… Mild, late-February weather in Chicago can offer a surprisingly glorious time to be outside and work in the garden. But unseasonably warm weather also raises questions about … off the lawn and cutting back perennials are all fine to do now providing your garden soil is not too wet. Early flowering bulbs like snowdrops at the Chicago Botanic Garden are very … flower bud at the ends of the stem. The dormant season, and in particular late winter, is the best time of year to complete rejuvenation pruning, which is the aggressive pruning of overgrown …
Type: Blog
… If you’re ready to start a new tradition (enough already with the pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin … a bit of a kick (and who doesn’t need a little jump-start during the holidays?). The recipe is simple enough to get the whole family involved. Think butter…pumpkin…toasted pecans—what’s not to like? And what better way to celebrate the season than to spend time together, break fudge together, and give thanks …
Type: Blog
… The cultivar 'Sir John Thouron' is valued for its showy, pale yellow flowers that form a ball-shaped umbrella well above its … eight years ago that White Flower Farms offered 36 plants for $950 each; all were sold out to a movie star, a fashion designer, and several collectors. (The cost has dropped since then.) … the plant back indoors in fall. The plant is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly pot-bound, but its roots are perennial. The plant resents root disturbance …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… cherished in midwestern gardens, parks, and streetscapes for the steady color they bring even to the gray and brown winter. Yet as much as we love to drape them with holiday lights, they … some plants, such as some varieties of Colorado spruce, the waxy coating refracts light in a way that makes the needles appear more blue than green. Only a couple of species of conifers are … the ground freezes — which in some winters may not be until after Christmas. "Winter kill" is the term horticulturists use for the patches of dried-out foliage often seen on evergreens in …
Type: Plant Info
… acre of land in the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in Waukegan. The program was founded as a pilot to examine the feasibility of expanding the Chicago Botanic Garden’s school and neighborhood … to serve teenagers in an extracurricular setting. Building on the success of the Lake County site construction of the North Lawndale Youth Farm began in 2005. This Youth Farm site is located on the west side of Chicago on a quarter-acre lot. This location is in partnership …
Type: Page
… in the garden, the thought of puttering in front of a windowsill brings little comfort. There is a new group of houseplants, however, that can lead double lives — in the winter they're indoor … in summer they become seasonal bedding plants. They're not new plants, but are used in a new way. They may be planted directly into the ground alongside other annuals and perennials, or they … uses houseplants in its three-season rotation of annuals. And many gardening centers, quick to pick up on trends set by prominent garden designers, offer these houseplants in their …
Type: Plant Info
… Dutch elm disease is a fatal fungal disorder spread by the elm bark beetle. The fungus can be carried from a diseased tree to a healthy one by the beetle, by the roots of an infected tree grafting together underground … For those who own American elms, keeping the tree healthy and reducing stress is the best prevention. Make sure elms receive one inch of water per week, especially during periods of …
Type: Plant Info
… English Oak Meadow To the east of the English Walled Garden is a gently rolling tapestry of blooming bulbs, vibrant flowers, and shrubs set amid several … carpet is found between the English Walled Garden and the Dwarf Conifer Garden and is home to many resident and migrating birds. A variety of butterflies can always be seen dancing from …
Type: Page
… You talk to your plants, right? You’re not the only one—48% of Americans do, according to a recent survey. … talk to their plants, one in five say they do so every day, according to the survey by Trees.com. The plant talkers mostly chat with their houseplants, but 62 percent also talk to their … said ‘meat eater…’ ” Photo courtesy of Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division Who wore it best? We love that the LEGO Group added a LEGO orchid to its Botanical Collection. The bark mix …
Type: Blog
… Nine Secret Spaces Fun Spots for all ages Download the GardenGuide App when you visit to use this tour on your phone Distance: Varied Time: 2-3 hours Stop 1: Visitor Center Kick off … or snack for later at the Garden Café. Stop 2: McDonald Woods: Council ring Secret Space #1 is .36 miles from the Visitor Center. At the heart of the woods is a secret circle called a … Space #3 is approximately .75 miles from the Visitor Center. Follow the prairie paths down to the boardwalk that connects to Marsh Island. In summer, the grasses and plants in the prairie …
Type: Page
