… to the home gardener within the Spiraea genus. They all have a compact mounding habit in sizes ranging from 18" to 5' that makes them useful in borders and smaller spaces. The cultivars also offer foliage coloration ranging from green to … or purple. These versatile shrubs bloom on new wood and may benefit from rejuvenation pruning in March prior to the emergence of new growth. Most offer a secondary bloom after the initial …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… to the home gardener within the Spiraea genus. They all have a compact mounding habit in sizes ranging from 18" to 5' that makes them useful in borders and smaller spaces. The cultivars also offer foliage coloration ranging from green to … or purple. These versatile shrubs bloom on new wood and may benefit from rejuvenation pruning in March prior to the emergence of new growth. Most offer a secondary bloom after the initial …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This small flowering tree reaches 15' to 20' in height and is often multistemmed. Site it in a prominent place so that everyone can enjoy it. The fragrant, creamy-white flowers appear in late May or early June and grow in panicles 3" to 6" in length. It also has beautiful …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… triumph tulip ( Tulipa 'Negrita') produces deep, plum-purple blooms on 14- to 16-inch stems in the middle of tulip season. Triumph tulips used as annual bulbs can be planted almost anywhere … moist to moderate soils — because the flower bud and reserves needed to produce it were stored in the bulb during the previous growing season. This class of tulips does not typically naturalize well in the Chicago area due to heavy soils that hold too much water during the dormant season (mid to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The air is brisk, the sun is at a lower angle in the sky, and the autumnal fireworks have begun. Like spring, fall offers a splendid show of … signal a farewell to the growing season. Although annuals and perennials often steal the show in October, many shrubs create a delightful layer of dazzling colors as well. Viburnum, … plants, shares six of his favorite shrubs for fall color. Fothergilla xintermedia 'Mount Airy’ In early spring, this shrub produces a profusion of white, honey-scented flowers. By October, its …
Type: Plant Info
… Bulbs and their tuber, corm, and rhizome relatives are a fascinating group of plants. In the Chicago area they can start blooming as early as February (winter aconite, snowdrop), really make an impact en masse in spring (narcissus, tulip, crocus), produce stunning specimens in summer (ornamental onion, fritillary, lily) and keep on enlivening gardens well into autumn …
Type: Plant Info
… is the only lotus native to the United States. Hardy from Zones 4 to 11, it grows naturally in large ponds and lakes as far north as Ontario and south to Texas and Florida. Our true … World lotus, Nelumbo nucifera , the sacred lotus of the Nile, which was introduced to Egypt in 523 by the Persians. This species is revered by Buddhists and Hindus alike, and the seeds, … Asian diet. Interestingly enough, one of the best and most popular lotus cultivars now grown in aquatic gardens is 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum' — the beautiful result of a cross between the New …
Type: Plant Info
… the flower stalk to yellow and wither before removing it from the bulb. Keep bulb and leaves in bright light and continue with normal watering. After May 15, take the potted bulb with long, straplike leaves outside and place it in the garden where it receives morning sun. Fertilize every 10 to 14 days with a liquid 10-10-10 … mix. The fertilizer is necessary to replenish the bulb for a new season’s flower display. In fall, before the Chicago area’s average frost date of October 15, bring the bulb inside for …
Type: Plant Info
… As the weather changes and true fall sets in, all eyes turn to the trees. It's a smart time to take a walk in the neighborhood, to really look at which trees are growing there and what colors they turn in fall. Then take the next step: have a critical look at your own yard. Is it time to plant a …
Type: Plant Info
… And yet the gradual, long-lasting autumn leaf change is one of the most beautiful displays in the plant world. It lasts longer than any spring flower show; it’s different each year; and it occurs in fall, a quiet time when riotous color is least expected. While most of us are familiar with … red oaks, there are many smaller trees and shrubs that can provide dazzling color displays in more intimate garden settings. Part of the pleasure in leaf peeping at this time of year is …
Type: Plant Info
