… While it isn't difficult to grow herbs inside your home, it can be tricky when it comes to two important plant needs … notoriously dry in winter, so indoor herbs will need extra humidity to thrive. A few solutions for increasing moisture in the air around your plants: Set pots of herbs on a boot tray filled … together, so they create their own little micro-climate in the room. First-time herb grower Visit to a nursery will yield baby herb plants that are perfect for a container, indoor window …
Type: Plant Info
… As days grow longer in early spring, gardeners get itchy. And for vegetable gardeners, late March is not too soon to get started. But you can't plant just anything Only a few crops, mainly greens and root vegetables, have seeds that will sprout in cool soil — and to a seed, it's the soil temperature, not the air temperature, that matters. A brief spell of …
Type: Plant Info
… bulbs offer a versatility and a smashing swath of color in all gardens. In addition to the true kings and queens of the bulb garden, there is a very interesting group of smaller … lily, spring beauty) and most will naturalize over the years as long as the foliage is allowed to yellow and wither naturally, thus providing food for the blossoms to come. Winter aconite ( Eranthishyemalis ) White trout lily ( …
Type: Plant Info
… they prefer prik kee noo; in Ethiopia they enjoy piri piri; and the Brazilians use malagueta. (For the extremely local, no Chicago dog is complete unless it comes with sport peppers!) Use these top tips to ensure the best pepper harvest year after year in your garden, because every bite is worth … forget to save those seeds! Looking ahead: sowing your own seed Most home gardeners prefer to buy peppers in pots at their local garden center—and let's face it, not everyone wants to start …
Type: Plant Info
… From runways to rainforests, plants stole the spotlight in 2025. Here are the stories that made us fall for them all over again. Grassy plumage is the new black. Made from hand-dyed plant material, … our own: “Back in 1991, Princess Margaret dedicated the English Walled Garden during a royal visit,” said Senior Horticulturist Heather Sherwood. “There’s another Princess here, too: a …
Type: Blog
… fascinated with Beatrix Potter, the creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I remember wanting to visit Hill Top Farm, Potter’s home, after finding a photo of children reading by the fireplace in … mother, Helen Leech Potter, who was also interested in drawing and painting—common pastimes for upper-middle-class Victorian women. Beatrix used a paint box inscribed with her mother’s …
Type: Blog
… As the weather changes and true fall sets in, all eyes turn to the trees. It's a smart time to take a walk in the neighborhood, to really look at which trees … 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 color would be a smart addition for your home, your yard, and your neighborhood? Often, the talk turns to red. But a visit to the Garden during October reveals the diversity of colors in nature's crayon box—yellow, …
Type: Plant Info
… a windbreak, but a row of evergreens, like arborvitaes, can provide privacy and a nesting site for songbirds. A blanket of snow on their boughs adds winter enchantment in our garden. Eastern … hours) but some will tolerate part shade. Depending on the cultivar, mature size ranges from 3 to 25 feet tall and 3 to 15-feet wide or so. Yews (Taxus—pronounced Tacks-uss) Canadian yew ( T. … with spring-blooming bulbs, like daffodils and snowdrops, is icing on the hedge. Before You Buy (Or Plant) First, note the location of your property lines. Call JULIE (dial 811) to …
Type: Plant Info
… take care of their "dirty" business. Starting with and maintaining healthy soil is fundamental to good gardening, but too often it is overlooked in the frenzy to get those plants in the … development, and home building all take their toll on the quality of urban soil. Tips for Restoring the Soil What can gardeners do to restore their soil? Avoid working in the garden … topsoil to your garden. This requires working with local nurseries to source out where they buy their topsoil and finding a nursery with soil that matches the native soil of your area. When …
Type: Plant Info
… constantly on the move. Birds, deer, and even water animals cross trails, roads, and waterways to seek food or habitats that are necessary for their survival, and the seeds of plants can travel by wind or other means to establish in new … can take you a full 22 miles south through the Forest Preserves. For a shorter excursion, visit the Garden’s McDonald Woods . These woods have always been here, but species such as …
Type: Blog
