Search

  • … garden that includes flowers, colorful or variegated leaves, and interesting plant parts to bring indoors and display throughout the year — even during those nasty Chicago winters! The best cutting gardens are well integrated into existing landscapes and designed to bring enjoyment … and fruits to fragrant, velvety roses, bold perennials and ever-blooming summer annuals, it is easy to plant a cutting garden for all seasons. The goal of your design is to be able to walk …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … While it isn't difficult to grow herbs inside your home, it can be tricky when it comes to two important plant needs … the tray. Use a humidifier in the room. Mist herb plants regularly—except for rosemary, which is prone to mildew. Group similar plants together, so they create their own little micro-climate … the garden in spring. Thyme can be repotted and brought inside; as with chives above, it's best to use it up during the indoor season. Tri-color sage appreciates a manicure (prune back …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … Center Woods The PCSC Woods replicates conditions commonly experienced by homeowners: it is small and highly visible, consisting of only 1 acre along our service road, right next to our Science Center. In 2010, Garden ecologists removed invasive species, seeded native herbaceous species, and planted seedling oak trees to re-establish an oak canopy. When possible, prescribed burning is conducted, and invasive …
    Type: Page
  • … What is a daisy? The word daisy often brings to mind an image of a flower composed of flat, white … basal growth and covering with mulch. The cultivars 'Amelia' and 'Becky' have performed the best at the Chicago Botanic Garden and are found in large numbers in diverse Garden settings. The …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … refreshing breezes and colorful leaves. If it’s sunny, the leaves above your head will appear to glow, creating a natural parasol that protects you from harsh rays. As you stroll beneath the … the angle of light emanating from the canopy, then cast your gaze downward and take a moment to observe the ever changing pattern of leaves dancing across the earth. The dapples of light and … case, the gap between leaves—and projects an inverted image on the other side. This effect is especially notable at dawn or just before dusk, when one can observe a cascade of shimmering …
    Type: Page
  • … Tomato Talk Tomato Talk A Full Season of Tomato-Growing Information Canning & Sauces There is nothing like opening a jar of home-canned tomatoes on a cold, snowy January day. The bright … for salsa, bring back the warmth and long sunny days of summer. Canning is also a great way to make the most of your harvest—especially any not-so-perfect produce. Start when there’s a … a safe pH level. Ball has more than 500 tested recipes available online at  freshpreserving.com/recipes . Prepare your ingredients ahead of time . Canning, like cooking anything else, is a …
    Type: Page
  • … in varying amounts. Large amounts of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are not likely to make someone ill, whereas a lot of black nightshade (Solanum nigram) may. Want to add switch up the nightshades to your garden? Try growing some of these next year: Tomatillos … the compound capsaicin. The body often reacts to capsaicin by sweating, which some suggest is one reason hot peppers are popular in hot climates. Get the most from your pepper plants with …
    Type: Page
  • … Research in Our Natural Areas   We are eager to support and collaborate with scientists conducting research in our natural areas. Please … like to conduct research in? What question(s) do you hope to address with your research? What is the timing, level, and location of disturbance of the proposed research, including repeated visits to the same site over many days? This is especially important during the growing season and/or when the soils …
    Type: Page
  • … Orchid Lookalikes There’s only one reason orchid flowers look so beautiful and smell so good: to attract a pollinator. Some orchids engage in mimicry, evolving to look like the pollinator they’re trying to lure. Other orchids look familiar to humans, even though there is no connection for the flower. There’s a word for the phenomenon, pareidolia .     Click on …
    Type: Page
  • … Corporate Champions Corporate Champions Thank you to the following champions who help to make our programming possible. $100,000 +   Ball Horticultural Company Ball Horticultural Company is a leader in all facets of horticulture. With headquarters in West Chicago, Illinois, their …
    Type: Page