… To most people, the word “pollinator” is synonymous with the word “bee,” but only a fraction of plants are pollinated by bees. In fact, many different insects and mammals are pollinators—bats, birds, beetles, and we can't … Skogen, Ph.D., tells us about the white-lined sphinx moth ( Hyles lineatawe ). Meet Some Moths In the state of Illinois alone there are more than 1,850 known species of moths—more than ten …
Type: Plant Info
… crop can be harvested after the first frost, and sometimes even as late as December. In fact, frost makes kale taste sweeter! Looks Good & Good for You Kale, the cabbage without a head, is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), along with broccoli, brussels sprouts, and … From obscurity to obsession: kale’s gone from hard-to-find to not only a must-have in gardens, but also on menus. This powerhouse plant should be part of our go-to medicine cabinet …
Type: Plant Info
… The Prairie State is…not so much! Illinois is known as “the prairie state,” but this moniker no longer truly … Years ago, the prairie stretched from horizon to horizon. Today, it can be found only in small patches. Since several species of plants and animals rely on the prairie for survival, … . The plants must be at the right place at the right time with a good potential match waiting in the wings. Bees and wind carry pollen from one plant to another, but they can only travel so …
Type: Plant Info
… houseplants take a rest during the winter. Indoor temperatures tend to be high and the air is often dry. Plants are not entirely dormant but their growth is certainly not robust. Think of … now, plants are responding to increased sunlight, a signal that the growing season has begun in earnest. As the light grows longer each day your houseplants sense the change. The sun is warmer and stronger as it streams in the windows. Plants are awakening to the growing season and this is the time to take stock of …
Type: Plant Info
… Natal lily ( Clivia miniata ) is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family native to damp woodlands in southern Africa, where they grow in the forests of Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Swaziland. They do not occur …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… urban farm on top of Chicago’s mammoth convention center, where more than 50,000 bees live in three hives added earlier this year. On August 6, Windy City Harvest staff harvested 65 pounds … studies have shown that eating local honey might help alleviate allergy symptoms—and honey is known to have medicinal benefits ranging from reducing inflammation to antimicrobial … has a long and fascinating history . Iris is learning her beekeeping skills from Fred Daniels, site coordinator at Windy City Harvest’s Rodeo Farm, who has been beekeeping since 2012. Rodeo …
Type: Blog
… 'Inferno' has fully double, rich red flowers over 6 inches across, on sturdy stems. Plant bulbs in a container 2 inches wider than the bulb. Leave the neck of the bulb sticking up above the … the flowering stalk from falling toward the light. Amaryllis (the old genus name that is now used as the common name for this group of plants) is native to tropical America. Once the … bulb (with diluted levels once a week) until after the last frost. Move the container outside in bright light and let it continue to grow throughout the summer. Once fall approaches, reduce …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Charles Darwin™ English shrub rose ( Rosa 'Auspeet') is a selection of the David Austin English shrub roses which grows to 4 feet in height and features rich, yellow flowers opening to produce a shallow cup of lemon-scented heaven. This cultivar produces some of the largest of the roses in the David Austin series. It is best grown in full sun with room to grow to its full height, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 … 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 the common name of the plant has come to define a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ( Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'), a member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family, is a showy tropical shrub with extremely fragrant, nocturnal, double-white 1.5-inch flowers with … and a width of 5 to 8 feet. Native to parts of India, China, and Thailand, this plant thrives in full sun or partial shade, where temperatures are above 50 degrees in moist and fertile soil. Somewhat drought- and heat-tolerant, cape jasmine is grown for its …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
