a 375-degree oven for approximately 5 to 7 minutes or until the asparagus is tender but not floppy. Wrap a slice of mortadella or prosciutto around 3 to 4 stalks of asparagus each. Place on a serving dish. For the dressing: Combine 1/4 cup olive oil with mustard, wine, lemon juice, and capers and whisk together. Pour the dressing over the asparagus bunches and serve at room temperature. This recipe yields approximately eight servings.

Asparagus Soup

INGREDIENTS

1 onion, quartered 3 garlic cloves 1/2 cup chives, chopped 1/4 cup celery, chopped 1/4 cup cilantro 1/4 cup Italian parsley 1/4 cup spinach 1/4 cup basil 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 6 cups vegetable stock 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup lemon juice Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Place all the ingredients into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. This may need to be done in batches. Place the pureed soup in a stockpot and bring to a simmer. Adjust seasoning to taste before serving. This recipe yields approximately eight servings.

More recipes on page 16

Spring Green, Asparagus, and Goat Cheese Frittata

INGREDIENTS

8 eggs 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 teaspoons herbes de provence Pinch freshly grated nutmeg 3 tablespoons minced chives 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley 1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 6 ounces fresh goat cheese 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup chopped green onions 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups arugula 2 cups spinach

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream, spices, chives, cilantro, and parsley. Beat together with a fork. In an 8-inch oven-safe skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat until melted and bubbling. Add green onions. Saute for one minute until fragrant. Add garlic and saute for one minute. Add arugula and spinach and continue cooking until the greens are wilted. Turn off heat. Add egg mixture and asparagus and stir well to combine. Crumble the goat cheese over the top of the eggs and place it in the oven. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until the eggs are set and golden brown. Serve hot. The recipe yields eight servings.