… My favorite, sweet black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) , is a native species of moist to wet prairies and woodland edges. Although the flowers are very similar, the familiar common … Also, sweet black-eyed Susan begins blooming when common black-eyed Susan is finishing. By the way, the typical description of a black-eyed Susan’s flower as having yellow petals with a dark … or ray) of an individual flower called a ray or ligulate flower. I know this is hard to get your head around, since the entire heads of many tiny flowers are arranged in a way that …
Type: Blog
… U.S. Navy veteran Anna Andersen is quick to tell you how the Chicago Botanic Garden’s impact on her life goes beyond the beauty of the … the horticulture profession and community. I have reaped the most benefits in a very personal way,” she said, adding that she has been “through a lot of emotional trauma, and the Garden saved … to deal with,” she said. In the summer camps, for example, “Amy [Wells] knew what needed to get done, yet she still gave me opportunities to do it how I wanted to get it done. Which is …
Type: Blog
… Interns who are making an impact. The Chicago Botanic Garden's summer interns aren't here to shadow from the sidelines. They came to do the work. Since 2004, the Garden has hosted the 10-week, paid Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, giving college students hands-on experience in real-world … Interns learn all aspects of the research journey, attend professional development workshops, visit other scientific institutions, and present their research at a capstone symposium. Together …
Type: Blog
… attractive foliage color in fall and interesting bark/branch structure in winter. Common names for amelanchier include juneberry and serviceberry and refer to the blueberry-like fruit edible by humans and much beloved by birds. The species range from … usually multi-stemmed. Found at woodland's edge in the their native habitats, amelanchiers are best used in a naturalistic setting in the home landscape. Amelanchiers are native to temperate …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… compact, rounded mound (3’ X 3’) with golden foliage. Tiny white flowers that are attractive to butterflies grow in small, flattened clusters in late spring on new wood. The foliage turns shades of orange, red, and purple in the fall. Birchleaf spirea is named for the shape of its leaves, which resemble those of the birch genus. More than 100 of these … are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy. Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… your thoughts in a journal, birdwatch, or just daydream. (Avid gardeners take note: it’s o.k. to take a break from spring sowing, planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, … where you can reflect on your day—or your life—and be one with nature. Here are some ideas for using your own outdoor sanctuary as a welcome escape. Take a Seat A comfortable chair or … a mat on the lawn and do some yoga in the privacy of your garden. Or use your patio or deck to get in some stretching exercises or do a little weight training. When the weather is good, the …
Type: Plant Info
… of bell-shaped flowers in the axils of the branches. These Asian shrubs are very adaptable to poor soils and varying moisture, but the flower buds may be tender on older cultivars. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear … are graceful enough. Forsythia suspensa , weeping forsythia, is a native of China and is grown for its long, cascading branches, which will root at the nodes. The form usually sold is the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society in the 18th century, forsythias are medium to large shrubs that produce four- petaled clusters of bell-shaped flowers in the axils of the … only a scattering of flowers may appear below where the snow line was. Although not noted for fall color, in good seasons the shrubs will have an interesting mix of yellow, red and purple leaves. They are very adaptable to poor soils and varying moisture. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Ever see a tree or even a weed and wonder what kind of plant it is? We’d love for you to stumble across the answer—right in front of you. Inspired by a movement by French botanists, … so, botanists and other plant lovers began chalking plant names on streets and sidewalks as a way to get people to appreciate the natural world and biodiversity around them. Sometimes, the street …
Type: Blog
… is grown as a multi-stemmed shrub. Small white flowers bloom in late spring followed by white to pale blue drupes that appear in mid-summer and are beloved by birds. While it can attain a … gardeners prune in early spring by removing older stems, because the younger stems provide the best color. Members of the genus Cornus , commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
