… of space design. After a two-year technical degree at École Boulle (a school of fine arts and crafts and applied arts in Paris, France), I decided to study for my master’s degree at the National … of Versailles. For me, work in landscape architecture is the best way to unite many different and interesting fields, such as art, sociology, and ecology. Designing spaces where people will …
Type: Blog
… name of "milkweed" are the food that these butterflies need. Milkweed is both a food source and a host plant on which the monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Monarchs lay their eggs on the … of vertebrates (animals with a skeleton). Butterflies are insects with an exoskeleton, and so are not affected by the toxin. Within the Chicago region, the following milkweed species (Asclepias) are native: Asclepias amplexicaulis is native to our prairies and is suitable for planting in sunny perennial flower gardens. The flowers are described as …
Type: Blog
… after class of school children how to identify different kinds of evergreens by their needles and cones. It’s a lesson in sorting and classifying plants—in other words: taxonomy. Conifer vs. Evergreen Every year we remind students of the meanings of the words “evergreen” and “conifer” —they are not the same thing!—and every year, someone is confused. I blame …
Type: Blog
… drink of choice. So, what better way to enjoy my favorites than by growing my own tea garden? And you can, too! Herbal tea gardens are a great because they’re easy to cultivate, and there are many herbal varietals to choose from. Plus, you can get incredible, fresh flavor … cinch, I use an herb drying rack. You can also dry mint by tying it into a bundle with string and hanging it upside down. Mint There are so many kinds of mint —this year, I’m growing …
Type: Blog
… Ultimately, our goal is to play a leading role in supporting the conservation, management, and restoration of native plant diversity in the Chicago region that serves as a model for work in the United States and globally. I am excited to be a part of the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration … Survey Mary Mix McDonald Woods Chicago Botanic Garden. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sorenson, J., S. Lorig, and J. Steffen. 1993. Point Quarter Tree Data for the Chicago …
Type: Staff bio
… the best answer ever, from Jim Ault , Ph.D. (He’s our director of ornamental plant research and manager of the Chicagoland Grows plant introduction program.) A view of the kitchen window … infinite variations of flower sizes, shapes, colors, fragrance (very important to me!), and for their diverse ecological adaptations (epiphytes, terrestrials, lithophytes) and the resulting puzzle of how best to cultivate them. I first got interested in orchids in the …
Type: Blog
… Waste Program As manager of horticulture services, Cindy Baker is responsible for the care and maintenance of more than 100 acres of ornamental landscaping. She also manages the Grounds department, the Plant Health Care department, and the Landscape Waste Program, supervising a staff of ten permanent and 43 seasonal workers. Baker has a bachelor's of science degree with honors in agronomy and …
Type: Staff bio
… virtually treeless plains of Nebraska almost 150 years, ago a day was set aside to celebrate and appreciate trees—Arbor Day. This year we have selected the genus Quercus , the oaks, as an exemplar of why trees are important to us and our environment. Quercus rubra standing tall at the Garden There are 461 species of oaks, … hosted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Centers of diversity are located in Mexico, China, and the Mediterranean nations. DNA research found that the European oaks are all descended from a …
Type: Blog
… Garden. I have an incredible job that allows me to work with many wonderful graduate students and a team of researchers to study ways to restore natural areas in the Colorado Plateau. If … has to offer. It includes more than 80 million acres across Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona—and the largest concentration of national parks in the country. Our research team heads out …
Type: Blog
… ...and this year's fall colors It’s hard to think of fall without picturing a mosaic of trees with warm-colored hues. Amber browns, golden yellows, and blazing reds cover many natural areas in the Midwest, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s all thanks to fall’s shorter days and cool nights. But with our changing climate, what happens to that classic fall color we’ve …
Type: Blog
