… were puzzled by the sudden decline and loss of hundreds of ash trees, which they attributed to a nonnative, highly destructive beetle, Agrilus planipennis , commonly called the emerald ash … entered the United States in packing materials such as wooden crates made out of ash. It is now believed that the emerald ash borer has been in the United States since 1990 or 1991. The … sawyers, and woodworkers can be found on the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Wood Utilization Team website . The Garden's Response The Garden is taking several measures to protect ashes, which …
Type: Plant Info
… It’s now early fall and that means it’s time for Colchicum ! Colchicum is a group of flowers also known as autumn crocuses, though they’re not related to the true crocus. Seventeen species and varieties of Colchicum grow in the Graham Bulb … cilicum Colchicum blooms are a great way to brighten up the early autumn landscape. They’re best grown in a groundcover or as an underplanting for taller bulbs such as lilies ( Lilium sp. …
Type: Blog
… yourself back from buying every type you see on the shelf, you also know that this feeling is fleeting. Those beautiful colors and unusual varieties are in their prime now, when the hot … for a fruiting pepper plant. In just a month or two, the number of varieties will start to dwindle and your hot spicy recipes will taste bland again. Fear not! You can preserve that … contains the following: 2 cups vinegar (white distilled vinegar preserves the pepper colors best) 1¼ teaspoons canning or pickling salt ½ tablespoon of sugar or honey (*may be left out if …
Type: Blog
… world celebrated soil: the United Nations proclaimed it the International Year of Soils. Soil is perhaps the least understood—and therefore least considered—part of gardening. And yet soil is, next to water, the most precious resource that a gardener has. In this edition of Smart Gardener, … can only find cow and horse manure through retail sources. Consider the source before you buy! Search out an organic, hormone-free source or farming operation if you'd like to add manure …
Type: Plant Info
… Ask most families what their favorite fruit is and the answer is unanimous — the apple! Whether picked fresh on a crisp autumn day or baked … children than any other fruit. The good news for gardeners is that you don't need an orchard to grow apples. There are several options available to both suburban and urban gardeners who have … should be no problem planting more than one variety, necessary for cross-pollination and the best fruit production. …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: The most common year-round woodpecker at the Garden is frequently spotted-especially in the McDonald Woods and Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Even on … give its whinnylike call in the woods at the Garden. This hardy, adaptable bird is built to get food left by other birds that leave town for the winter. Woodpeckers can go up and down … that long tongue when he's not using it? He wraps it inside his head around his skull. The best “human” example of a woodpecker's tongue wrapped around its skull is a retractable tape …
Type: Birding
… There’s nothing quite like a fresh start to the new year. For gardeners, this is a great time to set goals and to think through plans for the year. We asked our dedicated team … and birds to your garden. Be environmentally smart, and learn what types of plants best attract these amazing creatures—and get outside to enjoy them. Tim Johnson, director of …
Type: Blog
… on gardens, arts and culture, and conservation, I took advantage of the great opportunity to publicize some Brazilian orchids that have been among my favorites all the years I have grown … and others. The national flower of Brazil— Cattleya purpurata (formerly Laelia purpurata) —is also an orchid. The native orchids of Brazil are often epiphytes growing on trees and shrubs, … Sophronitis . While all the species are delightful in their own right, C. coccinea is the best known. It has long been grown, line-bred (crossed within the species) to improve it, …
Type: Blog
… motor skills may become less coordinated. What can the estimated 85 million U.S. gardeners do to continue gardening as they age? Gardening provides so many physical and emotional benefits … four “P’s,” if you will—enable many older gardeners to carry on. Keeping active in the garden is what our volunteers love best. There is no better place to start than prevention. Since recovery takes longer as we age, …
Type: Blog
… C-shaped grubs of these beetles feed on the roots of turf grass, causing dead brown patches to appear. Timing & Life Cycle Adult beetles emerge in early July and feed for four to six weeks … to plant tissue. Skeletonized leaves and petals eventually will drop off. The damage, however, is largely aesthetic, and most plants do not die from these attacks. When found in large numbers, … Hand-picking Japanese beetles from plants or knocking them into a bucket of soapy water is the best control. Beetles are attracted to plants where other beetles already are feeding, so …
Type: Plant Info
