… Spring is the time to start seeds—especially for the veggies and herbs that thrive in summer's heat. Tomatoes. Peppers. Onions. Basil. Parsley. They're some of the most popular plants to grow in Chicago area gardens, and they're the main ingredients for the tomato sauces that you'll can … do I plant the seed? How long does it take to sprout? You'll learn that tomatoes can germinate in just a few days, while peppers take longer; that basil shouldn't be transplanted until …
Type: Plant Info
… Whether you garden in pots or window boxes on a cozy balcony or deck, in beds surrounding a patio, or on a sprawling suburban lot, the gardener’s goal is often the … peaceful retreat—one where you can relax, meditate, read, enjoy a meal, write your thoughts in a journal, birdwatch, or just daydream. (Avid gardeners take note: it’s o.k. to take a break …
Type: Plant Info
… Winter once brought a dependable rhythm: cold settled in, snow piled up, and plants took a seasonal rest. But in northern Illinois, that rhythm is shifting. Winters are warming, shrinking, and becoming less … heavy snowfalls, but those moments no longer define the season. “Warmer temperatures result in fewer days with snowfall and fewer days where temperatures dip below freezing,” said Amy Iler, …
Type: Blog
… they each have Incubator plots. Natasha Coleman started at Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm in high school because she was a “tomboy at heart” who wanted to get her hands dirty. Deshawn Willingham started in the Corps program because he needed a job—then from day one, he fell in love with “how resilient and amazing nature is.” Clarence Smith’s family has farmed for …
Type: Blog
… to think about conifers. Norway spruce ( Picea abies 'Acrocona') provides year-round interest in the garden. With leaves long gone from deciduous trees and perennials sticklike and bare, … or cone-shaped conifers are iconic this time of year, and they can anchor the winter garden in a way that other shapes can't. Might a pyramidal conifer give the overall structure of your … throws at them. New cultivars are constantly being introduced, with breathtaking variations in texture, form, and color. First things first for your yard Think about the conditions that …
Type: Plant Info
… and shrubs do not require synthetic fertilization unless a nutrient deficiency is observed. In addition, normal leaf color and size, as well as annual growth will also dictate whether or … two- to three-inch layer of compost such as leaf mulch or other organic matter can be applied in the spring and is helpful in resupplying the soil with necessary nutrients. Supplemental fertilization is best applied when …
Type: Plant Info
… tree indoors? A. Lemon and other citrus trees are best grown outdoors during the summer months in a location that receives full sun. A lemon tree should be brought indoors during the winter and placed in a cool area free of drafts that receives direct sunlight. Soil should be kept evenly moist; however, be sure that the plant is in a container with good drainage. Fertilizer should be withheld during the winter months. …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. We often use fresh ginger root in cooking. Can I actually plant this root and cultivate it as a houseplant? A. Zingiber officinale is a beautiful tropical plant (hardy in zone 10) that produces tall (2-foot), reed-like stems and dense flower spikes. The rhizome … to grow without a greenhouse. If you want to take on this project, however, plant the rhizome in a large pot filled with a commercial potting mix or equal parts loam, sand, peat moss and …
Type: Plant Info
… know that our garden heritage contains a rich diversity of thousands of apple varieties. In 1990, the Historic Orchard was established at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, to preserve hundreds of pre-1900 apple varieties. Orchard manager Dan Bussey is an apple historian and orchard keeper. Follow Dan’s childhood experiences in cider-making that led to a lifelong curiosity with historic apple varieties. Trace the …
Type: Event for Calendar
… Description: This nomadic owl appears erratically and may be seen in conifer plantings or in the McDonald Woods. Long-eared owls are nomadic birds, found abundantly some years and … on prey abundance (small mammals, like mice and voles), they often form fairly large groups in winter roosts where a dozen or more birds can be found together. They are also known to …
Type: Birding
