… pollinators and that each pollinator has a specific flower type that they are attracted to. For hummingbirds, many gardeners and scientists alike have long assumed their flower type to be … strikingly red, tubular, and scentless. Flowers that are often thought of as typical choices for hummingbirds: Wyoming paintbrush Castilleja linariifolia Giant red paintbrush … hummingbirds do have a sense of smell. So why would hummingbirds go out of their way to visit a limited selection of reddish, long-tubed, scentless flowers that produce cheaper nectar …
Type: Blog
… from the ones in which they evolved. Prairie plants behave differently in our gardens for a number of reasons, according to the Garden's prairie and river ecologist. Soils and many … fire-resistant oaks. Since then, numerous wetlands have been drained and filled. Oaks were cut for lumber or to make way for roads. Prairie was peeled away and the soil plowed. Then, many of those farms were paved and …
Type: Plant Info
… One seed packet goes a long way—sow only a few seeds at a time indoors and save the rest for planting in the garden later this spring. Learn More In the produce section of many stores, … fitted with an LED or other light bulb. If you’re growing them under lights, they should get 10 to 12 hours of light. Snipping leaves and stems from the top of the plants will keep them … used in pestos, vinegars, salads, and sauces. Besides the common large-leaf varieties, look for unique flavors like lime basil, Siam Queen Thai basil, cinnamon basil, and lemon basil. Think …
Type: Plant Info
… devoted to gardening and no doubt spent evenings wandering her family's gardens and meadows for inspiration. There's much to be said for taking a stroll on a summer's eve at dusk. The garden becomes mysterious and ethereal. By the … suaveolens' Plant Calamintha to attract a host of (daytime) pollinators to your garden. Get Glowing A moon garden near a front entry is a pleasant greeting for you and your visitors. …
Type: Plant Info
… Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p. 227. At first glance, witch hazels hardly seem candidates for tests or trials, since, as a group, they are hardy, maintenance-free, and ignored by most … p. 227. In fact, the only major drawback to witch hazels lies at their roots—a preference for well-drained, loamy, acidic soil means that they grow less than happily in clay soil. That's … bonsai silhouette show in January; it can be seen periodically in the bonsai courtyards. To get to the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden, cross the Trellis Bridge from Evening Island …
Type: Plant Info
… lighting designers Lee Fiskness and Travis Shupe while they were programming installations for this year’s Lightscape . Get ready for some insider tips! First, it’s remarkable to think about how many talented people collaborate …
Type: Blog
… winter burn on evergreens ( read our blog about it here ), lots of dead branches, and, for many homeowners, the loss of key "hardscape" elements: the shrubs that are the backbone of … and garden. In this month's Smart Gardener , we look at shrubs that are worthy replacements for those that you may have lost this year. Unfamiliar with some of these? All are valuable in … Bayberry ( Myrica pensylvanica ) Bayberry could be the "foundation plant" you're looking for when evergreens are lost or it's time to replace those decades-old shrubs that have reached …
Type: Plant Info
… a woodlot. I was traveling between nature preserves in this area of the state collecting seeds for the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank , so my mind was already tuned in for interesting native flora that might produce a collection for the seed bank. It was impossible … gave me plenty of time to contemplate whether or not to make the collection. Since my first visit to the woodland, I have made several seed collections of many quality native woodland …
Type: Blog
… Those are complicated words, but what they mean is that these compounds are being studied for their effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer. Most importantly, they taste great … in trying scallions, purple potatoes, or red peppers while meeting our bright youth, come visit Windy City Harvest at our community markets. Thank you to Conagra Brands Foundation for … http://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/48446.pdf http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/antioxidants-topic-overview http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f1378 …
Type: Blog
… that can be pruned. You just have to know the plant, its growth characteristics, its best time for pruning, and what your intentions are for that plant as it plays into the whole of your … or just realizing that, “Hey! This stuff actually grows in the shade!” These elements get stored in your mind — adding up to what you would want your garden to look like or feel like. … with extra handles and nothing like those pictures in the gardening magazines. There is good news — you can have a shrub that looks like it came straight out of a gardening magazine by …
Type: Plant Info
