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  • … Q: I'd like to give plants as gifts for the holidays. Many gift plants are treated as short-lived houseplants because they are … and orange. Kalanchoe is a short-day plant that, much like the poinsettia, requires darkness for 16 hours per day for approximately three months to trigger flower bud production. Even though they do require a …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … to require frequent deadheading in their first year of growth. There are several reasons for deadheading. Most gardeners do it because it aesthetically looks better when dead plant … stalk down to new lateral buds. Perennials that benefit from deadheading to prolong bloom or for rebloom include spike gayfeather ( Liatris spicata ), butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ), … and create nice winter interest. Also, avoid deadheading those that provide a food source for birds during the winter months.  Please email plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org for more …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Select trees that are winter hardy in your region. Siting trees properly is also important. For example, woodland trees that prefer shade may be more prone to frost cracking if planted in a … inspected. Frost cracks are rarely life threatening; however, the wounds can present an entry for insects and disease. Recent studies indicate that wrapping tree trunks is not an effective technique for avoiding frost cracks. For more information on frost cracking, please contact Plant …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Description: Look for this rare, state-endangered, grassland shorebird on a large lawn area or the gravel hill …
    Type: Birding
  • … Description: Look for this bird of the shrub prairie in the Dixon Prairie when it is passing through. …
    Type: Birding
  • … Forum on Ethics and Sustainability Tuesday, October 16, 2012 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Click here for more information …
    Type: Event for Calendar
  • … design studio to the dinosaur gallery. I’m excited to now devote my energies to advocating for plants and deepening our relationship to them. I’m thrilled to return to Chicago and honored … its founder.  Assuming the role of President and CEO at the Garden marks a return to Chicago for Gretchen, who began her career at the Field Museum. Over her 18-year tenure there, she had a … design studio to the dinosaur gallery. I’m excited to now devote my energies to advocating for plants and deepening our relationship to them. I’m thrilled to return to Chicago and honored …
    Type: Page
  • … most important questions serious gardeners can ask. Focus These are the main areas of focus for both homeowners and professionals: careful study of the site; choosing the appropriate tree for that site; preparing the site; and planting the tree correctly. Proper tree maintenance is, … suffocate when confined to an overly deep hole in compacted clay, where the opportunity for oxygen exchange is nonexistent and the chance for the roots to grow outward is thwarted by …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … of sites. Although most prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, there are grasses for shade, wet soil, pond and stream banks, slopes, or sandy soils. But which ones are the best? … large mounds and sends up pink bottlebrush flower heads. It is not hardy but is a good choice for containers or massed in annual beds. 'Rubrum' is an outstanding 4-foot, burgundy-foliaged …  and  Schizachyrium scoparium ) The bluestems are true native prairie grasses suitable for naturalistic areas, prairie gardens, or erosion control. Big bluestem, a tallgrass prairie …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … were grown here a century ago."     Think about your own vegetable garden: Are you planning for diversity this spring? What could your first salad of the year look and taste like if it … diversity? In our February 2013 Smart Gardener , we talked in detail about how to start seeds for spring. This month, we'll talk about what to start for spring—and that means … catalogs or nurseries. A sample from the mixes available at Renee's Garden ( reneesgarden.com ): "Asian Baby Leaf Mix," Edible Landscape "Stardom," and "Heirloom Cutting Mix." A mix makes …
    Type: Plant Info