… forsythia bushes began unfurling their flower power in shades of bright yellow. " Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party. " — Robin Williams, American Actor While I’d like to party outside—sowing seeds and enjoying the spring blossoms—I’m keeping a cautious eye on the … vegetable plants this month. They’ve been coddled in a warm greenhouse up until now. If you buy warm-season crops (like tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash) wait to plant them until after …
Type: Plant Info
… in China in 1845 by plant explorer Robert Fortune, and was the first forsythia brought back to Europe for cultivation. Although forsythias were a novelty to Europeans and Americans, they were very common in Asia. The cultivar ‘Bronxensis’ is much smaller than the species, rarely growing over 18 inches tall and spreading to 36 inches. It has better flowering than ‘Arnold Dwarf’. It is best used in masses, to cover large areas or define a border. Named after William Forsyth, one of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Dorstenia contrajerva is a species of herbs native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, … in any soil they touch. The leaves are 8 inches long, deeply lobed, and rough to the touch. Best in partial to full shade in evenly moist soil. Hardy to Zones 9–11. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ‘Gateway’, at 5 feet in height, is shorter and sturdier than the straight species and features mauve-pink flowers that butterflies are unable to resist. It grows best in moist soils and full sun. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Heliconia psittacorum 'Lady Di', commonly called the parakeet flower, is an ever-blooming tropical plant that produces an abundance of bright flowers borne above … is white and has a dark spot at the end, which makes it look like a parrot's tongue. Native to the moist areas of the Lesser Antilles to northern South America, this vigorous broadleaf … are blue-black. The plants reach a height of 2 to 5 feet with a spread of 3 to 5 feet and grow best in full sun to partial shade in organic-rich, evenly moist soil with good drainage. For best …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This non-flowering juniper is easily grown in average, dry-to-moist, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates a wide … and growing conditions, from swamps to dry, rocky glades. It prefers moist soils but has the best drought resistance of any conifer native to the eastern United States. Archived Copy: This …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 'Orange Cocotte' is classified as an Asiatic lily. It grows strongly upright to 3 feet and is topped by very showy … producing any of the yellow pollen that often spots the flowers of other varieties. It grows best in full sun but will take partial shade. In the garden, it should be planted in groups for …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Garden This symposium had multiple objectives. The Forest Preserves of Cook County wants to advance the goal, articulated in its Next Century Conservation Plan, to have many more Cook … emotional and even intellectual benefits that interaction with nature affords human beings. It is hoped that this symposium provides a catalyst for further research on the health benefits of … the health benefits of spending time in the preserves. Building those policies and programs is best done on a foundation of solid scientific evidence. View a pdf of Teresa Horton's …
Type: Page
… Blue Forest juniper ( Juniperus sabina 'Blue Forest') is a dwarf conifer to 12 inches in height whose blue branches are upright in habit, giving the appearance of a miniature grove of trees. Like other junipers, this cultivar performs best in full sun and well- drained soils. Deer dislike the prickly foliage. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… At Windy City Harvest Youth Farm, our young workers are exposed to nutrition in ways that relate directly to their work. As the season progresses, new crops are … nutrient content increases. Ripening bell peppers turn from green to red. Red bell peppers are best known for their powerful antioxidant properties. Just one pepper contains twice the daily … It was the first time my mom cooked with scallions. We liked them so much that we went to buy more from the store. We had never had them before.” Shekinah Price Windy City Harvest Youth …
Type: Blog
