… Tom Soulsby is the senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and Linden Allée. He is … his passion for horticulture excellence. As a lifelong gardener, some of Soulsby's best horticulture education has come from practical hands-on gardening that included working as a child alongside his dad. His love of gardening carries over to his own home. Before pursuing his passion for public horticulture, Soulsby was a director at …
Type: Staff bio
… Many gardeners consider hostas quite similar to daylilies — absolutely fail-safe plants. Stick them in the ground, give them a little water, … multiply so freely that, in a few years, you'll be splitting them apart and giving them away to friends. Hostas have become so ubiquitous in shaded suburban gardens that one species, Hosta lancifolia , is actually known as "the Winnetka weed." But because they are so easy to grow and so adaptable …
Type: Plant Info
… April is a joyful month, when we plant new trees, transplant or divide late-blooming perennials, cast … out cherished wildflowers, bulbs, and other early bloomers, we should take every opportunity to spot one of the most invasive plants in our area—garlic mustard, Alliara petiolata . Don't be … pulls in their forest preserves or other shared land areas. Join in! It's another wonderful way to honor Earth Day. For more information on invasive plants; what the Garden is doing; and …
Type: Plant Info
… demographic, and pollination studies on a threatened thistle ( Cirsium pitcheri ) that is being negatively impacted by a biocontrol weevil. I am also interested in developing measures of success and best practices for ex situ plant conservation programs, from collecting genetically diverse seed accessions to minimizing genetic change during storage and increasing likelihood of success of restorations. …
Type: Staff bio
… For some gardeners, a winter landscape is a blur of neutral colors highlighted with the dark green of conifers and sometimes the blue of … also make a group of conifers more interesting, just as different leaf shapes add drama to a deciduous garden. Especially in winter, the stiff, sharp needles of spruce contrast strongly … Nana'. Not as tough as juniper or arborvitae, falsecypress must be carefully sited. It grows best in sandy, somewhat acidic soil with protection from drying winds. SHADES OF GREEN There is …
Type: Plant Info
… Take a fall-color tree walk from the Visitor Center to the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center While it is true that prime fall color occurs at the Garden during the first two weeks of October, it is … tree walk begins at the Visitor Center and proceeds south along the Garden's East Road on the way to the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Science Conservation Science Center . Leave the …
Type: Walks
… in open areas like the Dixon Prairie, or elsewhere around the Garden, for this warbler that is common at the Garden during its long migration stopover. One of the most ubiquitous warblers … migration is an active, thin-billed bird called the yellow-rumped warbler. It's one of up to 36 warbler species seen in the area during the spring and fall migrations. This warbler … however, there are many more, and they'll be wearing their finest attire. Though humans do best to stay away from poison ivy lest they have an allergic reaction, the yellow-rumped warbler …
Type: Birding
… Welcome to winter, one of the best seasons for gardeners. You have time to plan, prune, and enjoy those … easier to prune because you’ll be able to better see a tree’s branching structure and there is less chance of transmitting diseases from one plant to another. Winter is the perfect time to …
Type: Blog
… Replacing this year? Five to consider. Last winter was hard on us all…especially on the trees and shrubs that took the … out or requesting at local nurseries. Northen bayberry shrubs ( Myrica pensylvanica ) look best when planted in groups. Northern Bayberry ( Myrica pensylvanica ) Bayberry could be the … shrubs that have reached the end of their life cycle. Native to the east coast, bayberry is a quiet shrub—loosely mounded in shape, at about six feet tall, bayberries look best massed …
Type: Plant Info
… 2014 Participants Jesus Cuezzi Grower Fifth season Jesus started out as a crew leader and is now a grower. Along with being a master salesperson at market, Jesus is a great guitar player, … First season Audrey is an intern who recently graduated from Indiana University. She came to Chicago to combine her love of and experience with farming with youth development work. Her enthusiastic … First season Audrey is an intern who recently graduated from Indiana University. She came to Chicago to combine her love of and experience with farming with youth development work. Her …
Type: Page
