Very soon now, billions of cicadas will be singing in the trees and flying around yards, parks and forest preserves in the Chicago region. “We’ve already seen a few of the 17-year periodical cicadas emerge here,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at The Morton Arboretum, the large tree-focused public garden in Lisle. “We’re expecting […]
So you want to beautify your landscape, improve your community, or celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree. What could go wrong? Quite a bit, if you make some common mistakes, according to an expert at The Morton Arboretum, the tree-focused public garden in Lisle. “Proper planting is critical,” said Trinity Pierce, who has overseen the planting of thousands of trees as stewardship manager of the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative. “Taking time to do it right can mean decades more life for your tree.” Here are some common tree-planting mistakes to avoid. For step-by-step advice, see mortonarb.org/how-to-plant-a-tree. Digging a […]
I am interested in using more microgreens and would like some advice on how to grow them at home. — Rissi Melecio, Highland Park We could all use some tips about improving our diets, and microgreens are a great place to start. Microgreens are the sprouted seeds of edible vegetables and herbs grown in small, shallow containers. Routinely used by fine dining chefs, they have intense flavors and add visual appeal to dishes. They are also good for you, with a high concentration of nutrients. They are difficult to find in stores and expensive to buy — but easy to […]
A Pullman group opened up the home of Italian immigrant Americo L. Lisciotto, who led an effort to keep Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood from being bulldozed as part of a 1960s industrial redevelopment project.
Whether you’re installing bookshelves, a wall-mounted Murphy bed or full-on built-in furniture, you set your mark on your home with high-quality built-ins.
Applying mulch is one of the easiest and best ways to help your trees and other plants, but doing it the wrong way can lead to trouble. “Mulch should be a flat, even layer over the soil,” said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “It should never be heaped up, especially around a tree.” When mulch is piled up against a tree’s trunk, it can trap moisture against the bark, which encourages decay. “If the bark rots away, the tree’s circulatory system will be cut off,” Campbell said. “It can lead to the death of […]
I have this 35-year-old tree in my front yard in Lake Zurich that is not doing well. Do you think the ivy is causing the demise of the tree and if I were to remove the ivy around the trunk, is there a chance it would recover? — Bert Gaide, Lake Zurich Thanks for writing […]
Area libraries, including those in Homewood, Park Forest and Blue Island, are repurposing old card catalog cabinets to house flower and vegetable seeds, encouraging people to donate their leftovers and others to try new varieties.
Just as you use paint to spruce up your walls, light acts as visual paint to not only illuminate your home but increase aesthetics, direct your focus and create the pleasing look you want.
I received some bare root trees and shrubs as a gift and would like to know how to plant and care for them. — Jerry Rosen, Skokie That sounds like a great gift, just ahead of the growing season. Bare root trees and shrubs are shipped and planted in early spring. Growers dig the plants […]