… As summer winds down you may be thinking about stowing your shovel and other tools for the season. (But don’t stow that rake—the leaves won’t be falling just yet.) Before you clean … good time to find them on sale. The Basics Just getting started? Invest in a few good tools for digging, weeding, pruning, and watering. Inexpensive gardening tools have a short life. They … often bend, break or rust. Well-made tools may cost more, but with maintenance, they’ll last for years. And, if you’re already growing flowers, veggies, or herbs, what gardener couldn’t use …
Type: Plant Info
… the corpse flower that bloomed last September. Maxwell and Lexi (in her Alice T-shirt) Kirchen visit Sprout early this morning before school. Harper, 14 months old, waves at #CBGSprout the … And it is very stinky. Carrie: I happened to see the Facebook post. And we were here every day for Spike (a titan arum that previously was on display at the Garden). Jamie Smith of Highland … spathe (modified frilly leaf). It has great textures. Roman Bouchal of the Czech Republic came for the smell this morning, and found it in the window removed from Sprout the corpse flower’s …
Type: Blog
… I sat there in front of a group of plants that produce lovely-smelling flowers, waiting for their impressive pollinators to show up. And when they did, I snapped some of my very first … volume and sugar content, floral scent, who pollinates and when (hawkmoths come at dusk and visit overnight; bees generally visit in the morning), how populations grow and shrink over time, which other plant species are …
Type: Blog
… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the wildflowers in bloom. But for Susanne Masi, a plant conservationist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the wildflowers she … them from extinction." For more information on plant conservation science at the Garden, visit chicagobotanic.org/research. …
Type: Plant Info
… Bank. The Garden’s Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank—part of the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action—provides long-term storage for more than 4,200 seed collections from 1,800 species of plants native to the tallgrass … important to Midwest habitat restoration efforts. The Garden also works with the Center for Plant Conservation to preserve seeds from 11 of the rarest species in the Upper Midwest. …
Type: Research
… As the days get shorter, you might be looking for off-the-beaten paths where you can soak up the rest of the season. I’ve got just the place for you—the Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Tucked away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s southeast … I’m always puzzled that so few people have discovered it. Here are just a few reasons to visit: The color purple—and more The fall colors are amazing—purple asters, yellow goldenrods, …
Type: Blog
… More colorful? Are you craving more privacy, or feeling claustrophobic? Think about the goal for your garden and curate toward that goal. Make a simple map A basic layout of your space (including key measurements) will prove invaluable for reference over time, whether you use garden-planning software or a simple piece of drawing … Mature tree questions? Consult your local forester or arborist first, and request an on-site visit. Their expertise and knowledge of the neighborhood "forest" will give you fresh insight …
Type: Plant Info
… to name a few. Plus, winter has the bonus of birds that actually migrate to our area just for the winter. Some migrants you will see every year are juncos, tree sparrows, and a variety of … what you will find on any given day. That is why I go out every chance I get! Before your next visit check out our list of birds that you can expect to see at the Garden each season. A … of birds—especially woodpeckers—in the McDonald Woods. If there is open water, check there for ducks and geese. You might be surprised at just how many birds you can find in winter. What a …
Type: Blog
… are found in many environments with quite differing soil conditions. When choosing a goldenrod for your garden, consider its native habitat before siting it in your own garden. Wet and dry … Garden, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Landscape Gardens, and McDonald Woods. An end-of-summer visit to these various gardens is a perfect way to admire goldenrod's many forms, as well as note … Notes #15 detailing the goldenrod study findings here. These recommendations are good news for all gardeners looking to incorporate the native goldenrod into their landscapes. …
Type: Plant Info
… removed. By this time, the large, green, straplike leaves should have formed. Nourish the bulb for next year's blooming by fertilizing once a month with a dilute 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 mix. Take … Chicago area), move the potted plant (consisting of a bulb and leaves at this point) outside for the summer. Place the pot in a sunny area with other garden plants so that it can take … before removing it from the bulb. The bulb is now in its dormant period where it will remain for approximately eight to 10 weeks. Around the new year bring the plant out of the basement, …
Type: Plant Info
