… I could read,” he said. Now he’s a proud plant parent to more than 100 plants. The collection is impressive, to be sure. But just how does one transport a thriving plant collection? As I … bring something if you’re just going to throw it away once you get there?” Weaver said. “Now is the time to get rid of anything disease or insect-infested.” Make cuttings of large plants you … (and gifting the large plant to a friend). “The nice thing about aroid plants like monstera is the vines have roots growing all over the place,” said Weaver. “You can easily chop a leaf off …
Type: Blog
… Handmade greeting cards make people feel loved. Here is a fun and festive way to show friends and relatives that you care about them. It’s a great … crayons, or colored pencils Work over a large paper towel or mat, because this project is messy! Fold a piece of stiff paper (construction paper or card stock) in half. Draw a design … on the front of the card. Try to use glue sparingly, because the paper will warp if the glue is too thick or wet. Sprinkle the herbs or spices of your choice on the wet glue. You can apply …
Type: Blog
… determined that Spike had run out of the energy it needed to continue its bloom cycle. Spike is powered by energy from the sun, stored in its beach-ball-sized corm—a tuber-like underground … giant flower structure that a titan can send up in its first decade or so of life (Spike is about 12 years old). OVERHEARD: “I WISH MY BIOLOGY TEACHER WAS HERE.” As this week’s expected … texture,” Herendeen said. “The color inside varies from one plant to another in nature. It is dark maroon, the color of rotting meat, which is meant to attract the flies and beetles that …
Type: Blog
… From the 2015 archives: It is our pleasure to introduce another titan arum (in bloom!), which we have joyfully named Alice … the Amorphophallus. Given the history below, it’s a name to remember! Alice the Amorphophallus is caught blooming on webcam at 12:22:39 a.m. today—the Semitropical Greenhouse may smell a bit … titanum presented itself, we called it Spike, since the flower structure, or inflorescence, is also known as a flower spike. But the true name of Spike (and Alice) is a title that can make …
Type: Blog
… and teachers by offering some simple ideas for studying plants. A no-brainer botany project is testing germination of radish seeds in different conditions. Radish seeds are easy to acquire, … normal conditions. Testing germination does not take weeks, doesn't require a lot of room, and is easy to measure—just count the seeds that sprout! To set up a seed germination experiment, use … same way in every respect except for one thing: the condition you are testing. That condition is your "independent variable," which may also be called the "experimental variable." No matter …
Type: Blog
… a few obstacles, but discovered some positive surprises along the way. Windy City Harvest is part of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture program that strives to bring food, … about the situation. It really does take my mind off of it and makes me forget that COVID-19 is even a thing.” “Being at the Farm has been really calming, especially during COVID-19. It … It’s been lots of fun and it feels like a second family." Ordinarily, youth farmers work on-site and attend in-person workshops, five days a week for eight weeks. This year, because of the …
Type: Blog
… the Chicago Botanic Garden’s plant breeder. So let’s go seek out the elusive wild phlox. Phlox is predominantly a North American genus (one species sneaks into Siberia) best known for its … × procumbens ‘Pink Profusion’ PPAF Phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’ PPAF You may ask,“And where is the plant exploration in this story?” I’m getting there! Most of the phlox species simply … on road edges where the occasional mower or bulldozer damage clears out the competitors. It is that or scramble up steep cliffs and talus slopes, or venture out on to harsh alkaline flats, …
Type: Blog
… These are all examples of stories I’ve heard through Plant Love Stories. Plant Love Stories is a project dedicated to collecting and sharing stories about the plants that affect our lives. … with all of our botanical affections, sometimes the line between Plant Love and Plant Hate is very, very thin. We have a genre of stories we call “Love/Hate” stories, tales of plants that … of pollination, the more I admire this tree. The effort it goes to ensure reproductive success is nothing short of amazing. Angry parrots, disgruntled neighbors, a conceited young botanist, …
Type: Blog
… The secret is out; visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden have unprecedented access to plant information, … the wheels turning? The ability to access this information in real time during a Garden visit is what makes the app so special, according to Boyce Tankersley , the Garden’s director of … we had hoped.” In addition, photos and plant information are frequently being added, so there is always something new to discover. Dorothy Peck, volunteer and team leader, at work Before …
Type: Blog
… A Paphiopedilum, or lady slipper orchid, is another popular orchid with collectors: it prefers high humidity and indirect light, faring … candidate in the Garden and Northwestern University’s Plant Biology and Conservation program, is an expert in all things orchids, both native and tropical. She took some time this past fall …
Type: Blog
