… days make this an opportune month to plant perennials, as well as cool-season vegetables and annuals that can handle occasional frosts. Spring cleaning tasks can be undertaken in the yard as well, particularly if March’s weather proved too cold and/or wet. April also is a good month to help emerging plants for the growing season ahead. Garden To-Do List Continue … conditions before planting. Plant perennials, hardy ornamental grasses, and roses. Be aware of site conditions when planting in April, especially for plants that require six hours of direct …
Type: Plant Info
… but it often overshadows the concerns ecologists have about our own native bees. Illinois is home to about 500 species of bees that are important pollinators in natural areas, in agricultural fields, and in our gardens. Like honey bees, native bees are threatened by pesticides, habitat loss, disease, and ever-changing weather patterns. These fascinating creatures range in size from the ¼-inch …
Type: Plant Info
… “I love the winter interest of the bark of this small ornamental tree, which is very smooth, but peels to reveal a pattern of brownish-pink patches,” said Jill Selinger, manager of continuing education. “It blooms in early spring with reddish flowers, and also has a very nice yellow-orange fall color.” …
Type: Plant Info
… This fast-growing shrub with cherry-red stems is a great choice for brightening the winter garden, according to outdoor floriculturist Tim Pollak. Cardinal dogwood offers multiseason interest—white flowers in spring and red-purple foliage in autumn. Birds typically pick off the bluish-white berries long before …
Type: Plant Info
… Geum canadense is commonly known as white avens. It stands 18 – 30 inches tall and blooms in early to late June …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This plant grows up to 30 inches high and wide, with long leaves produced in a basal rosette. Sea lavender is a good filler plant for the perennial border. Small blooms develop on the multi-branched …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… native hydrangea prefers part shade but will tolerate full sun if kept constantly moist. It is tall (5 feet with a similar spread) and bears large white flower heads in mid to late summer. Since it blooms on new wood, it may be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The rock star fruit is trending —with fans, chefs, and researchers alike “It was pretty amazing,” said Susan … scientist’s mail bins overflowed with leaves of native pawpaw trees. People had sent hundreds and hundreds of samples from around the country—hoping to help make pawpaw a rock star fruit in …
Type: Blog
… The end of the growing season is often a bittersweet experience for gardeners. It signals the end of months of work—but also … a rhododendron to the subtle emergence of flower heads on ornamental grasses. The late-autumn and winter gardens do have their charms, and perennials can be very much a part of this four-season interest. While good garden tidiness …
Type: Plant Info
… The wire vine is a perennial ground cover that is hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9. The wiry stems provide a contrast for the glossy green foliage. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
