… colors and unusual shapes, gourds are not only beautiful, but are also a wonderful medium for craftspeople. Carve, wax, stain, or varnish them; paint or dye them; use wood-burning tools on them to create highly decorative objects of art. And they’re utilitarian as well. Many cultures have … to absorb sunlight and warm the soil since gourd plant roots need as much heat as they can get. Gourds require full sun, regular fertilizer, water, space, and support. Plant them either in …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. My Phalaenopsis orchid just finished blooming and I’m not sure what to do with the flower stem. Do I cut it? If so, where? A. Proper pruning of the inflorescence on … until the plant reaches a larger size. Inflorescences of larger plants can be pruned back to just above the lowest node on the stem, which may encourage it to rebloom within 8 to 12 weeks. Some gardeners believe that it is always best to remove the entire flowering stem to its base. If flowers grow smaller with age, remove …
Type: Plant Info
… Meadowsweet spirea is an upright shrub that grows to a maximum height of 4 feet. It requires full sun to partial shade and medium to wet moisture conditions. From June to August it produces showy … are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy. Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and …
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
… were puzzled by the sudden decline and loss of hundreds of ash trees, which they attributed to a nonnative, highly destructive beetle, Agrilus planipennis , commonly called the emerald ash … through August. Higher numbers are normally seen in June and early July. Adult beetles live for approximately three weeks. Beetles will hide in bark crevices and will occasionally feed on … lifetime. Eggs hatch in approximately seven to ten days. After hatching, larvae chew their way through the tree's bark and tunnel into the cambium layer where they continue their …
Type: Plant Info
… Carya ovata , shagbark hickory, is a large deciduous tree that typically grows 70 to 90 feet tall (infrequently to 120 feet) with an irregular, oval-rounded crown. It is native from Quebec to Minnesota, south … catkins (to 3 to 5 inches long) and the female flowers in short spikes. Female flowers give way to edible oval-rounded nuts. Each nut is encased in a moderately thick husk, which splits …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… that do not lose their leaves over the winter. Leaves turn yellow and then brown in response to specific weather conditions. Leaves do not actually burn but rather dry up. Timing & Life … be planted where they will be protected from winter sun. Generally, an eastern exposure is best. In the fall, thoroughly water evergreens during dry weather until the ground freezes. Where … dead areas, making pruning unnecessary. In severe cases, plants may have to be replaced. For additional information about winterburn, please contact Plant Information Services at (847) …
Type: Plant Info
… When it comes to controlling invasive plants, a little faith can’t hurt. This is particularly true for garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). We have been struggling to get this highly invasive biennial plant under control at the Chicago Botanic Garden for more than … garlic mustard at the Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Wouldn’t it be great if nature offers a way to rid our region of an invasive plant that has been plaguing our natural areas for so long? …
Type: Blog
… is a large, deciduous, lowland tree, the largest of the hickories. It typically grows 75 to 100 feet tall (infrequently to 150 feet) with a large, rounded, spreading crown and trunks that mature to 2 to 4 feet in … catkins (to 4 inches long), and the female flowers in short spikes. Female flowers give way to sweet, edible nuts. Each nut is encased in a thin husk, which splits open in four sections …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. Is it too late to plant potatoes? A. Potatoes may be planted as late as the beginning of July. Tubers develop best when soil temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Potato tubers can rot when … The pieces should be planted immediately after cutting, approximately 12 inches apart and two to three inches deep. Rows may be planted two to three feet apart. As potatoes grow, they will …
Type: Plant Info
