… finally push through cold heavy soil, or clematis vines unveil new blue blossoms, there is joy in the garden. When fuzzy poppy pods surrender to a caress, and juicy grape tomatoes virtually fly into the mouth, horticultural nirvana is near. Annuals Change Each Season Visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden experience their own … at every turn, and in every garden. A grand place to discover the beauty of annuals is the Crescent . The gorgeous, cool-season tulip display of spring is breathtaking. In summer, a …
Type: Walks
… The rock star fruit is trending —with fans, chefs, and researchers alike “It was pretty amazing,” said Susan … help them determine how the trees have adapted to cold temperatures—other plants that pawpaw is related to grow in tropical climates. The DNA will help the team evaluate pawpaw’s potential … a family of plants that includes tropical fruits such as cherimoya and sugar apples—but pawpaw is the only species in the family that can grow as far north as Ontario, Canada. The fruit, about …
Type: Blog
… in the garden, the thought of puttering in front of a windowsill brings little comfort. There is a new group of houseplants, however, that can lead double lives — in the winter they're indoor … sense to change the soil and repot the plant using fresh soilless mix. Ordinary garden soil is too heavy and not as fast-draining as the mixes. Indoor clover ( Alternanthera dentata … in the middle of a border. Its dark foliage contrasts with all flowering plants, and it is quite at home amid pinks, lavenders, and purples. It also sports pale greenish-white …
Type: Plant Info
… then fighting to rule England (in a battle later called the War of the Roses). ‘Versicolor’ is naturally striped. Alba Rose; White Rose of York Rosa x alba 'Alba Maxima' The White Rose of … All-America Rose Selections winner, this drought-tolerant, cold-hardy, disease-resistant rose is truly an accomplishment in the rose-breeding industry. It is a 3-foot by 3-foot landscape, or shrub, rose covered with neon cherry blooms throughout its …
Type: Plant Info
… take a moment to look across the lakes toward the new Plant Science Center building. Inside is the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank. There, seeds arrive from the rare remaining … of our incredibly diverse prairie communities. As you enter Dixon Prairie, consider that it is a re-creation rather than a restoration — it was built completely from scratch. Construction … Conservation = Teaching the Next Generation Past the horticulture greenhouses on your right is the Outdoor Classroom. From the schoolchildren who attend programs here to the graduate …
Type: Walks
… Chrysanthemum is Japanese, She's a fine lady, if you please. She comes to see us once a year, about the time … in the fall. The History of Mums As traditionally American as they may seem, the chrysanthemum is actually a Chinese immigrant. Cultivated as an herb in China for more than 3,500 years, the chrysanthemum represents nobility and is considered one of the four gentlemen: the pure and defiant recluse that represents fall. For a …
Type: Plant Info
… what colors they turn in fall. Then take the next step: have a critical look at your own yard. Is it time to plant a tree or shrub? If so, what kind might be right for your yard, and what fall … when there's wind in those willows. Just past the Visitor Center bridge, the Crescent Garden is lined with weeping willows by the water, which is where willows like to be. Katsura trees ( Cercidiphyllum magnificum , or Cercidiphyllum …
Type: Plant Info
… One of the most nutritious, ornamental and anticipated early spring vegetables is asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ). This Mediterranean native has just 20 calories a serving, … century. Close up of asparagus spear Asparagus officinalis ' Jersey Shore' Growing Asparagus is a sun-loving, hardy, long-lived perennial with creeping rhizomes and upright stems that appear … years for a planting to become mature. Since asparagus plants can live for more than 20 years, site them where they can grow undisturbed, such as at the end or border of a vegetable garden. …
Type: Plant Info
… unfilled niches and open soil, allowing sunlight to directly reach the ground. Any bare soil is a welcome mat for seeds—just look at any empty lot where weeds fill the cracks. In the summer, … to improve the soil by adding organic matter. How to Mulch While a light blanket of mulch is a good thing, piling on more than 4 inches is not necessary and can be harmful. Keep all mulch several inches away from tree trunks and …
Type: Plant Info
… Native to the southeastern United States, blue star ( Amsonia tabernaemontana ) is a herbaceous perennial member of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family that is hardy in the Chicago area. Often found growing streamside in sandy or gravelly soils, blue … has pale blue flowers in summer, followed by golden-yellow fall color. This species of amsonia is the most widely grown at the Chicago Botanic Garden. How can a native of the Southeast be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
