… yourself back from buying every type you see on the shelf, you also know that this feeling is fleeting. Those beautiful colors and unusual varieties are in their prime now, when the hot … couldn’t pick a peck of them. You have to pickle them yourself. Luckily, pickling peppers is perfectly painless. Hot or not Just how spicy do you want your peppers? Go ahead and take a … to a year! If the lid pops up and down, the jar didn’t seal and should go into the fridge for quick eating. Already perfected pepper pickling? Then make giardiniera! Use half the recipe above …
Type: Blog
… unusual greens that were planted in early spring can be planted again this month. If weather is unusually hot, plant these greens in partial shade. The best quality and best tasting salad … that were watered frequently and lightly rather than infrequently but deeply. This advice is the exact opposite to what is recommended for watering trees, shrubs, perennials, grass, and other plants. When harvesting …
Type: Plant Info
… (circuit and materials), and seating. The entrance/exit to an outdoor space—the threshold—is perhaps the most important factor to consider when designing an outdoor space for the elderly, … in wheelchairs to cross the threshold on their own. Another factor involving the threshold is the comfort (or perceived comfort) when entering or exiting the garden. Creating a transition … elderly and aging are immensely important. The next time you visit one, take a moment for a quick assessment. With these basic tips, everyone can be an expert and wonderful advocate for …
Type: Blog
… Native to the southeastern United States, blue star ( Amsonia tabernaemontana ) is a herbaceous perennial member of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family that is hardy in the Chicago area. Often found growing streamside in sandy or gravelly soils, blue … has pale blue flowers in summer, followed by golden-yellow fall color. This species of amsonia is the most widely grown at the Chicago Botanic Garden. How can a native of the Southeast be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and gold fall color lights up the landscape. Marmo maple, Acer x freemanii 'Marmo', is a cultivated variety from the hybrid cross of red maple, Acer rubrum , with silver maple, … oval shape of the tree and its unique fall color combinations that vary with weather and site conditions are strong attributes. 'Marmo' is quick to establish itself, growing over 2 feet a year when young. Its foliage is ornamental not …
Type: Plant Info
… potential damage to our lawn and landscape plantings from deicing agents. What can we use that is safe and effective? A: The safety of both residents and visitors requires that we deal with … pavements to as much winter sun as possible. Remove snow before it melts and refreezes, or is trampled into a frozen sheet. A thin layer of snow on nearly bare pavement will melt rapidly in direct winter sun, even when the air temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When removing snow from previously treated surfaces, spread it …
Type: Plant Info
… Hippeastrum 'Red Pearl' is an intense, deep velvety red cultivar of Amaryllis with a darker throat. A "new" variety, … direction of the greatest light so be sure the rotate the pot daily to ensure the flower stalk is more or less upright (staking is often needed). Once flowering is complete, continue to grow the bulb in a warm, bright …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… to many gardeners because they have either grown it, eaten it, or admired it as a tiny topiary is the versatile herb, rosemary. Rosmarinus officinalis is an evergreen shrub hardy to zone 6. In its native Mediterranean environment, it can reach 6 … is grown in a clay pot year-round. Clay permits faster evaporation of water, thus aiding in quick drainage. Year-round container growth also eliminates the need to transplant the rosemary …
Type: Plant Info
… In much of modern life, time is abstract. We measure it through calendars, meetings, project deadlines, and fiscal years. But in a garden, time is embodied. We see it in dormancy and bud swell, in growth and senescence, in leaf drop and … nearly everything we do. Gardeners do not control the seasons; we respond to them. Our work is an act of stewardship more than ownership. We care for plants and spaces, guiding them gently …
Type: Blog
… In Chicago, February is too early to start gardening outside, but herbs may be started indoors during the winter. Sow … like parsley, with a hint of anise and lemon. Sow seeds every three to four weeks. Chervil is quick to flower and go to seed (bolt) in hot weather. It is excellent in salads, soups, and …
Type: Plant Info
