Author: staff

Lifestyle

Why pink bigleaf hydrangeas might not bloom in summer

The huge, pink mophead blooms of bigleaf hydrangea are one of the joys of summer for Chicago gardeners. What a disappointment when those blooms fail to fluff!“Bigleaf hydrangeas just aren’t entirely reliable in our climate, because sometimes the flower buds don’t make it through the winter,” said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.AdvertisementBuds of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) are formed in late summer and must survive all winter to bloom the following summer. “They aren’t especially well protected, so even a single day of severe cold is enough to kill them,” Janoski said. Dead buds will appear blackened, and they will never open. The hydrangea may produce abundant green leaves in spring but no blooms.Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) will bloom most abundantly after a mild winter, and may not bloom at all after a harsh one. (Beth Botts/Morton Arboretum)Gardeners can be confused because some other familiar species of hydrangea do bloom reliably: smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), including the popular Annabelle cultivated variety, and panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), including the Tardiva variety. “These hardy hydrangeas don’t form their flower buds until spring, so the buds are never at risk from winter cold,” Janoski said.AdvertisementIn gardening parlance, shrubs that set their flower buds on stems formed in the previous year and overwinter them are said to “bloom on old wood.” Those that grow their flower buds on new twigs in the spring or summer of the same year they bloom are said to “bloom on new wood.” Roses are a classic example.[ Garden guide: Everything you need to know about growing hydrangeas ]A number of hydrangea species are iffy because they bloom on old wood, such as oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) and mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata).In some climates with more equable winters, such as the Atlantic states where weather is moderated by the nearby ocean, these plants’ buds are less likely to be killed. The volatile and often harsh Chicago climate is more risky for them. After a mild winter they may bloom abundantly, but after a cold winter — or even a mostly mild winter with a bud-killing cold spell — they may not bloom at all.To add to the confusion, some newer varieties of bigleaf hydrangea, such as the Endless Summer and Let’s Dance series, and mountain hydrangea, such as the Tuff Stuff series, have been bred and selected to bloom to varying degrees on both old and new wood.“Even if the buds on old wood are damaged over the winter, these varieties can grow some new wood in spring that will set flower buds,” Janoski said. “You may not get as many blooms as you would after a mild winter, but you’ll likely get some.”There’s another common reason that hydrangeas fail to bloom: “Sometimes the flower buds get cut off when the gardener is pruning in winter,” she said.If you prune a plant in winter that blooms on old wood, such as bigleaf hydrangea, forsythia, lilac, mock-orange, or ninebark, you’ll be removing the flower buds along with branches. “To be safe, wait to prune a spring- or summer-flowering shrub until after it has bloomed,” Janoski said.Plants that bloom on new wood, such as smooth hydrangea and panicle hydrangea, can be pruned in winter with impunity.AdvertisementHow can you know what to do? “Identify your plants,” she said. It’s not enough just to know you have a hydrangea, because different species of hydrangea grow differently and need different care. “You need to find out exactly which species of hydrangea you have.”The Plant Clinic can help you identify your plants and find out how to care for them so you get the most beauty and satisfaction from your garden.For tree and plant advice, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum.

Sports

Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker is selected 1st in the draft for the WNBA All-Star Game, set for July 10 at Wintrust Arena

Breanna Stewart traded for Seattle Storm teammate Sue Bird in the WNBA All-Star draft Saturday. Bird was set to be a co-captain with the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson before Stewart pulled off the deal to acquire Bird for Sylvia Fowles. Bird and Fowles are set to retire at the end of the season and were named co-captains with Stewart and Wilson.Advertisement“We can do legend for legend,” Wilson said. “OK, I got that. I’m good with that. I feel good about that. We’re back on track. That was a good one.”Bird will be playing in her record 13th All-Star Game on July 10 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Fowles will be in her eighth.AdvertisementStewart also acquired Nneka Ogwumike for Sabrina Ionescu in a separate trade with Wilson.Wilson had the first pick in the draft and chose they Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker, who will be playing in front of her home fans in her seventh career All-Star Game and second since joining the Sky before last season and helping them win their first championship. Wilson then chose Aces teammate Kelsey Plum with her second pick. Stewart drafted the third Aces starter Jackie Young with her first pick and Jonquel Jones with her second choice.Stewart had the first pick in the reserve round and selected Storm teammate Jewell Loyd. Stewart also drafted the Sky’s Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman as well as Skylar Diggins-Smith, Alyssa Thomas and Arike Ogunbowale.Wilson chose rookie Rhyne Howard with her first pick of the reserves. Howard is the only rookie in the game. The co-captain then selected Aces teammate Dearica Hamby. Wilson also drafted Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, Brionna Jones and Natasha Howard.The WNBA switched to the team-captain format in 2018.Ionescu, Plum, Howard and Young will be playing in their first All-Star Game.

