… View Classes Carlson’s Outdoor Photo Tips Light Controlling light in photography is important. “Often the snow looks gray or blue in winter photos; this is because there’s an enormous amount of light bouncing around from snow—it’s highly … ‘squints’ just as we do in bright light. The old photo cliché “when it’s bright, add light” is certainly true in these conditions. Open your camera’s aperture or extend the shutter speed to …
Type: Plant Info
… bumble bee ( Bombus affinis ), fuzzy and endangered, unseen here before. The rare sighting is a bright thread in a much larger tapestry being rewoven across the region. Once one of the … pollinators, wildlife, and people alike. Bee balm, the flower that drew the bee that day, is one of many resilient native species helping to reweave balance. Its tubular blossoms attract … ) seed pods Bee balm ( Monarda fistulosa ) seeds The Seed Amplification Program is cyclical, beginning with collecting seed from the forest preserves to “amplify” through seed …
Type: Blog
… Description: This colorful duck is usually seen in small flocks on the lakes. It uses its wide, serrated bill to sift food out of the water. It is not a diving duck. If you see what looks like a mallard with a huge bill resembling a shovel, … white coloring on the sides. The female looks a lot like a female mallard, but the large bill is a great clue. The shoveler takes water into its bill, then pumps it out through the sides with …
Type: Birding
… autumn color displays in trees and shrubs? A. Certain plants have a built-in genetic code that is responsible for their intense fall color displays. But even with these genes in place, trees … in full sun. During the growing season, chlorophyll, indicated by the green color in leaves, is produced by the food-manufacturing process known as photosynthesis. As daylight decreases, so … anthocyanin, the red pigment. If ideal weather conditions are not present, fall color is not as brilliant. When fall days are cloudy or drought conditions exist, less sugar is …
Type: Plant Info
… Cercis ), tuliptree ( Liriodendron ) and many others. Description & Symptoms Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that plugs the vascular system of woody plants. Symptoms include … of branches may occur over several years. In chronic cases, branches survive but growth is slow and leaves are small and sparse. Both acute and chronic symptoms can appear on the same … wilt fungus cannot be eradicated from the soil, and fungicidal treatment of infected plants is ineffective. Wilted branches should be pruned out. Severely infected trees and shrubs should …
Type: Plant Info
… and bloom from late May into June. The flowers are followed by noticeable black pods. This is a valued and conspicuous plant of our native prairies. Its refined appearance makes it equally … home in formal gardens. Taxonomists have been revising the nomenclature of this genus, and it is also listed as Baptisia alba var. macrophylla and more recently Baptisia lactea . Members of … as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the blooms of native species may be blue, yellow or white and the blooms …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Yellow wild indigo is a 2- to 3-foot tall native perennial plant known for its small yellow, pea-like flowers that … sun to part shade; tolerate heat, drought, and humidity; and attract butterflies. This species is native from Missouri south to Louisiana and Texas. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly … as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the blooms of native species may be blue, yellow or white and the blooms …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Big Ben is a large version of the native false indigo plant. It is a large, upright perennial that produces flower spikes with numerous dark purplish blue … as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the blooms of native species may be blue, yellow or white and the blooms …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… (feels like hairs) on their undersides that provides interest throughout the year. New growth is covered with silvery hairs that form a striking contrast to the older leaves. Fourteen to 17 … and drought. The application of an inch of pine needle or pine bark mulch over the root zone is recommended to moderate the soil temperatures and to prevent excessive drying of the soil. … stationed in the Himalayas learned this the hard way. Bee keepers always make sure there is a wide variety of flowers for their bees to visit, in addition to Rhododendron plants, to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… (felt like hairs) on their undersides that provides interest throughout the year. New growth is covered with silvery hairs that form a striking contrast to the older leaves. Fourteen to … and drought. The application of an inch of pine needle or pine bark mulch over the root zone is recommended to moderate the soil temperatures and to prevent excessive drying of the soil. … stationed in the Himalayas learned this the hard way. Bee keepers always make sure there is a wide variety of flowers for their bees to visit, in addition to Rhododendrons, to avoid any …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
