… flowers that are attractive to butterflies grow in small flattened clusters in late spring on new wood. Spiraea betulifolia is named for the shape of its leaves, which resemble those of the birch genus. The genus Spiraea consists … branch. Spring to early summer abundant blooms tend to be in white or pink tones, depending on the species and/or cultivar. While individual flowers are quite small, they occur in clusters …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… is frequently spotted-especially in the McDonald Woods and Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Even on the coldest day in winter, you might see or hear a Downy Woodpecker give its whinnylike call … Garden. This hardy, adaptable bird is built to get food left by other birds that leave town for the winter. Woodpeckers can go up and down trees to find insects and larvae spending the … a 10- to 12-inch wingspan, this small woodpecker is black and white. The male has a red patch on the back of its head; the female has a black patch. Sometime around the end of winter, Downy …
Type: Birding
… Unusually mild weather might cause some buds on flowering shrubs to bloom prematurely. These flower buds will not rebloom in spring, but there … bloom sporadically during warm periods in late fall or early winter. Continue to cut branches for forcing indoors. Branches with interesting foliage as well as flowering branches can be … plant’s basic shape. Branches should be at least 1 foot long, full of fat flower buds, and cut on a day above freezing. Lay the branches in a bathtub filled with room-temperature water. Make …
Type: Plant Info
… be therapeutic, as long as it is something you enjoy doing. What could be more exhilarating, for example, than raking leaves on a crisp autumn day? Even mowing the lawn can be therapy for some. I have a neighbor who mows … primroses from garlic mustard! To be honest, their interest soon flags, and I'm left to fight on alone. But, silly or not, my method works for me, and I get great satisfaction every time I …
Type: Plant Info
… August’s warm weather provides an opportune time for Chicago-area gardeners to enjoy their efforts, whether it’s admiring the flowers lavishly … bounty of herbs and vegetables ready for harvesting. Maintenance tasks continue. With autumn on the horizon, August also is the month to begin planting cool-season vegetables. Garden To-Do … roots, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature. Apply 2 to 3 inches of leaf mulch on flower beds, as well as trees and shrubs, keeping mulch away from the trunks. Scout the yard …
Type: Plant Info
… IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please … IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please …
Type: Page
… Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please … Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please …
Type: Page
… that can be pruned. You just have to know the plant, its growth characteristics, its best time for pruning, and what your intentions are for that plant as it plays into the whole of your … design and build phases, pruning is the most important tool that will keep your garden spot-on with what you envisioned. Willows and red twig dogwoods along the Garden wall next to the … with extra handles and nothing like those pictures in the gardening magazines. There is good news — you can have a shrub that looks like it came straight out of a gardening magazine by …
Type: Plant Info
… I received a gardenia plant as a gift. How do I care for it? You can successfully grow a gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides ) indoors as a houseplant. However, it takes specific cultural care to trigger bud formation. For flower buds to form, the plant needs to be subjected to night temperatures of 60–65 degrees … The soil should be kept evenly moist at all times, and should not be overwatered. Set the pot on a pebble tray filled with water to raise the humidity. Take care not to spray the leaves to …
Type: Plant Info
… Members of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early … and more than 3,5000 individual plants. A number of these varieties have been evaluated for their performance in our region; Plant Evaluation Notes can be found on the Garden's website. The genus was named for Dr. Charles Amson, an 18th century American …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
