… an even supply of moisture rather than a heavy soaking and then a drought. Straw mulch is helpful in these beds. Many hot-weather-loving veggies, such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, … Espaliered fruit trees should be pruned for the second time once their spring flush of growth is over. The first pruning is done in late winter when plants are dormant. …
Type: Plant Info
… them for witnessing the real Beatles themselves. The journey through American English’s show is a meticulously crafted odyssey through the Beatles’ illustrious career. From the early years … era encapsulated in Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour, every musical and visual detail is brought to life in vibrant technicolor. What sets American English apart is their commitment to authenticity—all songs are performed completely live, without the aid of …
Type: Event for Calendar
… In gardening, as in life, patience is a virtue. Twelve years ago, the Garden embarked on a mission to bring a rock star of the plant … Botanic Garden. The titan arum ( Amorphophallus titanum ), also known as the corpse flower, is the largest flowering structure in the world. When it blooms, it puts on a show like no … its display location . Native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia, the titan arum is distinguished by its large size, odd shape, and terrible stench (hence its common name, corpse …
Type: Blog
… in trees for shelter and protection from the elements. What you see as a messy clump of leaves is actually a structure formed from sticks and then lined with leaves and other materials to make … Are my neighborhood squirrels somehow related to the Three Little Pigs ? Since I know that is not the case, I started to speculate: Perhaps squirrels are attracted to that particular view. … branch over a lawn. Could it be that this spot also puts their predators at risk and therefore is actually a safer place to live? I don’t know! So, I started looking around to see if there was …
Type: Blog
… Chicago Botanic Garden. But to Jim Steffen , senior ecologist at the Garden, the oak woodland is a bustling center for natural processes and species, and may hold answers to unsolved … their presence was integral to the entire community of life in the woods. Carex bromoides is one of many sedge plants essential to the woodland ecosystem. “I started getting more into how … natural community of the past, Steffen does aim to grow an oak woodland of today. “My goal is to increase the native species diversity and improve the ecological functioning that is going …
Type: Blog
… incredible ability to harness the energy of the sun. But when you come to realize that there is a whole world living within them, you can’t help but be amazed. Imagine driving into a parking … and ceiling are too close together, and we might have the feeling that the roof of the car is going to collide with something. Now imagine this same scenario, only this time, imagine it … America . The details of the publication can be found at Charlie’s website charleyeiseman.com/leafminers. …
Type: Blog
… its hind legs with pollen from the eryngo, and they are now swollen and bright yellow. Pollen is also sticking to the hairs on its thorax and underside. It is a good pollinator! Carpenter bees and Mason bees are native to our region. Honeybees are not … The red admiral, with its characteristic red stripe across the middle of the upper wings, is common in our area. 4. Azure butterfly This tiny gray-blue butterfly is an azure. Some azures …
Type: Blog
… March to begin pruning and complete the work before the buds begin to plump and open, as this is the optimal window to prune apple trees for plant health. Over the years, I have been in every … are easier to prune than others, and some are downright intimidating. The one tree that is the most difficult to prune has been named “The Spirit Breaker,” and we always draw straws to … on production (and which can be very aggressive) and less on plant health. The difference is that every cut we make is carefully made by hand back to a branch or bud, without violating …
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 one time is truly amazing! I had the pleasure of photographing butterflies at Butterflies & Blooms in …
Type: Blog
… Center. Bonsai on display in the Semitropical Greenhouse This crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is continuing to respond very favorably to the root work we did. Our natal plum in fruit and … This crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia ) was the focus of my previous post on repotting . It is continuing to respond very favorably to the root work we did. Crape myrtles are a genus of … trees or large shrubs. Some varieties are deciduous, and some are broadleaf evergreens—this is a deciduous variety. Crape myrtles are most famous for their flowers, which grow as clusters …
Type: Blog
