… he needed a job—then from day one, he fell in love with “how resilient and amazing nature is.” Clarence Smith’s family has farmed for generations in Michigan and Mississippi; Windy City … thanks to a hard-earned Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, their impact is set to scale up quickly. Produce from the Big Three’s Incubator plots at Legends Farm. Coleman … that created a recipe for success. “Clarence, he’s a pastor [with a broad network]. Deshawn is really handy—he’s the smarts when it comes to farming and trying new things. And I bring the …
Type: Blog
… after wild populations of the species were last seen in Illinois. The bloom this past spring is a small but striking sign of recovery. Its presence is thanks to the Chicago Botanic Garden and conservation partners who set out to test whether an … decades. It couldn’t have survived Big Marsh’s original wetland, but slag had transformed the site into something resembling the daisy’s almost nonexistent native habitat. This was a rare …
Type: Blog
… on its long, strappy leaves. A grass that grows into an elegant, 3-foot mound, 'Prince' is hardy in zones 8 to 10, but not in our area. Planted as an annual or overwintered in a … details. Angelica gigas Canna 'Intrigue' are sure to get noticed. Tall, Dark, and Bold A "what is that?" plant to be sure, Giant Angelica ( Angelica gigas ) starts the year out with … deep maroon leaves that can anchor a large container or water feature. The water canna is a non-hardy, tuberous perennial that we've used in the Heritage Garden fountain plantings, …
Type: Plant Info
… them an interesting part of a garden design. The least expensive way to create a raised bed is to simply mark the area (use orange landscape spray paint, or stakes and twine, or hoses or … flanking paths. You can also add pulverized topsoil and compost to raise the bed if your soil is mostly clay. Animal troughs—the real thing from farm supply stores—or a do-it-yourself small … bed, some gardeners turn to Hugelkultur. It’s German for “hill mound” or “mound culture” and is a long-time practice of using buried twigs, branches, and organic matter to create the base of …
Type: Plant Info
… wetland, then owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Chicago Botanic Garden is built upon this history. For more than a year, the Chicago Botanic Garden has been working on … while adopting the Land Acknowledgment of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Our goal is to create a garden where all are welcomed, respected, and honored in their full humanity. Our Commitment to Indigenous Communities is a first step. …
Type: Blog
… Louis Foundation Green Roof Garden North Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden Ayse Pogue is the senior horticulturist for the Malott Japanese Garden. She is also responsible for overseeing and coordinating the maintenance of Evening Island, the Ellis …
Type: Staff bio
… Conifer Garden Waterfall Garden Sensory Garden Circle Garden Lakeside Gardens Heather Sherwood is the senior horticulturist for the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled Garden. She also is responsible for the West Flower Walk, McGinley Pavilion, Runnells Courtyard, and Searle …
Type: Staff bio
… away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s southeast side, just north of Dundee Road, the Reserve is relatively unknown, even to longtime visitors. As an assistant ecologist, I’m in the Reserve a … Nope, you’re not in a movie theater If you’re in the Reserve’s prairie when the breeze is just right, you might pick up on the fragrance of prairie dropseed, a short, mound-forming … and hazelnut trees turning shades of yellow, orange, and red. My favorite place in the Reserve is the southeast corner. I love the views across the pond, with the Garden’s other shorelines in …
Type: Blog
… view the landscape. Contrasting textures and shapes keep the garden interesting even when snow is minimal. Fresh snow highlights the different textures found throughout the garden. The Dwarf Conifer Garden is full of dozens of varieties and species of conifers in all shapes and sizes. While the rest of the Chicago Botanic Garden slumbers under a thick layer of snow, this one is at its peak, waiting to show off shapes and colors that almost don’t seem real. …
Type: Blog
… play outside. Outdoor activities encourage creativity and independent thinking. The good news is that outdoor play time has many benefits ; a growing body of research shows that nature play … positive social relationships. Sharing discoveries—like water creatures from Garden lakes—is a great way to cement knowledge. Nature play abounds at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and can be … in the backyard and a bit of imagination. Paint with mud. Why use regular paint when mud is so much more fun? Swap out watercolors for mud, and ditch brushes for hands to create …
Type: Blog
