… botanist shouts “Eureka!” in a forest, can you hear it? Well, that’s exactly what happened—so to speak—when a team of botanists rediscovered the pink lady’s slipper ( Cypripedium acaule ), a dazzling orchid that has not been seen in Illinois since 1999. That’s right. For a quarter century, conservationists had begun to accept that the species no longer existed here. That all changed in May when Grant Fessler, a …
Type: Blog
… such as photowalks throughout the year. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to enthusiasts to professionals. Members don’t need to own an expensive camera; mobile phone photographers are … from others, and enjoy photography together Stay connected: Explore the Events Calendar for program details and competition schedules. Watch past Educational Programs on the Society’s … such as photowalks throughout the year. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to enthusiasts to professionals. Members don’t need to own an expensive camera; mobile phone …
Type: Page
… Summer planting aims for a harvest of juicy tomatoes, succulent squash, pungent peppers, crispy cucumbers, and bowls of beans. Learn how to plant and care for these popular warm-season edibles and others so you can have a successful harvest. Nina …
Type: Item Detail
… commonly known as the dog rose, was already being cultivated by the Romans, not so much for its flowers as for its fruit - the rose hips - which were thought to cure the bite of a mad dog. Unlikely. But it is true that this rose's hips are unusually high … in history. They're the basis for the rose used in European heraldry. And Shakespeare referred to it in A Midsummer's Night Dream. However, you might not want to grow dog rose in your back …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… plants benefit from deadheading; however, newly planted young plants are less likely 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 … ( Dianthus chinensis ). Deadheading can prevent self-seeding of plants that you don’t want to spread, such as clustered bellflower ( Campanula glomerata ). Don’t deadhead plants that you …
Type: Plant Info
… The cooler temperatures have put an end to tender annuals, herbs, and most perennials. If you haven’t brought in your houseplants from … option is to simply dunk the entire plant, pot and all, if possible, in a bucket of water for several minutes to remove or kill insect pests. You may need to do this more than once. “Or, … also chew on tender plant parts. In large numbers, they can be a nuisance. Sticky traps will get some of these jumpers. Water the plant from the saucer and let the top inch or two of soil …
Type: Plant Info
… had problems with insects on my houseplants during past winters. Is there anything I can do to prevent or control them? A: The first step is to keep insects out of the house by carefully inspecting any plants before bringing them into your home. This is especially important for plants that have spent the summer outdoors. If insects are found, isolate the affected plants …
Type: Plant Info
… gold with green margins as the season progresses. By the end of the season, the color may fade to white. This large (22 inches tall by 36 inches wide), vigorous hosta is considered a classic and is widely used. Pink-lavender flowers appear in July and August and are attractive to hummingbirds. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and long lived. Although they produce … flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… bluestar is a cultivar selection made by Roy Diblik of Wisconsin's Northwind Farms and found to thrive in our region. 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 summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike to willow-like and looks attractive throughout the growing season with the bonus of good to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Purple Mildew Resistant beebalm is derived from a north American native plant and grows to around 3-4 feet high and around 3 feet wide. As part of a multi-year evaluation of beebalms held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Purple Mildew Resistant beebalm was found to have 2 -3 inch purple blossoms covering 60-80% of the plant for about a month from late June to late July. It had excellent mildew resistance and while some …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
