… tremuloides ) because the trees have become increasingly threatened by geologic disturbance and climate change. The Garden is part of a research group that's working to collect root pieces and other genetic material from the aspens in the Chisos Mountains of west Texas; the material … the collaboration between the Chicago Botanic Garden, Peckerwood Garden, the National Park Service, and the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation. Quaking aspen …
Type: Blog
… Meditative, artful, and transporting. In a way, the experience of seeing Asia in Bloom: The Orchid Show is much like … March 25, this new feature of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show invites you to pause and reflect on this historic art form. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower … called kado (or, the “way of flowers”), dates back approximately 600 years. Originally, men and women arranged flowers as Buddhist offerings for altars at temples. Since then, ikebana has …
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… we in the education department of the Chicago Botanic Garden are committed to helping parents and teachers find great projects that teach students how plants sustain and enrich life. This project can be done by an individual student, a small group or ecology … club, or an entire class. Let’s begin by thinking about tomato seeds. Cut open a tomato and try to pick out a single seed. Go ahead and try it, I’ll wait. These tomato seeds glisten and …
Type: Blog
… many things in tending bonsai, how you overwinter your trees is specific to the tree species and the region in which you live. Bonsai in fall color, before being prepped for storage. The … in the Chicago area, we need to take special care to protect our trees from cold temperatures and windy conditions. Prior to bringing in your tropical trees and tucking your cold hardy trees away for the winter, there is some work to be done. In this …
Type: Blog
… I always look forward to seeing Indian corn in the market and finding it in autumn decorations. Indian corn—in its range of hues from blue to deep maroon to oranges, golds, and yellows—extends the colors of the season long after the tree leaves have faded and been raked away. It is one of November’s icons, reminding us of the cultural and botanical …
Type: Blog
… it’s still important for them to 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 encourages creativity and problem solving, boosts academic performance, helps people focus, reduces stress, and promotes positive social relationships. Sharing discoveries—like water creatures from …
Type: Blog
… I’m thrilled by the sight of these flowers, their colors ranging from the most vivid yellows and oranges to muted pastels to pure white. In the early years of the nineteenth century, … lift the spirit. “…A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…” “…The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves … by the flower, the prophet Mohammed reportedly said, “Let him who hath two loaves sell one, and buy the flower of narcissus: for bread is but food for the body, whereas narcissus is food …
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… Rose Garden or walking down toward the Smith Fountain at the Esplanade, they trail bridesmaids and tuxedoed men and happy families. As they pass, we onlookers stop in our tracks, smile goofily, gawk unabashedly…and let our thoughts turn to romance. Over the years, the Garden has been the site of many a …
Type: Blog
… incorporates a number of different animals including swans, pied-billed grebes, muskrats, and many others. The central character in the story is a turtle. The turtle, an island in a world of water, was chosen to carry soil and tree seedlings on its back, which eventually became the land the people lived on. So this … herbivore as it gets older. It should also be noted that turtles perform a valuable ecosystem service as carrion feeders by feeding on dead fish and aquatic animals that would otherwise …
Type: Blog
… the renowned (alas, no more) Heronswood Nursery, to far-flung locales such as Vietnam, China, and Bhutan. Much of my presentation focused on plant collecting a tad closer to home—not as … its gaudily—some say garishly colored—harbinger of spring, the moss phlox ( Phlox subulata ), and for that summer stalwart, the garden phlox ( Phlox paniculata ). For an idea of the diversity … evaluation report on Phlox paniculata cultivars . The woodland phlox ( Phlox divaricata ) and the meadow phlox ( Phlox maculata ) also have their selections and garden advocates. It’s …
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