… pole rising toward the sky. Atop it sits a hexagonal platform, built for a threatened species in Illinois. It was late April last year when a pair of ospreys were spotted on the platform nest for the first time since it was installed in 2016 , in partnership with the Friends of the Chicago River and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. It is viewable from the North Branch Trail near Dundee Road. Now, as the earth awakens from winter, …
Type: Blog
… What can I do now to care for my established roses? A. There are several things you can do in April to prepare your roses for a new growing season. Soil and mulch that were used for winter protection should be removed in April. Carefully remove the soil covering the base of the roses. This soil may be used in the … Established roses need approximately 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. This is often provided by spring showers, but if there is not a sufficient amount of rainfall, …
Type: Plant Info
… Kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa ) is a vase-shaped small tree when young, but as it matures, its habit becomes more rounded and … four creamy-white pointed bracts, each about 1 to 2 inches long. The true flowers are located in the center of these bracts and are insignificant. Pinkish-red to red fruits ripen in late August and persist through October if not consumed by birds. This tree has attractive …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Golden Glory is a multi-stemmed upright form of Cornelian cherry that was introduced by the Synnesvedt Nursery … typically grows 15 – 20 feet tall. It features tiny, star-like, yellow flowers that appear in March before the foliage and deep green, oval leaves turn to a purple tinge in autumn. Flowers give way to tiny red berries that mature in the summer. The attractive …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Magnolia Betty is notable for its vibrant reddish-purple blossoms and relatively small shrubby stature. It is one of the Little Girls series developed by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1962. Betty blooms in mid-spring about 2 to 4 weeks after the star and saucer magnolias. Members of the genus …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The bur oak is a native tree and broadly distributed throughout the Midwestern U.S. It is known to be tough … which mature annually, are easily recognized by their heavily fringed cups. Bur oaks grow in open habitats in full sun, rather than dense woods. There are nearly 500 bur oaks in the Chicago Botanic …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… phlox ( Phlox paniculata ) Tall or small, spring or summer, phlox are a valuable resource in any garden. In the springtime, moss phlox ( Phlox subulata ) is a cheery smile of lavender around the base of daffodils or flowing over the top of a stone … blown around by wind as they grow, he says, which strengthens their stems. In a more sheltered site, they might flop more. Though its phlox cultivars get a layer of mulch to hold in moisture, …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. How do I grow roses? A. Select a rose that is cold-hardy for your region. Provide a site with full sunlight (six hours or more), good air circulation, and well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. Roses are best planted in the spring, although they can be successfully …
Type: Plant Info
… balled and burlapped evergreens, can still be planted this month. Plant on a cloudy day, early in the morning, to prevent heat and transplant shock. Water thoroughly and gently at planting … to the ground old canes of forsythia and lilac. Alternative time to do renovation pruning is in late winter when plants are dormant. Deadhead (or lightly prune) spent lilac blossoms to …
Type: Plant Info
… into fall. Garden centers are awash with pumpkins, mums, pansies, decorative stems, and kale in celebration of autumn. Take a stroll through one of our 27 beautiful display gardens for … ideas. Here are some things to do now before your garden winds down. Time to Plant September is a great time to plant some types of trees and shrubs. Cooler days, warm soils, and rain or … help woody plants get established before going dormant. Some trees are marginally hardy in the Chicago area and should be planted in the spring. Be sure to ask an expert before …
Type: Plant Info
