… Q: I am storing summer bulbs for the first time — is there anything I need to do for them during the winter? A: Bulbs, tubers, and corms need … and signs of decay. Shriveling indicates that the relative humidity in the storage area is too low. If bulbs are shriveled and packing media is very dry, dampen the material slightly. Bulbs showing obvious signs of rot or spotting should …
Type: Plant Info
… through another Chicago winter? A. The single most important need of your evergreens this fall is water. Because they will continue to lose moisture through their needles throughout the … shrubs during autumn; this means making sure they receive a good soaking before the ground is completely frozen. Refrain from fall pruning, since this may encourage new green growth that … evergreens can be screened from damaging northwest winds by setting up burlap barriers. Since site selection is critical with all trees and shrubs, examine the locations of these plants. If …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. Is there an all-purpose mulch I can use throughout the different areas of my garden? A. Looking … white stone to shredded cypress to cocoa shells, it appears the selection of mulch materials is never-ending. One of the best mulches for garden beds originates in your own backyard. It’s … and oxygen in addition to increasing the ability of plants to develop healthy roots. Compost is best applied 2 to 3 inches thick once soils have warmed up, after weeds have been removed and …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. Are poinsettia plants poisonous? A. The term "poisonous plants" is often associated with plants that may cause great harm or be fatal if ingested. Potential … the amount consumed. The latex in some species of plants in the Poinsettia genus ( Euphorbia ) is poisonous when ingested and can cause contact dermatitis when exposed to skin. The popular … latex sap of poinsettia plants may cause mild, short-lasting skin irritation. Plant toxicity is often measured by a quantitative amount of material ingested. Care should always be taken when …
Type: Plant Info
… Chicago), and the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago (JASC). JOURNEY CHICAGO is a series of events taking place throughout the month of October at cultural heritage centers across the city’s neighborhoods and suburbs. This series is a marquee program of the Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA). Free with regular parking and admission fees; pre-registration is not required. All ages welcome. …
Type: Event for Calendar
… walk at 1 p.m. You can also take a self-guided walk in McDonald Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) Dress for the weather. If winds are 20 or more miles per hour or if there is heavy rain, the program will be canceled. Free; regular parking and admission fees apply. …
Type: Event for Calendar
… The dune aloe ( Aloe thraskii ) is a large, single-stemmed, tree-like succulent that grows to a height of 6.5 to 13.5 feet tall. … plant was named by John Gilbert Baker (1834-1920) in 1880 for a Mr. Thrask, about whom nothing is known. Attractive to birds, butterflies, and bees, the dune aloe is deer tolerant. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Almost everyone is familiar with Aloe vera , the pass-along plant known widely for its ability to ease the … warm temperatures, and wide root run. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993, it is considered a tropical plant and overwinters best in a heated greenhouse or other indoor … widely traded that the original nativity of the plant has been lost. Regardless, this species is widely grown in arid environments and has naturalized in Sudan, the southern Arabian …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… to slightly dry soils. Butterflies, bees, wasps, and moths all cover this plant when it is in full bloom—it is truly a pollinator magnet. A toxin (tremetol) found in this plant is responsible for "milk fever," a disease that was widespread across much of eastern and central …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… protruding from the flowers. The yellow flowers turn reddish-orange as they age. The fruit is a dry capsule with long filaments. The new growth of 'Copper' is coppery-red, fading to olive green, especially in shaded parts of the plant. This was one of … in clay or other poor soils. Plants can spread by suckers and may form colonies. Fall color is reddish-purple. Plants in the genus Diervilla are small native American shrubs that are not …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
