… check out some of the many insect identification books. A good bug I.D. book is a great tool for the gardener. Each morning, two of the Garden’s plant healthcare technicians scout for insect damage and disease and report back to Tom Tiddens, plant healthcare supervisor. Before … predators tends to increase along with the “bad” bug population—predation is an important (and free) control for your garden, too. Chomp, Chomp Spider mites are a common pest this time of …
Type: Plant Info
… tombstone in Cumberland, England "While life lasts." This can be a very brief moment in time for a spring ephemeral. In that narrow window of time between thawing ground and the leafing out … true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only last for a day before they drop. Additionally frustrating is that cloud cover can hamper catching the … pollinators associated with them, they usually have several different pollinators that can visit, including other native bees and many species of flies. Besides being important sources of …
Type: Plant Info
… be rejuvenating and take you away from the stresses of everyday life. We started a bucket list for you, focusing on some of the natural wonders in the plant world. We know, oh, just a few … are not your garden-variety plant lovers. These are people who gravitate to plants not just for their beauty or scent but for their resilience, their hunting prowess, their enchantment (even you, Venus flytrap). We ended up with a list of charismatic plants; feel free to co-opt for your own bucket list. Great Basin bristlecone pine ( Pinus longaeva ) Some of …
Type: Blog
… For many homeowners, a long, hot summer means mow the lawn, water, repeat. It’s a cycle that … to traditional turfgrass, she and her collaborators are hoping to offer a “menu of options” for greener lawns that not only look good and stand up well against the Chicago area's moody … near their house,” Barak said. “[This research is] only helpful to the extent that it’s used!” Visit Rethinking Lawns —a website designed by Kozik in collaboration with Barak, Tonietto, and …
Type: Blog
… that can be hard to achieve with green-foliaged plants. Tall, dark plants become a backdrop for everything else in the garden: their purple-to-black foliage makes chartreuse plants pop, … with dark spots. While "back of the border" was once considered the appropriate placement for tall plants, they need not be relegated to a line-up against the wall. On your next summer visit, keep an eye out for the many different ways that horticulturists are using tall, dark …
Type: Plant Info
… development, and home building all take their toll on the quality of urban soil. Tips for Restoring the Soil What can gardeners do to restore their soil? Avoid working in the garden … the garden: one layer of ground-up leaves and twigs, one layer of grass clippings and disease-free plant material, and one layer of soil. As you repeat the layers, sprinkle each layer with … in warm weather, not as often in cold weather. Dark, earthy, crumbling compost will be ready for your garden in four to six months. It's so easy, and it's the best thing you can do for your …
Type: Plant Info
… is effective to 5 degrees, but it is also corrosive. Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) is a salt-free deicing compound. It is effective to 20 degrees, causes little or no damage to plants, and …
Type: Plant Info
… the "green" roof. Considered a warm-season crop because plants need warm soil and frost-free nights, tomatoes are best planted outdoors after mid-May in the Chicago area. Even then you … and fruits, with vines up to 20 feet long that need some kind of support unless you have space for them to sprawl. Many cooks and gardeners appreciate heirloom tomatoes—the old-fashioned varieties our ancestors grew, which have been rediscovered for their taste and long growing season. Keeping Them Happy Tomatoes need full sun and …
Type: Plant Info
… Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, and to the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado, as backup. In an effort to extend … native species or simply to prolong the life of store-bought or garden-harvested seeds for future use. Read on for some tips to get you started. Steps to Saving Seeds at Home Choosing … plant. Collect seeds when the weather is temperate and dry. Choose the most robust, disease-free plants. Be sure to harvest only seeds that are mature. Collect seeds from fruits and …
Type: Plant Info
… more. “Hands in earth, sand, mud: building, digging, sewing, baking—these are what humans DO.” For fun, interesting, and education-based ideas, we turned to a fun, interesting, and … employees, librarians, and just-plain-curious caregivers who came together at the Garden for a Nature Play conference (sponsored by the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Wilderness, and … undyed yarn or fabric into a personal style experience. 10. Paint Chip Color Hunt One quick visit to the paint store can send kids off to hunt for hours, as they try to match nature’s …
Type: Blog
