… Sackville-West (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons ) Sackville-West (1892-1962) is well-known for her close relationship with writer Virginia Woolf; she was also a dedicated gardener and … As a scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I most often think of Sackville-West when I visit the Thomas English Walled Garden . This garden is inspired by a long history of British … nature. As people explore the gardens, they will often find a peaceful “room of their own” to get away and reflect. Sissinghurst Castle Garden (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons ) Even in …
Type: Blog
… in the background. Photo ©Carol Freeman By moving just a few inches to my left, I was able to get a more pleasing background for this orchid. Photo ©Carol Freeman It may be bright outside, but the light in the Chicago … review the images on a large screen and know what will be acceptable to you on the day of your visit. Every camera is different, and what may work for me may be too grainy for you. Most …
Type: Blog
… horticulturist, David Tristan, continues to flower even when the corms become crowded – a boon for gardeners who dislike dividing clumps of bulbs. Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 10. Plant in full sun in areas that frequently dry out and get hot. Protect corms from voles, if possible. Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… than most Ginkgoes and makes a very pretty small accent or focal point tree. Very nice for a small space or garden. It has the typical beautiful fan shaped green leaves in summer … to deer and is one of the most pollution-tolerant trees. Although this cultivar appears to get a little taller, it is though to be very similar, or even the same as, Ginkgo biloba …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… softening to a golden yellow over time. As it blooms in clusters, this means you often get both colors together, along with a strong whiff of its rich, fruity fragrance. And good news for midwestern gardeners...'Autumn Sunset' is hardy to zone 5, and highly disease resistant, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… green by midsummer when the white bottlebrush flowers are in bloom, and red and copper for the finale in autumn. At 3-feet by 3 feet, it's also smaller than most Rodgersias so it can … and not reliably, at least in our climate. The drama's in the foliage. Give them time to get established, dappled sun, and consistent moisture, and they'll thrive. Slugs, rabbits and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… enjoy the heady fragrance. Like all roses, the more sun you give it, the more flowers you'll get in return. Spraying against disease may be a good idea, especially if you can't give it full sun or it's crowded too close to other plants for good air circulation. In addition, most growers recommend using fertilizer in spring and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… An autumn visit to the fruit and vegetable garden in search of late-season surprises can be rewarding. For it's at this time that all those plants requiring "a long growing season" (90 to 100+ days … undersides of the squash leaves serve as a deterrent to animals seeking to harvest the produce for themselves. Squash Blossoms and More Squash 'Blue Hubbard' is just one of three different …
Type: Plant Info
… The berries weigh up to an ounce each, making each one a two-bite snack. There's more good news. 'Jumbo' is hardy to -25, so you can be confident Chicago winters won't faze it. And it's happy in full sun or part shade, though you'll get a better crop in full sun. You will need a male variety nearby for pollination. And plan for frequent pruning and strong support...the vigorous vines are large …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… colorful, but only she can give you the delicious kiwi berries (as long as a male's around for pollination). The berries have the the distinctive taste of grocery store kiwis, but without … support. Left unchecked, these woody twining vines can reach 20 feet, making them great for covering arbors or shading a patio. They'll they grow well in part shade, but you'll get a better crop and more colorful foliage in full sun. A note of warning to cat owners: kiwi …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
