… Ever been to Norway in the winter? It is bone-chilling cold and dark...and everyone is outside, even when temperatures are below zero. Norwegians call that optimistic outlook … ready for spring, and there are critters at work in the prairie. Learn more So, bundle up, get outside, and practice friluftsliv . Nature is here for us, 24/7. …
Type: Blog
… garden. Aloysia virgata Sweet almond verbena, incense bush Sweet Almond ( Aloysia virgata ) is a bloom-covered, upright shrub which can be trained as a tree warmer climates, reaching 15 … members of the Euphorbiaceae family, this plant's sap contains a white latex substance that is a skin irritant and can be poisonous if swallowed. Hamelia patens Firebush, hummingbird bush … gaura from the southern United States. Its long panicles (up to 2 feet) end in a host of tiny 1-inch white flowers which fade to pink as the bloom ages. Grown as a perennial in USDA zones 6 …
Type: Page
… or more weeds (like ragweed and nutsedge) than usual, you’re not alone. Although spring is a popular time for lawn renovation, fall is even better. Summer’s heat and drought have ended … lawns to develop a healthy root system before going dormant in late fall. The healthiest lawns get enough water at one time to moisten the top 6 inches or so of soil. Generally, an inch of … it can be done in October. Use a slow-release, organic fertilizer—the label may say 4-1-2 or 3-1-2, which is the fertilizer ratio. The final dose of high-nitrogen fertilizer is …
Type: Plant Info
… “There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) A dozen years … now as we do in June and July—we water, mulch, and keep on top of the deadheading to hopefully get an extended bloom cycle deep into fall.” Last year, roses were blooming into November in the …
Type: Plant Info
… in your garden last year —and the year before that. Hard to conjure up? That's because memory is simply unreliable when it comes to the hundreds of details that make for a successful garden … kept copious notes about the fruits and vegetables grown at his home at Monticello. To get really inspired about garden journaling, check out the pages of his Garden Book , documented … The venerable Mother Earth News has a wide-ranging app that's free : motherearthnews.com Smartgardener.com (no relation to our monthly column!) has a free online journal that looks …
Type: Plant Info
… small specimens of regular trees or shrubs trained in pots to grow into beautiful shapes. This is an ancient horticultural art form and a number of plants are appropriate for use as bonsai. Traditionally, each bonsai is grown to a clearly defined style. In order for us to give appropriate care instructions, the plant will first need to be identified. If your bonsai is a juniper, these instructions apply. Because junipers (whether they are bonsai or not) are …
Type: Plant Info
… theme at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Mistletoe—a plant that typically inspires romance—is actually a parasite. The plant’s roots penetrate the bark of a host plant and steal its … had brought a kayak from home, and Toth was an experienced paddler. “It’s not very often I get to incorporate a kayak into forestry work,” said Lesko, “and I was not-so-secretly hoping we …
Type: Blog
… flowers, when juices start to flow and gardeners' ambitions are highest, drudging in the dirt is not the way most of us want to spend our Saturday. Yet good soil, whether purchased for pots … roots to rot. That's why it's a bad idea to buy cheap "potting soil" you may see for $1 a bag in big-box stores. Usually it's just topsoil, sometimes scarcely more than construction … which will sprout as happily in a pot as in the ground. To save headaches, spend the money to get a reputable potting mix that is weed-free. However, it's not critical for potting mixes to be …
Type: Plant Info
… Green Roof Garden atop the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center is open to the public — it's one of just a few rooftop gardens you can actually walk through, so … inspect the roof to be sure it is structually sound. Know before you grow. If necessary, get appropriate licenses and permissions before starting your rooftop gardening project. … you able to water or must your rooftop garden rely solely on rain? How hot does your rooftop get? How much wind? Determining these factors ahead of time make your plant selection more …
Type: Plant Info
… finished blooming. Trees are going dormant and preparing to drop their leaves. But this beauty is just getting started. The only thing that isn't lovely about this plant is its name: the toad lily. You can see why the mottled coloration of the flowers might remind … to Tankersley. “I plant mine in amongst the hostas so the deer eat the hostas before they get to the tricyrtis," he says. All the shade standards are good companions for toad lilies: …
Type: Plant Info
