… some Gaillardia ‘Goblin’ , Hemerocallis ‘Bela Lugosi’ , or Alchemilla mollis ‘Thriller’ and suddenly wonder, “What should my costume be this year?” One perennial in particular has a … partial sun will produce the darkest foliage. Side-flowered asters can grow three feet tall, and a striking effect is to plant it in front of Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) or … a stormy night in January, she rowed across the freezing water with nothing more than a pickax and an old pistol. She chopped off her hair and disguised herself in men’s clothing. She snuck …
Type: Blog
… trees that flower in the spring. But in winter—especially after a dusting of snow—pines and other conifers are the plants that shine. Recently, we ran a blog about cultivating awe on winter walks, on how to shift your energy and attention outward instead of inward for emotional well-being. One easy way to do that at the … all the time, but I’m still inspired by their majesty, as well as their ability to transform and brighten the landscape. The charm of conifers is subtle; you just have to slow down and get …
Type: Blog
… in the Heritage Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden were planted this week, welcoming spring and warm fuzzies along with them. Just standing near these spring annuals makes us happy, and for horticulturist Tom Soulsby—who’s been planting these signature troughs for the past 15 … the troughs to make them look full from the get-go. Poking through the red, orange, and yellow flowers this year is an unusual, edible treat: some Lactuca sativa ‘Australian …
Type: Blog
… Over the river and through the woods you trekked to find the perfect, most lush Christmas tree (okay, maybe you drove to the nearest retail lot and pointed at that one ). Now that you picked your evergreen, how do you make it last through the holidays (and possibly even longer)? Keeping your tree fresh isn’t hard—most can live up to a month—as long …
Type: Blog
… that cause the unruliness: never-ending indeterminate tomatoes, crazy-prolific cucumbers, and winding-everywhere pole beans can make a mockery of a gardener’s carefully measured beds and neat rows unless they get the support they need. Horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg searched out … under control in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden . Forget the rebar, scrap lumber, and snarls of string—your garden deserves these so-much-classier, smart-yet-modern takes on …
Type: Blog
… , when they see one. The eastern gray squirrels in our region build dreys in trees for shelter and protection from the elements. What you see as a messy clump of leaves is actually a structure formed from sticks and then lined with leaves and other materials to make it a dry and cozy home. This month I was walking around my …
Type: Blog
… There’s less mystery in the natural history of aquatic green algae and its relationship to land plants, thanks to research co-led by Chicago Botanic Garden … of Sciences . The study examined how major forms of land plants are related to each other and to aquatic green algae, casting some uncertainty on prior theories while developing tools to … green algae, but there has been some debate as to what form of algae is the closest relative, and how some of the major groups of land plants are related to each other,” explained Dr. …
Type: Blog
… indoor floriculture division. He is responsible for the day-to-day care of plants, and he comes up with innovative ways to grow the specialty crops for display. He also assists with the delivery of plants to the garden areas and operates a forklift to unload deliveries of soil, plants, and hard goods. Montoya has been with the Garden since 1996, when he began work as a seasonal …
Type: Staff bio
… Bright blooms never last long enough for me—but I’ve found an easy way to preserve the color and beauty of favorites. Lately, I’ve been pressing flowers to give them a second chance to be appreciated—ranunculus, chamomile, and more. The process is straightforward, using things you have around your home. And it’s easy enough that you can do it with kids. Directions You will need the following …
Type: Blog
… class, as the chemical that makes leaves green. But ask why leaves turn color in the fall, and we get vague quickly. Colder temperatures? Shorter days? True, but there’s more to the story. … obovatus) turns a brilliant yellow late in the season— after it has gone through burgundy and bright red. A summer leaf, full of chlorophyll, looks green. But once chlorophyll production … are revealed: yellow, orange, or brown, the colors of carotenoid chemicals. Reds, crimsons, and purples happen when sugar is trapped in the leaves. As sugar decomposes, it creates chemicals …
Type: Blog
