… Home gardeners can sympathize: not every seed that is planted grows. This truth extends to restored prairies that are grown from seed mixes, according to Rebecca Barak, Ph.D., who … transect in each study prairie, and marked off a large circle every 5 meters along the way. Within the circle, she and her collaborators counted all the plant species they could find. … rainwater and carbon dioxide—they also provide opportunities we can all enjoy each time we visit, said the scientist and former teacher. “I think it’s about more than that [the ecological …
Type: Blog
… Large, broad-petaled pink flowers are splotched in dark pink to red, surrounded by a white halo with a yellow patterned lip. Indoors, the plants perform best if provided with bright light, high humidity, warm temperatures, and exceptionally … by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun. Many varieties …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… are critically important in pollinating native plants, and the relationship can be complex. For instance, some flowers require “buzz pollination,” whereby a bee grabs onto a flower’s anthers and must vibrate at a particular frequency for the flower to release pollen. To evaluate the best habitats for native bees, the Chicago Botanic Garden has collected bees from all around the …
Type: Plant Info
… Everyone can use a little privacy in their garden from time to time. After all, a garden is a place to retreat from the outside world, a place to sit and sip … as their foliage changes to golds, reds, and yellows. Some shrubs provide shelter and food for birds. Glossy black chokeberry, Northern bayberry, sumac, red chokeberry, and spicebush are … fast-growing evergreen that can be sheared to keep it in bounds if necessary. These shrubs are best grown in moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. To create a screen, …
Type: Plant Info
… noticed many discounted evergreens at local garden centers. Is this a good time of the year to plant them? A. While it is acceptable to plant many deciduous trees and shrubs at this time of the year, it’s not a good idea to plant … death because they are unable to take up enough water due to their reduced root mass. It is best to plant evergreens in the spring when they have an entire growing season to become …
Type: Plant Info
… rosy lilac flowers packed together in large flat topped flowerheads. With age, the color fades to a pink lilac. The stems stand 24 “tall with gray green fernlike foliage. It does best in full sun and blooms from early summer to early fall. It is attractive to buttterflies, bees and hummingbirds while resistant to deer, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… away from loneliness until only her voice remained, which disappeared into the mountains to mock every sound it heard. The gods, angry at the cold and conceited Narcissus , changed him … jonquil, narcissus, paperwhite—but all are members of the genus Narcissus—the botanical name for all daffodils. Some people refer to any yellow daffodil as a jonquil. However, jonquil … from winds out of the north and west, which can knock the plants over in spring. Bulbs do best in humus-rich, loose soil that drains quickly. Waterlogged soils cause them to rot. If your …
Type: Plant Info
… A quick primer for successful combinations Every gardener is an artist. After all, you “paint” your garden with plants. Just as an artist moves paint from palette to canvas, the gardener’s art lies in creating a colorful arrangement of flowers and foliage that … that is a sprawling suburban lot. Understanding how color combinations work can help you get the most out of your garden, big or small. Here's to Hue Most people see a violet afterimage …
Type: Plant Info
… I started vermicomposting (composting with worms) in April for Earth Day. It has been four months and my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) from the food I fed them. My compost is ready to harvest! If you started a worm bin or are planning to do so, you will know your bin is ready … undecomposed material from the bucket of castings back to the worm bin. It is not necessary to get every piece, as these will continue to decompose over time. You can screen the material by …
Type: Blog
… a creamy white with a hint of green. Leaves can be 4-6” long, with a rough texture. Shrubs can get quite large, up to 8 feet, and suckering may occur. Plant in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil. Native to the southern states, it blooms on new growth, so do not prune until after flowering. The …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
