… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the wildflowers in bloom. But for Susanne Masi, … information will help to maintain their numbers and ensure their survival in the wild. She is assisted by more than 100 volunteers in a monitoring program called Plants of Concern, a joint … flower admits only tiny green bees, which are their pollinators. Other insects fail to get into the flower or become stuck between the sticky anthers. Sometimes called the "Queen …
Type: Plant Info
… or attracting butterflies. They can help children discover nature. And…creating a theme garden is just plain fun. Here’s a look at some popular planting themes. Of all the creatures that … the size of a thumbnail—that are just as fun to attract and to watch. A butterfly garden is simply one that offers nectar for the adults and certain plants for their caterpillars. Nectar … Garden Mix your own adult beverages by adding herbs or fruit from your garden. For an alcohol-free beverage, substitute fruit juice. You can find many garden edibles—mint, rosemary, lemon …
Type: Plant Info
… of train exhibitions at the Chicago Botanic Garden—and he still plays with trains. “I hardly get to play with my railroad at home because I get to play with this one,” said Dave Rodelius, in the tone of a man who can’t believe his good … Q. What keeps you motivated after all these years? A. My passion for the railroad is what drives me—I absolutely love this railroad. The same passion goes for everyone. We have 18 …
Type: Blog
… greatest achievements. Their transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly is truly mind-boggling when you really think about it. Seeing one is a joy. Seeing hundreds at … and 200mm macro lenses. They allow me to be a comfortable distance away from the butterflies, get excellent details, and also keep the background soft. As with all wildlife, I always focus on … photograph will have a more satisfying feel. If you are photographing the side of a butterfly, get parallel to the wings to keep your plane of focus aligned with entire length of the …
Type: Blog
… on the bottom 1 foot of the plants. It was much more devastating than we thought.” Tiddens is anticipating a lot of disease this year because of the peculiar conditions. “We’ve had … conditions and cultural practices possible. When buying new plants, match the plant to the site . If you have a spot in sun with heavy clay soil, a shade-loving plant like a hosta will suffer. A plant that is well adapted to your site will perform better and have fewer problems. During the growing …
Type: Plant Info
… a Christmas tree this month, select one with firm needles that don’t drop off when the tree is raised up a few inches and dropped to the ground. The bottom of the stump should be moist with … are the balsam and white firs; red, white and Scots pines; and Douglas fir. Once the tree is at home, cut another 2 inches off the stump and immediately plunge the tree into a bucket of … plant regularly or swish upside down in a bucket of tepid water to keep the foliage clean and free of mites. As new growth emerges, train tendrils to desired form. Take the plant outside …
Type: Plant Info
… I could read,” he said. Now he’s a proud plant parent to more than 100 plants. The collection is impressive, to be sure. But just how does one transport a thriving plant collection? As I … to bring to your new home. “Why bring something if you’re just going to throw it away once you get there?” Weaver said. “Now is the time to get rid of anything disease or insect-infested.” Make cuttings of large plants you can’t move If …
Type: Blog
… Winter is always a good time to slip into a chair with some hot chocolate and do a little reading. A … Staff Favorites Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, is immersed in garden history this winter. She’s reading The History of Horticulture in America … it comes to garden magazines, Pollak says, “I definitely love The English Garden. I always get inspired with every issue, for both plant choices and design ideas in every article. The …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Best for the Midwest is Best for the Planet Think twice before you plant those flowers! Are they a native species that … are not left with a monoculture. Much of our research in the Garden and in our Midwest region is studying how habitat degradation, invasive species, and other disturbances change plant and … practices help to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). How? One way is through limiting the use of lawn equipment. In addition, native plants help to reduce the …
Type: Plant Info
… Winter can be as easy or as hard on bugs as on humans, which is why after a fairly mild winter, some gardeners fear the worst. They imagine bugs coming out of … Japanese beetles, aphids, four-lined plant bugs, cucumber beetles, spongy moths — the list is legion. And all are ravenous for something green. Good and Bad Bugs Before you act, remember … Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Ladybird Beetles Number one on many lists of good insects is the ladybird beetle, often referred to as a ladybug. There are many varieties of ladybirds, at …
Type: Plant Info
