… entranced with the different types of poppies, especially those in containers. Which are best for Chicago? A. Early spring is a fine time to appreciate poppy species, since quite a few are considered cool-season annuals and their seeds …
Type: Plant Info
… spidery-looking flowers that make them ideal specimen plants for indoor use. 'Miami' has up to 30 bright yellow petals and sepals with black spots on a 3-foot-long arching spike. The … growers, bloom up to three times each year with flowers lasting six to eight weeks. They grow best in bright light and should be watered when dry, typically about every five to seven days. … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Negrita triumph tulip ( Tulipa 'Negrita') produces deep, plum-purple blooms on 14- to 16-inch stems in the middle of tulip season. Triumph tulips used as annual bulbs can be … due to heavy soils that hold too much water during the dormant season (mid to late summer). Best results at naturalization typically are obtained in gardens with sandy soils, where the … War II, Dutch farmers consumed tulips when no other food crops were available, but the flavor is not particularly desirable. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… soil have a relationship just as much as the tree and the pot have a relationship. The tree-to-pot relationship is aesthetic and functional too,” said Chris Baker, curator of bonsai at the … round container allows your eye to follow the tree trunk without the container getting in the way as a rectangle might. ” In bonsai terms, trees come in feminine and masculine forms and … It’s more of an art. “The purpose of the pot is to enhance the look and make the tree look its best or to tell the story right, so the artist is telling a story about a tree,” Baker said. A …
Type: Blog
… plenty of fat flower buds. Prune carefully, using proper pruning techniques, taking care not to interfere with the natural shape of the tree or shrub. Branches should be at least 1 foot long, cut when the temperature is above freezing. Lay branches overnight in a bathtub filled with room-temperature water. Make … of deciduous trees and shrubs can be done this month, weather permitting. Heavy pruning is best done in late winter or early spring immediately before bud break. Another time to prune …
Type: Plant Info
… as a gift, tell you where you can get quality trees, and give a little information on what to do if you receive one of these wonderful trees as a gift yourself. Juniper bonsai for sale at … increase the humidity and prevent leaf loss. Providing an evaporation tray is another good way to provide supplimental humidity. Avoid putting trees where forced air heat will blow on … experienced. Bougainvillea bonsai Bouganvillea are another popular bonsai species. They are best known for their paper-like flowers in a variety of colors. Though a tropical plant, they …
Type: Blog
… Shakespeare is the following: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” You would have to read Hamlet to get the backstory, but one thing I know as an ecologist, is that we would be in … ground, and the new fungi orient in a different direction after the tree falls. (This is one way that you can discover if a tree was dead before it fell to the ground.) Just like most of the … and unpalatable, the chicken of the woods ( Laetiporus sulfureus ), is considered one of the best fungi for eating. There are also several species of shelf fungi thought to have medicinal …
Type: Blog
… flowers at each node. Plant this bluebeard in full sun and in sandy, well-drained soil for best long-term survival in the Chicago region, where they don’t do well in heavy clay soil in winter. This is a butterfly and bee magnet when in flower from mid-summer through fall. Insect and disease resistant, the fragrant foliage is also a turn-off to rabbits and deer. This cultivar is a classic example of "what’s in a name." Arthur Simmonds …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… are the features most gardeners request. And yet the gradual, long-lasting autumn leaf change is one of the most beautiful displays in the plant world. It lasts longer than any spring flower … time of year is seeing how plants play off each other; how color combinations shift from year to year; how much beauty is to be found in the subtle combinations as well as the more brilliant … Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) A the hardiest of the Japanese maples and the one that performs best in Chicago gardens. Its distinctive palmate leaves are red-purple in summer but change to …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. What sort of spring care should I provide for my roses? A. April is the appropriate month for some basic and necessary pruning. Pruning not only promotes improved … for good overall plant health. Timing is important. Begin pruning when dormant roses begin to leaf out in the spring. It is best to wait until temperatures moderate and wide fluctuations are not predicted before …
Type: Plant Info
