… Q: I have some tulip and daffodil bulbs left over from fall planting. How do I "force" them for indoor bloom? A: If the bulbs are still dry and firm, pot them up in clean pots, using … with soil with just their tips exposed. Water the bulbs well and put the pots in a cool (40- to 45-degree Fahrenheit) spot for approximately 14 weeks. When the bulbs begin to sprout, move the pots into bright but still very cool (60-degree) rooms. When flower buds …
Type: Plant Info
… bluestar is a cultivar selection made by Roy Diblik of Wisconsin's Northwind Farms and found to thrive in our region. Members of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike to willow-like and looks attractive throughout the growing season with the bonus of good to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… gold with green margins as the season progresses. By the end of the season, the color may fade to white. This large (22 inches tall by 36 inches wide), vigorous hosta is considered a classic and is widely used. Pink-lavender flowers appear in July and August and are attractive to hummingbirds. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and long lived. Although they produce … flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Purple Mildew Resistant beebalm is derived from a north American native plant and grows to around 3-4 feet high and around 3 feet wide. As part of a multi-year evaluation of beebalms held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Purple Mildew Resistant beebalm was found to have 2 -3 inch purple blossoms covering 60-80% of the plant for about a month from late June to late July. It had excellent mildew resistance and while some …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… They’re blue, right? Not so fast. Blueberries have dark red pigments in their skin to match their reddish pulp. Researchers at the University of Bristol decided to unpeel the mystery. Turns out, blueberries have tiny external structures in their wax coating … prefer? Shake, rattle—and grow? The idea that music can help plants grow has been studied for decades, with classical music usually winning. Spotify begs to differ. The music streaming …
Type: Blog
… As fall settles in, a gardener’s thoughts generally turn to removal—raking leaves, cutting back perennials, and pulling out the last of the vegetables. But fall is the season for addition as well as subtraction. In fact, for smart gardeners, fall is the best time of the year to add to and improve your soil. In the May 2015 edition of Smart Gardener , we talked about soil …
Type: Plant Info
… April’s warmer days make this an opportune month to plant perennials, as well as cool-season vegetables and annuals that can handle occasional … well, particularly if March’s weather proved too cold and/or wet. April also is a good month to help emerging plants for the growing season ahead. Garden To-Do List Continue to remove garden debris left over from …
Type: Plant Info
… and cobblers, apples are enjoyed by more adults and children than any other fruit. The good news for gardeners is that you don't need an orchard to grow apples. There are several options available to both suburban and urban gardeners who have …
Type: Plant Info
… Husk Doll People in cultures all over the world have been making dolls from natural materials for centuries. These directions are a simple variation of a doll made from corn husks, which is … any grocery store that sells corn husks for tamales. You will need: dried corn husks, two to three leaves per doll a pan of water rubber bands, yarn, or twist ties scissors Separate and soak the corn husk leaves in water for 10 to 15 minutes. They should be wet and pliable. Take one leaf, preferably a smaller one, and roll …
Type: Blog
… part of the tall grass prairie, providing an important food source and winter shelter for a range of insects, small mammals and birds, and even bison. Bad Hair Day switch grass is an … upright stems, topped by the heavy pendulous panicles appearing in summer that are responsive to even light breezes and give rise to its name. Spring foliage is grayish-green, which turns a light yellowish-brown by summer and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
