APRIL! April showers bring May flowers–and it certainly gets me thinking about gardening and plants. This newsletter is packed with information; probably even more than we could offer at a regular club meeting. While we await that magical meeting-together-moment, study these articles at your leisure and benefit from the expertise of fellow club members. We […]
I would have to say spring has officially sprung in my backyard. I can see ducks in the little creek that flows when it rains. The snow has melted and the warmth of the sun has given way to so many native plants starting to unfurl their leaves and reach out to touch the sun. […]
For the past 16 years, the Lake County Forest Preserves and Possibility Place Nursery have partnered to host one of the most-visited native plant sales in Chicagoland. Due to social distancing guidelines, we are hosting an online sale again this year. Your plant purchases will be shipped right to your doorstep! Yes, you can order […]
We still have time before the busyness of spring overtakes us, so let’s focus on caring this month. There are many things that need care right now. If you haven’t cleaned and sharpened your tools, now is the time to care for them. Winter care for our trees and shrubs includes checking and pruning this […]
Trees and shrubs are not growing and dormant so it’s the best time to prune. You are doing easy, manageable pruning. Leave the extensive, large scale pruning to later in the season or to an expert (arborist). Good pruning keeps your trees and shrubs attractive, healthy and less susceptible to injury or disease. What to […]
HOMEMADE SUET CAKE Homemade suet cakes that fit standard suet feeders can be made with molds—sandwich-size plastic freezer containers (Dollar Store). Save the store-bought plastic suet cake holders and reuse them as your molds. Be sure to coat each mold with a non-stick spray before putting in the suet mix. Recipe #1 uses empty orange […]
This month, club member Gayle shared with April how she over-winters her geraniums in paper bags. She shared photos of her method and you can find them below. #1 – in the bags that they were placed in last November, just before a Frost #2 – what geraniums looked like coming out of bags #3 – […]
Why Choose Native Plants? There are so many beautiful plants available in the nursery trade, why would a person choose native plants? There are many reasons to plant natives, but today we’ll focus on our lovely backyard friends, the birds and butterflies. As we develop land for necessary urban, suburban, and agricultural use, we lose […]
Now is the time to plan ahead for your seed starting. Starting plants from seed is a relatively easy project if you plan ahead. Here are basic items you will need before you begin.Choose your area to work and hold your pots; then assemble your equipment: Seeds – Seed catalogues give you a large selection. Local […]
Spring. March 20th. That seems hard to believe doesn’t it? But here it comes and it’s time to get ready! Although it’s too soon to start most seeds, there are a few exceptions. One of my early starts is caladiums. They take so long to get going because they like warm soil, so that’s what […]