… States Department of Agriculture more than 150 years ago. The big, sweet, and juicy tomato is a good slicer and also makes great ketchup. “What could be more American than that?” … bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), said to originate from the Cherokee people. The variety is also known as the preacher bean because its abundant yield of purple-streaked green pods gives … Capsicum annuum ‘Alma Paprika’), of Hungarian origin, can be dried and ground into paprika and is cited in one of the earliest American cookbooks, according to Hilgenberg. In the American Seed …
Type: Blog
… The sun was out, the air was crisp, and the nights were frosty: parsnip weather. Cold weather is actually a good thing for parsnips—in fact, they need it to convert the starch in their roots … dishes. We used a pitchfork to loosen the dirt deeply around each parsnip top—a gentle harvest is required, as parsnips are brittle and can snap if eager hands try to pull the roots by their … a bit fussy, so here’s the our strategy for sowing: Plant fresh seed. Parsnip seed viability is short, so plant only newly purchased seed every year. Sow heavily. We’ve found that …
Type: Blog
… used as a container—let your imagination be the judge. Provide drainage: Adequate drainage is probably the most important rule to ensure the success of your dish garden. Be sure to remove … peat-based potting soil. Place the tallest plants in the center if the dish garden is to be viewed from several sides, or place them in the back of the container if viewed only … and minor trimming if needed. They can last in the home for one to two years before repotting is needed. …
Type: Blog
… leaving prairies with fewer species and fewer relationships. “A diverse prairie restoration is more resilient to challenges like climate change,” said Andrea Kramer, Ph.D., senior director … asking why a species failed and how they might successfully reintroduce it. The tool is inspired by violets and now guides the Garden’s efforts to reintroduce violets into prairie … all impact whether they will germinate and grow. When you consider where to collect seeds, the site conditions of the restoration, and how all these factors influence genetic diversity—things …
Type: Blog
… Winter is a great season for bookworms—there’s nothing like a good book to keep you company during the … far as stories go, the Rare Book Collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Lenhardt Library is a true treat. The Lenhardt Library acquired its Rare Book Collection from the Massachusetts … the Rare Book Collection—no easy feat. Below are her picks, in no particular order; each book is uniquely beautiful and impactful. The Illustrated Language of Flowers by Anna Christian …
Type: Blog
… For Chicago-area gardeners, January is primarily a time for planning, not planting. With winter in full swing in our USDA Hardiness Zones 5b and 6a, January is a great month to prepare for the gardening season ahead and to tend to the indoor plants … be pruned in dormant winter months to minimize the risk of oak wilt disease. Heavy pruning is best performed later in winter or in early spring just before bud break. However, immediately …
Type: Plant Info
… FO-76 has left our staff scratching their heads. “We’re not actually sure what species it is,” Sarah said. Her guess is Agave oteroi , a species that was only characterized six years ago. Conservation scientist … them preserve wild species of agave and their native deserts. A cycle worth preserving Agave is a “keystone species” for humans, a source of food and drink for Indigenous Mexicans for …
Type: Blog
… Chester Jankowski, Jr., is the senior horticulturist for the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and the Kleinman Family Cove at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He is responsible for designing and maintaining the gardens, and working with the education staff to …
Type: Staff bio
… will enjoy a chance to express themselves with this easy craft. Supplies Rocks—fist size is a good place to start * Paint Permanent marker Newspaper or work surface * Any paint will … for nontoxic options that are safe for children and environmentally friendly. Sidewalk chalk is another great option. Instructions Wash the rocks with soap and water. Then dry them. Paint …
Type: Blog
… England to Chicago in the late 1950s, she’d never heard of a prairie. In England, a grassland is called a meadow. But every kid in the neighborhood near Chicago’s Midway Airport called the … changing not only daily but with the seasons and from year to year.” The Dixon Prairie is a recreated prairie. “The soils and the hydrology are the foundations for the different … and other factors favorable to some plants and unfavorable to others.” The prairie is like a jazz melody where the players improvise, coming and going, and making a splash at …
Type: Blog
