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  • … This evergreen tree needs full sun and moderate moisture conditions. It is a specimen in a hedge. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … the native Potawatomi as ashosikwimia'kuk, which means "smells like muskrat scent," Echinacea is a quintessential midwestern native that dots prairies from Illinois to Virginia, and Louisiana to Georgia. This late-summer bloom is not only a popular choice of midwestern gardeners, but it's also a pollinator favorite, and a … full sun and well-drained soil. In an open, dry, sunny spot that needs to be filled in, it is a great choice. Hardy from USDA Zones 3 through 9, this perennial can grow up to 5 feet tall …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … where she studied with Leen ‘t Hart, and earned both the Practical and End Diplomas.  Lens is a Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA), is a judge and was chair of the Exam Committee for many years, sat on the Board from 1996-99 and 2017-2020, was head of the Nominations Committee and is a new member of the Barnes Fund committee. Lens and her family have lived in England, Ghana, …
    Type: Event for Calendar
  • … Q. My Ash tree is going to be taken down and I would like to replace it with another tree of similar ornamental … street tree or a tree for the back yard? Are you looking for a tree that has great fall color? Is the height of the tree important to you? Once you decide the key qualities for your particular … (Ginkgo), which has a similar height to a White Ash; and Tilia americana (Linden), which is native to Illinois. …
    Type: Plant Info
  • …   Q. What is a rain garden? A. A rain garden is a natural or constructed depression intended to mitigate stormwater. The plantings in a rain … can tolerate periods of wetness as well as dry periods. Installing plants rather than seeding is also recommended. Plants suitable for rain gardens include red chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … at this time of year. They are supposed to be perennial, but I lose them over the winter.  Is there a trick to get mum plants to overwinter?     A: Hardy mums ( Dendranthema , formerly … require full sun and a well-drained, moist soil. Even though they are cold-hardy to Zone 5, it is often difficult to overwinter them in northern areas. Mums planted in the spring are much more … removed in the spring just as new growth begins at the base of the plants. A well-drained soil is essential for their successful return in the spring. …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … An evergreen, coniferous tree growing to 90 feet tall, Manchurian fir is closely related to Korean fir ( Abies koreana ). With a trunk up to 4 feet in diameter and a narrow conic to columnar crown, the bark is grey-brown, smooth on young trees, and becomes fissured as the tree ages. Leaves are flat, … bears two winged seeds, released when the cones disintegrate at maturity in the autumn. It is prone to adelgids, bark beetles, bagworms, woolly aphids, and spruce budgworms. A variety of …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … know you can grow kiwis right in your own back yard?  The fruit of 'Ken's Red' hardy kiwi vine is a cousin of the familiar grocery store kiwis. The berries have the same sweet-and-citrus … Red', the berries are red, so they even look like grapes. There's more good news. 'Ken's Red' is hardy to -25, so you can be confident Chicago winters won't faze it.  Despite the name, 'Ken's Red' is female, so you'll need a male kiwi vine nearby for pollination. You can grow it in full sun or …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The primary ornamental feature of birch trees is the bark. Many of the common names of birch trees refer to the color of the bark -- white, gray, yellow or red. Another signature bark characteristic is its habit of separating into thin sheets; Native Americans used this property to harvest the … bowls and shelter -- practical as well as beautiful. A strong secondary ornamental feature is the usually colorful golden fall foliage. Given their preference for cool weather and acid …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The primary ornamental feature of birch trees is the bark. Many of the common names of birch trees refer to the color of the bark -- white, gray, yellow or red. Another signature bark characteristic is its habit of separating into thin sheets; Native Americans used this property to harvest the … bowls and shelter -- practical as well as beautiful. A strong secondary ornamental feature is the usually colorful golden fall foliage. Given their preference for cool weather and acid …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant