… number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- … -- though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom … sustain the plant through dry periods. Other varieties are monopodial, meaning upward growth is from a single growing point. There is an exception to almost every general statement one can …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help Is this the year to try bigleaf hydrangea, tea olive, or another plant that you think only grows … Zone Map , which can help you decide what plants might survive the winter. The update is the first since 2012. “It’s a great tool, and we’re glad the USDA continues to update these … much of the state of Illinois, has shifted to a slightly warmer zone. Most of the Chicago area is now in zone 6a, including the Chicago Botanic Garden, which previously was in 5b. (Zone 1a is …
Type: Blog
… garden. With leaves long gone from deciduous trees and perennials sticklike and bare, December is a good month to assess your yard/garden hardscape. Pyramidal or cone-shaped conifers are … yard from looking empty and brown? Conifers are commonly called evergreens, and "ever green" is just one of the benefits they bring to midwestern yards: many, many conifers are reliably … things first for your yard Think about the conditions that most conifers prefer. Full sun is the rule for all but hemlocks, some yews, and some arborvitae. Slightly acidic soil is key. At …
Type: Plant Info
… hate, focusing on the top ten weeds most commonly found in gardens in the Chicago area. What is a weed? Essentially, it’s a plant that’s growing where you don’t want it to be. Weeds are … arrow-shaped leaf and search for the first tendrils at ground level while weeding. If the weed is already established, pull and clip the plant repeatedly to exhaust its roots. Our plant … stake. #2: Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica North Shore residents know buckthorn well. It is the shrubby tree that pops up in a hedge or wooded area, then chokes out every other plant, …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: This is a rare sight diving on the lakes. …
Type: Birding
… This is a wilt-resistant variety with a gardenia-like fragrance. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… that began in Great Britain in 2019 and has spread to North America and beyond. The goal is to leave the “weeds”—clover, dandelions, violets—even creeping Charlie (gasp!) so that bees … clean, deep green, and weed-free (think of meticulously manicured golf course turf)—well, it is. If you can live with taller turf and some “weedy wildflowers” until the end of the month, pollinators will buzz to the buffet. But, if your lawn is spotlessly weed-free and treated with chemicals, “No Mow May” is, well, pointless. Weeds By …
Type: Blog
… flowers, when juices start to flow and gardeners' ambitions are highest, drudging in the dirt is not the way most of us want to spend our Saturday. Yet good soil, whether purchased for pots or created in the garden by adding organic matter, is the absolute foundation for plants' success. All those fabulous flowers won't have a chance … the roots aren't rotting in an underground puddle. Soil Size Matters A crucial quality in soil is the size of the particles. Bigger particles pack less closely, leaving more space between for …
Type: Plant Info
… The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the largest public gardens in the world, with more than 2.5 million plants on 385 … may not realize that nearly one-quarter of the Garden's acreage — 81 acres, to be exact — is water. In fact, most of the 27 gardens are located on one of nine islands. Even a portion of … a counterpoint to the exotic color and fragrance of the exuberant Crescent. This is a favorite site to spot the Garden’s gregarious resident ducks, trumpeter swans, and great blue herons, as …
Type: Walks
… like cheese, according to Lisa Hilgenberg, the vegetable garden's horticulturist. Their flesh is thick, dense, meaty and mildly sweet, begging to be roasted. This is just one variety in the bewildering tumble of what we call pumpkins . The very name "pumpkin" … ( Cucurbita maxima ‘Jarrahdale’ ) heirloom tomato American pie pumpkins (of which Illinois is the number one producer) Fancy pumpkins Like Musquee de Provence, American pie pumpkins (of …
Type: Plant Info
