… theme at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Mistletoe—a plant that typically inspires romance—is actually a parasite. The plant’s roots penetrate the bark of a host plant and steal its …
Type: Blog
… they often grow so rampantly that they choke out native plants. The unfortunate result is less biodiversity, and an ecosystem that needs to be restored. Urban development also has a …
Type: Plant Info
… to the side of a wall or fence and let it reveal other parts of the garden. Placed in a shady site, the mirror will lighten things up. Group It Not using those old colorful bowling balls? … teach you to make beautiful mosaics like these below made by Gloria Ciaccio. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives and gardens in Palos Park, Illinois. …
Type: Plant Info
… Mites are often difficult to see without a lens. Scale — Characteristic sticky, clear honeydew is produced on leaves by these small, immobile, rounded insects usually found on stems and veins …
Type: Plant Info
… the whole space, inviting you to slow down and take a deep, settling breath. “Cloud Dancer” is a true chameleon in the garden, blending effortlessly with almost any palette. Whether you …
Type: Blog
… squirrels, bats, rabbits, field mice, red foxes, and even the occasional deer and coyote. It is heartening to see all these hallmarks of a thriving ecosystem, none of which we’d have enjoyed …
Type: Blog
… Then a lot of leaves, and finally a flower! And recently, the plant produced what I think is its largest red blossom ever. It took some time, but somehow, we found in the earth what it …
Type: Blog
… and they make excellent cut flowers. Z. angustifolia (Narrow-Leaf Zinnia) Narrow-leaf zinnia is compact and spreading with a height between 8 and 18 inches with a compact, mounding form …
Type: Plant Info
… center petals in a contrasting color to the outer, larger petals. The hybridizing of peonies is an ongoing science, with new introductions marketed every year. Peonies can be grown as … in the spring as potted plants or in the fall as bare tuberous roots. Cultivate the planting site thoroughly, add compost, and water well. In the fall, set the swollen roots no more than 2 …
Type: Plant Info
… lepiota, was the mushroom du jour. Three of the cases involved this toxic mushroom that is commonly found in yards after summer rains. It looks lovely, and it usually won’t kill you, … vomiting and/or diarrhea, often severe, starting one to three hours after ingestion. This is the most commonly eaten toxic mushroom in the United States. It might seem like a bumper crop … lawn mower’s mushroom, is also nonedible. (Photo with permission Michael Kuo, mushroomexpert.com .) Not all mushrooms growing in lawns are toxic. But the only way to tell is to know what …
Type: Blog
