… As the days get shorter, you might be looking for off-the-beaten paths where you can soak up the rest of the season. I’ve got just the place for you—the Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Tucked away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s … I’m always puzzled that so few people have discovered it. Here are just a few reasons to visit: The color purple—and more The fall colors are amazing—purple asters, yellow goldenrods, …
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… Fun with Mud Making Rainbows Planting Seeds Get those little hands dirty with activities for young gardeners: DIY Living Plant Wall Do-It-Yourself Seed Balls Easy Peas-y: Planting with … Cool-Season Edibles Get into Science Attention budding scientists: we've got some challenges for you... Be a Citizen Scientist for Budburst Eleven Experiments with Radish Seeds Growing Plants in Martian Soil How to Train …
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… us navigate the world—it’s how we recognize faces, understand language, and learn new skills. For scientists, patterns are also clues that something deeper is at work. “Nature is inherently … exploring more,” said Jeremie Fant, Ph.D., a conservation scientist at the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Evolution has a way of … insect, they are like runway landing strips, guiding them to pollen and nectar. “Bees need a place to land—and they like to know where to go,” Dr. Fant explained. “By contrast, flowers that …
Type: Blog
… and many more. Information on a selection of these plants can be found below. View Gardening for Butterflies or Butterfly Garden Resources for information on creating your own midwestern butterfly garden. Aloysia virgata Sweet almond … lantana features two-tone flowers beginning mid-summer and extending up to frost. It flowers best when grown in full sun and dryish soils with low fertilization. The flowers are beloved by …
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… For Chicago-area gardeners, May is typically “go time!” for planting annuals, vegetables, and … plantings and bring unplanted containers indoors if cold temperatures are predicted. It may be best to plant warm-season plants such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers, beans, corn, … if it is excessively wet. Soil should crumble when squeezed into a ball. If it doesn’t, it’s best to wait until it dries out to avoid ruining the soil’s structure. Continue to plant new …
Type: Plant Info
Bird’s nest fern is an epiphytic fern native to the rainforests of southern Asia and Australiasia. It has shiny bright green strappy leaves growing from a central crown giving the appearance of a bird's nest. In cultivation it usually grows to about three feet in height and about three to four feet wide. It is most commonly cultivated as a houseplant as it is not hardy in Chicago and must be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… training programs, and the Lenhardt Library. Before joining the Garden, Dr. Mueller worked for more than 23 years at the Field Museum, most recently as the curator of mycology in the … biology, ecology, and conservation of fungi, especially mushrooms, providing vital information for the management and conservation of temperate and tropical forests, particularly in the … authored six books and nearly 100 journal articles. He is a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission's Steering Committee; Chair of the …
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… of the mounded foliage on this nonhardy succulent that blooms from fall through late winter. Place this kalanchoe in a brightly lit area and avoid over watering. This plant is tolerant of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… out of nowhere, breathing new life into borders edging toward boredom. Lilies are known for such heroic abilities, as are repeat-blooming roses and late-season clematis. But for sheer … Demands Plants that produce such show-stopping flowers do have demands. A full-sun site is best, but some afternoon shade will be tolerated. Dahlias prefer rich soil, amended with compost … six to eight weeks later). Pot up the plant in a soilless mix with the crown at soil level. Place the pot in a full-sun, indoor, cool (55-degree Fahrenheit) location. Water enough so that …
Type: Plant Info
… Garden come to you! Choose from a variety of programs that feature plant topics appropriate for specific grade levels. Meet a Scientist Middle and high school educators: would your students … biology. Send an email with your contact information, grade level, possible dates, and reason for interest. We will contact you to arrange a remote meeting with your class, in English or Spanish, for no charge. Traveling Plant Science Teacher This program is currently on hold. …
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