… Renowned for its healing powers, common St. Johnswort is now found in most parts of the world. It has been used as a sedative, a treatment for malaria and depression, and a salve for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Its name is derived … growing 2 feet tall, common St. Johnswort flowers from May through August, performing best in full sun, where it produces yellow blooms with five petals, five sepals, and many …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and can be planted when all danger of frost has passed. They can be started indoors in pots to achieve earlier blooming. They require at least eight hours of sun to be at their best. Dahlias are ot hardy in the Chicago area, and tubers must be dug, cleaned, and stored for the winter. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 … it’s still winter? “Within the context of ‘reasonable conditions’ plants are generally able to detect real spring from a false start,” said Paul CaraDonna, Ph.D., a Chicago Botanic Garden … things up beyond the ‘reasonable conditions’ plants are used to such that they might start to get fooled.” And They’re Off These plants got a jump on spring Unseasonably warm days have …
Type: Blog
… At the top of the list of why we garden is for the joy it brings. Yes, there is the effort of physical labor, and true, some plants succumb … angle and intensity of sunlight differ in early spring and midsummer, as well as from morning to afternoon. Is it possible to remove the lower branches of existing trees to bring in more … break down quickly. Consult the Garden's Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 for the latest treatments. Spot-treat an area rather than the entire garden. If Japanese beetles are …
Type: Plant Info
… reach a height of 50 feet with a spread of 35 feet. The sugar maple is an excellent shade tree for lawns and parks. Tiny yellowish-green flowers appear in spring before the leaves emerge. The … samaras, matures in the fall. Autumn color is highly variable, ranging from yellow or orange to red, but it is always outstanding. One of the best known trees of eastern North America, sugar maple is as prized for its ornamental value as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… snap beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, mustard greens, spinach, and radishes for fall harvesting. Cool-season lettuces, mesclun mixes, and unusual greens that were planted in … again this month. If weather is unusually hot, plant these greens in partial shade. The best quality and best tasting salad greens come from plants that were watered frequently and lightly rather than infrequently but deeply. This advice is the exact opposite to what is recommended for watering trees, shrubs, perennials, grass, and other plants. When …
Type: Plant Info
… Q: How do I start tomato seedlings indoors? A: To grow your own tomatoes for transplanting outdoors, sow the seeds indoors four to six weeks before the usual last frost … in their permanent location. This process, called “hardening off,” helps ensure that plants get a good start. After all danger of frost has passed, plants should be moved to a shady area of …
Type: Plant Info
… and is only about two inches in diameter, but they're borne in huge domed clusters, similar to hydrengeas. In full bloom, you can hardly see the leaves for the flowers. And once she starts blooming, she doesn't stop until frost. She's often used in … grown as a climber reaching up to about 10 feet. She'll grow and bloom in light shade, but for best performance give her full sun. Keep soil moist (not wet); follow a regular program against …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Phalaenopsis A Phalaenopsis , or moth orchid, is called the “gateway orchid” for beginning collectors: it requires very little care, and yields great rewards with blooms that last up to three months! Early success with a moth orchid leads growers to try other species and, … is another popular orchid with collectors: it prefers high humidity and indirect light, faring best in eastern early morning light. But how do you ensure early success? After your initial …
Type: Plant Info
… This cultivar has bright orange flowers that look simple compared to most cultivated orchids. It has two large orange petals held horizontally and a smaller petal pointing upward. The lip has been modified into a pouch, giving rise to the common name "lady's slipper." Insects get trapped in the pouch, and end up pollinating the flower as they maneuver to escape. The genus …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
