… around with the idea before we decided to fill it with sweetgum tree seeds. (Sorry, I did not get a good photo of it.) I had a ceramic birdhouse, so I filled it with soil and planted birdseed … A pitcher plant growing inside a beverage pitcher was a favorite table display. (This pitcher is a species of Nepenthes.) Here are a few practical tips for doing this at home: Since these … it work. I had to take apart a toy drum to turn it into a planter for beets. (Beets in a drum—get it? If you want to impress, don’t shy away from puns, references to popular stories, or …
Type: Blog
… to buy—as a gift or for yourself. If you buy them at a store, wrap them up completely and get them back indoors as soon as you can. Holiday plants come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. … It's beautiful because the red, cream, or sparkle-laden plants are dazzling. But it is also dreaded because the plant will drop its leaves in warm and dry air, cold drafts, or … a bit between waterings. As each flower fades, remove the flowering stalk. A bonus: you can get it to rebloom next year . Drop by the Garden Shop for a selection of plants and other …
Type: Blog
… and rest them on a grassy meadow near the Dixon Prairie. Inside these 2- by-2-foot quadrants is a fantastical world to discover: the height of different species of plants, the temperature of … classroom walls, said Drew Wehrle, the Garden’s former coordinator of student field trips. To get their hands dirty, so to speak. Evaluating the ecosystem of a particular quadrant helps … crafted to fulfill age-appropriate state Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), so students get to explore while also engaging with ideas that complement what they’re already learning in …
Type: Blog
… As the days get shorter, you might be looking for off-the-beaten paths where you can soak up the rest of the … away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s southeast side, just north of Dundee Road, the Reserve is relatively unknown, even to longtime visitors. As an assistant ecologist, I’m in the Reserve a … moths, and butterflies. A picture-perfect pond The restoration work also allows visitors to get a great view of the 6-acre pond, framed with color. Look for swamp white oaks turning a nice …
Type: Blog
… Winter can be as easy or as hard on bugs as on humans, which is why after a fairly mild winter, some gardeners fear the worst. They imagine bugs coming out of … Japanese beetles, aphids, four-lined plant bugs, cucumber beetles, spongy moths — the list is legion. And all are ravenous for something green. Good and Bad Bugs Before you act, remember … Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Ladybird Beetles Number one on many lists of good insects is the ladybird beetle, often referred to as a ladybug. There are many varieties of ladybirds, at …
Type: Plant Info
… The hand-carved Buddha is in the house. A circa-1850 glazed Chinese jar is filled with green Cymbidium orchids native … dry garden surrounded by rolled bamboo walls: It took three crew members two days to get the rolled bamboo walls just right. The finished walls support moss baskets filled with … come into bloom and the ikebana displays change. And the Semitropical Greenhouse? You’ll get a different view each time, depending on the angle of the winter sun as it shines through the …
Type: Blog
… Garden’s Plants of Concern program. “They are delicate landscapes. It can be challenging to get in to them. It can be challenging to move around on the steep slopes.” Those challenges have … rare plant species that can be found there. The data, now quite valuable due to its longevity, is a treasure chest for land managers and others who are trying to better understand the system … conservation. “I believe in citizen science, which is the idea that anybody can do science and get involved in research,” she said. Goad stepped in as manager of Plants of Concern just last …
Type: Blog
… a fuller effect, use more plants than you would in the spring or summer. As the days begin to get shorter and the nights get cooler, plant growth is slowing down or ceasing. By planting a fuller container, you will see immediate results that …
Type: Blog
… it may seem as if the window of time when early annuals and veggies can be safely planted is very tiny indeed. But there are ways to ensure that our wild weather won't preclude an … and the Lenhardt Library is stocked with catalogs and magazines. Take advantage of this on-site expertise. Seeds, Bulbs, Tubers – Read the Small Print Read before you buy. If some of those … and about 12 inches before you gradually introduce it to outdoor conditions. If your seedlings get lanky, super-tall, and begin to fall over, pinch them back by half. This will encourage the …
Type: Plant Info
… benefit from a light sanding to remove rust or splinters. Others may need replacing—and this is a good time to find them on sale. The Basics Just getting started? Invest in a few good … tool edges), and some coarse sandpaper, and you’re off to a great start. Trowel A trowel is a good tool for digging small holes, transplanting, removing weeds, and cultivating the soil. … against a flat edge. Ratchet pruners are basically anvil pruners, but the cutting action is done in stages. Ordinary scissors, used solely for gardening, may work well, too. Hoes A …
Type: Plant Info
