… as impressed as I am by the chromatic exhibition. But then I notice something: nearly every one of them—instead of looking up—is looking down. Their attention is on the smartphones in their … begun to refer to as the “Mantid Syndrome.” The Mantid Syndrome describes the positioning of one’s hands and forelimbs when staring at and thumb-typing on a smartphone: hands in front of … may take a user almost any where and show them almost any thing . Yet, at the same time, one also becomes all the more disconnected from a real experience in this world—especially an …
Type: Blog
… covers it is called the velamen. Thin and rather papery, but spongy and protective, it’s a one-way water barrier that allows moisture to soak in—and keeps it from oozing out. If the … time to re-think how you’re caring for your orchid. Roots Can Rot Overwatering is the number one threat to an orchid plant. Orchid roots rot easily if given too much water—with no switch to … from pulling in excess water, the plant can drown if left standing in a full saucer. That’s one reason why orchid pots typically have extra drainage holes. To correctly water an orchid, …
Type: Blog
… the story of a road trip I took with some corpse flowers, the rock stars of the plant world. One of the hallmarks of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s plant collection is the more than 70 species … likely to become endangered. Our titan arums began blooming about three years ago. The first one, Spike, failed to bloom, but shortly after, in September 2015, Alice the Amorphophallus bloomed in all of its stinky glory. At one point, we had two, Java and Sumatra, in their bloom cycle at the same time. Over time, our …
Type: Blog
… , as well as plants I’ve grown and loved for a long time.) Here’s my short list—including one with crazy beautiful flowers and one that’s so easy to grow that you basically just plant it in the right spot and water it. Best for Sun ‘Joanna Reed’ catmint ( Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’) is one of the tidiest catmints I’ve ever grown, an attribute that cinched a top rating in our trial. …
Type: Blog
… different from other bridges because it goes quiet at the center. Close Clue: This object is one part of a pair. It’s made of steel but its partner is made of granite. It’s also a place … a yurt like those used by the semi-nomadic people the artist observed in central Asia. Having one steel and one stone, Puryear explores the idea of the inevitability of change and the dream of permanence. …
Type: Blog
… possible. So it is always uplifting to experience a “conservation victory.” The bald eagle is one example of such a success story. By the 1960s and ’70s, the bald eagle was reduced to a … there is a record high of 1,695 breeding pairs of bald eagles in Wisconsin, with at least one pair in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. In Illinois, there are at least 30 to 40 breeding … get quite large, as the long-lived adults add additional material to the same nest each year. One of the largest bald eagle nests ever recorded was in Florida. It was 9.5 feet in diameter, 20 …
Type: Blog
… covers it is called the velamen. Thin and rather papery, but spongy and protective, it’s a one-way water barrier that allows moisture to soak in—and keeps it from oozing out. If the … Phalaenopsis and other orchids in our blog. Roots Can Rot Overwatering is the number one threat to an orchid plant. Orchid roots rot easily if given too much water—with no switch to … from pulling in excess water, the plant can drown if left standing in a full saucer. That’s one reason why orchid pots typically have extra drainage holes. To correctly water an orchid, …
Type: Blog
… Spike and Stinky contributed all the pollen used for Alice’s pollination last September. About one-third of Alice’s female flowers received Spike’s pollen; about two-thirds received … fruits from Spike’s pollen. Each of the berries produced by Stinky’s pollen will make one or two seeds. It will take several more months for the fruits to ripen and turn deep red—a signal that seeds may finally be collected. One fruit resulting from Spike’s pollen is on the left; two fruits from Stinky’s pollen are in …
Type: Blog
… Tip: Remember to have some damp towels or wipes nearby for messy hands. Mud Kitchen Give up one area of your yard to be that mud kitchen area. We know that this may be tough, but the … heavy work, getting our hands dirty with earth, and imaginative play. So trust us on this one, your garden/yard will eventually return to its original state. But in the meantime, you will … hesitant to use fingers, offer a paintbrush. Once they get comfortable, suggest they dip just one finger in. You can model that behavior by doing it yourself. Remember it washes off! For …
Type: Blog
… around a charming mascot dubbed “Mr. Who.” Children’s educator Kathy Johnson used just one ingredient for her made-by-hand wreath: natural raffia. It’s hand-knotted into evergreen … black). Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, showers, weddings: proof that one wreath can do it all. In simplicity is elegance. Made from grapevines growing in the McDonald … Leave it up straight through February 14. “A ring speaks of strength and friendship and is one of the great symbols of mankind.” Those are the words of Jens Jensen, the great landscape …
Type: Blog
