… with thousands of kids from varied backgrounds, from the preK crowd through teenagers (not to mention my own children). They all seem to love the same thing — creating a place of their own, making something beautiful. It is a powerful pull for those of us who consider ourselves gardeners, whether by profession or …
Type: Plant Info
… bear cones. With a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, they add color and textural contrast to landscapes year-round. What exactly are dwarf conifers? Simply stated, they are conifers … dwarf conifers average about one-twentieth the typical size, with most species growing from 1 to 6 inches annually and reaching less than 6 feet after ten years. An intermediate dwarf conifer … colors, which may differ from the parent or normal species. And don't forget their small size is relative: discover the mature size of each dwarf conifer selection you find interesting, lest …
Type: Plant Info
… The Tatarian or red-stemmed dogwood hales from Siberia and northern Korea. It is a suckering shrub that may form wide colonies and is valued in the garden for its stunning red … -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species. Dogwoods are native to cooler temperate areas of North America and Asia. The genus includes 45-60 species, divided …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in open areas like the Dixon Prairie, or elsewhere around the Garden, for this warbler that is common at the Garden during its long migration stopover. One of the most ubiquitous warblers … migration is an active, thin-billed bird called the yellow-rumped warbler. It's one of up to 36 warbler species seen in the area during the spring and fall migrations. This warbler species is quite handsome and fun to watch. A spring male decked in his finest courtship attire is blue overall with a contrasting …
Type: Birding
… won’t be falling just yet.) Before you clean and store your other tools, look each one over to see if the handles are split or if the tines are bent or rusty. Some tools benefit from a light sanding to remove rust or splinters. Others may need replacing—and this is a good time to find them on sale. The Basics Just getting started? Invest in a few good …
Type: Plant Info
… Aloe dawei grows to 4 feet in height, and in winter produces massive flowering displays from January through February. There appear to be two color forms in cultivation, orange-red and yellow. Both colors successfully attract hummingbirds in the American Southwest. Aloe dawei is adapted to arid environments with low fertility. Once established, plants can survive up to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Native to Europe and northern , male fern is a deciduous perennial with medium green leaves, or fronds, which grow to 3-feet tall. It prefers cool moist conditions in partial to full shade. The name comes …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Deep purple to dark blue tubular flowers are produced in clusters throughout the warmer months on this nonhardy shrub native to the American tropics. Plant 'Royal Blue' in full sun, average soils, water during droughts, … flock to the flowers. It prefers the warmer temperatures of mid-summer to early fall, and is insect and pest resistant. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This large shrub to small tree grows close to 10 feet tall with full sun and well-drained, moderate soil moisture conditions. In March and … These give way to orange, red, and yellow apricots that attract birds (and people). This is one of the hardiest and earliest of the Prunus to flower in Chicago-area gardens. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Red Rays Switch grass is an upright clump-forming ornamental grass that grows to a maximum height of 5 feet. It requires full sun to partial shade and moderate to wet moisture conditions. Between July and February it produces …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
