… India Blooms, Chicago Botanic Garden design manager Wendy Griffiths was inspired by her visit to a textile factory in Jaipur. She knew she needed a font that reflected the beauty and tradition of Indian artistry to bring the show’s theme to life. “I found this font a year ago and was just waiting for the perfect moment to use it,” Wendy shared. “Its story is so fascinating as it helps preserve the languages and cultural heritage of South Asia. It’s …
Type: Blog
… “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” ―Chinese proverb Warm, sunny days and cool nights have ushered in autumn. Before you put away the shovel and gloves, there’s still time to plant trees. Many garden centers offer sales on their inventory as the season draws to an end. …
Type: Plant Info
… Talk around the Garden is all about orchids this month, with the opening of our Orchid Show. Among the many interesting … look closely at your orchids all that often when they're not in bloom. Spring is the time to examine each plant with a critical eye to assess the need for repotting. It's also when you'll see the new growth that signals emergence …
Type: Plant Info
… During long stretches of hot days with no rain, it’s tricky to figure out how and what to water. Our experts have some watering tips for your summer garden … of Mother Nature. Of course the weather creates exceptions to the rule. The regular rule is 1 inch of water when daytime temperatures are in the mid-70s Fahrenheit. If temperatures soar … frequent, lighter watering (two to three times a week, depending on the weather and planting site) for a few weeks until they establish roots out into the native soil. Growing medium used in …
Type: Plant Info
… bumble bee ( Bombus affinis ), fuzzy and endangered, unseen here before. The rare sighting is a bright thread in a much larger tapestry being rewoven across the region. Once one of the … at the Garden isn’t an accident. For years, our ecologists have been restoring native plants to the landscape, carefully stitching back the connections that support pollinators, wildlife, … balm, the flower that drew the bee that day, is one of many resilient native species helping to reweave balance. Its tubular blossoms attract hummingbirds and butterflies; its roots anchor …
Type: Blog
… Q. I would like to attract birds to my garden this winter – any suggestions? A. When attempting to attract birds to your garden, it is important to know what species are in your area as well as their food preferences and feeding …
Type: Plant Info
… Voilá! More plants! Although several perennials can be divided in late summer, spring is a good time for this task. That’s because temperatures are cool and the soil is usually moist. Dividing perennials in spring also allows the roots to become well established throughout the summer. Hostas looking a bit crowded last year? Split them now and get two to three times the plants! Rejuvenation Dividing helps breathe new life into crowded plants …
Type: Plant Info
… Botanic Garden. “It stopped me in my tracks.” The irony? That kind of abundance in the wild is rare. More than half of the world’s orchid species could disappear within this century, as … a common midwest native Cypripedium candidum Hutchins and Garden colleagues are studying how to grow native orchids and return them to threatened habitats. They are part of a collaboration working across botanical gardens to …
Type: Blog
… celebrations because their evidence of life in the bleak midwinter was a promise of spring to come: holly, ivy, berries, pine trees. Plants from your own landscape can bring an echo of last year's garden and a promise of next year's to your holiday decor. It's easy to embellish a purchased evergreen wreath with garden treasures … program specialist at the Garden. The obvious place to start your decor collecting is with your evergreen trees and shrubs, such as spruce, fir, pine, arborvitae, and yew. Forage …
Type: Plant Info
… The most common tree in the Chicago area is from Europe—and that’s bad news for our native plants and animals. Introduced to the United States in the early 1900s as an ornamental plant and privacy hedge, common … support native plants and animals. The good news? Thousands of your neighbors are pitching in to help. You can join the effort by removing buckthorn from your property or volunteering to help …
Type: Blog