Sports

Dalen Terry welcomes the challenge — and support — from Patrick Williams in his 1st Chicago Bulls practice

Rookie Dalen Terry ended his first official practice as a Chicago Bull with a show of support from teammate Patrick Williams. Williams picked out the Bulls rookie as the top competitor of the practice, highlighting Terry’s energy on his first day scrimmaging against his new teammates as he prepares for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next week. The Bulls selected Terry with the 18th pick of the draft last month. Advertisement“It gave me a little bit more confidence,” Terry said. “He was here last year, he’s been through what I’ve been through. So for him to do that is definitely a nod and respect, and I appreciate him for saying that.”Williams, the Bulls’ pick at No. 4 in 2020, provided an immediate challenge for Terry, who is relishing the chance to face off against professional players in his first days at the Advocate Center.AdvertisementThe Bulls introduce first-round draft pick Dalen Terry on Monday at the Advocate Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Bulls Summer League coach John Bryant said the two had a fair amount of friendly trash talk in their limited matchups on the first day of practice.“He’s been in the league, so I give him his respect,” Terry said of Williams. “But I’m going to compete. I ain’t backing down now.”Williams and Ayo Dosunmu won’t play in Las Vegas this year, but both players will train with the full Vegas roster this week to prepare for the preseason.[ [Don’t miss] Zach LaVine agrees to a 5-year, $215.2M max deal to stay with the Chicago Bulls — the largest in team history ][ [Don’t miss] Bulls reportedly agree to a deal with free agent Andre Drummond while awaiting Zach LaVine’s decision ]Bryant said the Bulls want Dosunmu and Williams to spend the remainder of the offseason focused on scrimmaging against top-caliber competition.“That’s why they’re here this week,” Bryant said. “There’s a lot of individual development, but they need to get game reps daily against NBA and fringe NBA players. So that alone in our building, in front of our coaching staff and coach (Billy) Donovan, they’re going to improve.”Although Terry has been enjoying the Chicago summer since he was drafted June 23 — making a mandatory stop at the Bean earlier this week — the rookie spent most of his time working out. Bryant said he spotted Terry in the gym at least three times a day since he arrived in Chicago.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Terry wants to improve his shooting — among other things — as a rookie. He likened his growth to building up a player in the video game NBA 2K — right now, he sees his stats as 75s, with a goal of improving to 99s across the board.“I’m good at some things, but I’m not great at nothing,” Terry said. “I’m trying to be great at everything.”AdvertisementBulls center Marko Simonovic waits for his photo session on Sept. 27, 2021, during media day at the United Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Second-year center Marko Simonović put on a noticeable amount of mass in the offseason, a growth the Bulls are hoping will help the 2021 second-round pick make the jump to the first-team roster this season.“His shoulders look like a grown man,” Bryant said of Simonović, 22. “He’s obviously been working. He’s obviously been doing something. He’s eating at least.”As one of the main big-man coaches on the Bulls staff, Bryant logged daily sessions with Simonović throughout his rookie season. Bryant noted physicality as a key improvement necessary for Simonović to move from the top scorer for the Windy City Bulls to a contributing player on the Bulls roster.Putting on muscle is one thing. Translating that strength to the court will be the next step for Simonović.“Every big needs to be able to finish in traffic, so every day, that’s a drill that we’ve worked on,” Bryant said. “I’m excited to see his development there. He needs to at least be able to take the contact and finish, so that’s one thing. But can he be a consistent rebounder? Does he have a really good touch? Can he shoot consistently? I think all of those things will be answered in the next few days.”

Sports

Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease named AL Pitcher of the Month for June

SAN FRANCISCO — Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for June, Major League Baseball announced Saturday.Cease went 2-1 with a 0.33 ERA, 45 strikeouts and a .192 opponents average in five June starts. He’s the first Sox pitcher to win the award since Lucas Giolito in May 2019.AdvertisementCease struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Guaranteed Rate Field.He is 6-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 15 starts this season.AdvertisementCease started Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

Sports

Chicago Sky win their 5th straight, topping the Phoenix Mercury 91-75 behind Allie Quigley and Candace Parker

Allie Quigley scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures, Candace Parker added 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and the Chicago Sky never trailed in a 91-75 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday at Wintrust Arena.The game was a rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals, which the Sky won for their first championship. AdvertisementThe Sky (15-5) have won five consecutive games and eight of nine to move into a tie with the Las Vegas Aces atop the league standings.Kahleah Copper scored 12 points, Rebekah Gardner 11 and Emma Meesseman 10 for the Sky.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 3 Chicago Sky players chosen as All-Star reserves — joining starter Candace Parker — for the July 10 game at Wintrust Arena ][ ‘We’re doing a disservice to an entire generation’: How Chicago athletes and teams reacted to Roe being overturned ]Parker hit a 3-pointer and then found Courtney Vandersloot for a layup to give the Sky a 9-2 lead, and they closed the first quarter with a 23-5 run to make it 32-12 when Dana Evans hit a 3 at the buzzer.Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Mercury with 25 points and four steals. Diamond DeShields added 21 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes, and Sophie Cunningham finished with 12 points. Diana Taurasi scored a season-low two points on 1-of-6 shooting.The Mercury (9-12) had their three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time since the franchise and 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles, who signed a free-agent contract with the club in February, mutually agreed to part ways on Monday.The Sky are 12-3 this season when scoring at least 80 points.[ [Don’t miss] Title IX turns 50: A look at how those 37 words have had an impact on women in sports ]