… (1874-1963) Who doesn’t like a little privacy? In urban areas, some homes are so tall, narrow and close together that homeowners feel like they’re living in a fishbowl. Fences corral suburban … often blocking views of the neighbors’ back yards. A good fence, however, creates some privacy and frames the landscape no matter how big or small the property. Many of us live between fences, and while we may not notice them they are dominant features of many home landscapes. But a fence …
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 predictable. We still get bitter cold snaps and heavy snowfalls, but those moments no longer define the season. “Warmer temperatures result …
Type: Blog
… on the horizon. Garden To-Do List Spring cleaning On dry days, remove winter debris from lawn and garden beds. Avoid walking on wet soil. Also, keep the following in mind: When weather … for signs of damage from snow loads or animals. Respond to temperature swings Our Zone 5b and 6a USDA Hardiness Zones can experience volatile weather conditions, with winter’s frigid … of juniper ( Juniperus ). If in doubt about trees in your yard, contact our Plant Information Service. Pruning pointers March is a good month to prune many trees and shrubs. Prune out sucker …
Type: Plant Info
… perennial garden? The answer is yes if careful consideration is first given to plant choice and plant location. Matching the requirements of a plant to the characteristics of the site takes … Clematis Gentianaceae Match the Plant to the Site If you garden in a shady but dry spot and plant astilbe, you'll need to water constantly, and that's high maintenance. But if you plant astilbe in a shady, moist spot, you'll have to …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I added quite a few dahlias to my garden this year and they bloomed beautifully. Please advise on winter care. A. Dahlia tubers should be dug up after a few true frosts and after the above-ground plant material blackens. Cut the plants down to 6 inches and dig up the tuber clump very carefully, using a pitchfork rather than a shovel. Wash or dust …
Type: Plant Info
… at the University of Chicago, where he performs on the 72-bell Rockefeller Memorial Carillon and directs a carillon studio of 20 students. He serves on the board of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) and co-chairs its Johan Franco composition committee to promote new works for carillon. Brink … with greatest distinction from the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium in 2012; and studied further with Geert D’hollander at Bok Tower Gardens in 2015. He received first prize …
Type: Event for Calendar
… Aloe burgerfortensis features unusual, brightly colored, downward-angled, red-orange flowers and attractive variegated foliage. The waxy leaves have sunken pores that prevent water loss. … Aloe, or Aloe burgersfortensis is very similar to two of its closer spotted aloe relatives and is only distinguished from the other similar species by its smaller size and longer floral bracts and pedicels. Recently, by authors H.F. Glen and D.S. Hardy in 2000, it …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… it was recognized—thanks to DNA analysis—as representing a hybrid swarm* between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens . Individual plants can have flowers of deep scarlet, tangerine, orange, or a combination of orange and yellow, depending on what part of the hybrid swarm they descend from. Aloes require low humidity and deep, well-drained soil. Some of the smaller-maturing species make exceptional container …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… has small to medium green leaves with chartreuse margins. It forms a medium-sized hosta mound and is a vigorous grower. Golden Tiara can be used as an edger, ground cover, or specimen. Many … sports of this cultivar are available in the trade. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and long lived. Although they produce flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and texture; natural …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in the gesneriad family native to tropical America. Kohleria grandiflora is native to Colombia and Ecuador. Despite its scientific name, the flowers are rather small and sparsely produced compared to modern hybrids. The flowers are red with a soft yellow throat overlain with darker red spots. The leaves are dull green with purple on the underside and the dark red stems are covered with golden hairs. Kohlerias are characterized by soft, ovate …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
