… Explore the Bonsai courtyards Among the Chicago Botanic Garden's world-class plant displays is a specialty collection of close to 200 priceless bonsai — trees that have been trained to grow … are the same trees we can grow in our own gardens, but they have received the attention and care of professional bonsai masters, and that has made all the difference in the world. Through a careful process of pruning branches …
Type: Walks
… winter—whether it’s snow, ice, temperature swings, or the products used to combat the weather—is the chief task. Indoors, houseplants may need some TLC, as do many of the holiday-centric trees and plants that decorate our living spaces. Garden To-Do List Haven’t mulched? Now’s the time If … of shredded bark, composted manure, or garden compost. After the holidays in late December and early January, evergreen boughs from seasonal wreaths or small sections of Christmas tree …
Type: Plant Info
… Known to most shade gardeners as coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides brings tropical colors and waves of texture to garden beds and baskets. Grown for its vibrant flashes of foliage, which span the color spectrum from yellow and chartreuse to burgundy and purple, coleus is enjoying a revival from its earlier years as a popular Victorian houseplant. The reasons for …
Type: Plant Info
… to Your Teaspoon Bees are part of every garden. Because bee populations continue to decline, and because September is National Honey Month…we dedicate this Smart Gardener to the story of how bees actually produce the honey that you eat from the flowers that you (and your neighbors) grow. It’s a missing link that gardeners don’t often think about. Most of us …
Type: Plant Info
… Viva Vita Pride Month is a time to honor the history and voices of the LGBTQIA+ community—which makes me, a plant … concepts such as green for nature, yellow for sunlight, and orange for healing. The arrow points to the right to show forward movement and illustrates that progress toward inclusivity is …
Type: Blog
… Of show-winning quality, beautiful Vanda orchids originated in Southeast Asia and are therefore warm-growing specimens. Pure’s Wax Vanda orchid, registered by Pure Orchard, … blue/violet flowers with waxy lateral sepals. They grow from a single stem (monopodial), and the roots stretch out from the base of the stem. Aerial roots roam free of their containers … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals—often …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help Is this the year to try bigleaf hydrangea, tea olive, or another plant that you think only grows … what plants might survive the winter. The update is the first since 2012. “It’s a great tool, and we’re glad the USDA continues to update these guidelines based on new data,” said Fred Spicer, executive vice president and director of the Chicago Botanic Garden. The latest version shows that about half of the …
Type: Blog
… Yes, it's only March, and yes, there's still snow on the ground. Yet smart gardeners know that now is the time to plan for fall color in your garden. Nurseries and garden centers start receiving … over grey-green foliage, they give way to peach-colored seedheads. 16 to 18 inches, tall, 26 to 28 inches wide Firecracker sedum ( Sedum 'Firecracker') smolders with intense burgundy-red …
Type: Plant Info
… in 2025. Here are the stories that made us fall for them all over again. Grassy plumage is the new black. Made from hand-dyed plant material, these Stella McCartney gowns have all the fluff and float of real feathers, without the birds. The exact plant species is under wraps, but we … this, we think sedges could make fabulous plumage. An added bonus? Many are native to Illinois and make a great lawn alternative . This desert cutie is… a sunflower? Meet the woolly devil ( …
Type: Blog
… Take a deep breath, and feel the love Is it possible to breathe in … love? We think so. The heady scents that flourish at the Chicago … chocolate cosmos, or an herb garden filled with the scintillating bouquets of basil, oregano, and rosemary. Plant scents evolved to entice bees, butterflies, and other creatures to transfer …
Type: Blog
