… be therapeutic, as long as it is something you enjoy doing. What could be more exhilarating, for example, than raking leaves on a crisp autumn day? Even mowing the lawn can be therapy for … to do but sit back in an easy chair and dream about next spring? Armchair gardening is at its best with a garden catalog in one hand and a wish list in the other. The catalog should be … Whatever the Weather Garden catalogs do a great job of relieving the winter doldrums. But the best therapy for most gardeners is getting out in their yards, no matter what time of year. Even …
Type: Plant Info
… May on record at Chicago O’Hare (9.51 inches) and Midway (7.65 inches) airport stations. For three consecutive years now, the O’Hare station has broken total precipitation records for the month of May. A 1-inch rainfall on an acre produces about 27,000 gallons of water and it … and suburbs continue to develop and build structures and roads, there is less permeable space for water to enter the ground and, as a result, there is more flooding in many areas. Allowing …
Type: Plant Info
… flower he ever saw and he would probably shout out "sunflower." Ask a prairie aficionado for a list of the top ten prairie plants blooming now, and a sunflower will surely be on that … associated with the farmlands of the Great Plains—a plant cherished by the Native Americans for its seeds, its silage and later on, for its oil. There are dozens of different varieties of … pollen. As surprised visitors discover in September and October, the prairie is a very noisy place. Perennial gardeners, in search of back-of-the-border plants, favor the cultivars of …
Type: Plant Info
… a knockout punch to some plants this year. (You may recall that the Garden was closed for two consecutive days in late January due to extreme weather conditions.) Japanese maples and … yellow.” “A lot of stresses are cumulative, and the past couple of years have been stressful for plants,” Tiddens said. “We’ve had a very cold winter and a slow, wet spring. Plants have a … but the temperatures are up and down,” Tiddens said. What’s a gardener to do? Provide the best conditions and cultural practices possible. When buying new plants, match the plant to the …
Type: Plant Info
… prefer? Shake, rattle—and grow? The idea that music can help plants grow has been studied for decades, with classical music usually winning. Spotify begs to differ. The music streaming service released its Hardcore Gardening Playlist for Plants in May, inspired by research that claims plants grow better when exposed to the … together exhibited a “dancing” behavior, with flowers moving in a way that maximized their place in the sun—but without overshadowing (literally and figuratively speaking) their fellow …
Type: Blog
… including pink, red, and white. Given the right location and care, they can be kept blooming for several months and grown as indoor houseplants to bloom again next winter. Cyclamen plants … foliage and flowers should be removed. Plants should be placed in a dark, cool location for approximately three months and given just enough water to keep the roots from totally drying …
Type: Plant Info
… with its shorter days and cooler nighttime temperatures, it may be the busiest of months for many gardeners. Vegetable gardeners have their hands full—literally and … amend it properly to provide the nutrients it needs. Collect soil samples on a dry day. It’s best to test turf soil and garden soil separately. Refrain from adding synthetic fertilizers or … winter. Bring plants inside before nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Place containers in a cool area. Allow the plants to go dormant by watering minimally to keep …
Type: Plant Info
… Those of us who live in northerly climes refer to our family and friends who head south for the winter as snowbirds. A different kind of snowbird comes to northern Illinois for the winter. It's the dark-eyed junco, a chatty, active bird that brightens the woods, shrubby … in conifer trees at night. At the Garden just before dusk, these birds fly into evergreens for their evening sleep. The Dwarf Conifer Garden offers some respite for these hardy winter …
Type: Birding
… Their Bets As if on cue, tiny green leaves peek out from the dark soil each spring, reaching for the sun. But how do flowers know it’s spring? And can they detect real spring versus a warm … the warmest ever recorded in Chicago and as the highest global average temperature in history for that month. At the Garden, it was in the 60s one day and snowing the next. It’s no wonder … in the Landscape Garden Viburnum ( Viburnum prunifolium ) “It’s really weird and really early for this kind of weather. One day it was 65 degrees [Fahrenheit] and the next day it snowed,” …
Type: Blog
… gardening community worldwide. Key Contributions: Dr. Armitage is internationally recognized for his expertise in new garden and greenhouse crops. He has authored 16 books and is celebrated for his passionate and engaging presentations to gardeners, landscapers, growers, and retailers. Besides his academic career, Dr. Armitage is known for his approachable, animated style as a speaker and educator. His memoir, It's Not Just About …
Type: Page
