… cherishes nature can wear a saree adorned with lotuses, jasmines, and vines. Choosing fabrics is done with care as well—silk over brocade for a garden event, or perhaps organza over georgette for an evening at the symphony. My favorite saree is the Paithani from my home state of Maharashtra, with its beautiful border of peacocks and … Lakshmibai by a court artist, via Wikimedia Commons . The art of wearing and draping a saree is also an outlet to express spirituality, culture, and beliefs. Traditionally, a petticoat is …
Type: Blog
… Is it Spring or Winter? Flowers Wage Their Bets As if on cue, tiny green leaves peek out from the … false start,” said Paul CaraDonna, Ph.D., a Chicago Botanic Garden conservation scientist. “It is important to keep in mind that plants have long dealt with variable and unpredictable environments. How they make a living right now is based on figuring that out over thousands of years.” “Figuring that out” is at once complex …
Type: Blog
… or containers that offer nectar for the adults and host plants for the caterpillars. Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid that butterflies, bees, and other pollinators rely on for energy. If you … have nectar plants that will attract them. Be a Butterfly Bartender A butterfly’s tongue is shaped like a flexible straw, which it unrolls and dips into the base of a flower. Native … small understory tree was once common in Illinois, its habitat has greatly diminished, which is a shame because the fruit, when ripe, is delicious. Some hairstreaks lay their eggs on oaks, …
Type: Plant Info
… favorite vegetables, but with the renewed interest in homegrown food, their popularity is growing through the "green" roof. Considered a warm-season crop because plants need warm soil … outdoors after mid-May in the Chicago area. Even then you might need to cover plants, which is why many gardeners wait until after Memorial Day to plant. Choosing the Best The best tomato varieties to grow depend on where you live. Our midwestern growing season is pretty short, so it’s important to know how many days a particular variety needs to produce …
Type: Plant Info
… warm and humid air with no drafts. If you have had these plants for some time, perhaps it is time to repot them. Although they do prefer to be slightly "potbound," all repotting … cotta pots. Be sure to remove any side shoots that develop off the parent plant. Good light is essential — a south or east window in winter and a west window in summer. African …
Type: Plant Info
… I divide irises? A. The best time to plant and transplant rhizomatous (or self-seeding) iris is after flowering but before the end of August. Established plantings of iris should be divided … with a spade or digging fork and use a sharp knife to separate the rhizomes. Proper sanitation is important to reduce the spread of disease, so dip the knife in 10 percent bleach to water …
Type: Plant Info
… Joey Brink is the sixth university carillonneur at the University of Chicago, where he performs on the … in Mechelen in 2014, and has toured North America and Europe extensively as a performer. Brink is regularly a recitalist at congresses of the GCNA and the World Carillon Federation, most …
Type: Event for Calendar
… Nick Dorian is an urban ecologist and conservation biologist who aims to understand how animals and plants … natural historians, critical thinkers, and comfortable with statistics. In addition, Nick is a passionate science communicator, and he considers community outreach as an essential …
Type: Staff bio
… Strung Out is Chicago’s ultimate tribute to the 1970s, offering a unique musical experience that brings the … commitment to bringing the best of the decade to the stage ensures that every performance is a vibrant celebration of the music that defined a generation. Come to a Strung Out show and …
Type: Event for Calendar
… cells when they are produced at the growing tip, producing stems that are not round. It is insect and disease resistant, with the exception of spider mites (which are only problematic if the relative humidity is consistently below 30 percent, as in the desert Southwest). Wild celosias are native to the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
