… The pigments that give all leaves their color are essential for the plant’s ability to harness energy from the sun and make sugars in the process we know as photosynthesis. But … and at home to investigate the importance of chlorophyll in plants? There was only one way to find the answers. I ordered the seeds and grew some variegated cat grass in our nature lab … You need: A container that will hold soil at a depth of at least 2 inches; drainage holes are best, but not necessary Variegated cat grass seeds (sold as “cat grass, variegated” and available …
Type: Blog
… sun rocketing off the white of the snow, all plants are revealed in their naked glory. This is a moment when you really love your birch. But even if the following day is shrouded in gray … the chalky white or cinnamon bark, often peeling, or "shingling," and calls attention to the dangling male flowers known as catkins. Spring is signaled by the limey-green new foliage, … for all seasons. Betula nigra is the most southerly of all birches but still is one of the best choices as a landscape tree for our area. Able to withstand variations in soil moisture and …
Type: Plant Info
… fawns in the spring and summer. Deer seek out plants in their most nutritious stages, which is often when they are flowering, fruiting, or undergoing rapid growth. Damage Deer eat the buds, … soft and growing. Bucks shed their antlers every winter. Damage can occur from ground level up to 6 feet. Treatment & Solutions Choose plants that deer do not prefer. Generally, deer avoid … protection but need to be reapplied after a substantial amount of rain or watering. It is best to rotate different repellents so that deer do not become accustomed to any one product. For …
Type: Plant Info
… There’s still plenty to enjoy in the garden in August and September. Later-blooming perennials, annuals, and shrubs … good-looking, late-season wonders for your garden. Butterfly bush (Buddleja) Butterfly bush is a magnet for flower-feeding butterflies, bees, and other insects. This woody perennial ranges … Remove the spent blossoms to extend the bloom time. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil work best for this charmer. Seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) A large shrub or small tree …
Type: Plant Info
… Unusually mild weather might cause some buds on flowering shrubs to bloom prematurely. These flower buds will not rebloom in spring, but there will be enough of … display, prune large flowering trees and shrubs after they bloom in spring. Fruit trees are best pruned in late February or early March. If tree branches become covered with ice, let the … tree trunks with protective wrap in fall and removing it in early spring. If weather is unusually warm, avoid pruning trees that will "bleed," or discharge large amounts of water, …
Type: Plant Info
… fall container gardening. This month, we met up with Jess Goehler, curator, Plant Collections, to create a wickedly beautiful piece of goth plant art. We hope her creation inspires you to add … of your own this Halloween. Goth gardening (drawn from Victorian or Gothic gardening) is having more than a moment; it’s been all the rage for years. In 2024, it was dubbed one of … who want to explore the possibilities of gardening without pressure to do it “the right way.” Want to get your hands dirty? Below are plants Jess recommends for your goth gardening …
Type: Blog
… “In the woods where the snow is thick, bars of sunlight lay like pale fire.” — Katherine Mansfield, The Journal of Katherine … that gleams on even the darkest nights. Unlike during summer, when there are so many things to distract me in the garden—dragonflies, bluejays, coneflowers, bumblebees, and weeds—winter is a time to redirect my observations and reflect on nature, especially trees. And, when the snow settles, …
Type: Plant Info
… questions, since they are on the cutting edge of scientific understanding. One such question is: “What are those specs of gold on the monarch butterflies?” The short answer is “Nobody … features such as metallic markings by asking, “What sort of advantage would this feature give to the butterfly?” Every trait found in nature exists because it gave that individual more … of dew on a leaf in the morning or after a rain. Another theory is that the gold specs are a way of the pupae shouting, “I’m poisonous! Leave me alone or you’ll be sorry!” In the world of …
Type: Blog
… November is a great month to tuck your lawn and garden to bed for the season. Nighttime temperatures are … dwarf iris ( Iris pumila ), and tulips ( Tulipa spp.) are great candidates. It’s a great way to use any extra bulbs from fall planting, and take advantage of late-season bulb sales at …
Type: Plant Info
… for the mulch pile, these remnants now take a last autumnal bow as art before they return to nourish the living collection. Deaccessioned: Uknown root flare, chestnut mushrooms, mums – … king trumpet mushrooms, carnations – fresh cuts Sustainability, reimagined The Last Show is a thoughtful reminder of the Garden’s commitment to sustainability, celebrating renewal … to the soil, nourishing the next generation of the Garden’s living collection. As autumn gives way to winter, The Last Show is a moving reminder that every end feeds a beginning, that decay is …
Type: Blog
