… Goldsturm black-eyed Susan is an immensely popular staple of the perennial border. Starting in July and continuing until September, they put on a spectacular display of distinctly yellow … flowers surrounding a black cone atop stiff stems with dark green foliage. Plants flower best in full sun and moist soil and attract birds and butterflies. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun') features large, green-eyed, daisy-shaped flowers in orange, transitioning to yellow towards the tips. Derived from native midwestern parents, this … to the Chicago climate and will reseed (if not deadheaded) to produce future generations in your garden. Hummingbirds and songbirds enjoy the nectar/seeds. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… or a shade of green so dark it appears almost black on a cloudy winter day. Plants in this group take many forms: spreading, cascading, ground-hugging, shrubby, conical, globular, … lend a natural, rugged look to a landscape, where tinier species are perfectly at home in hot, dry rock gardens. And for gardeners in wooded areas, here's the best feature of all — the deer leave them alone! Do you recognize …
Type: Plant Info
… of brightly colored tulips that brighten our landscape. But tulips can be a disappointment in the home garden after that first glorious year. Why does this happen and what can you do about … since, and many of them have no flowers. What am I doing wrong? To grow tulips that remain in the garden year after year, it helps to understand the plant’s life cycle. Think about where … they need to survive. Tulips are native to the high altitudes of Central Asia, where they grow in well-drained, mineral-based soil without much organic matter. Most commercial tulip bulbs …
Type: Blog
… Defining your garden with structure How can we make our gardens more inviting in 2025? How about creating a little journey with doorways, halls and outdoor rooms? Even the … home. Indoors, there are entries, hallways, walls, and ceilings. Similar design elements work in the garden. Let’s explore. Arbor Arbors are structures that act as doorways. They are … may be flat or arched. The structure can be contemporary, formal or rustic with cross beams in a variety of patterns. Arbors—with or without a gate—are useful in tight spaces found in urban …
Type: Plant Info
… ) is one of the most popular herbs grown today. It is not only a flavorful ingredient in Italian, Chinese, French, and Thai cuisine, but it is also a fragrant, ornamental plant for … Native to Africa and parts of Asia, basil is an extremely tender plant and is one of the first in the garden to succumb to frost. The large succulent leaves will darken and lose their … are quite similar to those of the tomato, and the two plants are often paired together in gardens as they are in the kitchen. When transplanting small plants to the garden, wait until …
Type: Plant Info
… Years ago when life and gardens were simpler, there was a dependable plant often found growing in partially shaded perennial borders. It had a pleasant mounding form, green, lobed leaves, and … known for the striking colors of its foliage as it is for its long lasting flowers. Thanks in part to the aggressive breeding, tissue culture propagation, and plant introduction program of Dan Heims' Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon, there are new coral bells cultivars offered annually. The once green-only foliage is …
Type: Plant Info
… of the insect order called Lepidoptera . There are about 2,000 types of moths and butterflies in Illinois. Of these, about 150 species are butterflies and 1,850 species are moths. Our local … monarch butterflies are known for their incredible mass migration, flying up to 3,000 miles in late summer to their winter home in Mexico. But their numbers have greatly declined due to decreasing winter habitat, loss of …
Type: Plant Info
… 'Dallas Blues'. All varieties of switchgrass are resistant to many pests and plant diseases. In January 2006, President George Bush cited the importance of research into "cutting-edge … switchgrass as a possible source. The most promising cultivars for bioenergy are 'Alamo' in the deep south, 'Kanlow' for mid latitudes, and 'Cave-in-Rock' for central and northern states. If used to produce bioenergy, switchgrass will reduce …
Type: Plant Info
… is too much algae on the water surface. How do I get rid of it? A. A small amount of algae in water gardens is a natural occurrence. A large buildup, however, can detract from the beauty of your garden and should be "managed" in any of the following ways. If your pond is in full sun, be sure water plants shade the water surface since algae thrives in full sun. If …
Type: Plant Info
