… tough casing of a plant gall. (The oriole's pointed bill might get stuck.) About 6 inches long with a 10- to 12-inch wingspan, this small woodpecker is black and white. The male has a red … Woodpecker species, including the Downy, have some of the longest tongues on earth, compared with their body length. There's a reason for that. Long tongues reach farther into tree crevices to get at the goodies hidden beneath. But what does the woodpecker do with that long tongue when he's not using it? He wraps it inside his head around his skull. The …
Type: Birding
… Botanic Garden last year. Ver en español Our family only leaves us when we forget about them With an armful of fragrant marigolds, I headed toward the laughter coming from my family’s … On Día de los Muertos, November 1 and 2 , my family invites the spirits of our ancestors back with offerings, things that they loved—for my great grandmother, yellow roses and mole de espinazo (made with verdolagas, or purslane); for my great grandfather, a traditional cold drink called tejuino; …
Type: Blog
… plant put its energy into creating more flowers and fruit. Simply bend and snap the sucker off with your fingers. Suckers left on the plant will grow just like the main stem, producing flowers … diameter. Male blossoms have long, thin stems and the female blossoms have a thick short stem with a bulbous base that becomes the fruit when pollinated. For a succession of vines, sow seeds … dry and seeds inside are hard. When you have a bumper crop, make a bowl of green bean salad with our recipe. Cucumbers Cucumber plants produce vines that will readily scramble up a …
Type: Plant Info
… so. Yews (Taxus—pronounced Tacks-uss) Canadian yew ( T. candensis ) is a sprawling evergreen with dark green needles. These yews prefer moist conditions in part shade, and are very slow … offers white or rose-pink flowers. At 3 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, they are covered with fragrant bottlebrush-like flowers in spring, and thrive in full sun to part shade. A … Chokeberry ( Aronia —ah-row-knee-uh) Chokeberries are spring-flowering native plants with beautiful foliage in summer, and scarlet-red or purple berries that birds devour. The fall …
Type: Plant Info
… cluster on the walking path near the Arch Bridge to Evening Island— check out the location with our Plant Finder . Even the "smoke" on 'Royal Purple' smoke tree is purple. Smoke tree … quinquefolia ) Craving purple color but lacking space for trees or shrubs? Go vertical with Virginia creeper, a reliably hardy vine that's used to great effect at the Garden—especially … ) Now drawing attention—and cameras—to the beds outside the Bulb Garden: a humble millet with the regal name 'Purple Baron'. Deep, rich, near-black purple leaves and plumes partner with …
Type: Plant Info
… tools have a short life. They often bend, break or rust. Well-made tools may cost more, but with maintenance, they’ll last for years. And, if you’re already growing flowers, veggies, or … look similar, but their blades are quite different. Both can be used for digging, but a shovel with a curved, bowl-shaped blade is a better choice for digging large holes, moving mulch, and … have rubber cushioning to prevent blisters. Choose one that is lightweight but sturdy, with a handle that feels comfortable. Gloves Weeding, pruning, and digging all take a toll on a …
Type: Plant Info
… at shrubs that are worthy replacements for those that you may have lost this year. Unfamiliar with some of these? All are valuable in midwestern gardens, and well worth seeking out or … to a more urban yard-appropriate 2 to 4 feet. Weigela's dense, arching branches are covered with bell-like flowers in spring. While shades of pink dominate, new varieties mix in red or purple tones, often with foliage that is variegated with yellow or white, so the shrub appeals to the eye in three …
Type: Plant Info
… Fant’s latest research. Fant, a molecular ecologist and plant genetics guru, is working with other botanic gardens around the world to develop conservation and reintroduction plans … “But when this is not possible, these plant collections are maintained by continually crossing with other plants to produce new seed. This is akin to animals in zoo collections. Zoos have used …
Type: Blog
… Susan, Rudbeckia You may also want to consider hosting a complete butterfly or moth life cycle with plants such as these: Dill or parsley — Both are host plants for purple swallowtail … These are the preferred hosts to white cabbage butterflies. Leave one or more plants untreated with insecticide for the insects. Tomatoes — Tomatoes are hosts to hornworm sphinx moths, which …
Type: Plant Info
… from the area first. Till down several inches; scatter an appropriate seed for the seed; cover with a light coating of peat moss or straw; and water daily until germination, usually 10 to 14 … reduces compaction in heavy clay soils, permits a more rapid exchange of oxygen and water with grass roots and reduces the thatch layer on lawns. The soil and grass plugs can remain on …
Type: Plant Info
