… orange foliage, silver overlay accents, and darker orange veins. Although primarily grown for its decorative foliage, a spike of delicate creamy white flowers appears in early to mid … Darwin Plants, the official trade name of a Dutch company, Witteman and Co, founded in 1865. For the best foliage color grow in partial shade. It works well as a color accent in containers or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… purple foliage with silver overlay accents and purple undersides. Although primarily grown for its decorative foliage, a spike of delicate creamy white flowers appears in early to mid … Darwin Plants, the official trade name of a Dutch company, Witteman and Co, founded in 1865. For the best foliage color grow in partial shade. It works well as a color accent on containers or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… or western Asia. It produces small white flowers, followed by almost black fruits. It is best suited for a naturalized setting at woodland's edge. Members of the genus Cornus , commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… gayfeather or marsh blazing star ( Liatris spicata ) is becoming more popular with gardeners for perennial, meadow, and prairie gardens. The thistle-like, reddish-purple flowers are borne in … an accent in the formal garden, or plant it in wet meadows or at marsh edges. It is one of the best plants for butterfly gardens and is a beautiful, spiky addition to prairies or meadows. Archived Copy: …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… growth appears to avoid damaging the new leaves in the spring. This ornamental grass is good for smaller gardens. Native to east Asia, this species has done so well that some cultivars are invasive, particularly Purpurascens. It's best to look for late-flowering clones that will not have time to set seed. It is resistant to deer. Archived …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 might need to cover … 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 … at least two, and ideally three years or more, between the times you plant them in the same place. Not Your Mother's Tomatoes There was a time when tomatoes came in just one color. While …
Type: Plant Info
… Seed Sourcing through the Lenhardt Library It's January, and it's time to order seeds for your garden. You type seeds into your search engine—only to get 257,000,000 results. Next … at the Garden, the database is accessible only through the Lenhardt Library's computers—so visit the library and one of our helpful librarians will work with you to find what you need. Or … on the screen. rareseeds.com Nourse. A Massachusetts fruit resource that specializes in "the best berry plants since 1932." noursefarms.com Ball Horticultural Company. Although home …
Type: Plant Info
… the leaves of tall switchgrass or the sharp “chip” calls of migrating birds as they search for seeds on coneflowers and coreopsis. The Dixon Prairie is a wonderful 15-acre re-creation of … crescent butterflies and cuckoo bees are just a few of the many nectar-seeking insects that visit the blossoms. When crushed, the leaves emit a minty fragrance, which makes the plants … pale pink-purple flowers on plants that can reach 6 feet or more in height. Although it does best in full sun and moist conditions, it tolerates dry soil. When plants are left standing in …
Type: Plant Info
… oasis, offering respite from the pressures of day-to-day activities. The garden is also a place where you can reflect on your day—or your life—and be one with nature. Here are some ideas for using your own outdoor sanctuary as a welcome escape. Take a Seat A comfortable chair or … a niche in a building. It offers a sense of protection as opposed to sitting out in the open. Place it so you can gaze into a view that will capture your imagination. Place your hands on your …
Type: Plant Info
… porch, they encourage soft touches and occasional pinches as herbs and vegetables are checked for perfect picking. Containers satisfy the need to design complete gardens—but in small spaces, … perennials. A four-season container Rotate seasonal plants into containers to reflect the best of the garden and to extend the growing season. Begin your flowering display the second week … recommended for growing edible plants. Soil, Water, Fertilizer Soilless potting mix is the best choice for containers because it is lightweight, drains quickly, and permits rapid root …
Type: Plant Info
