… Found in the lakes, this small black-and-white diving duck is distinguished by a big white patch on its head. The cold November winds signal the return of … You can identify the male fairly easily—look for a small black-and-white duck. The body is mostly white, the back is black, and the head looks half white and half black. Sometimes there … swim rapidly to catch their prey of mollusks, fish, and other aquatic animals—but they pay a price. Buffleheads, like most other divers, can hardly walk on land. To become airborne, they …
Type: Birding
… full of bright berries and seed pods. Types of Containers Choose your container to suit your site, the design of your home, and the types of plants you want to grow. Every pot must have … are also very heavy and expensive and should be used only as permanent containers. Terra cotta is a popular, medium-priced material, available in all sizes and therefore a good choice for … directly into the larger garden or elevated on a tabletop, a step, or a garden wall. Plastic is lightweight, nonporous, inexpensive, and suitable for hanging baskets or for plants that are …
Type: Plant Info
… of an Illinois autumn. Asters are easy to grow, if you plant them in full sun, in soil that is well-drained but not too rich, and you don't overdo water or fertilizer. But which asters? … Hawke, manager of plant evaluation at the Garden, has already evaluated goldenrods . Now he is finishing up a massive trial of asters (or plants known as asters) – beginning with 180 different plants. He was happy to share the scoop before he finishes the official report on their garden-worthiness, which will appear soon among the Garden's other …
Type: Plant Info
… that you can try growing in your own garden. Hill Country Red Okra OK, I’ll admit that okra is not my favorite—it’s slimy. But I have been convinced by other gardeners that growing your own … forgiving, and prolific crop. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad Tomato This heirloom seed is still with us today because an … also observes the holiday. Since 2022, the state of Illinois has recognized Juneteenth as an official state holiday. President Joe Biden also signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal …
Type: Blog
… many of our favorite vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, but there still is hope. By the third to fourth week of April, we can begin to plant a salad garden. Most leaf … colors, textures, and flavors by using only young and tender leaves. Unfortunately, the price of these tender young greens is staggering. Markets may charge as much as $7 per pound even though it takes less energy and …
Type: Plant Info
… back from extinction in the wild? Chicago Botanic Garden scientists think so. Their belief is reflected in the rows of rare alula ( Brighamia insignis ) growing discreetly in a Garden … easier. Alula awaiting planting at NTBG on Kauai. Photo by Jeremy Foster. “Nature has paid a price” While alula is rare, the story of its decline is not— almost 50% of known flowering plants … for the benefit of humans. We’ve tried to do what is best for us and nature has paid a price,” said Fant. “We have a responsibility to help things we have pushed to the edge of …
Type: Blog
… It’s official, sunshine lovers! While October in the Chicago area is usually one of the most pleasant … and tall in their original, more natural home—the vegetable garden? This purple-burgundy plant is a designer’s dream because the dark colors contrast brilliantly with any and all of spring’s …
Type: Plant Info
… younger sister. The occasion was fit for royalty, with a performance from a bagpiper, and an official dedication by the princess, who sported a lovely royal blue coat. You can find a plaque … I have given birth to perhaps a thousand gardens.” The English Walled Garden in May The garden is divided into six “rooms,” and one was made as a nod to the working class. The least formal of the six different spaces in the English Walled Garden is the Cottage Garden room. It’s modeled after the type of garden a rural homeowner would create, …
Type: Blog
… by even the most avid horticulturists. Heptacodium miconioides , or seven-son-flower, is a perfect example of a plant that remained unrecognized years after its introduction and is only now being rediscovered. Although it was first collected in 1907 by E. H. Wilson during an … gradually gained popularity. A member of the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family, the plant is related to viburnum and forsythia. Heptacodium is an outstanding specimen plant. Grown as a …
Type: Plant Info
