… One day at Butterflies & Blooms, I noticed a crepuscular , cosmopolitan imago puddling in order … return, they become green again and complete their metamorphosis into adult butterflies. One of these Danaus chrysippus chrysalids is not like the others. Did it begin to enter diapause … Although there are many different types of milkweed, this is still considered a niche. On one hand, this can be a benefit, because the monarch can capitalize on the unique benefits that …
Type: Blog
… to a total solar eclipse in 92 years. 1. Make a pinhole projector—using leaves. Rule number one with eclipses—and with the sun every day, actually—is don’t look directly at it with the naked eye . A fun way to indirectly “see” the eclipse is with a pinhole projector, and one of the best natural projectors is a leaf. Leaves often have holes that can act as natural … spot and watch as the eclipse shadows change over the course of the event. Instead of the one shadow that a standard pinhole projector creates, you can view hundreds by standing under a …
Type: Blog
… vines typically begin to flower at five years or older. Flowers are produced in clusters, with one flower opening each day in the morning. Stop by the Tropical Greenhouse soon to see what’s in …
Type: Blog
… programs, collections, and displays. Clark has been with the Garden since 1979, making him one of the Garden's longest tenured employees. He started as a grower in the greenhouses, became …
Type: Staff bio
… but also in girth! What we’re really curious about, however, is the aroma. The stench is one of the cool reasons to stay up late and come to the Garden that night. Here’s what to expect … there’s a fresh carcass for insects to check out. Carrion flies and dung beetles like this one ( Catharsius sp.) think that stink smells great. Photo ©2012 via potokito-myshot.blogspot.com A different view of ewwww! Carrion beetles, dung flies, and flesh flies aren’t responding to …
Type: Blog
… only need to do it if your plants have become large and overgrown. Never remove more than one-third of the growth at a time. Removing too much can stress the plant and send it into shock, … can be hard to recover from indoors. 3. Check thoroughly for pests, and treat as needed. One of the biggest ways to set yourself up for success is to start with clean plants. There are …
Type: Blog
… Push a piece of yarn through each hole and tie it off. Hold the grapefruit firmly with one hand while you poke the skewer through the rind. Be careful not to poke your finger! Pull 2-3 … which balance their primary diet of insects and grubs with bits of suet and sunflower seeds. One more thing: Make sure it’s tied to the branch firmly so that your local (determined) …
Type: Blog
… How one humble scientist used his botanical superpowers to solve a real-world problem, successfully … stability at the same time. Think you couldn't name a single botanist? You probably know this one—George Washington Carver (c. 1861-1943). Born into slavery, Carver was an extraordinary … studied how light affects plant growth). Instead, this snapshot is devoted to celebrating how one humble scientist used his botanical superpowers to solve a real-world problem. It is a story …
Type: Blog
… digging them up for storage. Dahlias , which grow from small tubers planted in the spring, are one of my favorite annuals. You might have seen them this summer at the Chicago Botanic Garden in … to see’ dormant buds up in the area where all of the tubers come together—a tuber without one of those buds does not sprout the following year.” Don’t remove the soil from the tubers. “In … showing signs of moisture, then your tubers are too wet.” Don’t let them get too cold. “The one winter I tried to overwinter them in an unheated (yet attached) garage was not successful.” …
Type: Blog
… pines would not work with our midwestern alkaline soil, but she explains that any plant, even one not native to Japan, can be used in a Japanese garden as long as it is maintained according … to ensure that the garden fits the surrounding environment, as if it has been there forever. One of Pogue’s favorite spots to view the island is from the Zigzag Bridge that links the islands … these islands were originally a single mountainous island that was split into smaller islands, one of which is the unapproachable horai island. In these legends, Immortals’ homes were carried …
Type: Blog
