… This summer, when you walk through the Linden Allée, be sure to look UP—and marvel at the incredible trees above you. These 28 GREENSPIRE™ linden trees ( Tilia cordata … pruned into a 270-foot-long hedge! Littleleaf lindens are native to Europe, central Russia, and western Asia. They are relatively disease-resistant and low-maintenance trees. Their dense canopy provides ample shade for a hot summer day, and the …
Type: Blog
… Looking for a feel-good, beautiful, reasonably priced gift? Plants are all that and more. Here's a quick guide on which plants to buy—as a gift or for yourself. If you buy them at a store, wrap them up completely and get them back indoors as soon as you can. Holiday plants come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Take the beautiful but dreaded poinsettia. It's beautiful because the red, cream, or …
Type: Blog
… My research interests generally fall under the umbrella of reproductive ecology and conservation of plant species. My dissertation work focused on nonrandom reproductive success … organensis ). I am currently working with a number of colleagues on genetic, demographic, and pollination studies on a threatened thistle ( Cirsium pitcheri ) that is being negatively … impacted by a biocontrol weevil. I am also interested in developing measures of success and best practices for ex situ plant conservation programs, from collecting genetically diverse …
Type: Staff bio
… vividly the first time I visited the Chicago Botanic Garden. I was silent (unusual for me) and in awe. Everywhere I looked, I saw plant labels, and looking at them provided me some kind of familiarity—like when you meet someone new, you want … a botanic garden is acknowledging its plant collection. Botanic gardens are living museums, and when you go to a museum, you want to know what is in front of you. A display plant’s name on …
Type: Blog
… ( Amorphophallus titanum ) are now on display in a variety of life stages: in fruit, leaf, and imminent bloom. You might remember Spike and Alice in 2015: Spike failed to bloom but provided so much excitement; and Alice the Amorphophallus brought visitors to the Garden at all hours to see, and smell, a …
Type: Blog
… Pondering the Prairie Series Rosa setigera , or Illinois rose, grows in moist prairies and thickets, and is a typical wild rose in many ways: five pink petals, with lots of yellow stamens in the … the prairies—often growing up to 8 feet tall, while others rarely grow more than 4 feet tall and usually less. When growing in the support of tree branches, this sprawling rose can reach 8 …
Type: Blog
… of mustard. Conditioned by decades of backyard barbecues, brightly colored squeeze bottles, and grab-’em-by-the-handful packets, Americans are at last tuning in to the taste of homemade condiments. The time has come for homemade mustard—and you won’t believe how easy and tasty it is. Start with the Basics As always, we turned to program horticulturist Nancy …
Type: Blog
… Miniature flower arrangements offer a charming and whimsical gift for mom, grandma, or anyone special. A nice feature of these tiny bouquets is … kind) A bunch of small flowers—I used mini-carnations, waxflowers (Chamelaucium uncinatum), and baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, and lavender work well because they have stiff stems) Optional: ribbon for added decoration …
Type: Blog
… When a coyote pirouettes in the snow, you start to wonder. Where was it going? And what made it turn? After a big snow, I love looking for wildlife tracks and the stories they tell. The paw prints and other tracks in the snow are among the small wonders of winter. In a recent blog, we talked …
Type: Blog
… special guest star at the Tropical Greenhouse: Alice the Amorphophallus is on display, in full and glorious fruit! Visitors are asking: why are some of the berries on the titan arum (or corpse flower) skinny and small, while others are big and plump? Dr. Pat Herendeen and “Titan Tim” Pollak plucked a few of each in mid-February, …
Type: Blog
