… As fall approaches and the leaves begin to change, the Chicago Botanic Garden bids adieu to our beautiful summer blooms until next year. The air starts to get crisper (and your summer plants will too), but September isn’t the expiration date for color and excitement at the Chicago Botanic Garden—and it shouldn’t be in your garden either. We asked …
Type: Blog
… When you think of fires that occur in the natural world, you might think of destruction and loss of wildlife. But when it comes to the North American prairie, fires are a crucial tool for native plants to thrive and to safeguard against extinction. Until now, it was unclear precisely why and how fires can promote the population health of plants and maintain plant diversity in …
Type: Blog
… The garden and the kitchen are “dancing partners,” according to a cookbook from the team behind Blackberry Farm , the luxurious farm and inn in Tennessee. Jeff Ross, farmstead educator and artisan chef at Blackberry Farm, brought that farm-to-table spirit to the Chicago Botanic …
Type: Blog
… In 2017, torrential rains fell over much of our region, particularly in Lake and McHenry counties, as well as southeastern Wisconsin. Here at the Chicago Botanic Garden, high water levels in the Skokie River forced us to close on July 13 and 14—the first time in the Garden’s history that we closed to visitors for two consecutive … than 30 inches of water—thereby necessitating our closure. The image below shows one of our service roads during normal water levels as it crosses a narrow point in our lake system. …
Type: Blog
… going to have a lot of pumpkin seeds. You can put them to good use by turning them into “dice” and playing math games this fall. Baked pumpkin seeds Preparation First, remove, clean, and dry the seeds. After scooping the pulp out of the pumpkin, place it in a bowl of water and gently rub the stringy pulp off the seeds. Rinse seeds in a colander and let them drain. …
Type: Blog
… President’s Day was established in 1885 as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present. It also seems to be just the right day for me to share the highlights of my visit to … in that hardworking garden. I’d been invited to visit the vegetable garden at the White House and tour the grounds. I repeat, I was at the White House visiting the First Lady’s Kitchen Garden! Cool-season vegetables and herbs planted in the White House Kitchen Garden The White House is “The People’s House” and …
Type: Blog
… Lepidoptera (from the Latin “scaly wing”), the order of insects that includes butterflies and moths. It has probably been a decade or more since I have seen the diversity and abundance of butterflies and moths that I have seen this past spring and summer. Lately, the butterflies have gotten the …
Type: Blog
… for the Crescent, which welcomes visitors entering the Garden from the Visitor Center; and the Esplanade, which is the lawn area where music events such as Dancin' Sprouts and Hot Summer Nights are held. Rex also cares for the Native Plant Garden, which showcases plants native to Illinois, and the Landscape Garden, which is a designed at a smaller scale to be relevant to the typical …
Type: Staff bio
… portal, a passage, a strategic position, an arrival, a departure, or a place to meet halfway. And of course bridges can be marvelously romantic, as anyone who’s gasped at a mist-shrouded … a lovely summer evening, take a long walk together…cross these six romantic bridges together…and prepare for some memorable moments. Bridges are one of the most spectacular places at the Garden for photography—as countless brides, prom groups, families, and sweethearts can attest. Sunset frames the Trellis Bridge in golden glow. Halfway along …
Type: Blog
… Sit-spots are pretty much what they sound like—a place outside where you can sit and reflect. We use them often with little ones in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Nature Preschool. The dedicated places are a mindful way for people of any age to check in with and be present in the natural world. Choosing a Spot The best kind of sit-spot is one that you feel comfortable in and familiar with. So choose a natural area that is easily accessible and preferably in a …
Type: Blog
