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  • … the following early blooming perennials: catmint, geraniums, salvia, and delphiniums. Annuals in containers and hanging baskets may require daily watering during hot or windy weather. … Continue to fertilize container plants with half-strength balanced liquid, but avoid applying in the heat of the day or during long, hot dry spells. Always water plants before fertilizing. … clematis vines and all other soft-stemmed vines to their supports. Make note of empty spots in borders that might benefit from planting summer-flowering bulbs next year. Seeds of perennials …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … hardy orchid gardeners. A deep maroon red upright flag is flanked by two petals streaked in maroon and cream. The large inflated pouch is predominantly cream with small lines and dots of maroon. Very striking. Plant in full to half day sun in consistently moist but not waterlogged soils and fertilize as you would for other perennials …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … This orchid has small clusters of white flowers. More than half of each petal tipped in pink are borne at the nodes of 1-year-old upright pseudobulbs. They grow and flower best if exposed to full sun to bright light, allowed to experience a slight drying in summer, and grown in well-drained media. Bring the plant indoors before the first hard frost and place it under …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … common name of tiger lily. The flowers are orange-red with black speckles and recurved petals in late summer. The flowers are 5 inches across, and a single stem may have as many as 20 to 25 … does not produce viable seeds, it does produce many small aerial bulblets, known as bulbils, in the leaf axles along the stem. A bulbil will produce flowers 2 years after it is collected … lancifolium from which Splendens is derived are edible, and these plants have been cultivated in Asia as a food crop. The bulbs are said to taste like turnips. The flower is also edible, but …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … and gracefully age to white on an evergreen shrub that rarely grows more than 5 feet by 5 feet in size. The large, dark green evergreen leaves feature a tawny indumentum (feels like hairs) on … hairs that form a striking contrast to the older leaves. Fourteen to 17 flowers are produced in each truss (inflorescence) at the tips of the branches. In 2007, this cultivar was awarded the Rhododendron of the Year Award by the Atlantic chapter of …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … or foxtail orchid, is a beautiful member of the Orchidaceae family — the largest plant family in the world. Native to the warm, moist tropics of southeast Asia, it is monopodial (rarely … on the flowering stem. This is an orchid that really requires a greenhouse for proper growth in the Chicago area, and it is known for disliking root disturbance, so growth in a slatted wooden box is recommended. The orchid family consists of a large number of genera, …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … blossom pink and gracefully age to white on an evergreen shrub that rarely grows over 5’ x 5’ in size. The large dark green evergreen leaves feature a tawny indumentum (felt like hairs) on … that form a striking contrast to the older leaves. Fourteen to seventeen flowers are produced in each truss (inflorescence) at the tips of the branches. In 2007 this cultivar was awarded the Rhododendron of the Year Award by the Atlantic chapter of …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … to plan and dream about your yard and garden, smart gardeners know that a wish list drawn up in winter can feel overwhelming by spring. Instead, grow your garden a few steps at a time each … the garden of your dreams. Winter resolutions Hang a bird feeder. Build a compost bin . Invest in an excellent pruner. (Find a variety of garden tools at The Garden Shop! ) Order seeds for … ideas!) Prune a crabapple or pear tree into an espalier. Ask your grandparents what they grew in their gardens. Swap seeds with fellow gardeners at our Seed Swap . Become a volunteer for …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … them, you probably don't look closely at your orchids all that often when they're not in bloom. Spring is the time to examine each plant with a critical eye to assess the need for … re-potting? Orchids need both the nutrients from the chunky, loose bark mix they're planted in and the air space in between the pieces. As the mix breaks down to particle size, it compacts the air spaces inside …
    Type: Plant Info
  • In December, winter officially arrives. Most gardeners get a break from their responsibilities—a … Apply 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark, composted manure, or garden compost. After the holidays in late December and early January, evergreen boughs from seasonal wreaths or small sections of … on your lawn and garden beds. Walking on frozen turf can damage grass blades, and walking in garden beds during winter thaws can compress soil and impact its ability to absorb water. …
    Type: Plant Info