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  • … New! Sweet and pillowy challah, made from a dough enriched with eggs and honey, is easy to make and shape at home. Learn about the basics of yeast breads, including proofing, baking, … and storing. Discover the ins and outs of weighing and shaping, including braiding the dough for that classic challah look. Transform the mysteries of challah into easy-to-understand steps to create that perfect bread for your Friday nights.  Emily Paster, cookbook …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … New! Discover the more than 400 species of solitary bees native to Illinois and create a “bee hotel” to provide habitat for these wonderful creatures. Solitary bees do not live in hives and often find their suitable …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ was originally released for use in cut flower production. Fortunately, bedding plant nurseries have picked up this … the dog days of summer when most other annuals have melted out. ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ grows up to 3 feet tall, with fully double flowers, and up to 5 inches diameter on strong, sturdy stems. This cultivar is more resistant to powdery mildew …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Raspberry Wine beebalm grows to about 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. As part of a multi-year evaluation of beebalms held at the Chicago Botanic … beebalm was found to have 2-inch vivid purple-red blossoms covering 80% to 100% of the plant for about 6 weeks from early to mid summer. It had good mildew resistance, and while some winter …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … As gardeners use the winter months for much-needed planning, they might want to consider the delicious bramble and berry plants.  … are either summer-bearing or everbearing. Even in Chicago, where the temperature can drop to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, these shrubs are still hardy; and naturalistic gardeners choose …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Q:  Should I cut back my perennials to prepare them for winter?  If so, when? A: Cutting back perennials in the fall can be confusing because there are different reasons to cut plants back or leave them standing. Perennials such as prickly pear cactus ( Opuntia …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Ash Tree Alternatives Looking for a replacement for an ailing ash tree? Dr. Andrew C. Bell, curator of woody plants, offers … Grows ® introductions. Use the new GardenGuide app (available at chicagobotanic.org/app ) to locate these trees within the Garden and to learn more about them. Accolade ™ elm   ( Ulmus 'Morton') Named by the Society of Municipal …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … MUNSTEAD WOOD™ rose is named for Gertrude Jekyll's home, where she wrote many of her influential gardening books. Its buds are a light, pinkish crimson, opening to reveal velvety deep crimson roses 4 inches in diameter. The scent is also described as exceptional...old rose, with hints of berries. MUNSTEAD WOOD™ is on the compact side for a David Austen rose, about 3 feet by 3 feet, making it appropriate for the front of the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Mexican bush sage has been used in our autumn landscapes for several years. Although it is a shrubby perennial of coniferous forests in Mexico, the Garden uses it in annual displays in September to November, when it is covered by hundreds of attractive flower spikes. The plants grow 3-4 feet … that are 6-10 inches long. It is tolerant of cool temperatures and provides a food source for late butterflies and insects. Cuttings can be taken and the plants are rooted again for the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … on the underside and backward-curving spines along the edges. The stunning flowers can last for months, making this one of the most popular bromeliads for the home. It should be planted in … potting soil with its central cup filled with fresh water, where it will thrive in indirect to moderate light in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Native to Mexico through South America, bromeliads are epiphytic (growing on trees) plants whose name …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant