… Conservation = Restoration A rare remnant of the oak woodlands once common in northeastern Illinois, Mary Mix McDonald Woods is, in conservation terms, a restoration — an example of an ecosystem that is being brought back to healthy former … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… the West Road that leads to Dixon Prairie. Before you enter the prairie’s lovely paths, take a moment to look across the lakes toward the new Plant Science Center building. Inside is the … these unusual outdoor conditions. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! VIEW WALK #1 …
Type: Walks
… may register in the mid- or upper 30s Fahrenheit. However, the same temperature conditions on a cloudy or windy night may not yield frost. Covering Plants For those gardeners who have … 12 to 16 inches of hardware cloth in the soil about 3 inches away from the trunk. If deer visit your garden, deter them from eating twigs or rubbing antlers by placing snow fencing or …
Type: Plant Info
… Database Found only at our Lenhardt Library, the Nursery Catalog Database—and its companion, a physical file of catalogs—is a gardener's dream: an already-edited and constantly updated list … Have an unusual interest? So do the mushroom folks at Garden City Fungi ( gardencityfungi.com ), the banana experts at Going Bananas ( going-bananas.com ), and the Kitazawa Seed Company ( … at the Garden, the database is accessible only through the Lenhardt Library's computers—so visit the library and one of our helpful librarians will work with you to find what you need. Or …
Type: Plant Info
… As the weather changes and true fall sets in, all eyes turn to the trees. It's a smart time to take a walk in the neighborhood, to really look at which trees are growing there … addition for your home, your yard, and your neighborhood? Often, the talk turns to red. But a visit to the Garden during October reveals the diversity of colors in nature's crayon box—yellow, …
Type: Plant Info
… and green spaces. As the Garden’s president and CEO, I appreciate that these greenways provide a necessary connection for humans too. A recent study showed that people who spend two hours a … can take you a full 22 miles south through the Forest Preserves. For a shorter excursion, visit the Garden’s McDonald Woods . These woods have always been here, but species such as …
Type: Blog
… The Morton Arboretum are pledging to safeguard these species as part of Reverse the Red Day, a worldwide celebration of conservation success held annually on February 7th. Reverse the Red is … in habitat restoration in both wild and urban built environments. For details about the event, visit botaniccongress.org . …
Type: Blog
… Fast and graceful, hummingbirds flit from flower to flower—but which ones and why? A Chicago Botanic Garden scientist and his collaborators have made some unexpected findings on … hummingbirds do have a sense of smell. So why would hummingbirds go out of their way to visit a limited selection of reddish, long-tubed, scentless flowers that produce cheaper nectar …
Type: Blog
… features articles on two topics dear to me: American’s national parks (I just planned a Grand Canyon/Arches trip for June!), and the power of nature to improve mental health. The … seed catalogues or gardening books , and plan your summer garden . If you take a vacation, visit the local botanic garden . Dream of the tropics at the Orchid Show at the Chicago …
Type: Blog
… In late October 2012 when I was driving down a country road in rural northwest Illinois, I spotted some bright sky-blue asters blooming near … gave me plenty of time to contemplate whether or not to make the collection. Since my first visit to the woodland, I have made several seed collections of many quality native woodland …
Type: Blog
