… forsythia begins to bloom, is a good time to assess how your roses came through the winter, and to determine what their pruning needs might be. Many roses require minimal pruning at this … black or quite darkened. If you are not sure if the whole cane is dead, start at the tip and slowly prune down until the wood begins to turn green. Use sharp, sterile pruners, either … Canes that cross or rub against each other should be removed, since the wood will wear away and create an entry point for disease and insects. Tiny broken stems should also be removed. …
Type: Plant Info
… Bulbs and their tuber, corm, and rhizome relatives are a fascinating group of plants. In the Chicago area they can start … tulip, crocus), produce stunning specimens in summer (ornamental onion, fritillary, lily) and keep on enlivening gardens well into autumn (dahlia, autumn crocus). What other type of …
Type: Plant Info
… Summer, thank you but take a seat. The sweetness of sun puddles and fragrant blooms, of fresh breezes and breathtaking views, aren’t exclusively yours to flaunt. Also, you don’t have snowflakes. … McDonald Woods “It’s a magical place any time of year,” Spicer said. “But seeing those big, bare trees is wonderful. They have a winter signature.” Dwarf Conifer Garden “When you need a …
Type: Blog
… A free virtual program celebrating the language of flowers. The Language of Flowers genre is at the intersection of botany, horticulture, natural history, art, poetry, and women’s studies. This 19th century popular literary trend, presented the world of botany … for biodiversity literature and archives. BHL is revolutionizing global research by providing free, worldwide access to knowledge about life on Earth. Schedule: 9:45 - 10 a.m. Zoom room opens …
Type: Event for Calendar
… a bucket list. Even just the thought of escaping into the natural world can be rejuvenating and take you away from the stresses of everyday life. We started a bucket list for you, focusing … enchantment (even you, Venus flytrap). We ended up with a list of charismatic plants; feel free to co-opt for your own bucket list. Great Basin bristlecone pine ( Pinus longaeva ) Some of … older ones are more dead than alive (but technically…alive!); in their brutally harsh, cold, and dry natural habitat, they barely grow. But grow they do, not large, but loooooong. Oldest …
Type: Blog
… Jolly sunflower, big and yellow, said, "I'm sure a lucky fellow." —Elizabeth Gordon Ask a child to name the biggest 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 list. And if you ask a perennial gardener what's that …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. How should we select pumpkins for cooking and decorating? A. From supermarkets to farm stands and backyard gardens, fall brings vast displays of colorful pumpkins. Pumpkins, as well as squash … for cooking or decoration, a good pumpkin has the same external characteristics. It should be free from scratches, soft or rotten spots, and cracks, and should feel heavy relative to its …
Type: Plant Info
… What the Garden Is Doing…and What You Can Do at Home Safeguarding Long-term Survival Environmental threats like urbanization, climate change, invasive species, and pollution have caused many plants to become rare or endangered. By banking seeds of these … plant. Collect seeds when the weather is temperate and dry. Choose the most robust, disease-free plants. Be sure to harvest only seeds that are mature. Collect seeds from fruits and …
Type: Plant Info
… another withered plant—this time, a sad collard green—from its pot into the trash. The mess, and the funeral, is for a good cause though. Today, I bravely enter new territory: My … to your home, anthuriums bloom bold red and pink flowers. “Anthuriums are generally problem-free and easy to grow. They can handle a wide range of light but would probably do best in a … my lenses and asks, “Do you need help?” My plant blindness is showing—literally. The employee points me to an aisle of easy-to-care-for, relatively-indestructible, can’t-possibly-mess-this-up …
Type: Blog
… Sure, they are fun pets and a good educational tool for your kids, as well as a great source of fresh eggs. But what do … amount of organic waste. A mother hen teaches her chicks to forage. By fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au [ GFDL 1.2 ], via Wikimedia Commons An adult chicken eats around 9 pounds of food per … flock of chickens can turn all that vegetable matter from your kitchen into highly effective, free fertilizer. Chicken feet at work! These feet are made for scratching—and ridding your yard …
Type: Blog
