… blooming in September or October, depending on the cultivar and the weather, and keep it up for three or four weeks or until they are wilted by frost. Some, such as Tricyrtis formosana, … to Tankersley. “I plant mine in amongst the hostas so the deer eat the hostas before they get to the tricyrtis," he says. All the shade standards are good companions for toad lilies: hostas, ferns, Solomon's seal, sedges, brunnera, and lungwort. Or plant them …
Type: Plant Info
… look at your own yard. Is it time to plant a tree or shrub? If so, what kind might be right for your yard, and what fall color would be a smart addition for your home, your yard, and your neighborhood? Often, the talk turns to red. But a visit to the Garden during October reveals the diversity of colors in nature's crayon box—yellow, …
Type: Plant Info
… day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present. It also seems to be just the right day for me to share the highlights of my visit to the White House with you. Smack dab in the middle of last fall’s Cubs playoff series … for the White House, I was…well, I was there in that hardworking garden. I’d been invited to visit the vegetable garden at the White House and tour the grounds. I repeat, I was at the White …
Type: Blog
… As spring wakes up our prairies, tiny regal fritillary caterpillars begin an urgent search for young violet leaves—the only food they eat. Regal fritillary butterflies once lived in a world of endless prairies filled with violets ( Viola species) for their caterpillars. Now, they find themselves in small fragments of prairie surrounded by … conditions of the restoration, and how all these factors influence genetic diversity—things get complicated. “As we developed best practices for reintroducing violets, we started thinking …
Type: Blog
… gardens. Zinnias are planted in nearly every one of our 27 display gardens. One of the best for cut flowers, 'Benary's Giant' (1,000 of them!) makes a big statement in the English Oak … Coral Rose zinnia ( Zinnia Marylandica ) is an outstanding performer with low water needs for your summer garden. Zinnias work fast If there's an easier flower to grow, we'd like to know … butterflies. (Same goes for hummingbirds.) Try tall zinnias with red or hot pink flowers to get the biggest draw. Karen Zaworski is a garden writer and photographer who lives and gardens …
Type: Plant Info
… healthy soil is fundamental to good gardening, but too often it is overlooked in the frenzy to get those plants in the ground. Since many plant problems can be traced to poor soil, compacted … 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 … inches of this rich amendment to your planting beds. A cubic yard of space is all you need to get cooking. Use a commercial bin or make your own. Or just layer the following ingredients in a …
Type: Plant Info
… The winter landscape, freed from its summer splendor, may appear bare and forlorn to some, but for those who take the time to stroll around the Garden, there are wonders to contemplate—and to … morning or in the afternoon as the sun begins to set. “At those times of day in winter, you get the added benefit of ice crystal reflection on the snow, causing a sparkling effect. Snow … down, which sometimes results in a loss of the images. It’s not a storage device, so once you get home, transfer the images from the card to your computer, a portable device, or the Cloud.” …
Type: Plant Info
… water animals cross trails, roads, and waterways to seek food or habitats that are necessary for their survival, and the seeds of plants can travel by wind or other means to establish in new … neighborhood or at one of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. These green pathways are vital for plants and wildlife, and the Garden and the Forest Preserves work to protect those habitats … can take you a full 22 miles south through the Forest Preserves. For a shorter excursion, visit the Garden’s McDonald Woods . These woods have always been here, but species such as …
Type: Blog
… Tom Tiddens, supervisor of plant healthcare at the Garden, sees a tree or shrub declining, for example, he looks at the ground to see what's thriving. If he sees yellow nutsedge, he knows … is not conclusive evidence by itself, but it might prompt you to dig down and investigate or get a soil test. "Any time you see a lot of weeds in your lawn, it's an indication you're not … to see lambs' quarters, which prefers the high pH of alkaline soils. It's a good reminder to get a soil test that will tell you what you're really dealing with. Adding organic matter can …
Type: Plant Info
… them. I hope William Shakespeare doesn’t mind me modifying his famous lines a little, but you get the idea. When winter arrives, we see the birds all fluffed-up out in the cold and wind and snow and feel the need to “save them,” or at least make their lives easier. For the most part, birds are perfectly capable of dealing with the weather and finding food. Most … the cold. Another nice thing about water is that it will attract birds that might not normally visit a feeding station, especially as temperatures warm up. Some people who have kept a species …
Type: Blog
