… Description: The most common year-round woodpecker at the Garden is frequently spotted-especially in the McDonald Woods and Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Even on … Woodpecker give its whinnylike call in the woods at the Garden. This hardy, adaptable bird is built to get food left by other birds that leave town for the winter. Woodpeckers can go up … might get stuck.) About 6 inches long with a 10- to 12-inch wingspan, this small woodpecker is black and white. The male has a red patch on the back of its head; the female has a black …
Type: Birding
… tree trunks with protective wrap in fall and removing it in early spring. If weather is unusually warm, avoid pruning trees that will "bleed," or discharge large amounts of water, such as elms, maples and birches. Prune these trees only when weather is quite cold or in summer. Immediately prune out broken or damaged branches. …
Type: Plant Info
… Ask most families what their favorite fruit is and the answer is unanimous — the apple! Whether picked fresh on a crisp autumn day or baked later into pies and … are enjoyed by more adults and children than any other fruit. The good news for gardeners is that you don't need an orchard to grow apples. There are several options available to both …
Type: Plant Info
… which span the color spectrum from yellow and chartreuse to burgundy and purple, coleus is enjoying a revival from its earlier years as a popular Victorian houseplant. The reasons for … very well-draining soil, these plants survived southern summers with no major problems. This is good news for Chicago-area gardeners who lack shaded yards. Growers have been busily … make perfect companions to everything pastel. Coleus can accent the plain or the fancy, and it is widely used in creative containers, where it serves to blend vegetables with vines as well as …
Type: Plant Info
… number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals—often … nights—though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate, or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom … sustain the plant through dry periods. Other varieties are monopodial, meaning upward growth is from a single growing point. There is an exception to almost every general statement one can …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Explore the Bonsai courtyards Among the Chicago Botanic Garden's world-class plant displays is a specialty collection of close to 200 priceless bonsai — trees that have been trained to grow … spend winters in carefully controlled environments suited to their species. Outside, each tree is displayed on a granite bench with a frosted glass backdrop. The benches have edge lighting so … Advanced technique As visitors remark on the beauty before them, what they do not see is the intense work required to train a small sapling into a mature tree, which appears almost …
Type: Walks
… a flower, destined to spend eternity at the water’s edge nodding at his reflection. Spring is here when the daffodils bloom Who can possibly doubt that spring is among us when the tiny … 32,000 registered cultivars (named hybrids). Daffodils are divided into 13 divisions in an official classification system. But don’t worry—no need to memorize the divisions to be … may be short-lived because the light intensity and heat are increasing. If you can, select a site sheltered from winds out of the north and west, which can knock the plants over in spring. …
Type: Plant Info
… Viva Vita Pride Month is a time to honor the history and voices of the LGBTQIA+ community—which makes me, a plant … self-assurance, she retreated to her garden and built herself a library within a tower on the site. This space was her private refuge, where she would lock herself away for hours to write … concepts such as green for nature, yellow for sunlight, and orange for healing. The arrow points to the right to show forward movement and illustrates that progress toward inclusivity is …
Type: Blog
… winter—whether it’s snow, ice, temperature swings, or the products used to combat the weather—is the chief task. Indoors, houseplants may need some TLC, as do many of the holiday-centric … and don’ts Light pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs can be done this month. Heavy pruning is best done in late winter or very early spring before buds break. Protect evergreens from heavy … can also be difficult to see without a hand 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
… said working with the veterans “has changed my life as well.” “I think the main thing is, the program creates a soft spot to land, learn, grow, and make mistakes in a safe environment … his workdays. “He changes how I’m able to function,” Rubinberg said of service dog Cooper, who is ready to intervene if Rubinberg displays physical cues pointing to anxiety and PTSD—if … who understand him. And time outdoors keeps him feeling calm, so simply having Cooper near him is often all the reassurance he needs. Jankowski noted that while Rubinberg started the program …
Type: Blog
