… The American elderberry is an attractive and useful plant whose only vice is the tendency to send out runners and pop up where you didn't plant it. This is a large shrub, 8-10' tall, with … followed by tiny black berries, relished by birds. 'Adams' is a selection with larger fruit best planted with 'Johns' as a pollinator. The fruit is not palatable eaten fresh, but rather is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Description: These bright yellow "wild canaries" can be found in the Dixon Prairie and elsewhere. In their greenish winter plumage, this small, common finch can … song or the “potato-chip” call of the American goldfinch as it flits in undulating fashion to trees, shrubs, and grasses. The 4-inch-long bird has a slightly forked tail and short, conical … winter, the males look a lot like the drab-olive females. But come spring, the male begins to get blotches of yellow on his body until he finally molts into his golden spring and summer …
Type: Birding
… orchid that grows from flat pseudobulbs that resemble corms. Each pseudobulb produces 3 to 5 linear, sword-shaped, pale green leaves. Small, pinkish-purple flowers develop in racemes … growing 12 to 18 inches tall. Although it is advertised to be hardy to USDA Zone 5, it is best to mulch the plant to protect it and keep it warm in winter. Grow in part-shade areas in borders, rock …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… We love nature here at the Chicago Botanic Garden, so we looked to the natural world for inspiration on how to enjoy the … 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 projectors. …
Type: Blog
… While there's still a chill in the air, gardeners can find comfort in seed catalogs as they think about spring. Growing plants from seeds gives you an opportunity to grow more unusual flowers, vegetables, and herbs than you might find at a local garden center. … things a gardener can do is plant a seed, nurture it, and watch it grow. It’s an enjoyable way to connect with nature. And it’s a wonder-filled adventure for children and adults. Here’s …
Type: Plant Info
… Pink twin-leaf squill is one of the tiniest plants grown outdoors at the Chicago Botanic Garden. You will see clusters of these … species. The unopened buds at the top of the spike are deep pink, and as they open they fade to a soft rosy-pink, with carnation pink anthers. They are best planted in large groups because a single bulb could easily be over-looked. They are fully …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… I love coming home to my quiet, tree-lined Chicago neighborhood, but one thing I miss about urban living is ample outdoor space. The back door of my apartment leads to a wooden fire escape—built after the Great Chicago Fire of … stairs. Growing an herb container doesn’t require a whole lot of space, luckily. To find the best inspiration, I turned to Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit & …
Type: Blog
… Farm On Ogden Food. Health. Jobs. A project of the Chicago Botanic Garden and Lawndale Christian Health Center The Farm on Ogden, a multiuse facility located in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood, supports and sustains a healthy urban community by bringing … program, in partnership with Lawndale Christian Health Center take a “whole person” approach to community health and wellness. Shop The indoor year-round market offers fresh, affordable …
Type: Page
… 'Caesar's Brother') features dark purple-blue flowers atop tall, slender stems extending to 31 inches after the bearded irises have peaked, and before the Japanese irises come into flower. Water this iris … of ponds. It is the most heat tolerant of the Siberian irises (which, as a group, perform best in cool summer climates) and can be grown from the deep South to north into central Canada. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Plant or Insect Identification Plant information Service routinely asks visitors to submit plant samples for accurate diagnoses and identifications. However, we will no longer … boxwood ( Buxus ), pachysandra ( Pachysandra ), and sweet box ( Sarcococca ) to be brought to the Garden, in order to prevent the spread of Boxwood Blight, a devastating fungal disease that affects these … boxwood ( Buxus ), pachysandra ( Pachysandra ), and sweet box ( Sarcococca ) to be brought to the Garden, in order to prevent the spread of Boxwood Blight, a devastating fungal disease that …
Type: Page
