… find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only … heat, by vibrating their wing muscles and restricting their blood flow in the thorax, to get themselves flying early in spring before it's warm enough for many other pollinators to go … species and other ephemerals absorb large quantities of water that would otherwise move off site, often carrying valuable nutrients and soil with it. This high demand for moisture also …
Type: Blog
… What the Garden Is Doing…and What You Can Do at Home Safeguarding Long-term Survival Environmental threats like … the Midwest and Great Plains regions, with the goal of banking at least 10,000 seeds from 1,500 native species we have identified. Most of our seeds are banked here at the Garden, but a … the life of store-bought or garden-harvested seeds for future use. Read on for some tips to get you started. Steps to Saving Seeds at Home Choosing which type of seeds you’d like to save. …
Type: Plant Info
… language, and learn new skills. For scientists, patterns are also clues that something deeper is at work. “Nature is inherently random, so patterns indicate either selective pressures or a predictable process, … a mystery, inviting further discovery. Here are a few common reasons plants have patterns.  1. Guiding pollinators The butterfly orchid ( Psychopsis papilio ) Michigan lily ( Lilium …
Type: Blog
… our gardens during the great fall migration. Among these fascinating and colorful creatures is the ruby-throated hummingbird, which travels through the Chicago area in great numbers during … previous fall—quite an accomplishment—and was back in the spring for more. Now’s the time to get those feeders out so that the same birds may visit your garden next spring. Hummingbird … hummingbird feeder “food” with a mixture of sugar and water. The ratio is 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, so for every cup of water, you need ¼ cup sugar. Boil the sugar-water mixture for a …
Type: Plant Info
… “decorating” with plants, but it’s an opportunity to use them as displays, whether your style is minimalist, cottage, formal, funky, or vintage. There’s the beauty of a fern with its delicate … foliage trailing from the top of a bookshelf. And, you don’t have to be a gardening guru to get them to thrive . There are plenty of places to stage plants indoors. They can go near the … for their parlors, has become popular once again—but for a different reason. The foliage is dramatic and looks like contemporary sculpture. There are several species and cultivars, but …
Type: Plant Info
… Fall bloomers are already stealing the show and, while they are colorful, it is largely due to their size. By the time many of these perennials bloom, they are so tall that … found in ironweed flowers is one of kind. The problem with these natives is that most of them get gigantic, usually around 8 feet tall. Fortunately, you can enjoy that stunning hue on a much … includes a double-flowered, a bicolored, and a white-blooming form. Of course, I can’t wait to get my hands on Pretty Lady Maria windflower—the non-pink one. …
Type: Blog
… plants you have to be careful that what you take isn’t getting sprayed with herbicides—which is why I recommend only harvesting weeds from your own yard, or places you know have … officinale,  or dandelions, are bothersome weeds, but they are truly “gourmet.” Dandelions get their name from their toothed leaves which are reminiscent of lion’s teeth, or as the French … growing naturally? Look for purslane in sunny areas, particularly where the ground can get dry. Harvest purslane any time before the flowers appear, because they can become quite …
Type: Blog
… Although it may not look like it, spring is on its way, which means it’s time to start prepping for the anticipated spring planting … greatly enhances the success of a garden and horticultural therapy program. When participants get the opportunity to place their own plants within a shared space, their individual ownership … Punxsutawney Phil thinks spring is just around the corner then we better be ready! Until then, get those seeds going, stay warm, and dream of snow drops, crocuses, and early spring showers. …
Type: Blog
… find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only last for a day before they drop. Additionally frustrating is that cloud cover can hamper catching the full glory of the blooming of some species. You may … by planting the entire community of plants together at the same time. It will be easier to get the many species growing together. The healthy competition and relationships among plants are …
Type: Plant Info
… of an Illinois autumn. Asters are easy to grow, if you plant them in full sun, in soil that is well-drained but not too rich, and you don't overdo water or fertilizer. But which asters? … since many nurseries, garden centers, catalog companies, and even garden writers have yet to get on board with the new names, I'll give both, as well as the common names. In Hawke's trial, … Symphyotrichum oblongifolium , formerly Aster oblongifolius ). With sky-blue flowers on stiff 1- to 3-foot stems, it flowers prolifically into October or even November if frost comes late, …
Type: Plant Info
