Unlike many other striking blue-flowered sages, this one is hardy in the Chicago area. “It needs full sun and limited additional irrigation during the growing season,” says Boyce Tankersley, director of living plant documentation. “The flowers are visited by a wide array of pollinating insects and by hummingbirds as they begin their fall …
Type: Plant Info
… planted, this root flare should be at least three inches higher than the surrounding soil. Visit Chicagoland Grows for suggestions on trees and plants best suited for the Chicago area. Break the cycle When you bring home a … of showy imports that can actually harm your plantings. Look for organic, composted types, and buy in bulk to save money. Though they are often free for the taking, avoid using wood chips over …
Type: Plant Info
… (non-judged) and share your process with fellow members. Parents with kids: Enjoy hands-on demonstrations that make bonsai fun and accessible for all ages. DIY lovers: Looking for a creative new hobby? Experience the satisfaction of … and offer ongoing support. *Additional fee and registration is required for workshops. Visit midwestbonsai.org for more information. This education-focused show is the perfect way to …
Type: Event for Calendar
… One seed packet goes a long way—sow only a few seeds at a time indoors and save the rest for planting in the garden later this spring. Learn More In the produce section of many stores, … May 15, the average last spring frost date in the Chicago area. In the meantime, grow herbs on a south- or west-facing sunny windowsill or under a kitchen cabinet fitted with an LED or … It’s often used in Italian and Greek dishes, soups, stews, tomato sauces, and with meats. Buy a plant in the produce section and transplant it to a larger pot filled with soilless potting …
Type: Plant Info
… While working out in the woods this winter, a small lump on the branch of a young elm tree caught my attention. At first I thought it might be a gall, or an injury that had healed-over. On closer inspection, the lump turned out to be a ruby-throated hummingbird nest from last … they are just large enough to hold the one to three navy bean-sized eggs of the hummer. For the pint-sized bird to be able to keep the tiny eggs warm during incubation requires that the …
Type: Blog
… like a less-than-pleasant guest. But as the days get shorter and colder, we set our sights on the gifts of winter and look forward to holidays, friends, and food. Put planet Earth on your gift list and consider these ideas for how to have a more environmentally friendly holiday season: Decorate with natural materials: …
Type: Blog
ZAHARA® Fire Zinnia Well branched smaller stature plants are covered with bright orange single zinnia flowers from the height of summer into early fall. The stature and branching habits support the use of this cultivar in containers and flower beds. Nectar rich flowers are visited during the summer by a number of insects while the oil rich seeds in fall are a favorite of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… stamen or pistil. They are aggregated in a small cup-like structure that has five glands on the rim, each of which has a conspicuous white petal-like appendage. The stems grow to 6 feet, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… are distinguished by the presence of a single fertile anther cell positioned to deposit pollen on the backs of visiting bees. The species within this genus are immensely valuable as bee food … cologne Ornamental—dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars Medical—in China, as treatment for heart disease …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Changing your planting style is a win-win for you and your local bees. At the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, horticulturist Lisa … had difficulty getting bees. Our suppliers were short hives." After an early spring conference on managing bees for optimal pollination, she's trying some new planting combinations "in the … even more. Wild bees such as bumblebees, sweat bees, or mason bees can pollinate in only one visit, and much prefer foraging in blueberries than the honey bee—which would need three or more …
Type: Plant Info
