… At the top of the list of why we garden is for the joy it brings. Yes, there is the effort of physical labor, and true, some plants succumb and we don't know why. But most … spot might accommodate rhododendrons, azaleas or other marginal plants requiring a special site. Examine your soil carefully. This is especially true for new homes, where much of the good …
Type: Plant Info
… or containers that offer nectar for the adults and host plants for the caterpillars. Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid that butterflies, bees, and other pollinators rely on for energy. If you … have nectar plants that will attract them. Be a Butterfly Bartender A butterfly’s tongue is shaped like a flexible straw, which it unrolls and dips into the base of a flower. Native … small understory tree was once common in Illinois, its habitat has greatly diminished, which is a shame because the fruit, when ripe, is delicious. Some hairstreaks lay their eggs on oaks, …
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 …
Type: Plant Info
… plants, whose trailing stems are trained to grow around, up, and through a wire form. This is truly hands-on gardening, since the plant’s new growth is not allowed to go where it wants to go, but must be coaxed into a predetermined shape. The … personal set of growing preferences, and gardeners must make a good match between their home site and a suitable plant. Ivy is shade tolerant and loves cool conditions, but will crisp up in …
Type: Plant Info
… studies have shown that eating local honey might help alleviate allergy symptoms—and honey is known to have medicinal benefits ranging from reducing inflammation to antimicrobial … Greece to the Mayan civilization, and beekeeping has a long and fascinating history . Iris is learning her beekeeping skills from Fred Daniels, site coordinator at Windy City Harvest’s Rodeo Farm, who has been beekeeping since 2012. Rodeo …
Type: Blog
… Is there such a thing as a low-maintenance 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 some planning, but will save hours of work in the garden. Astilbe Clematis …
Type: Plant Info
… program specialist at the Garden. The obvious place to start your decor collecting is with your evergreen trees and shrubs, such as spruce, fir, pine, arborvitae, and yew. Forage … If you have enough evergreen branches, you might consider making your own wreath. Clifton is expert at the technique: At the craft store, buy a wire wreath frame and a package of 22- to … From the tips of branches, cut your greens about one-third to one-half as long as the ring is wide. Place the ring on the table with the flat side down and the curved side up. Gather a …
Type: Plant Info
… starter kits have sprouted every spring for the last ten years,” notes Google. “‘Plant mom’ is the new ‘dog mom.’” In 2023, stories on plants in popular culture often reflected ways in … plant story Twenty-eight percent of Americans have hugged their plants, according to a Trees.com survey—but if the plants don’t respond to touch, does it still count? As it turns out, some … in its early stages, but, as with all things plants, we can’t wait to see what happens next. Quick quiz: In the photo showing the two gardens growing, was the plot on the left raised by …
Type: Blog
… find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only last for a day before they drop. Additionally frustrating is that cloud cover can hamper catching the full glory of the blooming of some species. You may … on a trout. (Other common names include adder's tongue and dog-toothed violet—the second name is curious because these are plants in the lily family, having no relationship to violets.) In …
Type: Plant Info
… permeable surface to catch rainwater, grass roots are only 3 to 4 inches deep. When the soil is dry, the water initially runs right off the lawn into adjacent areas. As cities and suburbs continue to develop and build structures and roads, there is less permeable space for water to enter the ground and, as a result, there is more flooding in … complaint is that rain gardens can look messy. Designing a rain garden can be a challenge. The site can be a little too dry or too wet for certain plants. Determine where and how the water …
Type: Plant Info
