… With their bright colors and unusual shapes, gourds are not only beautiful, but are also a wonderful medium for … paint or dye them; use wood-burning tools on them to create highly decorative objects of art. And they’re utilitarian as well. Many cultures have used gourds as containers (serving and … you can do to wood, and not suffer the splinters. While their origin remains a mystery, there is evidence of gourds in the early civilizations of Africa, Asia, North and South America, …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: This is one of two visible woodpecker species with red highlights on its head. Oak woodland restoration has helped to increase their numbers in recent years. It is most often seen in McDonald Woods. …
Type: Birding
… Caucasian spurge is a rounded perennial that produces yellow flowers during the summer. It grows to a height of 2 feet under full sun in moist soil. The plant is mostly used as a ground cover or in a border. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. As plants in my garden begin to green and produce new growth, I've noticed that some of my evergreens are very brown. Is this a disease? What should I do? A. The Chicago area experienced a very harsh winter this year. Extremely cold temperatures that rarely climbed above freezing and a large amount of snow kept plants continually dormant without the usual freezing and thawing …
Type: Plant Info
… Yellow wild indigo is a 2- to 3-foot tall native perennial plant known for its small yellow, pea-like flowers that … are held on upright stems. Plants prefer full sun to part shade; tolerate heat, drought, and humidity; and attract butterflies. This species is native from Missouri south to Louisiana and Texas. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Did you know you can grow kiwis right in your own back yard? The fruit of 'Weiki' kiwi vine is a cousin of the familiar grocery store kiwis. The berries have the same sweet-and-citrus taste, but sweeter. They're smooth-skinned and about the size of a grape so you can just pop them in your mouth - no peeling. They're also …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… its distinctive horizontal branching habit appears to belong in a Japanese garden, though it is a native species. Its scientific name Cornus alternifolia indicates that its leaves alternate … most of the rest of the Cornus genus. Small yellowish-white flowers are borne in late May and early June and are followed by bluish-black fruit in July much beloved by birds. Fall foliage is golden …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The giant snowdrop ( Galanthus elwesii ) is among the first of the very early spring-blooming plants in the Chicago region. As winter eases its grip, these diminutive porcelain-white jewels spring up in turf, flower beds, and deciduous woodlands. In sunlight, the three outer petals flare to reveal the inner fused … from the ripened capsule with an attached elaiosome, a fleshy membrane filled with lipids and proteins that ants find irresistible. The ants haul seeds and membranes off to their …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Marshalls Delight is a long-blooming beebalm that grows 2' to 3' tall and about 1' to 2' wide. As part of an … inch blossoms covering 60-80% of the plant for about 6 weeks. It had good mildew resistance and was resistant to winter injury. Overall it received a very positive evaluation for planting …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ‘Flame’ is an herbaceous peony with single Japanese-style fiery red flowers that curve inward around a … fall. Plant in sun to part shade with the eyes no more than 2 inches below the soil surface and protect from strong winds and afternoon sun. It is deer resistant. Peonies are popular garden plants, known for their …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
