… a zebra? Our brains are natural pattern detectors, wired by evolution to appreciate structure in chaos. Decoding patterns helps us navigate the world—it’s how we recognize faces, understand … language, and learn new skills. For scientists, patterns are also clues that something deeper is at work. “Nature is inherently random, so patterns indicate either selective pressures or a … the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Evolution has a way of weeding out what’s not useful.” Patterns in plants—from microscopic leaf veins to elaborate petal designs—are unique expressions of a …
Type: Blog
… The pale pink blooms of the Hiawatha lilac appear one to two weeks after the common lilac. It is one of the Preston lilacs. Preston or Canadian Lilacs were first hybridized for their cold hardiness in the early 20th century by Isabella Preston of Ottawa, Canada. These lilacs result from a cross … commonly known as lilacs, are shrubs or small trees prized for their showy and fragrant blooms in late spring. The individual flowers are tubular in form and are borne in large panicles. While …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… buds of Miss Canada lilac open to rosy pink blooms a week or two after the common lilac. It is one of the Preston lilacs. Preston or Canadian Lilacs were first hybridized for their cold hardiness in the early 20th century by Isabella Preston of Ottawa, Canada. These lilacs result from a cross … commonly known as lilacs, are shrubs or small trees prized for their showy and fragrant blooms in late spring. The individual flowers are tubular in form and are borne in large panicles. While …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Georgia Pancake bluestar is also known as creeping bluestar for its low-growing and spreading habit. The thread-like green … of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike to willow-like and looks …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 'Blue Ice' is an Amsonia cultivar known for its compact habit and darker blue flowers. Its popularity has … of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike to willow-like and looks …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… purple splashes at the base on a slow-growing plant with an almost columnar habit. It blooms in late spring and is rarely vulnerable to frost damage. Its short stature makes it suitable for narrow spaces in small gardens. Members of the genus Magnolia are known for the stunning beauty of their …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Lilium ‘Sun Ray’ has golden-yellow flowers with green throats and a light dusting of speckles in the center. Plants are hardy to the Chicago region. The blooms are upfacing on stems that stand 2 to 3 feet tall in late spring and early summer. They are not fragrant. Sun Ray is an Asiatic hybrid. Asiatic hybrids are the easiest lilies to grow, are quite winter hardy, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Red Baron magnolia is a hybrid cross between the native M. acuminata and 'Big Dude' that was developed in Wisconsin by Dennis Ledvina in a breeding program that focused on cold hardiness. The flowers are a deep reddish rose on the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… are reddish purple on the outside and white on the inside. This cultivar was first selected in 1831 in France. The flowering display on this earlier flowering cultivar is sometimes cut short by late spring freezes. Members of the genus Magnolia are known for the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ‘Kopper Kettle’ is an Itoh or intersectional hybrid peony. This unusual selection produces 8-inch, semi-double to … double flowers that start out soft copper rose and age to soft gold with a deep burgundy flare in the center. Both flower colors are present on the clump at once and flowers are produced on … 36 inches tall, taking on a shrubby appearance throughout the summer, then dies to the ground in the fall. Plant in sun to part shade with eyes no more than 2 inches below the soil surface. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
