… lilacs on our farm in Kansas. The scent carried across the yard as I played. When my husband and I started our family, planting a lilac in our garden was a priority so our children will have the same heavenly memory of the fragrance and flower. Over the years I have tried to bring the bounty of this flower into my home and have often failed. The flowers would droop within an hour of bringing them inside, even …
Type: Blog
… family of insects in the world—estimated at almost 40,000 species. The majority live in and around plants, and feed on plants and various plant parts. Sunflower head clipping weevil, photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado …
Type: Blog
… ( Symplocarpus foetidus ) Photo by Jacob Burns Jack-in-the-Pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum ) and Skunk Cabbage ( Symplocarpus foetidus ) are the two most common Chicago natives in this family. Other relatives hail from continents, regions, countries, and islands. Taxa growing at the Garden have the following native ranges: North America, northeastern United States and Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Russian far east, Kamchatka Island, Sakalin Island, …
Type: Blog
… arrangement. The great thing about starting seeds indoors is that it is relatively inexpensive—and who can resist the satisfaction of watching those first sprouts spring to life? To get … requirements for any seed starting are time, light, a growing medium, cleanliness, water, and attention . Time is critical. Some species need weeks longer than others. Tomatoes, for … indoors while it is already too late for others. It's a great time to start broccoli, peppers, and brussel sprouts. Check the timing before you buy, and use the seed packet information to lay …
Type: Blog
… Mushrooms reproduce by making billions of spores that spread and grow into new organisms. You can take advantage of this phenomenon to make a beautiful print on paper. How to Make Spore Prints All you need are some fresh, open mushrooms, paper, and a bowl. You can use mushrooms found growing outside or buy them from the market. When … The cap should be fully open with the gills exposed The gills should look good, not wet and mushy The mushroom should feel slightly moist but not wet; dry mushrooms will not work There …
Type: Blog
… can be quite disconcerting—what are those big white things dangling in the air, you wonder, and how do they work? Let’s look at those roots from a different angle, so that the next time you … with above-ground rather than in-ground roots. Known as aerial roots, they act as anchors and supports as they wrap around branches and trunks, stabilizing the plant as it grows. Roots are an orchid’s lifeline, absorbing water …
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… your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch. The three words that best describe you are as follows— and I quote: stink, stank, stunk!” —Dr. Seuss “Titan Tim” Pollak here once again, with an update … curious about, however, is the aroma. The stench is one of the cool reasons to stay up late and come to the Garden that night. Here’s what to expect in terms of scent: What an “arum-atic” … ( Catharsius sp.) think that stink smells great. Photo ©2012 via potokito-myshot.blogspot.com A different view of ewwww! Carrion beetles, dung flies, and flesh flies aren’t responding to …
Type: Blog
… the arrival of flower names as a fresh trend on the best baby name lists. While Lily, Rose, and Daisy have been perennial list favorites, Violet has just cracked the top five on Nameberry … Gwyneth named baby Apple a dozen years ago, some scratched their heads. Fast forward to 2012, and Blue Ivy Carter (Beyoncé’s first) sounded just right. Media has played a role, too. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling surely knew her flowers: Harry’s mother was named Lily and his aunt, Petunia—and support characters that pop up are named Pansy, Lavender, and Poppy. …
Type: Blog
… With the Kentucky Derby—and mint julep season—approaching, it's time to consider mint, a fast-growing, almost wonderfully invasive plant. Mint survives Chicago winters and comes back hardier than ever. Cuttings easily take root and begin propagating anywhere they touch soil. For these reasons, grow mint in a plastic pot, so …
Type: Blog
… structure, or inflorescence, is also known as a flower spike. But the true name of Spike (and Alice) is a title that can make you blush, do a double take, or send you running to Google. … existed. Linnaeus created the scientific shortcut of categorizing plants by their flowers and fruit (leaves had already been tried and abandoned). The elegant system caught on, and Linnaeus himself named some 9,000 plants before …
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