… tips and mature to orange-red with yellow tips. Heat- and drought-tolerant Zowie! Yellow Flame is a good selection for container gardens. Blooming now in the Graham Bulb Garden, as shown here, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… the coveted royal blue are now banished to the shadows. Water Birds In the evening, there is a renewed refreshment in the Garden. When the winds soften, the lakes appear as glass, … their roosts. Water birds find this time ideal for fishing, and this “Garden of Nine Islands” is dotted with great blue herons standing tall on the shorelines. Look for them hugging close to … , Circle Garden , and Rose Garden remind us how precious the sound, and feel, of running water is on a summer’s eve. There are secret sources of water drawing you into hidden niches. The …
Type: Walks
… full of bright berries and seed pods. Types of Containers Choose your container to suit your site, the design of your home, and the types of plants you want to grow. Every pot must have … are also very heavy and expensive and should be used only as permanent containers. Terra cotta is a popular, medium-priced material, available in all sizes and therefore a good choice for … directly into the larger garden or elevated on a tabletop, a step, or a garden wall. Plastic is lightweight, nonporous, inexpensive, and suitable for hanging baskets or for plants that are …
Type: Plant Info
… “There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes … they search for insects. They’re hungry after a night of flying many miles. The Chicago area is a part of the Mississippi Flyway—one of the major routes for migratory birds. They can be …
Type: Plant Info
… good-looking, late-season wonders for your garden. Butterfly bush (Buddleja) Butterfly bush is a magnet for flower-feeding butterflies, bees, and other insects. This woody perennial ranges … Butterfly bush should be placed in well-drained soil and full sun. Drainage during winter is essential. See how Butterfly Bush performed in the Garden’s Plant Evaluation. Coleus … a paper bag with peat moss and store in a cool, dry place. Sneezeweed (Helenium) Sneezeweed is an unfortunate common name for this wonderful, long-blooming perennial. It doesn’t cause …
Type: Plant Info
… Sensitive plants such as magnolias will particularly benefit from mulch. A good rule of thumb is to spread the mulch as wide as the reach of the branches. Do not pile it against the trunk, … they need a larger supply throughout the winter than deciduous trees. The second priority is any trees or shrubs planted within the year, followed by plantings of the previous three … plants in past winters, wrap the trunk now to avoid a continued issue. Fall Planting Fall is a season to plant selected varieties of trees and shrubs. They offer both aesthetic and …
Type: Plant Info
… we simply want winter—too often maligned as cold and dreary—to get its due. Perhaps no one is more agreeable to take on the pro-winter debate than Fred Spicer, the Garden’s executive vice … walks, which, he said, “offer completely different impressions of what the winter landscape is like.” McDonald Woods “It’s a magical place any time of year,” Spicer said. “But seeing those big, bare trees is wonderful. They have a winter signature.” Dwarf Conifer Garden “When you need a shot of …
Type: Blog
… If nature is a healing force, Sabryna-Joi King-Bell has felt its power. It happened during a recent Chicago … as simple as potting a plant brought tears to her eyes. “I’m so appreciative because this is such a safe space and I live a life of gratitude,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. … are group-oriented, designed for an array of audiences and ages. The main campus hosts on-site programming for a wide variety of groups. But the outreach programs from the Windy City …
Type: Blog
… in a light soilless mixture. Water the bulb thoroughly once, then again only when the soil mix is dry to the touch. Amaryllis bulbs can tolerate dryness but not soggy conditions. Place the … flowers will last for weeks. Place the plant in a cool area and water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid splashing water on the leaves. Fertilize with a dilute 10-10-10 … the soil evenly moist and punch holes in foil liners to allow for proper drainage. If the soil is allowed to dry, the plants will wilt and lose leaves. However, saturated soil conditions can …
Type: Plant Info
… Changing your planting style is a win-win for you and your local bees. At the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg is planting for pollination success. "It's actually been good for us that the weather stayed cool … are a great example—the flowers don't easily release pollen. The first day of flower opening is the most important day for pollination, as the fruit set will be better. As the flower ages, …
Type: Plant Info