… The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help Is this the year to try bigleaf hydrangea, tea olive, or another plant that you think only grows … Zone Map , which can help you decide what plants might survive the winter. The update is the first since 2012. “It’s a great tool, and we’re glad the USDA continues to update these … much of the state of Illinois, has shifted to a slightly warmer zone. Most of the Chicago area is now in zone 6a, including the Chicago Botanic Garden, which previously was in 5b. (Zone 1a is …
Type: Blog
… At the end of fall, it is easy for people to think that nature has shut down for the winter—this could not be farther from the truth. This thought is particularly true of people who have walked through the McDonald Woods at the Chicago Botanic … populations move around, depending on prey abundance. Unlike the horned owl, which can easily switch between different sizes of prey, the long-eared owl is a more specialized predator and …
Type: Blog
… for centuries. These directions are a simple variation of a doll made from corn husks, which is a traditional craft of Native Americans. Corn husks are the leaves that cover and protect the … the skirt in half up the middle and fasten rubber bands on each side to form ankles. This is just the beginning of the fun! You can add accessories, such as a shawl, a vest, or a cape by …
Type: Blog
… it's only March, and yes, there's still snow on the ground. Yet smart gardeners know that now is the time to plan for fall color in your garden. Nurseries and garden centers start receiving … Joy', too. But there are some intriguing newcomers to the autumn stonecrop crowd—and color is rejuvenating the category. Got rabbit trouble? Not with sedums. Lemonjade sedum ( Sedum … over grey-green foliage, they give way to peach-colored seedheads. 16 to 18 inches, tall, 26 to 28 inches wide Firecracker sedum ( Sedum 'Firecracker') smolders with intense burgundy-red …
Type: Plant Info
… are part of every garden. Because bee populations continue to decline, and because September is National Honey Month…we dedicate this Smart Gardener to the story of how bees actually produce … make honey, which tastes delicious! But what happens between the flowers and the honey jar is utterly fascinating—and it may make you think differently about how you garden. Honey starts with nectar Plants produce the sugary secretion called nectar to attract bees. Nectar is bee food: specifically, it provides the carbohydrates that bees need. While searching for and …
Type: Plant Info
… in 2025. Here are the stories that made us fall for them all over again. Grassy plumage is the new black. Made from hand-dyed plant material, these Stella McCartney gowns have all the fluff and float of real feathers, without the birds. The exact plant species is under wraps, but we have our own ideas! In addition to ornamental grasses like this, we … bonus? Many are native to Illinois and make a great lawn alternative . This desert cutie is… a sunflower? Meet the woolly devil ( Ovicula biradiata ), the first new plant species and …
Type: Blog
… Take a deep breath, and feel the love Is it possible to breathe in … love? We think so. The heady scents that flourish at the Chicago … traveling directly to our brain’s limbic system, which controls emotion and memory. Which is why smelling a particular perfume can stir romantic passion or a whiff of gardenias may reconnect us to a chapter from our past. “Scent is so personal,” said Alex Schneider, coordinator of Visitor Events & Programs at the Garden. “It …
Type: Blog
… tiny external structures in their wax coating that scatter blue and ultraviolet light, which is why we see them as blue. Read on to discover more plant stories that caught our eye. … when exposed to the pulsating vibrations of hardcore rock. Wait, what? Actually, the jury is out as to whether metal is superior to Mozart for a plant-based audience. Plus, as the Garden’s Greenhouses staffers will …
Type: Blog
… shape of the tree or shrub. Branches should be at least 1 foot long, cut when the temperature is above freezing. Lay branches overnight in a bathtub filled with room-temperature water. Make … of deciduous trees and shrubs can be done this month, weather permitting. Heavy pruning is best done in late winter or early spring immediately before bud break. Another time to prune ornamental flowering trees is immediately after they flower. (This avoids sacrificing their spring flower display.) Fruit …
Type: Plant Info
… preplanted in a gift box. Those that are not should be planted in a heavy pot, wider than it is tall, with adequate drainage holes. Use a general, lightweight, soilless mix, making sure that … and then allowed to dry slightly between waterings. This stimulates root growth, which is especially important when keeping the bulb more than one year. Potted Care Place the pot in an … a month with a dilute 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 mix. Take Outside After the last frost date (May 15 is the average last frost date in the Chicago area), move the potted plant (consisting of a bulb …
Type: Plant Info
