… year. SONIC BLOOM® Pink and the others in the SONIC BLOOM® series are the exception.Once they start blooming, they continue in waves until frost. In spring, every branch of SONIC BLOOM® Pink …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Botanic Garden , where I work as a senior graphic designer. Life is just better when you start and end your day outside on a bike. I stopped to take a selfie, as I rode into the Garden. … the weather cooperates, I catch the trail at Linne Woods in Morton Grove, about three blocks from my house, on my All-City geared bike, or single-speed Bianchi, at 6:45 a.m. If you don’t … plants like wildflowers blooming under the oaks and hickories, and the flashes of blue and red from the blue jays and cardinals winging by. As the seasons change, I also get a humbling …
Type: Blog
… stems, or roots of green, non-woody plants. Also in general, spices are the bark (usually from woody trees or shrubs) or seeds of plants. You probably dove deeply into your spice cabinet … (marjoram, chives) are best used within one year. Ground spices (allspice, cinnamon, etc.) start to lose aroma after 12 months, but will last two to three years. Whole leaves, seeds, and … containers: glass spice bottles and jars are excellent for storing the seeds you'll harvest from your own garden next summer. After you've edited, replenish only according to your true …
Type: Plant Info
… to North America were restricted to a small band just north of the Gulf of Mexico. Extending from the northern hills of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, the range arced southwest … flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike to willow-like and looks attractive throughout the growing season with the bonus of good-to-outstanding yellow to gold fall color. Species may vary in plant size from a ground cover sized 5 inches to an almost shrub sized 4 feet. Bluestars are considered …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… part 3 Why compost? Reducing the volume of your garbage is good by itself. Removing food from the waste stream is especially beneficial because food buried in a landfill causes … downs without contributing to climate change. There are many online videos instructing how to start vermicomposting. They are informative but can be confusing because they show many different … paper items: newspaper, scrap office paper, cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes 2 cups of soil from your yard 6 or more eggshells (optional, but very good for the system) 1 cup of vegetable …
Type: Blog
… read books or browse websites. But a winter or spring class or workshop is a better place to start. You can ask questions, get guidance for further research, and meet other people who are … not just the topic that matters: the Garden offers instruction pitched at different levels, from basics for beginners to certificate programs for professionals. The class that is right for … to gather some basic data before taking a design class: Collect some photos of your garden from various angles and at various seasons. Jot down things you love and hate about it and …
Type: Plant Info
… in the spring. Be sure to ask an expert before planting. Think Ahead This is the month to start planning and planting for a spring display. Daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses, tulips, grape … storing. Drain the Hose Freezing weather is several weeks away, but by the end of the month, start thinking about draining and storing your hoses. When water freezes inside a hose, it can …
Type: Plant Info
… Earth Day. It has been four months and my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) from the food I fed them. My compost is ready to harvest! If you started a worm bin or are … or be prepared to ruin your manicure (I did the latter). Carefully separate the castings from the remaining, undecomposed bedding materials, moving them to opposite sides of the bin. … castings and undecomposed bedding materials to opposite sides of the bin. Worms will move away from the light that is shining on the castings. After separating the materials, add some fresh …
Type: Blog
Q. The roots of my phalaenopsis orchid are growing over the rim of the pot. Does this mean I need to repot the plant? A. Many varieties of orchids enjoy being slightly potbound. However, if they are overly confined, they might fail to bloom. Choose a pot size that accommodates the size of the plant’s roots rather than one that reflects the size of the foliage and flowers. Signs that indicate it’s …
Type: Plant Info
Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light, overheated rooms, or improper watering and fertilizing techniques. New houseplants or gift plants can also harbor pests. Isolate these plants before adding them to your collection. Pests to look out for include the following: Spider mites — Look for webbing in leaf axils, stippled …
Type: Plant Info
