… A favorite destination for gardeners and nature lovers alike is the woods. The Chicago Botanic Garden's McDonald Woods was once a part of a large oak … the natural habitats that surrounded it. Fortunately, through careful management, the Garden is restoring this beautiful woodland. Gardeners often wonder if it's possible, in suburban or … of woodland of their own. Jim Steffen, ecologist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, says yes, it is possible, but your focus must be less on individual plants and more on the whole plant …
Type: Plant Info
… view part 2 Worm Composting View part 3 Why compost? Reducing the volume of your garbage is good by itself. Removing food from the waste stream is especially beneficial because food buried in a landfill causes production of methane gas and … IMPORTANT: only use red wiggler or red worms—see message about worms below A spray bottle is helpful Prepare your materials Fill a bucket with water and leave it out for three to four …
Type: Blog
… finally push through cold heavy soil, or clematis vines unveil new blue blossoms, there is joy in the garden. When fuzzy poppy pods surrender to a caress, and juicy grape tomatoes virtually fly into the mouth, horticultural nirvana is near. Annuals Change Each Season Visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden experience their own … at every turn, and in every garden. A grand place to discover the beauty of annuals is the Crescent . The gorgeous, cool-season tulip display of spring is breathtaking. In summer, a …
Type: Walks
… The rock star fruit is trending —with fans, chefs, and researchers alike “It was pretty amazing,” said Susan … help them determine how the trees have adapted to cold temperatures—other plants that pawpaw is related to grow in tropical climates. The DNA will help the team evaluate pawpaw’s potential … a family of plants that includes tropical fruits such as cherimoya and sugar apples—but pawpaw is the only species in the family that can grow as far north as Ontario, Canada. The fruit, about …
Type: Blog
… in the garden, the thought of puttering in front of a windowsill brings little comfort. There is a new group of houseplants, however, that can lead double lives — in the winter they're indoor … sense to change the soil and repot the plant using fresh soilless mix. Ordinary garden soil is too heavy and not as fast-draining as the mixes. Indoor clover ( Alternanthera dentata … in the middle of a border. Its dark foliage contrasts with all flowering plants, and it is quite at home amid pinks, lavenders, and purples. It also sports pale greenish-white …
Type: Plant Info
… take a moment to look across the lakes toward the new Plant Science Center building. Inside is the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank. There, seeds arrive from the rare remaining … of our incredibly diverse prairie communities. As you enter Dixon Prairie, consider that it is a re-creation rather than a restoration — it was built completely from scratch. Construction … Conservation = Teaching the Next Generation Past the horticulture greenhouses on your right is the Outdoor Classroom. From the schoolchildren who attend programs here to the graduate …
Type: Walks
… Chrysanthemum is Japanese, She's a fine lady, if you please. She comes to see us once a year, about the time … in the fall. The History of Mums As traditionally American as they may seem, the chrysanthemum is actually a Chinese immigrant. Cultivated as an herb in China for more than 3,500 years, the chrysanthemum represents nobility and is considered one of the four gentlemen: the pure and defiant recluse that represents fall. For a …
Type: Plant Info
… what colors they turn in fall. Then take the next step: have a critical look at your own yard. Is it time to plant a tree or shrub? If so, what kind might be right for your yard, and what fall … when there's wind in those willows. Just past the Visitor Center bridge, the Crescent Garden is lined with weeping willows by the water, which is where willows like to be. Katsura trees ( Cercidiphyllum magnificum , or Cercidiphyllum …
Type: Plant Info
… One of the most nutritious, ornamental and anticipated early spring vegetables is asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ). This Mediterranean native has just 20 calories a serving, … century. Close up of asparagus spear Asparagus officinalis ' Jersey Shore' Growing Asparagus is a sun-loving, hardy, long-lived perennial with creeping rhizomes and upright stems that appear … years for a planting to become mature. Since asparagus plants can live for more than 20 years, site them where they can grow undisturbed, such as at the end or border of a vegetable garden. …
Type: Plant Info
… but many seeds come equipped with mechanisms that stall germination until the time is right. Without the inhibitors in the gel sack, nothing would prevent a tomato seed from germinating within the fruit while it is still on the parent plant. When a ripe tomato falls off the plant, it sits on the ground and … dry. Spread the seeds on a glass or ceramic pan and allow them to dry out completely. There is an alternate method. Put the seeds with a little bit of water in a sieve and run cool water …
Type: Plant Info
