… a plant that likes to grow around ponds and bogs where you might find turtles. TINY TORTUGA is a form of a wildflower native to the eastern US where it likes shady moist areas around bogs …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… rabbits for best results. The flowers attract pollen-hungry insect pollinators, and the nectar is a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… long-lived plant continues to reward such inattention with masses of blooms. The variety name is of dubious validity, but it differs from the species with larger leaves and more flowers. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… for the right conditions to germinate. One of the most satisfying things a gardener can do is plant a seed, nurture it, and watch it grow. It’s an enjoyable way to connect with nature. And … adventure for children and adults. Here’s another reason to think about sowing seeds: a seed is a tiny time capsule connecting the future to the past. In 1812, Thomas Jefferson grew Painted … edibles indoors, keep in mind that the average last frost date for the Chicago area is May 15. (These warm-loving veggies should not be planted outdoors until after that date …
Type: Plant Info
… Winter is always a good time to slip into a chair with some hot chocolate and do a little reading. A … Staff Favorites Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, is immersed in garden history this winter. She’s reading The History of Horticulture in America … waiting for Jill Selinger, the Garden’s manager of adult education. “My go-to book on bulbs is Anna Pavord’s Bulb. It’s very comprehensive and inspiring.” Other favorites include The Art of …
Type: Plant Info
… tiny soil organisms—all of which evolved with the plants. (One well-known example is the monarch butterfly, which only lays its eggs on milkweed ( Asclepias ) species. The … and attract some butterflies, but most are not native to the United States. However, there is a native woodland sedum, aka wild stonecrop— Sedum ternatum . It is the only sedum species native to central and northern Illinois. A miner bee visits the sedum …
Type: Plant Info
… they offer the home gardener outstanding foliage plus a long bloom time, learning their ways is well worth the time. Most of the 1,500 species and 10,000 begonia hybrids share a few common … during the daytime and no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Water the plants when the soil is dry. Noted begonia expert Tovah Martin revealed that she and her begonias "slowly developed an … plants compact, rounded and, in many cases, suitable for hanging baskets. When the new plant is 6 inches tall, pinch the top growing shoot; lateral shoots will develop in a few weeks. Allow …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Best for the Midwest is Best for the Planet Think twice before you plant those flowers! Are they a native species that … are not left with a monoculture. Much of our research in the Garden and in our Midwest region is studying how habitat degradation, invasive species, and other disturbances change plant and … practices help to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). How? One way is through limiting the use of lawn equipment. In addition, native plants help to reduce the …
Type: Plant Info
… The most common tree in the Chicago area is from Europe—and that’s bad news for our native plants and animals. Introduced to the United … an area, almost nothing can grow under it. Photos by Jim Steffen and Matt Evans. Why buckthorn is bad for native plants and animals The plants and animals of our native woodlands, wetlands, … hinders the growth of other plants. The chemical can linger in the soil even after buckthorn is removed and can harm frogs and other amphibians. Seeding success – Buckthorn seeds have a high …
Type: Blog
… that distribute water close to the ground, reaching the entire root zone. The root zone is a circle that runs around the tree, extending from the trunk directly outward to the end of … moisture and improves soil texture. Water early and choose wisely At this time, less water is lost through evaporation. This is also the preferred time to water plants susceptible to powdery mildew. By watering in the …
Type: Plant Info
