… Celebrating the Garden in Autumn "Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods." – William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) … the spicy fall air, and muse about how our gardens performed now that we’re putting them to bed. No matter what happened to the plants—(remember that very wet spring and seemingly endless summer drought and heat?)—we …
Type: Plant Info
… The Ginkgo is an ancient deciduous conifer. The cultivar 'Akebono' is a male (fruitless) clone grown for its narrow upright habit with upswept branches. Evidence … with the dinosaurs. Its unusual fan-shaped leaves adorn this large, lovely tree that grows to 50' or so. The spread can be wider than the height in mature plants. It is one of the most …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. Is it possible to grow dwarf citrus trees indoors in the winter without a greenhouse? I have a … dwarf citrus trees make excellent outdoor warm-weather container plants. Most are hardy to 30 degrees and do quite well when provided with warmth, humidity and full sun. To successfully … will be opened in cold weather. Reduce watering during winter months. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Provide supplemental humidity. This is essential, especially when the plants …
Type: Plant Info
… science program, Budburst, by observing plants changing color and setting seed. Find out how to be part of our seasonal challenges and how to submit observations with our mobile app. Then set out on a self-guided walk in McDonald Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) We’ll have one guided woods walk, …
Type: Event for Calendar
… and just plain Crocus 'Yellow'. It has been in cultivation for so long that its exact origin is unknown. The meadows won't be mowed until all crocus leaves have fully withered. The leaves need plenty of time—usually about six weeks after flowering—to turn sunlight into the energy that each bulb will store until it is needed to power next spring's show. Crocus naturalizes easily, especially in well-drained soil that is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Crown-of-thorns is a slow-growing tropical shrub with a rambling growth habit. Plants can grow to 3 feet by 3 … colorful bracts. 'Pet Mong Koi' is a cultivar from Thailand, with bright pink flowers. Its 5- to 6-sided fleshy, thorny stems are adorned with long leaves with purple undersides. At the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Rosa blanda, also known as the Meadow Rose, is native here, and throughout the prairies and meadows of the upper midwest. It blooms in … the decorative red hips (seed pods) provide winter food for birds. It won't surprise you to learn that like most natives, this is a vigorous, undemanding grower. In fact, it's hardy to Zone 3, - 35 degrees. And it's almost thornless...just some small prickles toward the base of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Lamb's ears or wooly betony ( Stachys byzantia ) is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. The plant's thick, silvery, soft, wooly leaves combined … Stachys species typically spread by runners, forming a rapidly spreading mat approximately 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Good drainage in summer and winter is essential for the health and … "woundwort." Early documented use notes the antiseptic qualities of the leaves and their use to bandage wounds. Stachys byzantina extract has shown antimicrobial activity against …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Iris histrioides 'George' is among the first of the very early spring flowers to come into bloom in the Chicago area. … yellow, known as a nectar guide. Close observation on a sunny day will provide an opportunity to see bees and other nectar-gathering insects landing on the blotch and following the yellow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Take a deep breath, and feel the love Is it possible to breathe in … love? We think so. The heady scents that flourish at the Chicago Botanic Garden are enough to make anybody swoon: the floral embrace of a rose, the intoxicating aroma of lilies, the …
Type: Blog
