Chicago Botanical Gardens

Plant Your Spring Garden in Chicago

 

Executive summary by A. J. Lentini

How to Plan Your Spring Garden in Chicago

First of all, before you go nuts at your local nursery picking out bulbs and plants to plant in your garden; it is a good idea to draft up a garden plan, especially if you are planting your Chicago garden for the first time. Some people prefer edibles such as fruits and vegetables over ornamental plants such as tulips or roses. Be sure to use your space wisely and consider the full-grown plant.  

When to Plant Your Garden in Chicago

For a spring garden, the best time to plant is after May 15. Don't make the mistake of getting spring fever and planting on a warm weekend in March. Plants That Do Well in Chicago

The Chicago Botanical Garden is a great resource when considering what to plant in your Chicago Garden. For a database of searchable plants, check out bestplants.org to search its recommended list of plants for Illinois. Here are some of the more popular plants for Chicago by category:

Plants and Flowers:

Petunia
Hosta
Daylily
Coneflower
Dahlias
Gladioulus
Lilies

Vegetables:

Leaf lettuce
Onion
Parsley
Peas
Potato
Radishes
Sunflowers
Tomatoes

Herbs:

Basil
Rosemary
Lavender
Mint

Planning and planting a spring garden in Chicago is the perfect way to get over the cold-weather blues. Remember to plan carefully, and don't rush the season. Start indoors if you have to, then plant the seedlings outside when the harsh winter freezes are over.

Foxglove Plant

Herb Garden Plants - Foxglove - Both Doctor and Killer

Executive summary about Foxglove Plant by Pete Steel

Digitalis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae) Appearance

One of the taller herb garden plants, the foxglove attains from 1 to 2m (3' to 6') in height and provides an early to midsummer flower show. It has tongue-shaped, deeply veined, soft and dark green attractive foliage, but its real crowning glory is its hanging steeple of purple/red bell-like flowers with a spotted inner face.

History

the venerable Gerard counted it as one of his essential herb garden plants and recommended it as a poultice for severe bruising and external wounds. The migration to the New World of Foxglove was only accomplisher after the virtues involving the heart were recognised and publicised. Truly a wonder drug of the day, with its toxicity making it a Jekyll and Hyde amongst herb garden plants.

Usage

The cardiac glycosides extant in and obtained from Foxglove are used therapeutically in the treatment of cardiac failure, because of their anti-arrhythmic effects. In spite of its extreme toxicity to man, its virtues give it an overweening importance as an absolutely essential healing medicinal herb.

Other sources of cardiac glycosides:

Plants.

Strophanthus - ouabain

Digitalis lanata - digoxin, digitoxin

Nerium oleander - oleandrin

Animals.

Bufo toads

Cultivation

The Foxglove it is a true biennial - its rosette of leaves is forms during the first year and the flower spike the second; thereafter the plant dies, but leaves a legacy in the form of a brood of offspring around it. Foxglove grows easily from seed, and once established there will always be some offspring about, in fact the Foxglove has a set pattern of broadcasting its seed to populate its patch with successive generations. Good rich soil with leaf mould makes the Foxglove a happy plant - although dappled shade tolerant, it prefers siting in full sun. A winter mulch of pine needles should be applied after the ground has frozen. Plants living in damp soil should be transferred to growing frames during winter for Spring replanting.

Garden Ridge Coupons

Busch Gardens Discount Tickets - Now You Can Instantly Save Money

Executive summary about Garden Discount Coupons by Erika Ayala

Thinking of ways on how you can save money on your next vacation? This works especially if you're going with a big group. That way, the savings you get per ticket will accumulate and in the end you'll be able to afford an additional ticket, or you can allot your savings to buy your food or even buy tickets to a show you want to see inside. But where can you get discount tickets to Busch Gardens?
Online sources - a lot of people are internet-savvy already today, from the stay-at-home mom to the youngest kid in the family. Whoever chooses to do the coupon hunting online will surely get great results.

There are several sources for discount theme park tickets these days, and you can always get a link or to directing you to Busch Gardens discounts. All you have to do is a quick search on the search engine, and you're on! Offline sources - these include the Sunday paper, coupon books that can be found locally in Tampa or Williamsburg, and of course the circulars that can also be found locally.

Coleus Plant

How to Grow Coleus Plants

Executive summary about Coleus Plants by Christine Eirschele

Outside, the coleus is a tropical plant hardy in zones 10 and 11. Coleus, botanically known as Solenostemon, are treated as summer bedding or annual plant everywhere else. In any garden setting, coleus are grown and appreciated for their colorful leaves.
Some coleus plants grow to be large and upright while other varieties trail, good for hanging baskets.

Solenostemon Plant Culture

Outside, Solenostemon plants grow best in part shade. The leaves of coleus planted in full sun will become scorched and faded. Gardeners should avoid planting coleus in gardens with a western exposure. Gardeners unsure of light exposure in a garden can test it by planting a coleus in a container. Indoors, coleus plants like bright light but not hot direct sun. Coleus plants tolerate minimum indoor temperatures to 60°F and humidity levels to 30 percent. Coleus grows best in moist, well-draining soil, whatever the location. Coleus have fibrous roots and like soil kept moist and cool. Outside top-dress the soil with mulch in a garden planted with coleus.

Coleus Indoors and Outside

When growing coleus outside in a garden bed, space coleus 10 – 12 inches apart. Gardeners should plant coleus, like any annual plant, in soil amended with organic matter.
Plant coleus in pots and water with a balanced fertilizer or one higher in nitrogen.

Low Maintenance Coleus

Coleus are low maintenance plants that are easy to grow, whether planted indoors or outside, in containers or in the ground. Gardeners can keep plants healthy by removing flowers and dead leaves periodically. Indoor gardeners should cut back stems to encourage a bushier plant and repot the plant every 2 years or as the plant outgrows the container.

Solenostemon Insect Issues

Indoor gardeners may see spider mites, mealy bugs or white fly.

Oleander Plant

A Deadly Beauty – Oleander

Executive summary about Oleander Plant by Herb Leibacher

Oleander is one of the most beautiful of all the shrubs, but caution should be used when planting this shrub. Every part of this beautiful plant is deadly, the leaves, sap, wood and flowers. This attractive evergreen grows best in warm climates and will produce heavy scented, brightly colored flowers from late spring to fall. This shrub is beautiful but deadly to humans and animals.

Late spring brings the first buds of the Oleander that bloom clear into late fall. Oleander is not native to the United States but will do very well in warm states such as Florida, California and Texas. Dry, windy conditions do not adversely affect the growth of this plant. Coastal regions are also where the Oleander will do well. Marshy soils with a salt content will be just fine with the Oleander.

Oleander can be trimmed and kept at the bush state of six to twelve feet or left to grow into small trees that will reach about twenty feet in height. The shrubs make beautiful raised borders or fence decoration. Oleander plants need to be placed in a site with full sun or a light shade. The soil should be well drained, though Oleanders will adapt to dry conditions and marshy soils.

Oleanders can be planted in the spring or fall. The plants will need 6 to 12 feet of distance between them, depending on how large you want the plant to grow and the variety of the plant.