… Pond cypress is a beautifully conical, upright, deciduous conifer adapted to heavy wet soils and high water tables. Native to more southern regions, it is another example of perfectly hardy trees that only survived the last Ice Age in the Deep …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This is a dwarf evergreen cultivar that will grow to a height of 6’ and a width of 4’. It has gold … a coppery color in cold weather. It will tolerate a wide range of soil types as long as it is well-drained and slightly acidic. It prefers full sun and partial shade. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… garden, and kitchen waste? Make your own compost—it can do magic for your garden. Compost is simply a mixture of soil and pieces of plants that have decomposed to the point of being unrecognizable. Dark brown and crumbly, it is an attractive addition to any garden. And the things it does for the garden are nothing short … lawn waste out of landfills, it also creates a rich soil amendment for the garden. Compost is the ultimate soil conditioner, since it improves both texture and structure, giving soil that …
Type: Plant Info
… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the wildflowers in bloom. But for Susanne Masi, … information will help to maintain their numbers and ensure their survival in the wild. She is assisted by more than 100 volunteers in a monitoring program called Plants of Concern, a joint … Midwest," she said, "and yet we have 17 genera here in the Chicago area alone. The difference is that orchids are mainly arboreal in the tropics, but here they’re terrestrial. What makes …
Type: Plant Info
… have been removed and stumps or roots have been left in the ground to decompose. The disease is caused by fungi feeding off of decomposing organic matter below ground; they are not feeding upon the grass. Nitrogen is one of the products of the decomposition process, which is utilized by the growing grass, causing dark green circles. Mushrooms are fruiting bodies of …
Type: Plant Info
… called moth orchids because the flowers of some species resemble moths in flight. The name is derived from the word Phalaena , given by Carl Linnaeus to a group of large moths. There are … Phalaenopsis hybrids. Phalaenopsis 'Mount Lip' has thick leaves that are dark green on top. It is an epiphytic (growing on tree branches and trunks) plant that grows in moderate to high light … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Description: Spotted on Evening Island, the barn owl is rarely seen in this region now. Historically, however, they were more common. That's when Illinois was covered with pasture land. This nocturnal owl is known for its heart-shaped face, and its acute listening skills come in handy for hunting …
Type: Birding
… PEACH PERFECTION® Abelia is a new shrub with tricolor leaves that change from orange to yellow and then green as the season progresses. With white flowers and red stems, this is a beautiful plant. It requires a sunny spot in the garden and blooms from spring into fall. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This buckeye is native to Japan and China. It is large (60 feet high, 40 feet wide) compared to other buckeyes. It blooms with panicles of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… of Hummelo alpine betony ( Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo') throughout the summer. This cultivar is a butterfly magnet whose flowers are also noted for long vase life indoors. This is a reliable perennial in the Chicago area if planted in locations that don't stay waterlogged …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
