… June is the month of total abundance in the rose garden, even if your garden contains only one rose. … old fashioned heirlooms, or even the tiniest of the miniature roses, gardeners know this is the month they all come into bloom. Some might say it is a cruel twist of floral fate to have all this excess in one month. For the gardener who …
Type: Plant Info
… What the Garden Is Doing…and What You Can Do at Home Safeguarding Long-term Survival Environmental threats like … By banking seeds of these plants in safe storage, away from danger, the Chicago Botanic Garden is working to safeguard their long-term survival. Also known as ex-situ (offsite) conservation, seed banking native species guards against their disappearance in the wild and is an important way to conserve plant diversity. Climate change occurred naturally over …
Type: Plant Info
… and pine needles (see recipe, right). “Rich in antioxidants and uplifting essential oils, pine is the perfect winter ally to awaken the senses and enhance winter wellness,” says Petter, owner … oil with marshmallow root to use for winter hydration (see recipe, right). “Marshmallow root is soothing, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory,” she says. Tip: You can buy small amounts of dried, cut-and-sifted marshmallow root at an herbal shop or online at a site such as Jean’s Greens. Tea While gathering with family and friends, you might pick up a …
Type: Blog
… When gardening in the Midwest, it is truly a delight to discover plants that have saved their showier sides for the last months of … subtle beauty of the winter landscape. One plant whose shiny red berries sparkle in the snow is a deciduous holly, Ilex verticillata . Often called winterberry or coralberry, Ilex verticillata is the finest among the deciduous hollies for winter hardiness, berry display, and pest and …
Type: Plant Info
… seed-starting pots, nursery pots, and containers are available. Bioswale A bioswale is a shallow channel that has been created in the landscape to temporarily store rainfall … require bioswales to reduce the need for larger sewer systems. Carbon Footprint Carbon dioxide is one of a handful of common greenhouse gases associated with global climate change. A carbon footprint is a measure of greenhouse gas emissions that a person, business, or even municipality is adding …
Type: Plant Info
… “Gardening is something you learn by doing—and by making mistakes. Like cooking, gardening is a constant process of experimentation, repeating the successes and throwing out the failures." — Carol Stocker, American author “If gardening is like cooking, let me just say that I’ve burnt dinner many times.” — Nina Koziol, Smart …
Type: Plant Info
… “She had tools in her toolbox to be kind to other children.” For these preschoolers, the logic is simple: Different people need different things, and if you can help, you help. Nature … and renowned preschool, seemed like a perfect fit. For children with sensory issues, nature is a great regulator; as Amber Schmiesing, TrueNorth’s early childhood level lead, said, it “puts … the Garden. “When you begin helping children who are 3, 4, 5 years old to notice that everyone is unique, to develop that inclusiveness that is so needed in today’s world…I like to think that …
Type: Blog
… are many fascinating facts we have learned about bees, but the most critically important one is their role in pollination. Busy Pollinators Smart gardeners know that it's the presence of … chance your food has been helped along by a bee. By pollinating more than 120 crop plants, it is estimated that bees pollinate approximately one-third of the world's food crops. Besides … has been used extensively for commercial pollination. The value of pollination service by bees is worth billions of dollars annually. Bees also pollinate our native plants that provide food …
Type: Plant Info
… A quick primer for successful combinations Every gardener is an artist. After all, you “paint” your garden with plants. Just as an artist moves paint from … coleus makes for a hot-colored tapestry that feels tropical and exotic. At the other extreme is a grouping of pale blue ageratum, pastel pink roses, and white sweet alyssum, which creates a … Your masterpiece can be as small as a pot filled with vibrant annuals or a “canvas” that is a sprawling suburban lot. Understanding how color combinations work can help you get the most …
Type: Plant Info
… What can I do to prevent powdery mildew from attacking my phlox and zinnias? A. Powdery mildew is a late-season fungus that favors hot, humid days, cooler nights, and mornings heavy with dew. … attacks vegetables, fruits, and woody plants as well as other herbaceous plants. The damage is often more aesthetic than life-threatening. Some of the most susceptible plants to this … or tools. Make sure plants that require full sun are indeed receiving full sun. If mildew is detected early in the season, approved fungicides can be used to discourage its spread. …
Type: Plant Info
