… This Asian native spirea can grow to a height of 3’ with a 5’ spread and is covered with small white flowers in May or June. This shrub can be planted in full sun in a … with a fine-textured twiggy mounding habit. The small simple leaves are generally lance-shaped and held close to the branch. Spring to early summer abundant blooms tend to be in white or pink …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Description: This common bird is found across the Garden. This species has become increasingly aggressive in defending their nests, even against people. It is not unusual for them to attack people who get too close to a nest site. …
Type: Birding
… Description: This is one of two visible woodpecker species with red highlights on its head. It is more common than the red-headed woodpecker. Look for this species in the McDonald Woods or at …
Type: Birding
… spectacular spring flowers. Within this genus, taxonomists estimate that there are between 800 and 1,000 species. They are native to North America, Europe, Australasia, Asia, southwest China, … full sun and south- or west-facing sites, where winter winds can dry evergreen leaves. The site should have well-drained, acidic soil amended with large amounts of leafy, humus-rich organic matter. Excellent drainage is crucial for rhododendrons, especially in areas with heavy clay soils, such as northeastern …
Type: Plant Info
… Artworks by Seema Surana are on display in the Visitor Center; Surabhi Banerjee’s mural is in the East Greenhouse Gallery. St+art India contributes to urban regeneration and community living through contemporary urban art projects. Since its inception in 2014, St+art India has been transforming public spaces across India into vibrant, inclusive, and democratized environments. By embedding art into urban culture, the foundation bridges social …
Type: Blog
… heron can be seen wading in water, spearing fish with its long beak, or flying over with neck and legs tucked. One of the most peaceful summer scenes at the Garden is observing a great blue heron standing in one of the lakes. The great blue stands 4 to 4 1/2 feet tall and has a blue-gray back; long, gray neck; and black and white throat. The heron stares intently …
Type: Birding
… should I do to prepare my gardening tools for winter storage? A. After raking the last leaf and tossing the final faded flower into the compost, one task remains before the home gardener can move inside to await the arrival of the first seed catalogs. Clean, maintain, and store the garden tools. Though little more glamorous than weeding, appropriate care ensures … that your tools will be safe and ready to use come spring, and extends the useful life of what is often a significant monetary investment. Digging, cultivating, and raking tools should first …
Type: Plant Info
… memories are of my grandmother setting big pots of collard greens on the stove to stew—and then taking in their earthy, vinegary, peppery fragrance. A nutritional powerhouse, collard … interest the story of the Heirloom Collard Project , a community of seed savers, farmers, and academics dedicated to preserving heirloom collard greens. Through the collective, I realized … this variety for more than a hundred years and that his mother used it to make a dish that is similar to sauerkraut. Ellen Felton Dark As a Chicagoan, I have always appreciated that …
Type: Blog
… Lemons, limes and lemongrass are just a few of the plants that can be grown in pots outdoors in the summer and brought inside when the cool fall weather arrives. They make attractive houseplants over … can find citrus plants and lemongrass at garden centers, big box stores and online. Lemongrass is sometimes available in pots in the produce section. Growing a lemon tree is easy and who …
Type: Plant Info
… Miss Kim Manchurian lilac produces abundant and fragrant pale lavender blossoms, which fade to an icy light blue on a dense, compact plant. It is the most readily available and planted lilac for the home garden. There are more than 200 Miss Kim lilacs at the Chicago …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
