… open up too early—or too late? How does the timing of flowering synchronize with native bees and other pollinators? These are just some of the questions I’m studying as a master’s of science candidate in the Plant Biology and Conservation graduate program run by Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Flower timing is critical for many reasons. For the earliest of …
Type: Blog
… My daughters love fresh grapefruit—and birds. So we decided to keep the rind and make a bird feeder. This is a fun, easy project. The grapefruit sections have been cut and eaten; the rind is ready to become our bird feeder. To make a grapefruit bird feeder, you …
Type: Blog
… May is the month to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and some shorebirds, as they migrate through the Chicago area. Most birders might agree that the … or water, you have a chance at spotting a warbler. If you see a tiny bird, quickly darting in and out of a tree, there is a good chance you have found a warbler. Oaks and willow trees are particular favorites. The birds need a food supply along the way to fuel …
Type: Blog
… ( Cirsium canadensis ), which is a non-native weed that is commonly seen along the roadsides and in your garden. What I stumbled on was Hill’s thistle ( Cirsium hillii ), considered rare in … drier prairies with less competition from taller plants. A number of species of bees visit and pollinate this plant. The plant is believed to be monocarpic, which means the plant dies after flowering and producing seed. I had to know more about this plant and where it came from. While doing …
Type: Blog
… inhabiting the McDonald Woods at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Using a combination of light and bait traps along with visual searches, I have been investigating the diversity of moth … species found in the restored portions of our oak woodland. Moths are removed from the traps and then photographed before being released back to the woodland. The metallic scales of the … of the species are dependent on one or just a few native plant species for their survival, and as a result, may serve as valuable indicators of the health of our recovering, once-degraded …
Type: Blog
… after a windy day, I discovered a large red oak that had lost its foothold in the frozen soil and had toppled over against a white oak. Since the tree was threatening to push the other oak over into the fence, I decided to cut the red oak down to save the white oak and the fence. When trying to remove a leaning tree, you have to start at the base and work your way to the top as each section falls away. The base of the tree was good and solid, …
Type: Blog
… Many students I know struggle to find a good idea for science fair projects and sometimes wait until the last minute to do their experiments. We in the Education Department of the Chicago Botanic Garden are committed to helping make science fair a painless and even fun learning experience for students, parents, and teachers by offering some simple ideas for studying plants. A no-brainer botany project is …
Type: Blog
… trends. The program is a collaboration of trained citizen scientists, land managers, and researchers using science to best conserve rare plants and habitats. In addition to our regional monitoring work, Plants of Concern partners with … Assessment (RFQA) protocols. Partners include: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (U.S. Forest Service) Forest Preserves of Cook County Openlands Chicago Park District …
Type: Staff bio
… Project Overview: Shannon Still and Nick Jensen work on a project studying the impact of climate change on the distribution of … of Land Management (BLM), examines the changes in projected species distributions between now and 2080. The goal of the research is to help BLM to make informed management decisions regarding … Washington County, Utah, and is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dwarf bear-poppy is threatened by development, mining, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) …
Type: Blog
… Botanical cocktails that look like scientific potions;were front and center during our previous Science After Hours event. Mix up your own potion at home with … fun botanical cocktail recipes. Herbal experts Nancy Clifton of the Chicago Botanic Garden and Kasey Bersett Eaves, owner of Vivant Gardening Services in Chicago, teamed up to create … fruit = a delicious base for all sorts of beverages. Grab what’s in season in your garden and experiment. Below you will find recipes to make different herbal simple syrups and shrubs. …
Type: Blog
