… Q. I am growing ornamental gourds for the first time and would like to know when to harvest them. A. Harvest your gourds when the … harden and the tendrils near the fruit begin to turn brown and dry. Gourds should remain on the vine until after the first killing frost and, when picked, should have between 1 and 2 inches of stem attached. Since a gourd is 90 percent water, it is necessary for that water to evaporate through the stem. They can be washed in soapy water, rinsed well and …
Type: Plant Info
… with broad green leave with burgundy undersides and bright pink stems. The leaves are arranged on the stem in a flattish fan shape which highlights the vibrant coloring of this plant. It can … is desired then a cane will need to be clipped. With care, this cutting can be rooted for a new plant. Good quality light is necessary to maintain bright leaf color but not necessary for plant survival. This plant is not hardy in Chicago and is generally treated as either an …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… native China used the leaves to make a medicinal tea. It has a vase shaped habit and is noted for sparse foliage on the bottom portion of the plant. White flowers in May are followed by abundant red fruits in … home landscape due to their range of sizes and cultural adaptability. Some viburnums are noted for their fragrant flowers; most bear small fruit that may add visual interest. Many viburnums …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… A spike of plum-purple large, pendulous bell-like flowers top out the gray-green foliage on this hardy bulb native to the higher elevations in the Middle East. It was discovered in 1585 and has been featured in landscape gardens ever since. Bulbs purchased for annual display use will flower well in a sunny position in average soils. However, if … soils that are allowed to dry from mid- to late summer are required. When these challenging (for Chicago-area gardeners) conditions are met, the single bulbs will divide over time to create …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Thin, twisted yellow petals shade to deep orange at the base of the flowers on Girard's Orange witch hazel ( Hamamelis x intermedia 'Girard's Orange'), a spreading, deciduous shrub known for flowering at the first warm spell (during a January thaw for instance) or immediately after winter ends. Tolerant of a wide range of soils and light …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The variegated turkey oak is notable for its creamy blotches and margins on otherwise dark green leaves. It is native to Eurasia. The … (biennial). Oaks are often imposing shade trees at maturity and provide habitat and food for a variety of wildlife. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… China down to Tibet and Kashmir, and features white to pale-pink flowers in early spring on a shrubby bush. The very small red fruit, when ripe, are too astringent for people to eat, but birds love them. When Carl Thunberg first described this species, most … Macau, Shanghai—and relied upon Chinese entrepreneurs to bring them Chinese garden plants for purchase; ergo, the common name that celebrates the city of origin of the trader but not …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… It's what's often called a landscape rose, just 2 feet high, but 5 feet wide, making it ideal for mass plantings or covering sunny slopes and banks. Clusters of small pink and white single roses appear in profusion from mid-June through frost on a rose that needs little to no care. No pruning. No spraying. No deadheading. No winter … full sun. Since it tolerates salt as well as heat, you can even use it in a parkway planting. For best performance, keep the soil reasonably moist, and apply a slow release fertilizer in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… to cull, organize, and archive your current work. Note, this is a technical workshop focused on building a streamlined system for future work rather than a retroactive project for reorganizing old archives. Laptop computer and a monthly subscription to Lightroom Classic …
Type: Item Detail
… Q. How and when do I winterize my roses? A. Planning for winter actually starts in early fall. Stop fertilizing your roses in early August and stop … strips to prevent damage from winter winds. The canes of climbing roses can also be laid on the ground and covered with approximately 6 inches of garden soil to protect them for the … lightweight garden soil around the base of each bush. Additional shredded leaves can be piled on over the canes and held in place by chicken-wire cages. If we have not had the required low …
Type: Plant Info
