… is to enhance the connection between people and plants. Jessica and her staff are responsible for updating records of the Garden’s living collection with current planting and location data as well as ensuring that plants are properly labeled for visitors. For decades the Garden had a custom-built plant records database along with several other …
Type: Staff bio
… Q: Should I cut back my perennials to prepare them for winter? If so, when? A: Cutting back perennials in the fall can be confusing because there … Susan ( Rudbeckia ) and false indigo ( Baptisia )produce beautiful seedheads that look great for most of the winter. Vines like Clematis have beautiful seedheads; and others, such as … reseed, such as coneflower ( Echinacea ), should not be deadheaded and can remain standing for the winter. Many perennial plants should be cut back to the ground in the fall for sanitation …
Type: Plant Info
… The Red Obelisk beech is notable for its reddish purple foliage and columnar growth habit. In a good year the fall color is a striking reddish brown. Its narrow shape makes it more suitable for a home landscape than many of its larger siblings. A wide range of cultivars of the European beech have been developed, many of which are eye-catching show stoppers for their shape (weeping, columnar or rounded) or foliage color (green, variegated, purple or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… part of the tall grass prairie, providing an important food source and winter shelter for a range of insects, small mammals and birds, and even bison. Bad Hair Day switch grass is an … as in rain gardens or as stabilization of eroding banks. Since Bad Hair Day is mostly grown for its ornamental value, it is generally retained for its autumn and winter interest. Cut back the foliage to near ground level in late winter. In …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Sow seeds in March and April for a fast, flavorful harvest. It will be a few months before we can safely plant tomatoes, … greens, Swiss chard, and kale as soon as the soil thaws. Lettuce and Swiss chard seeds, for example, start to germinate when the top inch of soil reaches about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. (This is when an inexpensive soil thermometer comes in handy. Look for one at your local garden center or online.) Swiss chard Leaf lettuce Spinach Grow leafy …
Type: Plant Info
… the word, but after painting with food, our campers are eager to “dig into” their creations. For little ones, this project is easy and fun to do with a grown-up and provides opportunities to … which would add a different texture. Check out this post by fourth-grade teacher Lindsay for eight great spiralizer ideas . Prepare veggies by shredding in a food processor, and place each kind in a bowl. Use your imagination to “paint” your canvas (plate). Make sure to take …
Type: Blog
… with an appetite. Without proper animal management techniques, your garden may become a buffet for a whole range of creatures. This class will cover most of the major midwestern animal pests, … be on your radar. Learn how to identify the culprit eating your plants and some simple methods for preventing and resolving animal damage. Chris Beiser, plant health care specialist, Chicago …
Type: Item Detail
… and successfully. Tom Tiddens, plant health care supervisor at the Garden, shares soil basics for home gardeners, how to do your own soil analysis, and how to interpret the results. Limit 20. Pre-registration required. This workshop is suitable for ages 10 (with accompanying adult) and up; adults only may also register. Plant Science Lab, …
Type: Item Detail
… no mistake, this show ROCKS! It’s a thrill ride through history—unique, exciting entertainment for audiences of any age. It’s the perfect show for theaters, schools, fests, and more. …
Type: Event for Calendar
… process the bounty of a harvest. Learn about the materials, design, and construction process for Windy City Harvest farm sites all over the city. Season after season, we improve and refine … seasons so every site has a functional washpack that also meets food safety requirements for urban agriculture. Rafael Arredondo, Windy City Harvest production manager Farm on Ogden, …
Type: Item Detail