Everyone knows that spring is a great time to install plant material, but fall is equally good. In fact, fall-installed plants undergo less stress and can be less work on their owner. Although a deciduous plant's leaves drop off or a perennial plant's top dies back, its roots are still active. The ground usually does [...]
From nearing record heat and drought to breaking all records for rainfall during the month, we have lived through a wet and wild weather month this July. We have survived, but hopefully our plants have, too! As we watched the weather zap the moisture from lawns and gardens, we issued a watering alert to you [...]
Looking for a dramatic plant to serve as a focal point in your garden? Think Black. Black Lace Elderberry, that is! Black Lace™ Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ ppaf) is fairly new to the United States, introduced in 2006. One could easily mistake this plant for an exotic Japanese Maple, given its lacy, finely-cut leaves that are purple-black in color. But unlike a [...]
Vines tend to be an overlooked and underused garden element or feature. They can be very useful in the landscape and have many great characteristics to warrant their use in any garden. Vines climb over pergolas to provide shade, spill over arbors to warmly welcome visitors, and display beautiful foliage and colorful blooms on walls [...]
The many rain days we've experienced the last several weeks have helped plants and lawns grow green and lush... but they also have brought out a lot of the common disease called Volutella. Even though the prevalence of Volutella Blight of Pachysandra & Boxwood has increased over the past few years, it [...]
Looking for an ornamental tree with wonderful attributes that make it out of this world? Consider Galaxy Magnolia, a selection which originated from the prestigious National Arboretum in Washington D.C. It is unique in form and flower among magnolia cultivars. It won the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Award in 1992. It begins blooming at [...]
Nobody loves me, everybody hates me Think I'll go and eat worms Long ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones See how they wriggle and squirm Wait! Don’t touch those beneficial worms! They are good for more than fish bait. I’m sure you have seen earthworms on the soil surface during and following rain storms. Many [...]
Spring is in the air and soon will arrive in Chicago! The vernal equinox is March 20th. This is the official start of spring; it is usually heralded by small fragrant but very showy flowers of the Vernal Witchazel. Little white snowdrops and bright yellow eranthus bulbs are peeking out of the ground. Hang in [...]
It’s spring! The snow has finally melted, the birds are singing, the bulbs are starting to bloom and the lawn will soon be turning green. Wait….. what’s that? Are those weeds in my lawn and flower beds? How did they get there? This is something that we all run into. It seems that every year, [...]
Saturday, October 2, 9 am-3 pm Evanston Ecology Center 2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston (847) 864-5181 Admission: FREE The Evanston Green Living Festival is an annual green event presented by the Evanston Environmental Association (EEA) and the City of Evanston. This year's festival theme is "Live Green, Bring it Home!" where green services, products, and ideas will be showcased. Don’t [...]