… Aloe 'Goliath' is a very large unbranched aloe and can reach 12 feet tall. Salmon colored flowers appear in late … color, large and curve and bend outward to a tapered tip. According to San Marcos Growers this giant of an aloe is a hybrid cross that occurred in a garden, between a South African tree … and an aloe from Madagascar. The selection was made by Don Newcomer of Serra Gardens and named for its sturdy proportions. This large succulent plant is hardy only in USDA zones 9-11, it is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. What can I do now to care for my established roses? A. There are several things you can do in April to prepare your roses … should be removed in April. Carefully remove the soil covering the base of the roses. This soil may be used in the vegetable garden or in other planting beds. Use a fine spray of … Established roses need approximately 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. This is often provided by spring showers, but if there is not a sufficient amount of rainfall, …
Type: Plant Info
… The white oak is the state tree of Illinois. It was the dominant tree in the oak savannas common in … appear annually in the fall and are much relished by squirrels. The white oak holds its leaves for an extended period, often into the winter. Fall color varies with year from brown to a wine-red. This majestic oak is noted for its longevity, with trees over 300 years old not uncommon. The …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… are in the stores, but don’t put away your trowel, shovel, hose or clippers just yet. Autumn is another great time for planting and many garden centers have a fresh inventory of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals … (There’s no need to prune woodies, unless you are removing cracked or broken branches.) This past July, temperatures in the Chicago area soared and rain was spotty, subjecting plants to …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: This is one of two visible woodpecker species with red highlights on its head. It is more common than the red-headed woodpecker. Look for this species in the McDonald Woods or at bird feeders in winter. …
Type: Birding
… Q. Is there anything special that I need to do before planting a tree? A. A very important first step before planting a tree is to select the right tree for your location. In order to ensure a healthy tree, many factors need to be taken into …
Type: Plant Info
… them recently, but I’d admit to 50-plus plants. I simply find orchids to be fascinating for their seemingly infinite variations of flower sizes, shapes, colors, fragrance (very … breeding them and germinating their seed in tissue culture; my first breeding projects ever. This hobby actually led me to my career as a plant breeder (of perennial plants) today. I was a … wide flowers of an intense orange-red on a plant no larger than 3 inches tall. S. coccinea is a challenge to grow at all, let alone grow well, but its hybrids are much easier to cultivate, …
Type: Blog
… I started vermicomposting (composting with worms) in April for Earth Day. It has been four months and my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) from the food I fed them. My compost is ready to harvest! If you started a worm bin or are planning to do so, you will know your bin … of casting material, stop feeding your worms and let them consume any remaining food scraps. This might take a week or so. View all parts Vermicomposting for Beginners view part 1 Tips for …
Type: Blog
… Orange Summer Sunflower Orange overlapping petals surround the black fertile flowers on this pollenless cultivar in July and August. Flowers and stems are ideal size and strength for the cut flower industry. This is the first sunflower that is downy mildew resistant - a breakthrough in plant breeding! …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… CARDINAL™ arrowwood viburnum is notable for its burgundy fall color, which changes to bright red. The white flowers and blue berries are … are over 100 different varieties of viburnum at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no longer being updated. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
