Mystery Magnolia?

It's flower is not all white, but I am guessing a cultivar of Magnolia virginiana, or Sweetbay Magnolia. It grows in Prospect Park, at the bottom of the slope, just north of the lake, road side. The hard-edged thing is a large metal container (as in truck) that has been gracing the park for a few weeks.

SEARCH QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Can you divide a hydrangea plant?

I suppose you could, but I do not recommend it without great care. Hydrangeas are woody shrubs. In general, I do not consider woody shrubs as candidates for root division. I would, however, multiply my woody shrubs by "rooting" cuttings of branches or through layering -the laying of a branch onto the ground and covering it with soil and a rock to encourage rooting of the stem. Once the branch has rooted, in either method, you can transplant anywhere.

SEARCH QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Can you build a vegetable planter on concrete?

Why not? Build your box as you ordinarily would. Then place it on the concrete. If your question is more about putting a wood-framed raised bed on concrete, then I would say yes -but make sure the soil is deep enough for the vegetables you are planting.

Drainage is key. If you are building a box, make sure to put in drainage holes.

Either way, make sure that you keep the plants watered. The heat-holding and radiating power of concrete will dry out the soil quickly if it is in full sun all day.