… tiny soil organisms—all of which evolved with the plants. (One well-known example is the monarch butterfly, which only lays its eggs on milkweed ( Asclepias ) species. The … and attract some butterflies, but most are not native to the United States. However, there is a native woodland sedum, aka wild stonecrop— Sedum ternatum . It is the only sedum species native to central and northern Illinois. A miner bee visits the sedum …
Type: Plant Info
… they offer the home gardener outstanding foliage plus a long bloom time, learning their ways is well worth the time. Most of the 1,500 species and 10,000 begonia hybrids share a few common … during the daytime and no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Water the plants when the soil is dry. Noted begonia expert Tovah Martin revealed that she and her begonias "slowly developed an … plants compact, rounded and, in many cases, suitable for hanging baskets. When the new plant is 6 inches tall, pinch the top growing shoot; lateral shoots will develop in a few weeks. Allow …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Best for the Midwest is Best for the Planet Think twice before you plant those flowers! Are they a native species that … are not left with a monoculture. Much of our research in the Garden and in our Midwest region is studying how habitat degradation, invasive species, and other disturbances change plant and … practices help to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). How? One way is through limiting the use of lawn equipment. In addition, native plants help to reduce the …
Type: Plant Info
… The most common tree in the Chicago area is from Europe—and that’s bad news for our native plants and animals. Introduced to the United … an area, almost nothing can grow under it. Photos by Jim Steffen and Matt Evans. Why buckthorn is bad for native plants and animals The plants and animals of our native woodlands, wetlands, … hinders the growth of other plants. The chemical can linger in the soil even after buckthorn is removed and can harm frogs and other amphibians. Seeding success – Buckthorn seeds have a high …
Type: Blog
… Care Department Landscape Waste Program As manager of horticulture services, Cindy Baker is responsible for the care and maintenance of more than 100 acres of ornamental landscaping. She … Baker has been involved with many projects, events, and classes at the Garden since 1988. She is a regular guest on the WGN-TV Morning News "Botanic Backyard" segments. Baker is also a frequent speaker at the American Public Garden Association's annual meetings and has …
Type: Staff bio
… that folding 1,000 paper cranes, one for each year, can make a wish come true. So it is that the crane is the symbol of longevity and good fortune. Fast forward to the turn of the twenty-first … origami cranes throughout the winter. And 3,000-plus cranes are ready to hand out. Happiness is 1,000 paper cranes…and volunteers like Susan and Edie. From Ray’s original intent comes great …
Type: Blog
… the “parent plant.” 2. Selecting Choose a ripe, disease-free tomato; one past being edible is best. 3. Removing Cut the tomato ‘around the equator’ and squeeze out the seeds and ‘goo’ in … the tomato variety and let dry which could take up to three weeks. The top of the refrigerator is a great place for this. 6. Drying When dry, scrape the seed in to an envelope labeled with … put them in my top desk drawer. 8. Life Span Seeds have varied life expectancies. Tomato seed is viable for four to ten years. …
Type: Blog
… the Forest Preserves of Cook County, including a stint at the Garden. The Conservation Corps is a paid summer internship that gives young people hands-on conservation and environmental … because everybody knows each other in the field." —Ushus Hermanson, 17, Chicago The program is part of the effort by the Garden and its partner, Friends of the Forest Preserves, to build … the Garden’s director of government affairs, who helped coordinate the program. “Not only is it a great help for the Garden’s staff to tackle needed projects, it is a great learning …
Type: Blog
… Pogue, senior horticulturist, Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden My New Year’s resolution is to apply the principles of the Garden's soil initiative. I am very excited to learn more about … Wade Wheatley, assistant horticulturist, Greenhouses My horticultural New Year’s resolution is to be a better plant dad to my houseplants. Since I spend the day at work taking care of the tropical plants at the Garden, it is sometimes difficult to maintain enthusiasm to come home and keep watering plants. However, I …
Type: Blog
… a lot of meaning into that name: Cyprus was the sacred island of Venus’s birth, pedilon is the word for slipper, and calceolus means little shoe. The lady’s slipper orchid is native to a broad swath of the temperate world, from Europe through Asia. While still common in some wild areas, the orchid’s beauty has made it over-loved in others—it is now considered extinct in Greece, the very home of its ancient legend. And that brings us to …
Type: Blog
