… no rain, it’s tricky to figure out how and what to water. Our experts have some watering tips for your summer garden and containers. Know what you are watering weekly A general watering rule … to evaporate quickly, too. —Cool nights or warm this week? Cool nights slow evaporation. For some gardeners, an electronic or written garden journal is a helpful tool for plotting … are available through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District website . In Lake County, visit the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County website for plastic rain barrels. An internet search …
Type: Plant Info
… Holiday plants and flowers make great gifts for everyone on your shopping lists. They are perfect gifts for family members, the host and hostess of the holiday parties you attend, and of course, are … Mist the plant regularly, or rinse the plants in a sink to keep the foliage clean and free of spider mites. As new growth emerges, train the new growth to the desired form. Take the …
Type: Blog
… into my wheelbarrow and onto the beds and borders as a soil amendment. The best part—besides free compost—is the small amount of garbage our household produces as a result. Everyday … landfills, and facilities that burn everyone’s trash are out-of-sight, out-of-mind topics for many. But, it all stays right here. On planet Earth. The amount of waste—including food … process. There are compost bins that sit on the ground and have slots in the sides for aeration and a lid to keep out animals. Or you can make your own three-sided bin out of …
Type: Blog
… April in the Garden is all about anticipation, with each day bringing new discoveries, news oohs and aahs. What a magnificent season to walk the cultivated gardens and the natural … with all companions. What would spring be without pansies? The sweet star of the troughs is Free-Flowering, a lovable orange viola. The Formal Circle Garden In the more formal, full-sun … Garden offers some exceptional plant combinations in this April and further into spring. Look for the spectacular colors of tulips in shades of yellow, pink, and red. On either side of the …
Type: Walks
… Chicago area. These gardens come in all shapes and sizes and fall on a wide spectrum of costs. For today, we’re focusing on how to create your very own home horticultural therapy garden—or … Garden, as well as off-site gardens, horticultural therapists utilize raised, round containers for planting. We recommend that you purchase a planter of decent size (24 to 28 inches in … at the Chicago Botanic Garden to instruct you on fun and simple gardening basics; just come visit us and ask! Happy gardening! …
Type: Blog
… gone forever. Then there were those species that had reached such critically low numbers that, for all practical purposes, they were functionally extinct for me. Birds like the prairie chickens, barely holding on in postage stamp-sized grasslands that … eyes to the sky and you may be rewarded with a glimpse of our national symbol. Next time you visit, don't forget your zoom lens and binoculars to catch a glimpse of the Garden’s cast of …
Type: Blog
… in foliage, often yellowing, with no blooms. When grown in the wild, the yellow lotus has free run of whatever waterway it inhabits. It is extremely aggressive, and its many runners will … in size and dries to a hard brown finish. Then the pods are often harvested to be dried for floral arrangements. Because it is such a vigorous grower, lotus requires regular …
Type: Plant Info
… Carex. While they are grass-like, they differ in having triangular stems. One popular species for gardens and containers is Carex oshimensis . Most varieties of Japanese sedge have variegated … self-seeding may occur. Scope out lenten roses in the Shida Evaluation Garden on your next visit. Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ is green all summer—and winter—long Big blue lilyturf ( Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’) Big blue lilyturf is a tough, drought-tolerant ground cover for sun or shade. It is a slow spreader, unlike the aggressive and commonly used L. spicata . It …
Type: Blog
… Force spring bulbs indoors November is a great month to tuck your lawn and garden to bed for the season. Nighttime temperatures are dipping below freezing, frosts are more frequent, and … they’re still viable. Clean ceramic, cement, and/or terra-cotta containers; store in a frost-free space. Soil from containers can be stored in a pile outside and combined with equal parts fresh mix for next year’s containers. Potting soil from window boxes can be discarded or stored for later …
Type: Plant Info
… Spike brought the nation’s—and even the world’s—attention to the Garden, as we waited for our first-ever flowering titan to open up in all its stinky and colorful glory. The event—and … During those weeks, Spike became my life, 24/7, day and night…and I became “Titan Tim,” for sure. The power of one plant… Wow! “When is he going to bloom?” That was the number one … fans, and “groupies.” He had such a large following, and I often saw some of the same people visit day after day! I heard and received so many positive comments from visitors. People said …
Type: Blog
