… to talk orchids, yet they're at the top of our minds at the Garden this month, as we prepare for the Orchid Show. This got us thinking: how does a smart gardener care for orchids in the depths of winter? With just a few adjustments to the basics. Today's … is an upside to the short days and lower light of winter: it triggers the flowering process for many orchids. (A caretaking note: stay ahead of long flower stalks by staking them as soon as …
Type: Plant Info
… Youth Farm North Lawndale 2014 Participants Sarah Pekovitch Grower Second season Sarah worked for several years in urban agriculture and youth development in New York. She enjoys teaching the … are carrots. Quote: “I like the Youth Farm because we can work together and provide fresh food for the community.” Lorenzo James Crew leader Third season Lorenzo is a senior at North Lawndale … is corn. Quote: “I chose to work at the Youth Farm because we grow healthy vegetables for our community. What I like about working here is the growing.” Anton Willis Crew member …
Type: Page
… October’s falling leaves signal a major transition for Chicago-area gardeners. Although daytime temperatures may be pleasant and even balmy this … of next year’s growing season. Garden To-Do List Plant spring bulbs Fall is prime time for planting spring-blooming bulbs. Consider adding new varieties to the yard and bulbs that are … the coming winter weather. Excess fallen leaves can be shredded and kept aside to use as mulch for perennial and garden beds in November, after the ground has frozen hard. Mulch helps regulate …
Type: Plant Info
… scutellarioides brings tropical colors and waves of texture to garden beds and baskets. Grown for its vibrant flashes of foliage, which span the color spectrum from yellow and chartreuse to … is enjoying a revival from its earlier years as a popular Victorian houseplant. The reasons for the current rage center on the plant's adaptability and growers' creativity. Once confined to … soil, these plants survived southern summers with no major problems. This is good news for Chicago-area gardeners who lack shaded yards. Growers have been busily hybridizing …
Type: Plant Info
… the late summer. The first line of defense against crabgrass is to minimize the opportunities for it to proliferate by maintaining a healthy lawn through appropriate mowing, fertilization, … early May in northern Illinois. Several synthetic pre-emergence herbicides are commonly used for crabgrass control. These are available to homeowners either as standalone granular products, … apply a synthetic pre-emergent herbicide, be careful to use a product that is clearly labeled for use on newly seeded lawns. Do not apply pre-emergent herbicides before the temperature of the …
Type: Plant Info
… not able to migrate north as quickly as the ice melted because many of the animals responsible for pollinating and transporting seeds or plant parts had become extinct. Members of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early … and more than 3,5000 individual plants. A number of these varieties have been evaluated for their performance in our region; Plant Evaluation Notes can be found on the Garden's website. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… it produces large, fragrant, showy white or orchid colored flowers during Chicago winters. For gardeners of a certain age, this was the favorite flower for high school dates. Difficult but not impossible to be grown by homeowners, the following … cool in fall bring plants indoors and place under full sun spectrum grow lights on a timer set for approximately 12 hours in a basement or other area where temperatures are cool but well above …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in the ticket kiosk area in front of the Visitor Center to walk together to McDonald Woods for the 1 p.m. guided tour. Enjoy spring’s beauty in McDonald Woods—from delicate wildflowers … Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) Dress for the weather. If winds are 20 or more miles per hour or if there is heavy rain, the program …
Type: Event for Calendar
… Q. Can you suggest a remedy for African violets that don't bloom as often as they should? A. Many African violets will cut … not being met: bright light, warm and humid air with no drafts. If you have had these plants for some time, perhaps it is time to repot them. Although they do prefer to be slightly …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I was away on vacation for several weeks and my houseplants were seriously overwatered. How can I tell if they have … of time the roots were waterlogged and how much of the entire root mass was affected. To check for damage, remove each plant from its pot and check the condition of the roots. Healthy roots …
Type: Plant Info
