… A showy late-summer garden plant, it grows up to 2' tall. Fringed blue ray florets are 4" in diameter and surround the central disk, creating … flowers, lasting from July until frost. Illinois gardeners should mulch this plant in winter to protect it from the cold. Stokes' aster, native to the southeastern United States, is distinguished by its handsome evergreen foliage, but its flowers are really its best feature. Perennial with evergreen leaves …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. What sort of spring care should I provide for my roses? A. April is the appropriate month for some basic and necessary pruning. Pruning … for good overall plant health. Timing is important. Begin pruning when dormant roses begin to leaf out in the spring. It is best to wait until temperatures moderate and wide fluctuations are not predicted before …
Type: Plant Info
… Fast and graceful, hummingbirds flit from flower to flower—but which ones and why? A Chicago Botanic Garden scientist and his collaborators have … Finally, hummingbirds do have a sense of smell. So why would hummingbirds go out of their way to visit a limited selection of reddish, long-tubed, scentless flowers that produce cheaper nectar …
Type: Blog
… Interns who are making an impact. The Chicago Botanic Garden's summer interns aren't here to shadow from the sidelines. They came to do the work. Since 2004, the Garden has hosted the 10-week, paid Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, giving college students hands-on experience in real-world … Interns learn all aspects of the research journey, attend professional development workshops, visit other scientific institutions, and present their research at a capstone symposium. Together …
Type: Blog
… your thoughts in a journal, birdwatch, or just daydream. (Avid gardeners take note: it’s o.k. to take a break from spring sowing, planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, … where you can reflect on your day—or your life—and be one with nature. Here are some ideas for using your own outdoor sanctuary as a welcome escape. Take a Seat A comfortable chair or … a mat on the lawn and do some yoga in the privacy of your garden. Or use your patio or deck to get in some stretching exercises or do a little weight training. When the weather is good, the …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. Please advise on special winter protection for my garden plants. A. Many winter injuries common to plants in the Chicago area can be avoided with a few precautionary practices: Since evergreens … buds and many evergreens. Deer repellents are numerous and must be rotated constantly for best success. Before you prune out any brown winterkill areas on evergreens, wait until the new …
Type: Plant Info
… The Christmas cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooms for a long time indoors with some of the most exotic-looking flowers in the plant kingdom. This … popular plant, but most people are not aware of its special needs. Not all cacti are native to arid desert climates and require infrequent, sparse watering. The Christmas cactus actually … Cactus Care The Christmas cactus prefers humid conditions, and homes are often dry. One way to raise the humidity — just for your cactus — is to place the pot with its drip pan on top …
Type: Plant Info
… soils, and reduced water during winter dormancy. It will need a cool period in winter to produce the best flower production. Straight white thorns are most obvious on younger branches. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… serviceberry is a low growing shrub that will form dense colonies over time. It is native to the coastal plains of northeastern North America and is relatively rare in cultivation. Its … attractive foliage color in fall and interesting bark/branch structure in winter. Common names for amelanchier include juneberry and serviceberry and refer to the blueberry-like fruit edible … usually multi-stemmed. Found at woodland's edge in the their native habitats, amelanchiers are best used in a naturalistic setting in the home landscape. Amelanchiers are native to temperate …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… than the species while its overall stature is somewhat smaller. Abundant spring flowers lead to abundant summer berries. The foliage emerges bronzy and becomes deep green in summer and turns … attractive foliage color in fall and interesting bark/branch structure in winter. Common names for amelanchier include juneberry and serviceberry and refer to the blueberry-like fruit edible … usually multi-stemmed. Found at woodland's edge in the their native habitats, amelanchiers are best used in a naturalistic setting in the home landscape. Amelanchiers are native to temperate …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
