… Promise') sports a riot of color in August. Peppers add color and heat to a world of cuisines They vary from the paprikas of Hungary to the curry powder of India to the bird's-eye pepper of Thailand and the many nuanced chile flavors of Mexico. Peppers had long been cultivated in tropical areas of South America and Mexico by the time Columbus arrived, but they quickly spread throughout the world, and a few …
Type: Plant Info
… Washington Carver became Iowa State University’s first Black student, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural science. He then became a professor at Tuskegee University … improve the soil. His innovations helped low-income farmers grow other crops, such as peanuts and sweet potatoes. He then developed more than 300 products made from peanuts, which greatly … Taylor became the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in botany, overcoming the barriers of race and gender to make her mark as a scientist and educator. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s …
Type: Blog
… is such an exciting month for gardeners—time for the first seeds to get started indoors, and time for our Seed Swap! As you pull out your collection of seed packs, envelopes, and labeled jars, you’ll undoubtedly make some unexpected discoveries: the last of the lettuce … Unfamiliar, unidentified, old, or questionably stored seeds can test a gardener’s patience and sanity, as even the best-tended pots and plots can’t make nonviable seeds sprout. Seeds don’t …
Type: Plant Info
… Tulips are the stars of the garden in April and May, with their wide range of colors and sizes; they also are some of the most versatile of ornamental plants. There are more than 100 … different species of tulips growing in their native ranges of eastern Europe, western Asia, and China. Only a small percentage of them are nursery-propagated and available to gardeners. …
Type: Plant Info
… As eager as we all are to dig in the dirt and putter in the yard, there are some planting decisions that we mustn't rush or treat … These decisions will affect our gardens now, as well as over the next hundred years. "Where and how should I plant a tree?" and "What tree should I plant?" are two of the most important questions serious gardeners can …
Type: Plant Info
… As we settle into autumn, many winged wonders—butterflies, dragonflies, and countless songbirds—pass through our gardens during the great fall migration. Among these fascinating and colorful creatures is the ruby-throated hummingbird, which travels through the Chicago area in great numbers during September and October. Although there are as many as 25 species of hummingbirds in the United States, the …
Type: Plant Info
… Fully double fuchsia-pink fragrant flowers appear in early summer and again in early fall if the spring flowers are dead-headed (removed). More tolerant of heat and humidity than most Dianthus cultivars. Flowers resemble miniature florist carnations. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… summer extending into fall, if deadheaded. Thrives in sunny locations with average fertility and water. Attracts butterflies and birds to the flower; songbirds to the seeds in fall. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… SCARLET™ Strawberry RUTGERS SCARLET™ is a strawberry series that produces in June and has been bred to be superior in flavor and productivity. Developed for use in Jersey-area but is suitable for use in the Chicago area. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This evergreen shrub can grow to a height of about 3 feet with full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. From late spring to early fall it produces orange flowers that attract birds and butterflies. It is a specimen. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
