… Own Rewards Taking an active part in the work of the garden can be therapeutic, as long as it is something you enjoy doing. What could be more exhilarating, for example, than raking leaves on … be a chore, but for him it's enjoyable and therapeutic. One of the garden's more tedious jobs is weeding, but with a little imagination, I've turned it into a game I call "Good Guys Against … bulbs can be good therapy too where I use my imagination in a different way. The ground is always rock-hard in the fall, and if I couldn't visualize the end result of my digging, I …
Type: Plant Info
… View Classes Carlson’s Outdoor Photo Tips Light Controlling light in photography is important. “Often the snow looks gray or blue in winter photos; this is because there’s an enormous amount of light bouncing around from snow—it’s highly … ‘squints’ just as we do in bright light. The old photo cliché “when it’s bright, add light” is certainly true in these conditions. Open your camera’s aperture or extend the shutter speed to …
Type: Plant Info
… Frost or Freeze? The typical average date for the first fall frost in the greater Chicago area is October 15. In some years, the first frost happens in September or as late as November. Frost … advantage of the soil’s heat before it chills at night. Cold Frames A useful season-extender is the cold frame, which you can see in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Cold frames are … plants will be damaged sooner than plants that are in protected spots. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives and gardens in Palos Park, Illinois. Photos by …
Type: Plant Info
… pond flowers Tender waterlilies ( Nymphaeaceae spp.) can be planted when the water temperature is over 65 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many varieties of waterlilies. Learn more Plant summer … for these worms. Also keep your garden equipment clean to help prevent moving eggs to another site. Jumping worms typically live near the surface of … own yards. Plus, the admission fees often support nonprofit organizations in your community. A quick internet search can help you locate garden walks in your area. But don’t stop there. The …
Type: Plant Info
… leaves, cutting back perennials, and pulling out the last of the vegetables. But fall is the season for addition as well as subtraction. In fact, for smart gardeners, fall is the best time of the year to add to and improve your soil. In the May 2015 edition of Smart … the May article with the same quote, a thought from organic gardening expert Robert Rodale. It is a reminder that soil needs food in order to produce healthy plants. Without the continued …
Type: Plant Info
… When working with a single material, look for uniformity of size and color. The idea is to show a subject off to its best advantage en masse. Direction Attach materials … or wooden wreath base in one direction, clockwise only—the look of an “endless” wreath is much simpler to achieve than a wreath that travels in opposite directions. Dried grasses … inspired wreath The idea started at the grocery store, where corn husks for tamales were a quick and inexpensive purchase. But it took Sarah Harlow's creative eye (she works in Visitor …
Type: Plant Info
… or deck, in beds surrounding a patio, or on a sprawling suburban lot, the gardener’s goal is often the same: create a serene, peaceful retreat—one where you can relax, meditate, read, … pruning, mulching, or mowing and just sit, recharge, and enjoy your creativity.) “A garden is a sort of sanctuary, a chamber roofed by heaven…to wander in, to cherish, to dream through … a rejuvenating oasis, offering respite from the pressures of day-to-day activities. The garden is also a place where you can reflect on your day—or your life—and be one with nature. Here are …
Type: Plant Info
… Mites are often difficult to see without a lens. Scale — Characteristic sticky, clear honeydew is produced on leaves by these small, immobile, rounded insects usually found on stems and veins … light fixture can be set as close to the plants as possible — a few inches above the plants is best. Keep the lights on for 14 to 16 hours a day. Start seeds for early spring annuals …
Type: Plant Info
… garden designs. And, native trees and shrubs offer nesting sites and food for many birds. What IS a native plant? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a native plant “is a plant that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a …
Type: Plant Info
… like palms, rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you. Outdoors If you … thumbs—around a patio, on a deck, on a balcony or near an entryway—growing plants in pots is a good way to add color and a little pizzazz. Flanking a walkway or a front door with large … can purchase a raised bed or make your own from rot-resistant cedar planks. The initial cost is the bed, the potting mix to fill it, the seeds or plants, a trowel, a watering can or hose, …
Type: Plant Info
