… The orange jessamine or mock orange is native to China, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, where it is cultivated for its fragrant flowers that open prior to rain as a response to a drop in air pressure. In hot climates, the fragrant coolness that follows precipitation is greatly appreciated. In its native environments it is frequently cultivated as an attractive …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Goldflame honeysuckle is a deciduous twining vine with simple, untoothed, opposite leaves. It is grown for its slightly fragrant, very colorful flowers. The circular whorls of tubular … terminal leaves are connate, which means they are fused together, looking as if the stem is piercing through them. This vine, which can grow to 20 feet, has a fairly long bloom period …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Narcissus ‘Jetfire’ is in Division 6. It stands 12 inches tall and blooms in early to mid spring with 3 inch flowers. The petals are bright yellow and strongly reflexed. The corona is bright orange and cylindrical. There is a constriction near the mouth of the corona although the mouth itself is slightly expanded. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Cow parsnip is a very conspicuous native plant abundant in McDonald Woods. It is the largest native member of the carrot family in the Chicago area. The plant grows four feet tall or more with foot-long divided leaves along a stout stalk and is topped by a flat white flowerhead that can measure 8 inches across. The scientific name aptly …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Giant fleeceflower ( Persicaria polymorpha ) is a big, bold, hardy perennial that blooms in July and August. It reaches a height of 4 to 6 feet and is topped with large, feathery white plumes. The plant can take full sun or partial shade and is somewhat drought-tolerant once established. The leaves on the upright stems are lance-shaped. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Hedge Maple is native to most of Europe (in Scotland, it is the only native maple) and has been naturalized in North America and New Zealand. It is a slow grower and has deeply fissured, cork-like bark. The leaves have five, blunt, rounded …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… early summer and continues into the fall. As the flowers age, they fade to buff yellow. This is a compact plant 18 to 24 inches high with gray- green, fernlike foliage. It is a member of the SEDUCTION™ Series from the Netherlands. It is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds and resistant to deer, rabbits, and drought. This …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Blue Grosbeak is a richly-colored blue bird with rusty wing bars and a large, wedge-shaped beak. About the size of a cowbird, it is a southern species that is expanding its range. …
Type: Birding
… Q. When is the best time of the year to spray my garden for insects? A. Before you consider using any … natural pest control. Others are crucial pollinators. Another consideration to be taken is the extent of damage to the plant. If a small percentage of the plant is affected, it may not be necessary to apply an insecticide, especially if the insect will only …
Type: Plant Info
… in moist areas where it can reach 5 feet or more; it has a dense, erect habit. This perennial is suitable for large-scale planting or use in a mixed border. The showy, lavender-pink flowers … stems with purple markings—hence, its common name, spotted Joe-Pye weed. Spotted Joe-Pye weed is native to the open, wet meadows of North America and is the only Joe-Pye weed that is naturally occurring west of the Great Plains. It is happiest in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
