… Sow seeds in March and April for a fast, flavorful harvest. It will be a few months before we can safely plant tomatoes, … greens, Swiss chard, and kale as soon as the soil thaws. Lettuce and Swiss chard seeds, for example, start to germinate when the top inch of soil reaches about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. (This is when an inexpensive soil thermometer comes in handy. Look for one at your local garden center or online.) Swiss chard Leaf lettuce Spinach Grow leafy …
Type: Plant Info
… from the ones in which they evolved. Prairie plants behave differently in our gardens for a number of reasons, according to the Garden's prairie and river ecologist. Soils and many … fire-resistant oaks. Since then, numerous wetlands have been drained and filled. Oaks were cut for lumber or to make way for roads. Prairie was peeled away and the soil plowed. Then, many of … will support native insects, birds and microorganisms. That's one reason ecologists stress buying plants that are locally grown from seed that evolved in the vicinity. Strains of the same …
Type: Plant Info
… inspired by the bright, high-held flower spikes of the tall species, comes from the Greek word for "flame." Although some species have become common garden plants all over the world, nearly … leaves shriveled, brown, and dusty-looking. Finding a better phlox has been a years-long goal for Richard Hawke, manager of plant evaluations. In his sunny outdoor laboratory, the Bernice E. … Plant Evaluation Garden, Hawke has been conducting his second trial of garden phlox, looking for plants with the best resistance to powdery mildew so that gardeners need not fume at the …
Type: Plant Info
… the corpse flower that bloomed last September. Maxwell and Lexi (in her Alice T-shirt) Kirchen visit Sprout early this morning before school. Harper, 14 months old, waves at #CBGSprout the … And it is very stinky. Carrie: I happened to see the Facebook post. And we were here every day for Spike (a titan arum that previously was on display at the Garden). Jamie Smith of Highland … spathe (modified frilly leaf). It has great textures. Roman Bouchal of the Czech Republic came for the smell this morning, and found it in the window removed from Sprout the corpse flower’s …
Type: Blog
… muddy boots and thorn-snagged pants, giving back to the landscapes they love. “I think caring for the natural world brings out the best in people,” said Stevens. The swollen sedge ( Carex intumescens ). Source: Doug McGrady. And that care leads to wins for elusive rare species. Take the swollen sedge ( Carex intumescens ). Once classified as … than 550 rare plant populations stretch across the forest preserves—far more than staff can visit annually. Volunteer finding the white lady's slipper orchid ( Cypripedium candidum ). Its …
Type: Blog
… best given a head start inside where it's warm, beginning in late February or March for some plants. Expert greenhouse growers carefully fine-tune conditions for different species and varieties, as outdoor floriculturist Tim Pollak does when he supervises hundreds of thousands of annual, perennial, and vegetable seedlings every year for the Garden's displays. A beginner can start with a dozen plants on a windowsill. Seeds are so …
Type: Plant Info
… If you’re a beginning gardener, it’s easy to be intimidated by where to start and how to care for plants. The Garden offers many resources to get you growing. Let’s dig in. Start Small Don’t … rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you. Outdoors If you have a small … the existing garden or creating another one. We’re here to help. Take a class. Read a book. Visit the greenhouse. Watch a video. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… A walk through the Dwarf Conifer Garden is truly a plant lover’s feast for the eyes. It’s difficult to decide where to look next; what new magnificent specimens await … with new vistas, views, and plant discoveries revealed at every turn, and at every level. For as the garden clearly demonstrates, not all dwarf conifers are found by looking down. … of the year, especially in winter. Download a guide for the Dwarf Conifer Garden before you visit. Considering dwarf conifers for your landscape? Read on or take a class . The American …
Type: Walks
… rakes to remove unsightly mats of algae and invasive shoreline weeds. See the water quality for yourself: at this rare break in the shoreline plantings, you can walk right down to the … species, have become not only part of the shoreline infrastructure but also important habitats for fish, frogs, turtles, and birds. Arranged in eye-pleasing drifts, some plantings extend out … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… I sat there in front of a group of plants that produce lovely-smelling flowers, waiting for their impressive pollinators to show up. And when they did, I snapped some of my very first … volume and sugar content, floral scent, who pollinates and when (hawkmoths come at dusk and visit overnight; bees generally visit in the morning), how populations grow and shrink over time, which other plant species are …
Type: Blog
