… whose autumnal leaf drop naturally enriches the soil. More than Plants Share this Woods Spring is when more than 100 migrating and resident birds pass through, seeking shelter, insects, seeds, … bells plus scalloped foliage reminiscent of columbine mean false rue anemone. Wild geranium is easy to spot, but the familiar pink flowers will arrive only after the clumps of foliage have … below the soil. Invasive Plants Destroy Diversity In the McDonald Woods, what you don’t see is as important as what you do see. The open spaces; the absence of garlic mustard, which used to …
Type: Walks
… steep prairie hillsides and swampy lowlands as a Plants of Concern volunteer, his mission is, at once, straightforward and profound: find endangered plants, count them, and alert the land … “I was surprised at just how much of a personal investment I’ve taken. When a plant population is doing well, I feel like a proud parent.” Plants of Concern—a community science program at the … ). Once classified as endangered in Illinois, it grows in swampy, hard-to-reach places and is easy to overlook. After volunteers began reporting swollen sedge populations in new locations, …
Type: Blog
… hillii ) blooming This thistle was not the Canada thistle ( Cirsium canadensis ), which is a non-native weed that is commonly seen along the roadsides and in your garden. What I stumbled on was Hill’s thistle ( … from taller plants. A number of species of bees visit and pollinate this plant. The plant is believed to be monocarpic, which means the plant dies after flowering and producing seed. I …
Type: Blog
… shadowed water below. Doctoral student Lynnaun Johnson wades over for a closer look. Habitat is shrinking for this reclusive orchid, and he is using a unique approach to better understand the species’ uncommon lifestyle. During March … the plant and took a sample from the bark of its host tree. “What I’m interested in primarily is identifying the fungi within the habitat of these particular orchids,” said Johnson. “If you …
Type: Blog
… like pinkball dombeya ( Dombeya wallichii ). Native to East Africa and Madagascar, the genus is a highly sought-after ornamental in USDA Zones 9 and warmer. One of the rarest plants in our collections is Deppea splendens. Native to the mountains of western Mexico, this plant is extinct in the wild. Visit our What’s in Bloom highlight page each week—twice a week during …
Type: Blog
… when it eventually reopens or are available now from online sellers, including smile.amazon.com (your purchases through this link support the Chicago Botanic Garden, if you designate us as the recipient). Bonus for members: While the Lenhardt Library is closed, more than 7,000 horticulture and gardening e-books are now available for online … Woods Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing By Yoshifumi Miyazaki Forest bathing is the practice of seeking a deeper connection with nature by spending dedicated time surrounded …
Type: Blog
… Horticultural Society was founded. To celebrate the Society’s 125th anniversary, the Garden is featuring two special exhibitions, lectures, and the launch of a commemorative book, Chicago … Fire of 1871 to the victory garden era through the present.” A view looking south from the site of the future Chicago Botanic Garden; low in the horizon is the city of Chicago (click on image for a larger view) An early image of the Garden’s islands: …
Type: Blog
… Foraging for edible mushrooms is a treasure hunt that always yields a reward. You never know what you’re going to find. At the … Jean-Pol Grandmont Great finds: black trumpets, and more importantly—chanterelles! Summertime is the fruiting season for two of my favorite edible mushrooms: chanterelles (Cantharellus … eaten mushroom in the United States. (The green-spored lepiota [Chlorphyllum molybdites] is the most common.) We can tell chanterelles from jack-o-lanterns when we turn them over and …
Type: Blog
… it all: lackluster moods, low energy, and even mild depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder is defined as depression associated with late autumn and winter, thought to be caused by a lack … the sights and smells of the season. One of my favorite HT activities to do this time of year is our ‘ Simmering Spices’ project. During this activity, participants mix together a wide array … are brought forth with the smells of the spices. Scent triggers the area of the brain that is connected to the experience of emotion as well as emotional memory. I see this time and time …
Type: Blog
… to share our individual experiences through movement reflections. No previous dance experience is required. Please dress for the weather. Bring a watch and a yoga mat or towel. Erica Hornthal, …
Type: Item Detail
