… Members of the genus Syringa , commonly known as lilacs, are shrubs or small trees prized for their showy and fragrant blooms in late spring. The individual flowers are tubular in form … 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 should be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… or the Landscape Gardens . They all feature individual garden rooms filled with gorgeous, best-for-the-Midwest plants, meandering paths, tidy brick-edged beds, fountains or pools, welcome … garden space. The grape arbor serves many purposes: it provides a sunny overhead support for American Concord Seedless grapes (perfect for jams, jellies, and fresh fruit), but cooling shade for you. It makes a grand architectural …
Type: Walks
… Flowering crabapples highlight the spirit of spring. Prized for their profuse display of flowers in April and May, these ornamental trees boast a variety of … spring flowers, the display is followed again in late summer with colorful fruits, providing for two seasons of outstanding interest. And, let’s not forget winter, when snow or ice sits on … are effective planted as a single specimen or in groups. There are smaller varieties suitable for urban sites as well as for foundation and border plantings. Species and Cultivars Crabapples …
Type: Plant Info
… dried blossoms offer winter interest in the landscape. Extreme winter cold can be a challenge for some hydrangeas. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas produce flowers on the current season’s growth. For example, in March and beyond, the plants form flower buds on new woody stems—they should … Panicle hydrangeas are considered the most cold hardy of the species. They are sought after for their cream-colored cone-shaped flowers that dazzle the garden in summer. Although some …
Type: Plant Info
… primarily in the pink and lavender shades. And it was Father John L. Fiala who was responsible for bringing 78 new cultivars to the public before his death in 1990, including many of the … leaves. A neutral, fairly alkaline soil composted with plenty of organic material is necessary for good growth. After their first few years of regular watering, lilacs become quite drought … The modern cultivars, including the dwarf introductions, generally require a light pruning for shape after the plant flowers. Old, overgrown lilacs, particularly the common lilac …
Type: Plant Info
… where tulips were introduced in the sixteenth century. The environment there is ideal for growing tulips. It’s mostly surrounded by sea, and has well-drained soil, long days, and a … here? First , select plants that perennialize easily. Tulip breeders are typically looking for the “wow” factor, not at how a new variety will perform in the landscape over the long term. … . Some standouts: T. clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ and ‘Cynthia’ and T. acuminata , which is known for its flame-like blooms. Second , help your tulips recover and recharge after blooming. While …
Type: Blog
… do feather-light grasses that cast almost imperceptible shadows on the snow. How glad we feel for the subtlety of this season, where small favors are so enjoyed. The threadlike wisps of … blooms, or the delicacy of azalea displays. They also plan winter walks in snow specifically for snow viewing and shadow watching — a happening where trees and shrubs create a second shadow … the strong trunk of the neighboring weeping maple, Acer saccharinum 'Beebe's Cutleaf Weeping'. For those with an eye to detail, look at the small, bluish white and yellow lichen patches pasted …
Type: Walks
… a greenhouse, elaborate props, or high stress. This is an adventurous learning experience for the family; a huge cost-saver; a wonderful way to grow unusual flowers and food; and a chance … radishes that germinate quickly, lettuces, beans), and perhaps a few exotic bulbs or tubers for the adults, especially if you have a couple of containers in need of color and drama (e.g., … the weather warms up. If you have a light table in the basement, or your child needs a subject for a science experiment, go for it! Catalogs, Garden Centers, Websites This can be dangerous. …
Type: Plant Info
… real food again. Let's plant some tomatoes. Tomato plants are not pretty. We don't grow them for their ornamental value or their perfect flowers or their dainty texture. Nor should we choose … life, or holds up when stacked ten deep in a giant red pyramid. We grow these awkward plants for the juiciness and flavor of their fruit, no matter how funky or misshapen some of that fruit … There are pear-shaped, cherry-shaped, ribbed, round, and oval varieties often developed for specific purposes, e.g., canning, stewing, slicing, or saucing. Favorites Gardeners have good …
Type: Plant Info
… with a height between 8 and 18 inches with a compact, mounding form making it suitable for front of the border and containers. Zinnia haageana (Mexican Zinnia) Zinnia haageana offers … outdoors after the last spring frost or start them indoors in seed-starting mix in late April for transplanting. Dig some compost a few inches into the soil before sowing or planting. Adding … the plant and place them in a paper bag with the name on it and store in a cool, dry place for next spring. Come fall, you can pull the plants—roots and all—and place them in the compost …
Type: Plant Info
