… What does it mean for plants? The temperatures have been slowly dropping and sporadic frost has put the brakes on … extend the last harvest as we move closer to winter. Frost or Freeze? The typical average date for the first fall frost in the greater Chicago area is October 15. In some years, the first … 12 to 16 inches of hardware cloth in the soil about 3 inches away from the trunk. If deer visit your garden, deter them from eating twigs or rubbing antlers by placing snow fencing or …
Type: Plant Info
… A senior horticulturist shares his colorful secrets Smart gardeners are always on the lookout for great container plans. Senior horticulturist Tom Soulsby put together a sunny, happy mix that … small in this mix, with tulips as the largest in the bunch. Diminutive flowers—nemesia, bacopa—get their moment in the sun, and don’t disappear when they’re in the company of other … weather, fading fast once the weather turns warm. Linaria maroccana 'Fantasy Yellow' might get lost in a large bed, but its dwarf size and delicate-yet-heavy bloom work well in this …
Type: Plant Info
… Continue to care for indoor flowering gift plants. Azaleas require even moisture and bright light. Deadhead to keep plants blooming for four to six weeks. Azaleas can go outside to a partly shaded location after May 15, but must … bulbs after they have flowered but there is no guarantee they will flower the following year. Get a head start on summer-blooming bulbs and tubers by starting them indoors in moist, soilless …
Type: Plant Info
… This is a Caribbean cultivar, Kashee, highly valued in Saint Vincent for cooking. Through genetic, historical, and morphological data, we were able to match this … to the Tahitian cultivar, Puero, which has the same distinct spiky skin. Breadfruit If you visit almost any island in the Caribbean, you will likely come across a tree with big, glossy … the size of a cantaloupe. This fruit is known as breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis ), named for its sweet bread-like taste when roasted, high starch content, and nutrients. It is considered …
Type: Blog
… We built this ofrenda for staff at the Chicago Botanic Garden last year. Ver en español Our family only leaves us when … with him. I love tejuino, too, and would drink it every day if I could. As a teenager, on that visit to Jalisco, in a town near Guadalajara, I was struck by the happy feeling at my family’s … maybe someday, I’ll be like my grandfather. At age 89 or 90, he would ride a bike six miles to visit his pigs. He’s the type who would slip a shot of tequila in your coffee when you’re not …
Type: Blog
… is likely a variety of Cucurbita pepo, the same species as spaghetti squash. If you're growing for the record in a biggest pumpkin contest, you probably sowed seeds of Cucurbita maxima … or striped with yellow. Australians don't bother with distinctions, but use the term "pumpkin" for all of the hard-shelled vegetables we group as winter squash, which includes members of … zucchini (or your neighbor's). Buying new seeds each season is the best way to make sure you get what you expect. Beth Botts is a garden writer and speaker who lives and gardens in Oak …
Type: Plant Info
… Bee pollinates coneflower (Echinacea) , a hardy native plant selection for your garden. Just off the beaten path at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden (out back … and fertility and productivity of wild plants, food plants, and landscape plants alike. Recent news about the die-off in honey bee colonies and the decline in monarch populations makes the issue of pollinators important for all gardeners. Have a look at your yard/garden with a critical eye. Are your plants healthy …
Type: Plant Info
… Rhododendrons are popular woody shrubs grown for their spectacular spring flowers. Within this genus, taxonomists estimate that there are … amended with large amounts of leafy, humus-rich organic matter. Excellent drainage is crucial for rhododendrons, especially in areas with heavy clay soils, such as northeastern Illinois. The … rhododendrons are among the most reliable and commonly sold rhododendrons in the Chicago area. Visit in April and May, and you’ll find dozens of cultivars bursting with color at the Garden. …
Type: Plant Info
… packed, and frozen, the seeds are available to the scientific and conservation communities for experiments, re-creations, and restorations. This seed bank represents a magnificent … have left just tiny patches of protected, neglected, or private land), re-creations offer hope for their future. Conservation = Restoring Public Lands Continuing your walk along the prairie … these unusual outdoor conditions. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! VIEW WALK #1 …
Type: Walks
… is anything around them at all. This reminds me, once again, of the mission I have defined for myself as a professor of botany: In order to help them understand and appreciate the nature … are not enough. Unsurprisingly, the best way to connect people with the real world is still to get them outside, unplugged and in position to see real things in real places—just like my … are institutions like the Chicago Botanic Garden in cities around the world where people can visit, learn about, and come to love real plants. Botanic gardens are thus critical players in …
Type: Blog
