… A tall-grass prairie native that adds beauty to gardens and nurtures wildlife, switchgrass is now being considered as a potential new fuel source. Divided into two types, upland and … considered an important strategy for reducing atmospheric CO2, and switchgrass is one of the best crops for achieving this "carbon sequestration." When above-ground switchgrass is harvested …
Type: Plant Info
… for centuries. These directions are a simple variation of a doll made from corn husks, which is a traditional craft of Native Americans. Corn husks are the leaves that cover and protect the … any grocery store that sells corn husks for tamales. You will need: dried corn husks, two to three leaves per doll a pan of water rubber bands, yarn, or twist ties scissors Separate … another leaf and fold it in half with the veins running up and down. Then fold it the other way, bringing the pointed end down at least halfway to the bottom of the wider side. This will …
Type: Blog
… in most essential environmental processes. However, even though they are not immune to the stressors that threaten animals and plants, including habitat loss, over harvesting, and … and other organizations and agencies are focused on how these field observations can best inform conservation activities in the United States and Canada. At the global level, work … and Puffball Specialist Group, as well as co-leading the Global Fungal Red List Initiative, is focused on significantly increasing the number of fungi on the Global Red List, raising the …
Type: Research
… Plant, water, and grow! Whether you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver, teaching children to plant seeds is a simple and authentic way to help them engage with nature. It’s an activity that the littlest of sprouts can do “all by … trug full of soil makes filling pots easy for younger gardeners. Watering in the seeds is the best part of planting. Set out the potting mix in a wide-mouth container such as a flexible …
Type: Blog
… Tom Soulsby is the senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and Linden Allée. He is … his passion for horticulture excellence. As a lifelong gardener, some of Soulsby's best horticulture education has come from practical hands-on gardening that included working as a child alongside his dad. His love of gardening carries over to his own home. Before pursuing his passion for public horticulture, Soulsby was a director at …
Type: Staff bio
… Early autumn ushers in a welcome peacefulness to a rich and still-blooming landscape. Trees and shrubs are at their peak of growth for the … has succumbed to storm damage, disease, or insect attack needs to be replaced? What are the best choices for gardeners today who are planting for tomorrow’s generation? The Chicagoland … and gold fall color lights up the landscape. Marmo maple, Acer x freemanii 'Marmo', is a cultivated variety from the hybrid cross of red maple, Acer rubrum , with silver maple, …
Type: Plant Info
… disease- or pest-resistant. As ground covers, some can be used in place of turf grass, which is difficult to grow in shade. Others, like ferns, complement nonnative perennials in shady beds, borders, and … shade tolerant and provides much-needed late-summer blooms that last into fall. It grows best when planted in rich, organic soil. Although it will grow in full sun, turtlehead does well …
Type: Plant Info
… When ice and snow season arrives, it's important that roads, driveways, and sidewalks are safe to walk and drive on, so life doesn't become more challenging than it already is. While personal safety is the primary concern, many homeowners are adopting snow-management … Read the Label All deicing products have advantages and disadvantages. No matter which product best meets your needs, carefully follow label instructions to make sure it is used effectively at …
Type: Plant Info
… demographic, and pollination studies on a threatened thistle ( Cirsium pitcheri ) that is being negatively impacted by a biocontrol weevil. I am also interested in developing measures of success and best practices for ex situ plant conservation programs, from collecting genetically diverse seed accessions to minimizing genetic change during storage and increasing likelihood of success of restorations. …
Type: Staff bio
… Watch orchid buds do a 360 Angraecum eburneum , photos courtesy of Johanna Hutchins Want to see a blooming orchid bud do a 360-degree twist? We did. So we put a time-lapse camera on the … orchid looks like in the Tropical Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden —but the rotation is so slow that you won’t be able to see the buds move in real time. We’ll have two comet orchids … “lip” of the orchid is the dark purple-ish part. One good turn deserves another Orchids are best known for this feat, though a few other species also rotate, including tropical pitcher …
Type: Blog
