… Many gardeners take the director's approach to selecting perennials. They conduct tryouts each season, hoping to discover one or more budding new stars. Over time, the true classics will endure, but the process of looking for a beautiful new plant is something gardeners anticipate at the start of each new growing … chosen for their burgundy-purple foliage that is about as dark as any perennial's foliage can get. The statuesque plants grow between 2 and 4 feet but sport tall spires of light-colored, …
Type: Plant Info
… with good air movement, and exceptionally well- drained orchid growing medium. They flower best if they spend the summer outdoors and then come back in before the first hard frost. The … contrasting colors, and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are in native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semitropical or tropical environment (USDA … 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
… wild, aerial roots arising along the cane intertwine themselves with surrounding vegetation to keep the plants upright when in flower. In cultivation staking is required. Bright light, high humidity and high temperatures with exceptionally well drained potting mix produce the best repeat blooms. The orchid family consists of a large number of genera, each with its own … 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
… Caspian Blue false indigo features the long spikes of very blue pea-like blooms for which the genus is best known. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly known as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society in the 18th century, forsythias are medium to large shrubs that produce four- petaled clusters of bell-shaped flowers in the axils of the … be hardier than either parent and has given rise to many popular cultivars. Although not noted for fall color, in good seasons the shrubs will have an interesting mix of yellow, red and purple … soils and varying moisture, but the flower buds may be tender on older cultivars. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… For Chicago-area gardeners, May is typically “go time!” for planting annuals, vegetables, and herbs to fill out the garden. The lawn is actively growing, too. However, this month is a study in … plantings and bring unplanted containers indoors if cold temperatures are predicted. It may be best to plant warm-season plants such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers, beans, corn, …
Type: Plant Info
… at hardware stores and large garden centers. Proper soil pH is particularly important to plants such as birch trees and hydrangea shrubs. Often, plants exhibit nutritional deficiencies that can be addressed by a pH adjustment. The symbol pH is used to express a level of acidity or alkalinity. A pH reading of 7.0 is considered neutral, readings … above 7.0 are alkaline. Most garden plants grow satisfactorily in soils with a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5. It is important to determine the pH of a soil prior to adding an amendment such as sulfur …
Type: Plant Info
… The plant collections of the Chicago Botanic Garden have a new place to show off in a “theater” designed just for them in the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled … snowdrops and primroses, that are potted and placed on tiers of shelves. “It’s an old-school way of displaying specific plants and it will highlight some of the Garden’s collections,” said … “We have a fantastic production department,” Sherwood said, and they will coordinate the best times for the plants to be replaced with new ones, four times a year. The potting soils will …
Type: Blog
… of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruits, and houseplants plant selections for northern Illinois Diagnosis and treatment options Control of insects, diseases, and cultural … purchasing sources for particular plants Specimen collection and submission Please be sure to read our guidelines for specimen collection and submission if you will be bringing in a sample … sample. Please follow our guidelines for collecting and submitting samples in order for us to provide you with accurate answers to your questions. Prevention of boxwood blight Plant …
Type: Page
… fall; in a typical year the foliage is yellowish brown. A short lived tree in this climate due to the prevalence of the bronze headed birch borer. Plant where the trunk can be shown to best advantage in winter and plan on replacing the plant in 10 to 15 years, on average. The … ornamental feature is the usually colorful golden fall foliage. Given their preference for cool weather and acid soil and their susceptibility to bronze birch borer infestations, birch …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
