… Rhododendrons are popular woody shrubs grown for their spectacular spring flowers. Within this genus, taxonomists estimate that there are between 800 and 1,000 species. They are native to North America, Europe, Australasia, Asia, southwest China, Tibet, Myanmar, northern India, and … rhododendrons are among the most reliable and commonly sold rhododendrons in the Chicago area. Visit in April and May, and you’ll find dozens of cultivars bursting with color at the Garden. …
Type: Plant Info
… President’s Day was established in 1885 as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present. It also seems to be just the right day for me to share the highlights of my visit to the White House with you. Smack dab in the middle of last fall’s Cubs playoff series …
Type: Blog
… Many gardeners consider hostas quite similar to daylilies — absolutely fail-safe plants. Stick them in the ground, give them a little water, … because they are so easy to grow and so adaptable to many situations, they tend to be taken for granted, even considered a little... boring. However, they are anything but, especially the … tract and speeds up the drowning process. If slugs are in your garden, be prepared for them to visit daylilies in the early, cooler days of summer, before temperatures and midday sun send them …
Type: Plant Info
… Pokémon hunting in the Garden can be a great way to stop and take a closer look at some of the gardens while connecting with other … can play anywhere in the world—and the Garden is one of the locations with many features for those using the game. Nearly 50 PokéStops dot the Garden grounds, typically tied to … bloom, and the East Road offers a lovely vista of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. Visit the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center Green Roof Gardens (where …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden? Find out with our mystery photo challenge! Guess these objects and where to find them with our close-up snapshots. Click on the picture to reveal the answer to each clue … the few hand-played carillons in the country. Close Clue: If you’re standing in a garden fit for royalty, peek through these terra-cotta tiles to find this place. It’s lined with parallel … L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. See if you can use it to tell the time on your next visit. Close Find these spots and more on your next visit to the Garden. Preregister for a timed …
Type: Blog
… indoors will be too complicated or difficult or messy. But nature makes it easy. A seed exists to sprout, and given the right conditions, it will do so with great determination. Sowing Seeds … best given a head start inside where it's warm, beginning in late February or March for some plants. Expert greenhouse growers carefully fine-tune conditions for different species … to find their way between its particles. Potting mix is generally too dense; it's better to buy a sterile seed-starting mix. The mix must be sterile because cleanliness is crucial: New …
Type: Plant Info
… their flower buds and leaves. Underneath them, small but spectacular wildflowers continue to bloom and bees (and the occasional hummingbird) are buzzing around collecting nectar and … Although they are extremely attractive, they are underused in many home gardens. We’d like to change that because native plants are truly unique. They have successfully grown and evolved … few native plants to your garden. They can offer food, shelter, nesting material, and a place for insects and birds to lay their eggs. They tolerate the vagaries of an ever-changing climate. …
Type: Plant Info
… is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party. " — Robin Williams, American Actor While I’d like to party outside—sowing seeds and enjoying the spring blossoms—I’m keeping a cautious eye on the … collected by the National Weather Service ( NOAA.gov ) states that the “normal” April snowfall for the Chicago area is 1.3 inches. That’s nothing compared to the 7.9 inches of snow the area … vegetable plants this month. They’ve been coddled in a warm greenhouse up until now. If you buy warm-season crops (like tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash) wait to plant them until after …
Type: Plant Info
… Winter solstice is just around the corner—December 21 to be exact. On that day, we in the Midwest will have about nine hours of daylight. Compare that … , the stark white trunks of native sweet birch (Betula lenta) stand out on overcast days. Look for paperbark maples (Acer griseum) and Peking lilacs (Syringa pekinensis) and discover the … be cut back in early spring. So grab your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf and come out for a visit. There’s much to see. Written by Nina Koziol, garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… presence at the back of borders, sometimes reblooming in lavender, pink, or white all the way to October. Some of these perennials have a lovely fragrance (leading more than one species to be … inspired by the bright, high-held flower spikes of the tall species, comes from the Greek word for "flame." Although some species have become common garden plants all over the world, nearly … program of which the Garden is a partner. In a few years at garden centers, you may be able to buy a new cultivar of bright, low spring phlox that had its start in the beds you can now easily …
Type: Plant Info
