… May is the month to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and some shorebirds, as they … through the Chicago area. Most birders might agree that the highlight this time of year is warblers. It is for me—they are tiny jewels with wings. I feel totally blessed if I can see a few during migration. Since these birds are so small, they usually wait for favorable winds to help them travel. Any night with southerly winds will have the birds moving; new birds arrive …
Type: Blog
… Want to help monarch butterflies? Be careful when selecting your milkweed. Not all plants that go by the common name of "milkweed" are the food that these butterflies need. Milkweed is both a food source and a host plant on which the monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Monarchs … the following milkweed species (Asclepias) are native: Asclepias amplexicaulis is native to our prairies and is suitable for planting in sunny perennial flower gardens. The flowers are …
Type: Blog
… Pondering the Prairie Series Graminoid is a term created to encompass all of those grass-like plants with narrow leaves and barely noticeable flowers. Yes, grasses and grass look-alikes do have flowers! All plants need to reproduce and they do so primarily by producing flowers. Unfortunately, the graminoid has a …
Type: Blog
… New! Houseplants are a great way to brighten up your home. In this workshop, learn about things to consider before repotting, good root health, and the proper way to repot a potted plant. Overcome your fear of repotting your plants and enjoy the improved …
Type: Item Detail
… Local animals provide fun and engaging subjects for students to investigate NGSS life-science concepts at home or in the schoolyard. Watch squirrels and birds to study animal behavior, investigate pillbugs to learn about habitat preferences, and perform an experiment to learn about plant-animal …
Type: Item Detail
… As the sun sets, colors change and shadows lengthen. This class will take students to various parts of the Garden to capture the drama of the special quality of diminishing light in summer. Class limited to DSLR cameras. Tripod strongly encouraged. Students should have a working knowledge of cameras …
Type: Item Detail
… This Celosia was bred to continue flowering even during the hottest summer days; a significant improvement over earlier cultivars. Dark purple, feathered plumes arise above the green foliage from June to the first frost of fall. Plant 'Dark Purple' in full sun and in average soils, and water it to get the root system established; then only water it during periods of drought or when the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Bronzy orange leaves form a water holding cup in the center of this bromeliad native to northern South America. The tip and leaf edges are edged in spines. Grow in bright to full sunlight in warm humid conditions and replenish the water supply in the cup as needed with non-chlorinated and non-fluorinated water to avoid leaf burn. Birds and insects are attracted to the plant because of the water supply in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… pruning, it can look unkempt. Four-petaled flowers are borne on pyramidal panicles 6 inches to 8 inches long from mid July onward. They change from white to purplish-pink and finally turn to brown as the growing season progresses, persisting into fall. The triangular flower heads on …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… flowers with just a slight lavender wash cover this disease resistant shrub rose from mid-June to the first hard frosts of the season, traditionally around mid-October. Full sun in moderately … fertile soils that never completely dry out are ideal. The rugosa parentage provides tolerance to salty soils, an advantage to roadside plantings subjected to salt spray during the winter. Honey bees and other insects …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
