… Asters are a highlight of the autumn landscape. There are about 250 species native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Illinois native perennial asters grow along roadsides, in … o blongifolium ‘October Skies’ Ornamental Features A key attractive feature of most asters is the mass of striking flowers that resplendent in the garden and in a vase. Depending on the … Eurybia divaricata ), and bigleaf aster ( E. macrophylla ) tolerate deep shade but produce the best flower display with some morning sun. Pinching back the stems (removing a few inches of the …
Type: Plant Info
… Ogden Exhibit Four Blanche Killingsworth North Lawndale Community Member Blanche Killingsworth is a longtime North Lawndale community member. It’s so important youth know what healthy eating … transition of this property, the gardeners coming in, youth learning gardening, cooking, how to eat healthy. Some residents believed Windy City Harvest would bring food and a positive attitude to the community. Some were leery of new people coming in. Lifelong Connections I recently had a …
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… as Dan Hinkley, one of the founders of the renowned (alas, no more) Heronswood Nursery, to far-flung locales such as Vietnam, China, and Bhutan. Much of my presentation focused on plant … the Chicago Botanic Garden’s plant breeder. So let’s go seek out the elusive wild phlox. Phlox is predominantly a North American genus (one species sneaks into Siberia) best known for its gaudily—some say garishly colored—harbinger of spring, the moss phlox ( Phlox …
Type: Blog
… turn my head on a winter walk. Or, on a quiet day, it’s the sound of pine cones popping open to spread their seeds. As director of living plant documentation at the Chicago Botanic Garden, … By turning your attention to something bigger than yourself, your stress tends to give way to positive emotions such as compassion and gratitude, the study finds. Winter is the time to cultivate awe. It’s a season in which hidden beauty is revealed—as long as you …
Type: Blog
… table…but have you thought about a centerpiece yet? A cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is a classically beautiful, easy, and crowd-pleasing way to pull together a centerpiece without a lot of fuss or expense. I taught a fall cornucopia …
Type: Blog
… Garden and Kasey Bersett Eaves, owner of Vivant Gardening Services in Chicago, teamed up to create delicious mixers for cocktails. You can easily make these cocktails at home. What makes … It’s a tangy syrup made from fruit, sugar, vinegar, and herbs; it was originally used as a way to preserve food. It’s also helpful to know what muddling is. The process of gently bruising the leaves of herbs releases the fresh, green taste and aroma …
Type: Blog
… noticed more garlic mustard in your garden, yard, or alley this year. The ecologists who tend to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s natural areas have, too. We had not seen much garlic mustard in our natural areas in recent years, and its reemergence is a reminder for all of us that controlling and managing invasive species is an ongoing … region’s remarkable natural heritage. They are also a place of inspiration and a proven way to de-stress in an increasingly hectic world. …
Type: Blog
… For most gardeners, the top vegetable is the tomato. As they plant in late May, visions of red, round, juicy beefsteaks dance in their … blocky pink hybrid 'Early Wonder' , early maturing and determinate. Determinate tomatoes grow to a certain size and stop, producing all their fruit over a few weeks and then quitting. Because … plant them too early. Let them enjoy warm soil and summer sunlight so they can grow into their best flavor and color—whatever that color may be. Beth Botts is a garden writer and speaker who …
Type: Plant Info
… still within a summer's night A something so transporting bright, I clap my hands to see.” — Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) The reclusive American poet, Emily Dickinson, was devoted … in June, you'll hear the birds singing as the sun sets late in the evening. The birdsong is slowly overtaken by a chorus of crickets and cicadas. The rising of fireflies from the shrubs … plants and corms (solid underground stems that look like a bulb) in the spring. Caladiums are best grown in moist, fertile soil or in containers filled with soil-less potting mix. Grow them …
Type: Plant Info
… Senior Staff: Fred Spicer Executive Vice President and Director Fred Spicer is executive vice president and director of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Spicer’s role entails the … new elements with the Garden’s established design style and vocabulary. Before coming to the Garden in February 2017, Spicer served 15 years as the director and then CEO of the … As chief executive, Spicer led the transition of a largely city-directed public garden to a highly regarded public-private partnership with the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. …
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