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  • … that this piece of loose bark was the day roost of a silver-haired bat. The silver-haired bat is a medium-sized bat that is a dark chocolate brown or black with white hairs scattered among the dark hairs on its back. I … released the bark so as not to disturb the napping bat any more than I already had. This is just one example of why it is important to maintain at least some dead standing trees in our …
    Type: Blog
  • … slots are selling fast for the new holiday event at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Lightscape is a festive, immersive trail of color, imagination, and sound, a night out for families, couples, and friends who want to get in on something new. This is a holiday lights event for a new generation, jolly with the sound of singing trees and toasty … city look, try the towering Cathedral of Light. Feeling Love, Actually ? The mistletoe moment is for you and yours. Show us what you got—looking at you, lovebirds and person in the latkes …
    Type: Blog
  • … may be interested to know that different foods come from different parts of the plant. Here is a fun and educational activity that will foster creativity in children of all ages. … cut the fruit and vegetables different ways to get different effects during stamping. Celery is the most versatile; you can create rosette, crescent moons, and lines from celery. Most other … children may create a more cohesive design. Tip: It may take a few attempts before the stamp is appropriately saturated. Tip: Young children love to mix colors together, so put out one color …
    Type: Blog
  • … and residues before filling with starting mix. 4. The right light.  A strong light source is crucial for stimulating plant growth. Without it, plants turn leggy, making them weak and more … to breakage. Consider full southern window exposure as a mere starting point—even better is a grow light that can be raised with the plant’s height, while offering the 12 full hours of … mat draws up to the pots, keeping them properly moist without being waterlogged. The system is a boon to those who can’t water every day; an optional lid helps keep humidity high. They’re …
    Type: Blog
  • … a common ancestor with green algae, but there has been some debate as to what form of algae is the closest relative, and how some of the major groups of land plants are related to each … and developed the computer-based tools needed to process all of that information. The study is the first piece of the  One Thousand Plants  (1KP) research partnership initiated by … they selected 852 genes to identify patterns that reflect how species are related. The study is consistent with ideas and motivations that parallel research Wickett is pursuing in work …
    Type: Blog
  • … the Chicago Botanic Garden, where I am the curator in charge of the  Bonsai Collection , which is known as one of the best of its kind in the world. Shortly after I purchased my first tree, I … Having the opportunity to be the first full-time curator here at a collection of this caliber is a dream job, which comes with a lot of expectations and responsibility. During the display … help care for the trees on my days off. Last but not least, the support of my 12 volunteers is essential. They are a great team of dedicated people who each brings something different to …
    Type: Blog
  • … had success with traditional medicine often begin to seek out alternative ways to heal. That is where the Garden comes into play. We believe beautiful gardens and natural environments are … Garden) was the day they looked forward to the most. They would tell me how amazing the Garden is, and how safe they felt here. It was music to my ears, and I felt so proud of them. It was … and attention, we can grow, we can bloom, we can be well. Gardens start over and each year is a new year. We can start over, too, and each day is a new day. Vets plant rain or shine in …
    Type: Blog
  • … fully submerged, others tethered to sand by just a few roots. “A lot of rare plant monitoring is just monitoring, and sometimes volunteers see things declining,” said Gretel Kiefer, manager … shoreline remains undisturbed, dune willow survives at just a few sites in Illinois and is listed as endangered in the state. Dune willow’s spring blooms provide meals for early … mosaic of uncommon prairies, savannas, and globally rare wetlands. “There is no ‘replacement’ site for Illinois Beach, nor is there a possibility to re-create such a unique ecosystem at such …
    Type: Blog
  • … canadensis) width="1400" height="787"> Eastern redbud ( Cercis canadensis ) Eastern redbud is a small-scale tree with big impact. A Midwestern native plant growing 15 to 25 feet tall, … appeal. In native habitats, redbud grows as an understory tree in partial shade and soil that is naturally rich with organic matter. In cultivated gardens, redbud feels at home in dappled shade, but performs well in full sun as long as soil is consistently moist. Cornelian cherry dogwood ( Cornus mas ) Cornelian cherry dogwood offers …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … like palms, rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you.   Outdoors If you … thumbs—around a patio, on a deck, on a balcony or near an entryway—growing plants in pots is a good way to add color and a little pizzazz. Flanking a walkway or a front door with large … can purchase a raised bed or make your own from rot-resistant cedar planks. The initial cost is the bed, the potting mix to fill it, the seeds or plants, a trowel, a watering can or hose, …
    Type: Plant Info