… after wild populations of the species were last seen in Illinois. The bloom this past spring is a small but striking sign of recovery. Its presence is thanks to the Chicago Botanic Garden … in Plant Biology and Conservation. “If we can’t reverse the damage anytime soon, how can we get creative with the space and add value back in?” In 2022, Snyder set out to do so with the … decades. It couldn’t have survived Big Marsh’s original wetland, but slag had transformed the site into something resembling the daisy’s almost nonexistent native habitat. This was a rare …
Type: Blog
… on its long, strappy leaves. A grass that grows into an elegant, 3-foot mound, 'Prince' is hardy in zones 8 to 10, but not in our area. Planted as an annual or overwintered in a … in our Plant Finder —see sidebar for details. Angelica gigas Canna 'Intrigue' are sure to get noticed. Tall, Dark, and Bold A "what is that?" plant to be sure, Giant Angelica ( Angelica gigas ) starts the year out with …
Type: Plant Info
… learned how to properly care for everything, and I like seeing what I’ve grown. Everybody is here for everybody. I’ve lived in North Lawndale my whole life. It’s such a positive community—so many people to check up on you, say good morning to you. Everybody is here for everybody; we have each other’s back. This place is family. I’ve been working with Windy City Harvest for six years. I started here when I …
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… to a sunny location, and start the process all over again. As they age, amaryllis bulbs will get larger and larger, sometimes splitting into multiple bulbs. When this happens, they can be … dubium Star-of-Bethlehem Another beautiful—but less common—plant that provides winter cheer is Ornithogalum ‘Bethlehem’ , or Star-Of-Bethlehem. These bulbs produce a 1- to 1½-foot-tall … cyclamen also feature some of the most intricately pattered leaves of any houseplant. You can get plants that are all silver, silver with green veins, green with silver veins, and many other …
Type: Blog
… from areas of the cold, higher elevations of the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa that get significant summer rainfall, this beautiful, wild species has proven amazingly hardy in the … of its native habitat nominated the gladiolus for trial at the Garden: first, it is a winter-growing bulb in South Africa, which translates to summer growth in North America. Second, this plant thrives in moist soils in grassy areas—it was perfect for the site we chose in the Bulb Garden. Based on its initial success in our plant trial program, other …
Type: Blog
… Senior Staff: Carmen Vergara Vice President of Community Partnerships Carmen Vergara is vice president of community partnerships at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She also currently … nursing and master’s of public health degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an alumna of the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy and a 2026 Leadership of … Chicago Signature Fellow. Carmen was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago and is fluent in Spanish. In her spare time, she loves to create floral arrangements, listen to fun …
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… much larger than her body. Not much larger than a quarter, the ruby-throated hummingbird nest is an engineering marvel. This is all well and good until the eggs hatch. Growing young … or triple the amount of room necessary to hold the family. One of the ways the hummingbirds get around this need for flexibility is that they construct the nest of soft plant fibers and … not, keep an eye out for little bumps, lumps, and knobs on bare branches in winter. You might get lucky. …
Type: Blog
… research alongside the Garden’s conservation scientists and graduate students. The science is the core of the REU program, explained conservation scientist Jeremie Fant, Ph.D., but the … manager of the Research Labs and Undergraduate Program, for the last four. The program is 18 years strong. “We recruit graduate students to mentor the undergrads. They’re just one … Biology and Conservation program run by the Garden and Northwestern University. They also get to know the Garden’s Negaunee Institute of Plant Conservation Science and Action scientists, …
Type: Blog
… its hind legs with pollen from the eryngo, and they are now swollen and bright yellow. Pollen is also sticking to the hairs on its thorax and underside. It is a good pollinator! Carpenter … difficult time getting good picture of some of these small insects, and as a result, I didn't get enough details to identify this half-inch-long fly with white triangles on the back of its … on the eryngo flowers, so seeing this predator around the eryngo makes sense. I could not get a good picture of this one, because it was hiding in the shadows under the flowers. The wing …
Type: Blog
… Bonsai Collection The Chicago Botanic Garden bonsai collection is one of the largest and most diverse collections in the country. Our nearly 300 trees and 160 … of trees for our visitors in two display courtyards from mid-April to October. The collection is comprised primarily of donations, including 19 trees imported from Japan and donated by bonsai … limber pine tree ( Pinus flexilis ), which was collected in the Rocky Mountains, is one of most impressive and popular trees in the collection. …
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