… The very cosmopolitan painted lady (Vanesa cardui) Cosmopolitan— In this case, a cosmopolitan is not a mixed drink or a well-traveled individual—although this term is related to being in many … showing off their most admirable features. The males with the right stuff will be the ones who get to mate and pass on their genes. With blue morphos, only the most colorful males will get this privilege. I once witnessed a group of blue morphos “lekking” at Butterflies & Blooms. A …
Type: Blog
… winter forcing so you can enjoy a preview of spring in the midst of winter’s chill. Forcing is the act of putting plants through a cold period in order to stimulate blooming during an … of the pot in one inch of soil. Add your largest bulbs in a layer, leaving approximately 1 inch between plants. Cover these bulbs. If you are adding another layer of smaller bulbs, leave … water the container. Place your container in a cool, dark location. The container must never get above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below freezing. Ideal spots are an unheated garage or, if you …
Type: Blog
… of big plants, and we thought for a second it might be the same as the big plants, but it is definitely different. It’s our first field day. We don’t know what this plant is called, and … down a stem or a gland at the base of a hair on the edge of a leaf blade. We value the time we get to spend in the field or the lab with expert botanists that put our identification skills to … species will begin to show themselves. Look at all parts of the plant. Flowers sometimes get all the love, but stems and leaves and fruits and seeds can hold the keys to identification. …
Type: Blog
… check in with and be present in the natural world. Choosing a Spot The best kind of sit-spot is one that you feel comfortable in and familiar with. So choose a natural area that is easily accessible and preferably in a location that you can visit regularly. That might mean a … a week. Start with a five-minute visit and build from there. After you turn off your phone and get settled, take three deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. To …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden hosted celebrated designer Bunny Williams of Bunny Williams Interior Design at Get Growing Weekend. We spoke to her about her potted paradise design. Q: Describe your process … a good container? A: One of the things I’m always thinking about when I’m doing a container is height. When you first plant a container, all of the plants are very small. But a month later … between the different foliage. It makes the container more interesting if something is not in bloom. Salvia ‘Balsamispim’ Mystic Spires Blue™ Improved Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ …
Type: Blog
… start to germinate when the top inch of soil reaches about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. (This is when an inexpensive soil thermometer comes in handy. Look for one at your local garden center … leaf lettuce and spinach are ready to harvest in as little as 30 days and all you need to do is snip off enough leaves for a salad. Within a few days, the plants sprout more leaves and … Seeded Simpson’ leaf lettuce and spinach are easy to grow on a balcony where you might only get a few hours of sun. Any of the cool-season greens can be grown in a vegetable garden as soon …
Type: Plant Info
… or just realizing that, “Hey! This stuff actually grows in the shade!” These elements get stored in your mind — adding up to what you would want your garden to look like or feel like. … within the parameters of that design, and after the initial design and build phases, pruning is the most important tool that will keep your garden spot-on with what you envisioned. Willows … shedding this (plant’s version of a hangnail), and as it unevenly sloughs off over time, the site becomes an entry point for rot, disease, and pests. You don’t want that. And by …
Type: Plant Info
… We get a lot of questions about one particular plant in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden: … ) in Bed #10 in the Growing Garden. This attractive plant has large, thick, green leaves, is about 10–12 inches long and 8–10 inches wide, with deeply serrated edges, and is completely covered in tiny, purple hairs (which are not really hairs—in the botanical world …
Type: Blog
… and smell the roses. In between the entrance to the Krasberg Rose Garden and the Linden Allée is a tiny terrace, tucked behind a hedge. The chairs there are perfect for taking in the scent of … Pack a picnic to eat at the Nautilus terrace, then head up either hill, and enjoy the sound. Get there before 6 p.m. While the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden stays open just until 6 … sun lowers in the sky. Have you discovered the Kleinman Family Cove yet? We think the Cove is one of the prettiest places at the Garden in the evening—perfect for listening to the natural …
Type: Blog
… with its breathtaking flower…accompanied by a titanically rotten smell. “Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch. The three words that best … here once again, with an update on Spike, our still-growing titan arum. Spike continues to get bigger, not only in height, but also in girth! What we’re really curious about, however, is … ( Catharsius sp.) think that stink smells great. Photo ©2012 via potokito-myshot.blogspot.com A different view of ewwww! Carrion beetles, dung flies, and flesh flies aren’t responding to …
Type: Blog
