… the common lilac was introduced in France in 1916 and is still a popular choice in the trade for its double white fragrant blooms. Like other lilacs, its blossoms attract bees, butterflies … tubular in form and are borne in large panicles. While the common name of the plant has come to define a shade of pale purple, some species and hybrids have pink or white blossoms. Lilacs begin to set buds for the following year shortly after they finish blooming; if pruning is desired, it …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… , was originally propagated at the Arnold Arboretum in 1920. It has a rounded habit reaching 6 to 8 feet tall; its shape is very full and balanced. The flowers of the Judd viburnum are pink in bud, opening to white and very fragrant. The flowers open in early May and persist for up to two weeks. The fruit is black and may persist into winter. Fall foliage color is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… important part of the tall grass prairie providing an important food source and winter shelter for a range of insects, small mammals and birds, even bison. Shenandoah switch grass is an … streaks by summer and burgundy by fall. The purple seed heads appear in late summer though to fall. Like most switch grasses, Shenandoah is extremely versatile and can cope with a range of soil types from sandy to clay and shade conditions although it prefers full sun. Because of its versatility it can be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Even before it blooms, ‘Phaison’ stands out for the elaborate coloration of its foliage. The new leaves unfurl from wine-red canes in … burgundy. Then the flowering stalk rises, opening into the rich golden orange bloom. It’s hard to believe all this comes from a species, Canna indica , that was once grown primarily for its rhizome roots, a food source in the ancient civilizations of Central and South America. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Swamp rose ( Rosa palustris ) is one of many water-loving, water-absorbing plants selected for the Rainwater Glen. An Illinois native plant, it grows in marshes in northern Illinois, in … summer. Swamp rose is used in home landscapes with full sun and moist, acidic soil, and room for colonies to form. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This evergreen tree has a densely pyramidal growth habit. It is used for screening or as a specimen. Three cultivars of this species are recommended by the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Colorado spruce performs well in the Midwest and is valued for the blue foliage found in many cultivars. Most popular evergreen tree in the Midwest landscape. A common mistake in planting this species is placing ot too close to a house. The tree grows fairly rapidly and needs a lot of space. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… rise above freezing, select branches that have numerous, healthy buds, taking care not to disfigure your tree or shrub. Using a sharp blade, cut a few more branches than you need just … Once inside, re-cut the branches 1 inch from the base, and then carefully split the cut end 1 to 4 inches up the stem. Place the stems in water immediately. Entire stems can also be totally submerged in water for several hours to replace moisture lost during winter. During the forcing period, place the …
Type: Plant Info
… Now that both temperature and leaves are falling, a gardener's thoughts turn to planting bulbs. In an April Smart Gardener , our headline read: " Plan Now, Plant Later ." Now is time to "plant later"—put your planning steps into practice as you commence planting the daffodil … the season), beware of trees with heavy, extensive root systems, as there won't be enough soil for bulbs to grow and thrive. Speaking of soil, is the potential planting spot well drained? …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: Look for this common nesting bird near low conifers where it prefers to build its nests. …
Type: Birding
… a vigorous, deciduous, woody vine. Pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring. For mature plants, trumpet creeper tolerates heavy pruning to control its spread and maintain a desired size. Prune annually, spur-pruning lateral shoots back to within two or three buds of the main stems. Remove weak and diseased growth. Renovate by …
Type: Plant Info
