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  • … walk outside, typically covering less than a mile and ending with a forest-based tea. Dress for the weather, as class will still be held in light to moderate rain. Sally Peterson, certified …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … that’s one more exciting aspect of spring.         Look them Over Pick up the pots and look for roots emerging from drainage holes. That’s a sign the plant could use repotting. Leaf tips … and limp are also signs that the plant needs care. Hold the pot up to the light to check for spider mites, minuscule insects that create very fine, hard-to-see webbing under leaves and … New Potting Soil Your plants may need fresh potting mix. If a plant has grown in the same pot for a few years there’s a good chance the fertilizers and nutrients in the soil are depleted. …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … and whether there are signs of insect and rodent damage. The work comes at a critical time for Joshua trees, iconic plants of the Southwest. Joshua trees provide habitat and food for a host of animals; the plants are an essential part of the Mojave Desert ecosystem. But … Desert destroyed about 1.3 million Joshua trees. Sometimes it can be hard to stay optimistic for the future of Joshua trees. We’ve been seeing established trees—hundreds of years old and …
    Type: Blog
  • … not pure muck. Choose a well-drained, full-sun spot and thin the plants as they grow, allowing for the full-body structure they are going to assume. An alternative would be to buy transplants … Leaves from transplants can be harvested after 55 days whereas seed-grown plants need to wait for 75 days or more. Collect the outer leaves first and allow the inner leaves to continue to … tell you to cut off the tops of the plants as another form of harvest. Looks good and is good for you Kale is a member of the mustard family ( Brassicaceae ), along with many of the …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … such as arborvitae, won't resprout if you cut back as far as the bare, brown part of a branch. For a wreath that combines deep green with tones of golden brown, dried hydrangea blossoms are a … wreath, whether homemade or store-bought and home-decorated, is an outdoor decoration for the door or exterior wall. Indoors, it would quickly dry out and leave a mess. Even for outdoor use, Clifton recommends spraying your wreath with an antidessicant (sold at garden …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … the neighbors are sneaking tomatoes onto your front porch. Never fear. There are many options for coping with the harvest. One option is to donate surplus produce to food pantries or homeless … pantry welcomes perishable goods before you deliver the produce. If you need new inspiration for the table,  check out the recipes from the Garden Café . Pesto A classic way to use up … sauce. Freeze pesto in ice-cube trays and then keep the cubes in the freezer in a zipper bag for later use. Got armloads of heirlooms on your hands? Learn to preserve your harvest in tomato …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Plants That Celebrate Halloween It’s just about that time of year for ghosts, goblins, witches, and treats. To celebrate, here are some plants that are not only … during summer. Split the fruits lengthwise, lightly oil and season the flesh, and grill them for a yummy Halloween treat. Darth Vader Begonia ( Begonia darthvaderiana ) This rare begonia was … which refer to its large leaves that often have perforations. The holes or deep lobes account for its other common name, “Swiss cheese plant.” Whatever its name, it makes a great monster of a …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … make-a-floral-centerpiece gathering. One Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving, we did just that for the first time in our office at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Within an hour, each of my work … if anyone brings wine and snacks to share. Gather supplies You should pick up a few things for the group. Flower holders   Provide something to keep flowers in place inside the containers. … many different kinds of flowers. Stick to bunches of three, considering colors and textures. For instance, you might pick a peach carnation, orange mum, and yellow rose. Favorites   It …
    Type: Blog
  • … tomatoes in a variety of colors and flavors.   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
  • … New! Watercolor is perfect for winter: crisp white paper, long crystalline-blue shadows, landscapes transformed by mounds of …
    Type: Item Detail