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  • … Andrew Bell, curator of woody plants. It's something they reveal. The pigments — anthocyanin for reds, carotenoid for yellow — are always there, masked during the growing season by green chlorophyll. "We see the … well as in the Rose Garden. And of course Japanese maples, with many cultivars carefully bred for spectacular reds, are planted throughout the garden, especially in the Elizabeth Hubert …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … a lily pad is actually a floating leaf: Nymphaea 'Arc-en-Ciel' is sometimes grown specifically for its beautifully mottled and variegated leaves. Still, there are a few gardening ventures that … into one of them: the watery world of waterlilies. Nymphaea is the beautifully named genus for about half of all waterlily species. (The Nymphaeaceae family totals eight genera and about … questions.   We can stare at the gorgeous yellow/apricot/pink shadings of Nymphaea 'Sunfire' for hours. Hardy or Tropical? Waterlilies are divided into two groups: tropical and hardy, and …
    Type: Plant Info
  • For Chicago-area gardeners, January is primarily a time for planning, not planting. With winter in full swing in our USDA Hardiness Zones 5b and 6a, January is a great month to prepare for the gardening season ahead and to tend to the indoor plants brightening our living spaces. …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … We admit to a weakness for daffodils here—last time we counted, we came up with quite a grand total: more than half a … The American Daffodil Society (ADS) refrains from an official definition or separate division for miniatures (although it sanctions a cultivar list ). Because daffodils' bulbs are … before the rest of the garden comes to life. This month, plan a walk through the Garden. Look for tiny blooms, and take note of any ideas that you can borrow for around your home. Speaking of …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … design studio to the dinosaur gallery. I’m excited to now devote my energies to advocating for plants and deepening our relationship to them. I’m thrilled to return to Chicago and honored … its founder.  Assuming the role of President and CEO at the Garden marks a return to Chicago for Gretchen, who began her career at the Field Museum. Over her 18-year tenure there, she had a … design studio to the dinosaur gallery. I’m excited to now devote my energies to advocating for plants and deepening our relationship to them. I’m thrilled to return to Chicago and honored …
    Type: Page
  • … Q: I'd like to give plants as gifts for the holidays. Many gift plants are treated as short-lived houseplants because they are … and orange. Kalanchoe is a short-day plant that, much like the poinsettia, requires darkness for 16 hours per day for approximately three months to trigger flower bud production. Even though they do require a …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … to require frequent deadheading in their first year of growth. There are several reasons for deadheading. Most gardeners do it because it aesthetically looks better when dead plant … stalk down to new lateral buds. Perennials that benefit from deadheading to prolong bloom or for rebloom include spike gayfeather ( Liatris spicata ), butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ), … and create nice winter interest. Also, avoid deadheading those that provide a food source for birds during the winter months.  Please email plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org for more …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Select trees that are winter hardy in your region. Siting trees properly is also important. For example, woodland trees that prefer shade may be more prone to frost cracking if planted in a … inspected. Frost cracks are rarely life threatening; however, the wounds can present an entry for insects and disease. Recent studies indicate that wrapping tree trunks is not an effective technique for avoiding frost cracks. For more information on frost cracking, please contact Plant …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Description: Look for this rare, state-endangered, grassland shorebird on a large lawn area or the gravel hill …
    Type: Birding
  • … Description: Look for this bird of the shrub prairie in the Dixon Prairie when it is passing through. …
    Type: Birding