… spends his weekends on a high-stakes scavenger hunt across Southern Illinois, gathering clues to save rare plants from disappearing. Traversing steep prairie hillsides and swampy lowlands as a Plants of Concern volunteer, his mission is, at once, straightforward and profound: find endangered plants, count them, and alert the land managers working to improve their habitat. Stevens monitors American bluehearts ( Buchnera americana ) on a …
Type: Blog
… or later. In this issue of Smart Gardener , we offer some thoughts about helping your garden to age gracefully. While a mature, lush, beautifully maintained landscape is every gardener's dream, Mother Nature (and time) aren't always on the same page that you are. … work. Mature tree questions? Consult your local forester or arborist first, and request an on-site visit. Their expertise and knowledge of the neighborhood "forest" will give you fresh …
Type: Plant Info
… Burbidgea scheizocheila , commonly known as golden brush ginger, is native to the island of Borneo and a member of the Zingiberaceae , or ginger, family. The … who collected many rare and unusual tropical plants. The most famous of his introductions is the huge pitcher plant, Nepenthes rajah . He worked for the famous nursery firm of Veitch, as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… season and sturdy stems that won't bend too much under the weight of the flowers. According to the National Chrysanthemum Society, there is evidence that mums have been cultivated since at least the fifteenth century B.C.E. in China. … of chrysanthemums, including single-flowered, decorative, anemone, and spider. This one is decorative and should be hardy if planted early in the season. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… or attracting butterflies. They can help children discover nature. And…creating a theme garden is just plain fun. Here’s a look at some popular planting themes. Of all the creatures that … are certainly the most exotic and magical. On warm summer days, they sail from one flower to another in search of nectar. In sunlight, the shimmering wings of the violet-spotted charaxes … appear iridescent. And while the large, brightly colored swallowtails and painted ladies tend to grab our attention, there are countless smaller species—colorful coppers, crescents, …
Type: Plant Info
… ‘Ayesha’, is a deciduous shrub which grows 4-6’ tall. It has mophead flowers which bloom from July-September. Flower color is dependent on the soil in which the hydrangea is planted – blue in acidic soils and rose-pink … is hardy in zones 6-9 and will not survive Chicago’s harsh winters unless give a sheltered site, winter mulch and a burlap wrap. Plant in moist soil in part shade; attractive when massed …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Nutgall tree, also known as Chinese sumac, is the tallest representative of the cashew family that will grow in the Midwest. It is a suckering shrub with an open habit that will reach 20 feet in height, with irregular … huge panicles of tiny creamy-white flowers appear. These attract pollinators, however, fruit is not produced without a male plant nearby. 'September Beauty' is a clone with extra large …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Love™rose ( Rosa 'Jactwin') is covered with high-centered, scarlet-red flowers featuring white on the reverse of the petals. Its fragrance is described as light and spicy. The ultimate size for this disease-resistant cultivar is 5 feet high with a 4-foot spread, and it is known for having very thorny stems. This variety …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. When I clean up my vegetable garden this fall, should I add any amendments to the soil? A. Fall is an ideal time to give a little something back to your garden soil after it has produced so generously for you …
Type: Plant Info
… Parrotia persica or Persian ironwood is a small, single trunk, deciduous tree eventually growing 20-40 feet tall (but typically 10 feet after 7-8 years) or a large, multi-stemmed shrub growing to 15 feet tall. Apetulous flowers with dense, red stamens surrounded by brownish bracts appear in late winter to early spring before the foliage. Flowers are attractive on close inspection, but are generally …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
