… chemicals that can leach onto nearby pavers and sidewalks. Rubber “mulch” might be good for playgrounds under swings and slides, but it’s not helpful for perennials, trees, or shrubs. Unlike organic mulches that break down and provide nutrients, … it can soften the bark and cause rot. Don’t pile it on! Do the Mulch Math “Plants are the best mulch,” says landscape designer Claudia West, who recently spoke at the Garden. “Filling the …
Type: Plant Info
Glade mallow is an uncommon and valued native species found in the wild along river banks and open areas with moist soil. Considering that it grows to over six feet tall and stands out in the garden, it is odd that every year people wonder what it is. It is native only in scattered counties in the Midwest, east to Vermont and Pennsylvania. It has large, palmate, toothed leaves with 5 to 9 lobes, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… have been collected and grown together in garden settings – allowing hybridization to take place. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… success.” When I was honored to be part of an international plant collecting trip initiative for the Chicago Botanic Garden, I did some research about plant explorers, and I came across … 1870 in Washington, D.C., where her father was stationed. She was a quiet girl with a passion for reading. Despite her privileged background, Mexia experienced adversity. Her parents divorced … and she discovered botany. Back then, gardening was viewed as an acceptable educational path for women. With the right connections, she went on her first plant expedition to Sinaloa, Mexico, …
Type: Blog
… Winter is a great season for bookworms—there’s nothing like a good book to keep you company during the colder months. And … and give us a glimpse into the history of plants all the way back to ancient Greece. For just a taste of what this collection offers, we asked Leora Siegel, Lenhardt Library’s senior … are digitized and linked above, but nothing quite compares with seeing a rare book in person. Visit the Lenhardt Library from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday to explore its full …
Type: Blog
… just about everywhere you go you'll see pumpkins. These Central American natives are great for crafts, decorations and food. A member of the squash family, pumpkin is high in … and vitamin C; low in fat; and high in fiber. Smaller, three- to six-pounders are the best for pies since they're sweet and non-stringy. As with all squash, the flowers are edible too! If …
Type: Plant Info
… a condition where young stems rot at soil level. Treatment & Solutions Botrytis is best controlled through good cultural techniques. Site plants in well-drained soil. Avoid … that may cause a flush of succulent, tender growth that is vulnerable to infection. For recommended botrytis chemical treatments, please contact Plant Information Services at (847) …
Type: Plant Info
… Caspian Blue false indigo features the long spikes of very blue pea-like blooms for which the genus is best known. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly known as wild or false indigo due to their …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… shrub is a wonderful compliment to the early spring bulbs that bloom at the same time. Best grown as an open arching shrub in the landscape because annual pruning to maintain a … endangered in its native range but has not been officially added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Within cultivation, it can be found in many northern …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… be hardier than either parent and has given rise to many popular cultivars. Although not noted for fall color, in good seasons the shrubs will have an interesting mix of yellow, red and purple … soils and varying moisture, but the flower buds may be tender on older cultivars. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
