… in conservation terms, a restoration — an example of an ecosystem that is being brought back to healthy former conditions. Because of the constant efforts of scientists and volunteers to … rakes to remove unsightly mats of algae and invasive shoreline weeds. See the water quality for yourself: at this rare break in the shoreline plantings, you can walk right down to the … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… Zebra grass is one of the last cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis to bloom in this area, waiting until October to send up 8-foot tall pinkish-red flower spikes that gradually become silver with age. During … reaches 5 feet tall and wide, but the clumps will continue to spread by rhizomes. It grows best in sun or partial shade, and because of its size, it needs to be at the back of the flower …
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
… 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
… Early autumn ushers in a welcome peacefulness to a rich and still-blooming landscape. Trees and shrubs are at their peak of growth for the year, and many will add still another dimension when they change color. This time of year … has succumbed to storm damage, disease, or insect attack needs to be replaced? What are the best choices for gardeners today who are planting for tomorrow’s generation? The Chicagoland …
Type: Plant Info
… colored squeeze bottles, and grab-’em-by-the-handful packets, Americans are at last tuning in to the taste of homemade condiments. The time has come for homemade mustard—and you won’t believe … online.) Mustard-making Tips Mustard powder makes a much stronger spread than mustard seeds. Best bet? A combination of both. Hot water mellows mustard’s heat—use hot instead of cool in any … finished basic yellow mustard, brown crushed mustard seed, and medium-hot mustard seed. Next, Get Creative After making that first quick batch of basic mustard, Nancy passed around ten jars …
Type: Blog
… Aloe cryptopoda produces brilliant red and yellow flower buds that open to reveal yellow flowers from short-stemmed plants with narrow succulent leaves. The species is … who discovered it in 1914. Tough and durable, this plant requires full sun and arid conditions to produce the best flowering displays. The species name cryptopoda means "hidden foot," referring to the flower …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 1/2 feet tall, which means staking the flowers should be unnecessary. Wild dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America and have been hybridized into more than 20,000 cultivars. Dahlias … and can be planted when all danger of frost has passed. They can be started indoors in pots to achieve earlier blooming. They require at least eight hours of sun to be at their best. Dahlias are not hardy in the Chicago area, and the tubers must be lifted, cleaned, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… a white flowering species. The genus Deutzia consists of medium sized flowering shrubs native to Asia, generally with slender stems and a fine-textured arching habit. The clusters of small … are white on most species, but may be pinkish in a few species and cultivars. Deutzias are best used grouped in informal settings as a hedge or background to a border. These shrubs may benefit from occasional renewal pruning to maintain their dense …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
