… The secret is out; visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden have unprecedented access to plant information, guides, and tours … keeps the wheels turning? The ability to access this information in real time during a Garden visit is what makes the app so special, according to Boyce Tankersley , the Garden’s director of … that people like to find other things at the Garden, so we created a new second database for the app. It has points of interest at the Garden, like water fountains, classrooms, …
Type: Blog
… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the … as threatened or endangered by the state or federal government. All are rare, either due to loss of habitat, removal of fire from the ecosystem, or competition from invasive plants such … them from extinction." For more information on plant conservation science at the Garden, visit chicagobotanic.org/research. …
Type: Plant Info
… The American elderberry is an attractive and useful plant whose only vice is the tendency to send out runners and pop up where you didn't plant it. This is a large shrub, 8-10' tall, with … followed by tiny black berries, relished by birds. 'Adams' is a selection with larger fruit best planted with 'Johns' as a pollinator. The fruit is not palatable eaten fresh, but rather is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… species. The unopened buds at the top of the spike are deep pink, and as they open they fade to a soft rosy-pink, with carnation pink anthers. They are best planted in large groups because a single bulb could easily be over-looked. They are fully … After blooming, the flower stalks and tiny pairs of linear leaves will fade away. Be careful to note their location so you don't accidentally dig into them and don't put heavy mulch on them …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Everyone can use a little privacy in their garden from time to time. After all, a garden is a place to retreat from the outside world, a place to sit and sip … as their foliage changes to golds, reds, and yellows. Some shrubs provide shelter and food for birds. Glossy black chokeberry, Northern bayberry, sumac, red chokeberry, and spicebush are … fast-growing evergreen that can be sheared to keep it in bounds if necessary. These shrubs are best grown in moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. To create a screen, …
Type: Plant Info
… of spent flowers—is a form of pruning. Before making pruning decisions about your roses, it is best to determine the type of rose, and how and when it blooms. Roses are divided into different types … Please contact Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 or plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org for additional information. …
Type: Plant Info
… orchid that grows from flat pseudobulbs that resemble corms. Each pseudobulb produces 3 to 5 linear, sword-shaped, pale green leaves. Small, pinkish-purple flowers develop in racemes … growing 12 to 18 inches tall. Although it is advertised to be hardy to USDA Zone 5, it is best to mulch the plant to protect it and keep it warm in winter. Grow in part-shade areas in … by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun. Many varieties …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… An Herbal Fix for Winter Doldrums The winter solstice arrives on December 21. It marks the official start of … the possibility of snow, and cabin fever—the spring seems far away. That’s all the more reason to have a little fun with herbs. Here are some do-it-yourself ideas for using these aromatic … sachets. This traditional craft makes an attractive gift as fresheners for dresser drawers. Buy the small decorative cloth bags to fill and tie with a pretty ribbon; or if you’re crafty, …
Type: Plant Info
… cold, and sometimes snowy. But inclement weather shouldn’t stop homeowners from being able to enjoy views of their garden from inside their homes. With careful attention to selecting … the next few months, determine if your garden invites your eye to linger with appreciation for what is planted there, or whether your landscape needs an exciting new dimension. Here are … a third of the oldest stems back to the ground to encourage new, more colorful stems. It is best to cut coral willow stems completely to the ground each year. Ornamental Grasses Ornamental …
Type: Plant Info
… give its whinnylike call in the woods at the Garden. This hardy, adaptable bird is built to get food left by other birds that leave town for the winter. Woodpeckers can go up and down trees to find insects and larvae spending the … that long tongue when he's not using it? He wraps it inside his head around his skull. The best “human” example of a woodpecker's tongue wrapped around its skull is a retractable tape …
Type: Birding
