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  • … Musical note plant ( Clerodendrum incisum  var.  macrosiphon ) is a member of the Lamiaceae family. A native of Nigeria, this upright, showy shrub earned its … January and February and from September through December in USDA Zones 9-11 (the Chicago area is in Zone 5b). …
    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 … early June and are followed by bluish-black fruit in July much beloved by birds. Fall foliage is golden orange. Members of the genus Cornus , commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Flowering dogwood is the showstopper member of the genus Cornus -- for its elegant layered habit, stunning white … surrounded by four large flat white bracts that appear to be petals. This small native tree is the state tree of Virginia and signals the arrival of spring in much of the southeastern U.S. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The native gray dogwood can be found in the wild in most counties in Illinois. It is a large multi-stemmed shrub with a tendency to spread and colonize. The bark of older stems is gray (hence its common name) though newer stems are reddish brown. Small white flowers in late …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … PEARLS™ slender deutzia ( Deutzia gracilis 'Duncan') in May. The season of interest is extended by the lemon-lime-colored leaves that retain their color throughout the growing season. While it has no fall color to speak of, this 3-foot-tall cultivar is a good choice for a compact selection of Deutzia . The genus Deutzia consists of medium sized …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … stigma of the flowers they visit (anthers are where the pollen grains are picked up; stigma is where they are deposited for successful pollination). Mason bees (Osmia lignaria) carry pollen … Are you avoiding bees because they sting? Another reason to invite mason bees into your yard is that they are nonaggressive. Honeybees and bumblebees may defend their nests if disturbed, so … Male mason bees do not have stingers, and the females only sting if they are trapped, so there is little reason to fear them.        How to Make a Bee Condo Block Give native bees a helping …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Spring is here and with it come wildflowers—trillium, mayapples, and spring beauties. Take a stroll or … and you may see and hear some of the many beautiful songbirds as they migrate north. “It is the knitting together of so many distinct individuals into a harmonious whole greater than the … flowering tree, a fountain, or a special seating area, for example. Determining sight lines is an important, but often overlooked, part of the design process. Here are some other ideas to …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Nancy Clifton is back! Create your own festive holiday wreath, using fresh evergreens as the base and a variety …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … New! Seed is a precious common heritage, and an essential component to the future sustainability of our …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon) grew potatoes in Martian soil. But is this really possible? Experiment for yourself and test the physical and chemical properties of …
    Type: Item Detail