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Special sale: |
| In anticipation of introducing newly revised Plant Facts and other reference guides, the Plant Information Service is liquidating much of the existing stock. Stop by the Plant Information Office at the Garden to pick up select titles for $1 each. |
The Chicago Botanic Garden's Plant Facts is a popular series of how-to-do-it-right guides on gardening subjects ranging from choosing the best annuals to harvesting vegetables. Written by Garden staff, these four- to six-page publications summarize horticultural information specifically for the Chicago-area gardener.
Plant Facts are available at a cost of $2 each at the Garden or $2 plus postage and handling through the mail.
Following is a brief description of the newest Plant Facts sheets. An order form is included for your convenience. Would you like to see a sample Plant Facts? Click here to see Shade Gardening.
Best Annuals for the Chicago Area
Here is a compilation of over 50 annuals best suited to the Chicago
soil, weather and growing conditions. Classified as either cool-season
or warm-season, each annual is described by scientific and common
name, flowering period, special cultural needs, height and sun
or shade requirements
Hardy Bulbs for the Chicago Area
How to plant bulbs properly, how to choose a good bulb, how to
maintain your bulb garden and how to deal with problems are only
some of the subjects covered in this complete sheet. A brief rundown
of all the bulbs appropriate for Chicago gardens is included,
along with their bloom time, flower description and recommended
cultivars.
Compost
Successful gardeners everywhere understand that composting at
home is easy and does not require much space. Beneficial to the
environment, your garden and your budget, it is an integral part
of every good gardener's practices! This guide takes you through
establishing a simple backyard compost pile, maintaining it and
using the resulting "brown gold."
Monthly Garden Reminders
Important garden practices, planting schedules, pruning tips,
monitoring for insects and disease are all included in a 12-month
calendar. Each month contains tips and suggestions appropiate
to that time of the year, whether you are gardening outdoors or
inside your home.
Berries
The small-fruiting plants have special growing needs to ensure
that the healthiest plants (and therefore the healthiest berries)
develop! Learn how to plant, fertilize and rejuvenate a wide selection
of berry plants. Winter care and exact pruning techniques for
cane plants are included.
Culinary Herbs
A complete guide to selecting, growing, harvesting, using, drying
and storing herbs is featured, along with a description of those
herbs that perform especially well in the Chicago area. Every
herb is categorized for special uses as well: those for low hedges,
those for moist soils, those for indoor culture and those for
attracting bees, just to name a few.
Fruit Trees
With more and more gardeners incorporating fruit trees in their
urban or suburban landscape, correct information on how to grow
these plants is essential. All the popular choices of apple, cherry,
plum, pear and even apricot are discussed, and valuable planting,
pruning and harvesting advice is provided. Helpful illustrations
of various training methods are included.
Grapevines
Grapes are one of the oldest known cultivated food crops and one
of the most popular small fruits grown by backyard gardeners!
Understanding their culture and their pruning needs is all-important
for good fruit production. Line drawings of different pruning
techniques serve as a valuable reference for gardeners interested
in maximizing their yields.
Growing Tomatoes
The tomato is the most popular "vegetable" grown by home gardeners
in this country! And that is no surprise. Tomatoes have left the
vegetable garden and are appearing in perennial beds, containers
and cottage gardens everywhere! But which cultivar is best? Should
you cage or stake? How do you analyze cultural problems by examining
the foliage and fruit? This information sheet is for everyone
-- no matter where your tomato plant grows!
Harvesting Vegetables
Harvesting time is the most exciting time for the vegetable gardener!
But when should you harvest? How should you store the crop? Each
vegetable is described in detail in a quick reference format.
A valuable guide both for the novice and for the beginner.
The Vegetable Garden
A successful vegetable garden is the result of time, effort and
extensive planning. This detailed guide will help you with all
of these by outlining site preparation, soil amendments, timing
of planting, weeding, watering and protecting your transplants.
A handy planting guide describes spacing your crops and distinguishes
between cool- and warm-season vegetables.
Seed Sources
A valuable listing of mail-order businesses specializing in fruits,
vegetables, herbs and heirloom seeds. This collection of reputable
sources represents a gardener's dream! Drawn from all across the
country, these nurseries can provide even the most unusual and
hard-to-find seeds. Names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers
and even websites are included.
Print out the order form and mail with your check made out to
"Chicago Botanic Garden" to:
Plant Information
The Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
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