… CHALLENGER™ witherod viburnum is a rounded shrub with fine foliage and attractive fruit that turn from pink through red and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Chinese ironweed is a tall perennial that bears masses of purple flowers with hot pink eyes in the late summer and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… if you don’t want a brown, unruly patch of land. Conservation scientist Becky Barak, Ph.D., is looking to change that assumption. By studying alternatives to traditional turfgrass, she and … Research. In 2022, Barak received a Biota Award from the Walder Foundation; this award, which is given to early-career researchers who are working on biodiversity restoration, allowed the … meadow and prairie plots include flowering plants, in addition to grasses and sedges. A new site at Uptown Coastal Natural Area with the Chicago Park District is planted with a range of …
Type: Blog
… 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 … bees. (I picture carpenter bees wearing little tool belts around their waists.) Nick Dorian is a postdoctoral researcher with the Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science … found at a nursery,” Dorian says. The endangered rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is supported by gardens containing wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). Photo credit: Nick Dorian. …
Type: Plant Info
… the plants, harvesting the bounty, and eating the delicious, nutritious final product is a priceless education in itself. Gardening and the subsequent cooking activities transcend … yard that receives six to eight hours of sun a day. An area with a north-south orientation is ideal, in that it takes advantage of the east-west movement of the sun and gives veggies more … at the garden center. To prevent the tallest plants from shading out the low-growing ones, site them at the back, on the sides, or down the middle of the garden, depending on the …
Type: Plant Info
… any seed starting are time, light, a growing medium, cleanliness, water, and attention. Time is critical. Some species need weeks longer than others. Impatiens, for example, need to be … a couple of standard fluorescent tubes in a utilitarian shop light works fine, if the fixture is hung on chains with S-hooks so its height can be adjusted. Install it securely in an … very well and allow the delicate roots to find their way between its particles. Potting mix is generally too dense; it's better to buy a sterile seed-starting mix. The mix must be sterile …
Type: Plant Info
… Fessler, coordinator of the northwest Illinois region for Plants of Concern, said, “This is really like uncovering a Holy Grail for Illinois botany. It’s a charismatic, beautiful plant. … of Natural Resources, Grant Fessler, Chicago Botanic Garden. Photo credit: Grant Fessler It is a story worth hearing. Fueled by curiosity and a hunger for discovery, Fessler partnered with … invasive brush and add prescribed fire to improve and expand the orchid’s habitat at the site. Additional protective measures include regular monitoring and health assessments. A week …
Type: Blog
… want a woody vine with the flat hydrangea flowers, consider H. anomala ssp. petiolaris . This is a vigorous perennial vine that clings and climbs to almost any surface. It requires a sturdy … but some may suffer from considerable branch dieback during Chicago's cold months. Success is possible with winter protection, and regular applications of compost. Oakleaf Hydrangeas Native to the southeast United States, H. quercifolia is a shrub with four seasons of interest, unique leaves, interesting flowers, fall color, …
Type: Plant Info
… Yellow Flame') Planted in the Enabling Garden, Double Zahara Fire ( Zinnia marylandica ) is part of the series that is powdery mildew-resistant. Zahara™ Coral Rose zinnia ( Zinnia Marylandica ) is an outstanding performer with low water needs for your summer garden. Zinnias work fast If …
Type: Plant Info
… doctors to help patients experiencing food insecurity and diet-related diseases. The produce is grown by Windy City Harvest, the Garden’s urban agriculture program. Part of the program is to help demystify new veggies by sharing easy, delicious recipes. “I was excited to learn … syrup, and lemon juice. Slowly add olive oil while continuing to whisk until the dressing is thickened. Add salt & pepper to taste. Add beet wedges and crumbled cheese to the salad. Chop …
Type: Blog
