… Winter is actually the best time of year to prune your deciduous plants. Wait for a relatively mild, sunny day, get out your pruners, and take a critical look at your trees … shrubs. As soon as trees and shrubs go into dormancy, pruning can begin, and you can prune up to the time when buds begin to plump up. From mid-November to mid-March, you can shape and thin …
Type: Plant Info
… by Bev Wigney . Deer mice, or white-footed mice, are among the animals you are most likely to see at the Garden in winter—or at least you may see their tracks. And you might hear the hoot of an owl or see the tracks of coyotes, which are also looking for mice. We tend to think of winter as a time when animals curl up and hibernate like bears. Many do, such as the …
Type: Plant Info
… It can be found in most habitats at the Garden. Those of us who live in northerly climes refer to our family and friends who head south for the winter as snowbirds. A different kind of snowbird comes to northern Illinois for the winter. It's the dark-eyed junco, a chatty, active bird that …
Type: Birding
… Garden, thousands of Narcissus bloom. Come enjoy the spirit of spring, and be inspired to try some new varieties in your own garden. The Beauty of Spring The Narcissus genus includes … swaths in formal gardens. The thousands of cultivars range from the great giants, growing to 20 inches with strong stems, coronas (trumpets), and perianths (petals) that can withstand spring winds and rain, down to charming 4-inch miniatures perfect for rock gardens or containers. Colors extend well beyond yellow and white to shades approaching …
Type: Plant Info
… foliage, oversized flowers, and sensational color schemes, can add an exciting dimension to summer gardens. In winter, many of these same tropicals reappear, this time contributing a stylish twist to indoor gardens. One plant able to make a stunning statement indoors or out is a symbol of … Ananas comosus . Native to South America The pineapple plant was cultivated by local people for hundreds of years before colonialism and the age of exploration transported it to China, the …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: Look carefully for the smallest owl species at the Garden during its migration in late October and November. Although it is difficult to find, it may be seen in any shrubby or wooded area. …
Type: Birding
… The Japanese painted fern grows to 18 inches tall. The 20-inch fronds are a soft grayish-green overlaid with silver with contrasting dark maroon midribs. For the best color, plant this fern in light shade. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This evergreen tree needs full sun and moderate soil conditions to reach a maximum height of 25 feet. Female trees produce blue fruit that attracts birds. Both male and female trees are needed for berry production. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 …
Type: Plant Info
… Cicadas have been out and singing for a while now. If you live around trees, you may be enjoying their late summer serenade. You … their adult stage. Then they mate, lay eggs, and die. When you find one, you can examine it to learn more about these big bugs. Did you know that cicadas have five eyes? In school we learn that insects have compound eyes, and we use toy bug eye viewers to get a sense of what dragonflies and bees see. But the real picture is a little more …
Type: Blog
