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  • … dogwood gets its name from the abundance of white flowers appearing in late spring, which give way to white berries on showy red stems in late summer. The pinkish pedicels remaining after the … -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species. Dogwoods are native …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … clematis gets its name from the individual, nodding, blue bell-shaped flowers it produces on 2 to 3-foot stalks in early summer to early fall. Introduced into cultivation in Britain in 1573, it makes a beautiful choice when located in the front of a mixed border. It is, however, prone to flop, so be prepared to provide support. Tube clematis does best in full sun to partial shade and is a member of clematis pruning group 3; these plants …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Trinette umbrella tree is a variegated dwarf version of an umbrella tree that is native to the islands of Taiwan and … width. It will tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to full shade, but performs best in part shade where there is sufficient light for the variegation to develop and really pop. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … grew a prairie on my balcony—and how you can, too City spaces may seem limiting when it comes to plants, but even a small balcony can become an oasis. When we moved into our condo, I turned … I couldn’t totally recreate the complexity of prairie soils, but I tried to mimic them the best I could. I used commercial potting mix as a base and tweaked each pot to simulate different … beebalm ( Monarda punctata ): showy, self-seeding, and a wasp magnet in the best possible way; these wasps do not attack people and have beautiful iridescent colors Phlox ( P. bifida and …
    Type: Blog
  • … Even when the kids have schoolwork, it’s still important for them to play outside. Outdoor activities encourage creativity and independent thinking. The good news … social relationships. Sharing discoveries—like water creatures from Garden lakes—is a great way to cement knowledge. Nature play abounds at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and can be found in … can discuss the different types of clouds and identify those currently over their heads. The best part about this activity? No tools required. …
    Type: Blog
  • … Provide a very sunny location with average soil, water and fertilizer. The straight species is not hardy in Chicago and is best grown as a large container plant that can be moved indoors to avoid the worst winter freezes. The leaves are also used as a wrapping for steamed or cooked …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … guides are a 'wow' factor and when the strong fragrance that only Cattleya orchids can produce is added in the plant is a show stopper. Cattleya orchids grow and flower best in bright light conditions with high humidity and frequent misting of the foliage and roots. … artificial lights in winter can be moved outdoors once the temperatures have warmed enough to plant tomatoes in the ground. The foliage will yellow if nitrogen levels are not increased …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Shining sumac has an exotic compound leaf that is quite shiny and is distinguished by a leafy ridge running along the midrib. Growing to 12' tall or more with a spread equal to its height, shining sumac forms dense thickets. It is … -- a crimson red. The shining sumac is a lesser-known and grown large native shrub. The best of the sumacs -- for a large space! …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Q. When is the best time to divide perennials? A. Perennials can be divided in either spring or fall. As … general rule, divide spring-blooming plants in the fall and fall-blooming plants in the spring to avoid disrupting their bloom cycles. The majority of perennials are divided in spring when …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … continuously throughout the summer on this hardy hydrangea. Plant this hydrangea in full sun to light shade in neutral pH, moisture-retentive soil and water during periods of summer drought for best results. One of the first pink-colored forms of the native hydrangeas. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant