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  • … <p>'Elvera', perhaps better known as MIDNIGHT WINE®, is a deciduous shrub that has pink blooms from April through June and beautiful purple-burgundy … even in smaller yards. It can handle a wide range of soil types and conditions so long as it is well drained. Full sun is ideal, but it can tolerate some shade.</p> <p>Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Pretty as those pink flowers are in spring, the foliage is the main attraction with 'Sunset.', and it puts on an ever-changing show. In spring, the … will turn gold, and by fall it's washed with red-orange.  At just 18 inches tall, 'Sunset' is an ideal candidate for the front of the border, where the color show is on full display. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love Weigela , and so do gardeners. For a …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Description:  This is a rare western visitor. …
    Type: Birding
  • … Fritillaria imperialis . On a stalk up to 3 feet tall, a flashy cluster of orange bells is surmounted by an odd-looking topknot of green leaves. As if Dr. Seuss had drawn it, the fritillary may be quirky, but it is certainly spectacular. Crown imperial fritillary (Fritillaria imperialis) has striking orange … raddaeana) bears pale yellow blooms. Unlike many spring bulbs, the checkered fritillary is a little bit shade tolerant, and prefers moist soils. The checkered snake's head fritillary, …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only last for a day before they drop. Additionally frustrating is that cloud cover can hamper catching the full glory of the blooming of some species. You may … on a trout. (Other common names include adder's tongue and dog-toothed violet—the second name is curious because these are plants in the lily family, having no relationship to violets.) In …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … permeable surface to catch rainwater, grass roots are only 3 to 4 inches deep. When the soil is dry, the water initially runs right off the lawn into adjacent areas. As cities and suburbs continue to develop and build structures and roads, there is less permeable space for water to enter the ground and, as a result, there is more flooding in … complaint is that rain gardens can look messy. Designing a rain garden can be a challenge. The site can be a little too dry or too wet for certain plants. Determine where and how the water …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Pollen Bank is a critical tool for advancing our work to prevent plant extinctions, reintroduce species into … Amorphophallus perrieri flower for pollen collection. Photo by Jeremy Foster. Storing pollen is an efficient and effective way to protect the genetic diversity of a plant species, allowing … with pollen on its face and in the pollen sac on its hind leg. Photo by Nick Dorian. What is pollen, and why store it? Pollen is a fine, powdery substance produced by the male part of a …
    Type: Research
  • … Hours   Where do gardeners go to satisfy their plant cravings when the weather outside is less than perfect? Within minutes, a walk through the Garden’s Greenhouses can transport … grow to the ceiling, ancient plants bloom, and cacti spawn families. When the weather outside is not delightful, come inside and refresh yourself as you discover another benefit of these … where temperatures hover between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and the humidity is close to 30 percent, visitors will find plants from all over the globe, many of which …
    Type: Walks
  • … Brambles are those tasty, colorful delights of early summer and fall. The genus  Rubus  is divided into many species that include raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, and … all colors produce in the spring, the everbearing varieties produce in fall as well. 'Sodus' is a good purple form with few thorns, and 'Fall Gold' has extremely sweet yellow fruit. 'Royalty' is a sweet purple raspberry that can be eaten when it is red, but the flavor is much better when …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … can see the base of the tree's trunk where the larger roots spread out into the soil. If there is no widening at the base, the tree may not be healthy. The trunk should flare out at the soil level—this is known as the "root flare." When finally planted, this root flare should be at least three … circling (girdling) roots will be disrupted. If the roots are less dense and the potting soil is loose, it is easier to tease out the roots to grow away from the main trunk. When placing the …
    Type: Plant Info