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  • … Hydrangeas are a coveted late summer bouquet, but the cut flowers never last long—we set out to discover how to get enduring blooms.   Hydrangeas we tested, from left to right: smashed stem, … with the smashed stem wilted on Day 3. The hydrangea with only plant food performed the best but began to wilt on Day 7. We learned that we should have asked the Garden’s … tissue that transports water up the stem.” Do this: Put them in water ASAP Whether you cut or buy them, get your hydrangeas in water immediately. If hydrangeas are out of water for too long, …
    Type: Blog
  • … our holiday mocktails and cocktails.  Citrusy and savory herbs and spices add a little zing to hot and cold beverages. Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, mint, basil and lemon verbena are … can be used as a garnish, but they are sometimes “muddled” and mixed into a drink. Muddling is gently crushing herbs, fruits or spices to release their oils, flavors and fragrance. You can … brought the pots indoors. But if you didn’t, there are plenty of stores that sell fresh herbs. Buy them in small pots and place them on a sunny window, or on a kitchen counter near …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Why composting doesn’t have to be hard anymore If I spot a few weeds in the shade garden, I yank them before they flower and … goodness that goes into my wheelbarrow and onto the beds and borders as a soil amendment. The best part—besides free compost—is the small amount of garbage our household produces as a result. … carbon and nitrogen, helping decomposition. The end result is similar to what you might buy in bags at a garden center. If you are worried about raccoons, possums, mice, and any other …
    Type: Blog
  • … The diversity of pollinators needs a diversity of food sources. You will learn how to increase the bounty and the beauty of your gardens by understanding how flower shape and … height, as well as foliage, contribute more than just great visuals in a garden. Discover how to create a smorgasbord of nectar and pollen in your garden to satisfy the energy needs of pollinators and birds. A Garden walk is included. Dress for the weather.  The School’s CEUs=3 hours OPC elective  Elizabeth Paine, …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … The flowerheads of some species change color as they develop, moving from a whitish-green to pale pink and finally to a bronzed look that often persists through winter. The old-fashioned, heavy, round flowerheads … more naturalistic look, the oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia . Hydrangea quercifolia , is a good choice, and it provides outstanding fall color. If you want a woody vine with the flat …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … at 8 a.m., rain (or snow) or shine, a dedicated Garden staff member steps into the plot to read the instruments and record the results, then heads back indoors to transfer the … Reading #1: Temperature Though it looks vaguely like a beehive, the little white structure is a  weather shelter  that houses two temperature gauges. The  maximum temperature thermometer’s … interesting fact: no matter what the air temperature is in winter, the soil seldom drops below 26 degrees (it’s measured at a 4-inch depth). This gauge takes a reading of bare soil …
    Type: Blog
  • … Q. For the best spring flower display, when should I fertilize my tulip and daffodil bulbs? A. To produce the maximum number of top-quality spring flowers, tulips and daffodils require care … will initiate new root growth in fall, thus utilizing the available fertilizer. Fertilizer is only one of several ways to encourage bulbs to generate and store food for their spring flower …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … and how many pictures you take, but in general, you should allow about an hour. What is the best time slot to sign up for? Any time! If you’d like photos of the candlelit Garden at twilight, you might … cancels the event, you will be contacted via email to receive a full refund. Also, check our website and social media pages for updates.   Should I arrive in advance of my visit time? Do … and how many pictures you take, but in general, you should allow about an hour. What is the best time slot to sign up for? Any time! If you’d like photos of the candlelit Garden at …
    Type: Page
  • … on Evening Island and, perhaps, in your garden. Over the last few decades, plants once native to midwestern prairies have been welcomed into gardens. But in our front yards, they often don't … 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 other conditions have changed as the … asphalt, and masonry store heat and then radiate it — making summer hotter for plants. Rain is channeled into storm sewers and treatment plants rather than replenishing the deep reservoir …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Pullman Room This workshop, brought to you by the Chicago Chapter of Ikebana International and taught by Ben Huybrechts, will highlight the use of backdrops and studio lighting to best capture the beauty of the arrangement. …
    Type: Item Detail