… A tall-grass prairie native that adds beauty to gardens and nurtures wildlife, switchgrass is now being considered as a potential new fuel source. Divided into two types, upland and … the risk of global warming by replacing fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil). The process is a bit complicated, but agronomy professor David Bransby of Auburn University has elegantly … of turning to switchgrass for fuel. When fossil fuels are burnt, explains Bransby, carbon is removed from below ground (gas and oil wells and coal mines) and released into the atmosphere …
Type: Plant Info
… This approach implies flowers are to look at and vegetables are to eat. And fraternization is frowned on. But things are changing. To see what's happening in today's gardens, one has only … of every kind, including pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, and wall planters. The idea is to use plants in completely new ways. Color As for ornamental vegetables, who would have … and eggplants would be grown for their vibrant color as well as for their taste? Color is the big news in vegetables these days, and the catalogs offer some real surprises. There are …
Type: Plant Info
… and gold fall color lights up the landscape. Marmo maple, Acer x freemanii 'Marmo', is a cultivated variety from the hybrid cross of red maple, Acer rubrum , with silver maple, … oval shape of the tree and its unique fall color combinations that vary with weather and site conditions are strong attributes. 'Marmo' is quick to establish itself, growing over 2 feet a year when young. Its foliage is ornamental …
Type: Plant Info
… The epiphytic dragon's mouth orchid ( Encyclia cordigera var. rosea ) is native from Guatemala to Panama, where the subspecies rosea is found. The flower spikes can produce flowers for up to three months, and each of the flowers … 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 -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… native of Japan, Neofinetia falcata was the favorite orchid of the ruling shogun. The orchid is named after Achille Finet (1862-1913), a French botanist who studied the orchids of Japan and … could only be grown by samurai warriors, which led to its common name, the samurai orchid. It is believed to have been the first orchid ever grown in Japan as a houseplant in the 1600s. The … 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 -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur Simmonds', commonly known as Arthur Simmonds bluebeard, is the result of a cross between Caryopteris incana and Caryopteris mongholica . The original … as a relatively low-mounding shrub, 2 to 4 feet tall, whose frosty green, aromatic foliage is a lovely foil for virtually all other plants of the true Chicago mixed border — perennials, … — especially any plants with burgundy foliage. The delightful surprise of this airy shrub is its late-season production of fragrant true blue blossoms, appreciated not only by gardeners …
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
… “There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) A dozen years … Soulsby, senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and the Linden Allée. Tom is responsible for curating and maintaining a collection of more than 5,000 roses in one of the …
Type: Plant Info
… ROYAL FROST® birch is a cross between Betula populifolia 'White Spire', which has white bark, and Betula 'Crimson … cooler climates and moist soil to thrive. The primary ornamental feature of birch trees is the bark. Many of the common names of birch trees refer to the color of the bark -- white, gray, yellow or red. Another signature bark characteristic is its habit of separating into thin sheets; Native Americans used this property to harvest the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 -- … -- 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
