… Using peonies as a cut flower for floral design is easy, with a few tricks to preserve the health of your plants and flowers. … the plant can continue to thrive. You can select flowers that are as open as you like, but for the best vase life, select buds that have just begun to open and feel similar to a marshmallow. Cut stems can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three weeks, but ... no fruit—such as apples—can be in the refrigerator with your …
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… composed of three petals contrast with its six bright yellow anthers, each flower opening for a few hours in the morning or longer if cloudy. Spiderwort belongs to the Commelinaceae, the day flower family, which commonly features plants with flowers that open for a day or less and then deliquesce (liquefy). If you pinch one of the blue petals between your … came to be. The genus Tradescantia and others in this family have a mucilaginous sap that, for all you farmers out there, resembles bovine saliva as it drips from the broken leaf. A …
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… in spring! Snow brings an important nutrient into the soil: nitrogen There are not many ways for nitrogen to enter the soil. While planting legumes and adding fertilizer are the most common … the poor man’s fertilizer. Don’t forget, snow is water! When snow melts, it provides moisture for evergreen trees and shrubs. This moisture helps keep these plants happy and healthy … willows, hazels, winter hazels, and witch hazels are only a few of many very attractive plants for a winter landscape. Dogwoods and willow varieties often will have young growth that is …
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… and some are broadleaf evergreens—this is a deciduous variety. Crape myrtles are most famous for their flowers, which grow as clusters of small blooms. Flowering typically takes place … in the ficus genus in the world, but there are only about a half dozen that are commonly used for bonsai. Ficus benjamina , Ficus microcarpa , Ficus retusa (or Green Island fig), and … bonsai that will love their new temporary home in the Greenhouse. Be sure to keep a lookout for the new additions. Here is a sneak peek at one of the trees you might see…can you tell what …
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… tend to name men. Rarely do they mention some of the amazing women who have opened the door for so many of us following in their footsteps: marine biologist Rachel Carson, conservationist … that they have their own hashtags: #YAMMM (Yet Another Mostly Male Meeting) and #Manel (short for “male panel”). However, as difficult as it has been for women in science generally, it has surely been much, much harder for women of color and other …
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… no small task. The invasive species that the native plants are up against are very impressive. For example, Russian knapweed is allelopathic (prevents other plants from growing nearby), and it … fiery orange flowers. These wildflowers are likely “native winners” and are strong candidates for increased use when restoring habitat in the Colorado Plateau. A rainbow of wildflowers for restoration: Tansy aster ( Machaeranthera canescens ): This purple-flowered plant is good …
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… testimony to the many plant explorers who, in the past four centuries, traveled far and wide, for years at a time, in search of new plants. The story of plant exploration is a thrilling … the Chicago Botanic Garden’s director of plant collections. He also manages plant exploration for the Garden. “Over the past three years, I have led expeditions to Azerbaijan twice, the … in 13 states. The role of plant explorers is much more than finding new, pretty specimens for gardens. The importance of the Plant Exploration Program at the Garden is multifaceted. “We …
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… Garden’s horticultural therapists engage our clients in similar moments of joyful perseverance for their health and well-being, guiding them through to May, when the last frost date finally … on the layers of support systems in their lives: their family, friends, and neighborhood. For children, this is an excellent opportunity to conceptualize the many levels of community … in small sections to maximize productivity based on how much space different vegetables need. (For example, you can grow nine beets in a square foot, but only one tomato plant.) In this …
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… garden, I grow at least one African American heirloom crop, partly to commemorate Juneteenth. For Black Americans, Juneteenth marks the final liberation of our ancestors held as slaves on … So, I’m giving it a go this year, as okra has been essential in African American cuisine for centuries. Native to Africa and Asia, okra likely first appeared in the United States in the … forgiving, and prolific crop. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad Tomato This heirloom seed is still with us today because an …
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… conifers are at their peak during the coldest weather. While other plants have gone dormant for the winter, various conifers are lighting up the landscape in shades of blue, yellow, bronze, … providing a calming backdrop. Arborvitae ( Thuja sp.) are among the best evergreens for bright winter color. Cultivars such as Thuja occidentalis ‘ Golden Globe’ provide a burst … Ribbons’ brightens up dreary winter days. Pinus sosnowskyi Among my favorite evergreens for winter interest are the firs ( Abies sp.). Korean fir ( Abies koreana ) has needles that curl …
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