Search

  • … can see the base of the tree's trunk where the larger roots spread out into the soil. If there is no widening at the base, the tree may not be healthy. The trunk should flare out at the soil level—this is known as the "root flare." When finally planted, this root flare should be at least three … too tightly. For balled and burlapped roots, take a sharpened spade and shave off the outer 1 to 2 inches of soil and root tips before planting. Dig the right hole Shallow is better than …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … until October. Seasons of Blooms Hamamelis mollis The Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis , is less hardy than the natives. Grown in the warmer parts of USDA zone 5 to 8, it is the most fragrant of them all. It is one of the earliest plants to flower in Illinois, with a profusion of slightly larger, yellow …
    Type: Plant Info
  • Is drought tolerant after established …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … make for happier and healthier plants all year long. Another important benefit of composting is having less landscape debris transported to landfills, making composting an easy way to green your gardening practices. Dig and Divide Late summer into early fall is a good time to dig up and divide perennials that have outgrown their space in your landscape … beds. Recent transplants will need supplemental water if season rainfall is less than about 1 inch of water a week. They might also benefit from a blanket of organic mulch over root zones, …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … of migrating birds as they search for seeds on coneflowers and coreopsis. The Dixon Prairie is a wonderful 15-acre re-creation of six distinct prairie ecosystems that once spanned thousands … other midwestern states. If you haven’t strolled through this part of the Garden, late summer is a good time to do so. There are more than 250 species of native plants on this open, rolling … sun, moist to dry conditions, and just about any type of soil. Plants reach a height of 1 to 2 feet. Large, abundant flowers make it suitable for borders and rock gardens. Although the …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … are equally good for you. They have astringent and decongestant qualities, and their tea is recommended for colds, flu, tonsillitis and fevers. Add 1 to 1½ ounces of raspberry leaves to 8 ounces of boiling water, infuse for several minutes and…voila! Ginger  ( Zingiber officinalis ) This has many uses, one of which is a digestive aid. Ginger ale is often used to settle stomachs. The plant's rhizome, or its …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … essence," and "the poet's flower." These descriptions alone explain why this flowering vine is cultivated as an indoor plant. Most species of jasmine grown today were originally native to …   Jasminum polyanthum The winter-blooming jasmine (sometimes called Chinese jasmine) is one of the easiest to cultivate and is a favorite among growers. A vigorous climber, it usually blooms around Valentine's Day with …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … use as a landscape garden plant. However, the black chokeberry,  Aronia melanocarpa , which is more user-friendly, certainly deserves its rising popularity — and serious consideration for … of the United States Department of Agriculture, collected plants in Russia to test at an Iowa site. The plants there suckered freely — a trait that may be desirable, depending on the … followed in early spring by a showy display of clustered white flowers borne in corymbs 2 to 2 1/2 inches across. As the season progresses, the leaves turn a deep, glossy green, which …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Helen Money is the stage name of Alison Chesley, a Chicago based cellist. Classically trained, Alison has … Show. Alison’s sixth record, Trace, a collaboration with producer and composer Will Thomas, is out now on Thrill Jockey Records.  helenmoney.com oldtownschool.org/hireus …
    Type: Event for Calendar
  • … Photography is as much about seeing and understanding the subject as it is about the technical side of taking the picture. With an emphasis on composition, this course …
    Type: Item Detail