… summer. Everbearing bushes should not be mowed down. When soil temperatures are consistently in the 50s, sow seeds of cool-season vegetables directly into the garden. If seeds were started …
Type: Plant Info
… live plants? A rosebush or a potted miniature rose can be enjoyed indoors and later planted in the garden. Moms who like to cook will welcome a pretty container of fresh herbs such as …
Type: Plant Info
… For many bonsai tree species, early spring is the best time for repotting. As the days get longer and the temperatures slowly increase, the … of a bonsai gradually become active. During this time, the energy of the tree that was stored in the roots over the winter begins to move back up into the tree branches. As this happens, the … Dormant bud Swelling bud Extending bud Opening bud The best time to repot is generally in the middle of this process, when the roots are active, and the buds are in the swelling and …
Type: Blog
… lepiota, was the mushroom du jour. Three of the cases involved this toxic mushroom that is commonly found in yards after summer rains. It looks lovely, and it usually won’t kill you, but I’m told that it … lawn mower’s mushroom, is also nonedible. (Photo with permission Michael Kuo, mushroomexpert.com .) Not all mushrooms growing in lawns are toxic. But the only way to tell is to know what …
Type: Blog
… just as much as the tree and the pot have a relationship. The tree-to-pot relationship is aesthetic and functional too,” said Chris Baker, curator of bonsai at the Chicago Botanic … all gardeners, proper drainage, size, and a suitable material are important considerations. In the art of bonsai, the relationship between tree and container is equally important. It’s all … according to Baker. All images and quotations below, courtesy of Chris Baker. A crabapple tree in the Garden’s bonsai collection. “This is a deciduous tree so it has a glazed pot. The color …
Type: Blog
… work on a project studying the impact of climate change on the distribution of rare plants in the western United States. The grant, funded through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), examines the changes in projected species distributions between now and 2080. The goal of the research is to help BLM to make informed management decisions regarding rare plants. The research takes …
Type: Blog
… There are some remarkable prairie plants in the Midwest. Here at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Dixon Prairie boasts more than 250 … about their life story. Something that might help you remember them when you happen upon them in a local natural area. Something other than a pretty face. Dodecatheon meadia : A Must-see of the Prairie Question: Which one of these is NOT a common name for this handsome spring ephemeral? Shooting star Prairie pointer Prairie …
Type: Blog
… One of my signature projects at the Chicago Botanic Garden is designing and building the hypertufa troughs for the Heritage Garden spring display. While our … greenhouse staff spends their winters growing the unique and beautiful plants that we feature in the troughs, another team is hard at work making the troughs. Hypertufa is a simulated stone container that is durable in all weather conditions, but lighter-weight than solid stone or concrete. Our trough style, …
Type: Blog
… Fragrance is one of the benefits of a garden that is often overlooked. Lots of thought is given to plants’ … I experienced when I was younger. People, places, time—all are recalled with great fondness in a single whiff. Also among the list are a number of annuals that are perfect for containers, … Lonicera flava honeysuckle is a fragrant and hardy variety. Photo via southeasternflora.com. Tuberose, Polianthes tuberosa , is a nonhardy (for us) bulb from northern Mexico with an …
Type: Blog
… that only one of us had ever tasted before: powdered orchid roots. A traditional winter drink in the cafés and restaurants of Turkey, salep is made from the tuberous roots of orchids—specifically, terrestrial orchids in the genus Orchis . Dried and powdered, the resulting flour is combined in a drink mix with …
Type: Blog
