… Discover the timeless art of bonsai at this popular spring exhibit. The Midwest Bonsai Society is proudly celebrating 20 years of sharing this rewarding hobby with the Midwest community. … you're an experienced enthusiast refining your techniques or just starting out, this event is designed to inspire, educate, and connect. Who should attend? Current bonsai hobbyists: Get fresh ideas and shop premium trees, tools, pots, stands, accent plants, books, and more from …
Type: Event for Calendar
… plants provide material that can be used to make attractive decorations and much of it is renewable. Small, leafless branches of deciduous trees, whether fallen or pruned, can be used … decorative objects. One caution: do not cut tree branches in the fall, use either disease-free fallen branches or branches pruned in February or early March and stored for later use. …
Type: Plant Info
… Early November is a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in containers to be "forced" into early indoor … filled with 12 inches of mulch to cover the pot, or in a sealed plastic bag in a refrigerator free of ripening fruit — places where temperatures will remain between 35 and 45 degrees. Check …
Type: Plant Info
… take a class at the Chicago Botanic Garden to learn more . Meanwhile, here are a few ways to get started: White Pine-Infused Honey For sore throats or pick-me-ups, clinical herbalist Dawn … and pine needles (see recipe, right). “Rich in antioxidants and uplifting essential oils, pine is the perfect winter ally to awaken the senses and enhance winter wellness,” says Petter, owner … buy small amounts of dried, cut-and-sifted marshmallow root at an herbal shop or online at a site such as Jean’s Greens. Tea While gathering with family and friends, you might pick up a …
Type: Blog
… of true leaves, pinch the weaker plants down to soil level. Water the seedlings when the soil is dry. It is important to slowly acclimate tomato plants to outdoor temperatures, wind, and the sun’s … in their permanent location. This process, called “hardening off,” helps ensure that plants get a good start. After all danger of frost has passed, plants should be moved to a shady area of …
Type: Plant Info
… or a Q-tip and go from male to female flowers moving the pollen and aiding fertilization. This is a fun project for children, too. To attract bees to your vegetable patch, plant flowers they … to reach the nectar and pollen. Sunflowers are a particular favorite (unless they are “pollen-free” varieties). And you can save and roast the seeds if the birds don’t get them first. Perennials for Pollinators If space allows, consider planting a mixed border of …
Type: Plant Info
… and with a bit of advance planning, choosing suitable varieties to plant in the spring is possible. Here are a few ideas to get you started creating, and/or caring for, your edible landscape. Strawberry flowers are … to make strawberry jam. Choose healthy plants for a healthy harvest Start with quality, virus-free, and disease-resistant plants. Mail-order nurseries and garden centers have bundles of …
Type: Blog
… Anyone who reads the volumes of research can easily see all the reasons why a nature preschool is not just a real preschool, but should be a standard for all preschool environments to aspire … how you feel after you return from a walk or time outside in your garden—don’t you feel stress-free? There are many other health benefits related to nature preschool. A good report to find out … “Children enrolled in a nature-focused preschool for even a single year, will probably get more direct contact with the outdoors than they will have in all their subsequent years of …
Type: Blog
… of monarch groves in California may also be playing a role. In the West, severe drought is likely contributing to reduced monarch populations. These threats are compounded by climate … continue. We can provide these butterflies (and other wildlife) with high-quality, insecticide-free habitats. This is not something that needs to be restricted to a distant wilderness. Indeed, it is a cause in …
Type: Blog
… eyes? In school we learn that insects have compound eyes, and we use toy bug eye viewers to get a sense of what dragonflies and bees see. But the real picture is a little more complicated. In addition to the pair of compound eyes, many insects, including … show up as three spots reflecting the flash from the camera. The Latin name for this cicada is Tibicen canicularis. “Canus” is the Latin word for dog. Why do you think he’s called the …
Type: Blog
