… shades—these I saw. Look ye also while life lasts.” —Anonymous lines found on an old tombstone in Cumberland, England "While life lasts." This can be a very brief moment in time for a spring … find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only … species and other ephemerals absorb large quantities of water that would otherwise move off site, often carrying valuable nutrients and soil with it. This high demand for moisture also …
Type: Blog
… When we decided on the theme for this year’s Orchid Show, In the Tropics, what popped into the designer’s head was this: (wait for it; we’ll show you): … Robin Carlson added the color inside Brian’s head. Now Brian, along with the rest of the team, is bringing his vision to life at the Orchid Show , from February 9 to March 24 at the Chicago … New this year are selfie stations and photo ops (think street art) that put you right in the tropics in a big way. Maria Ciaccio, senior graphics and web designer, designed and …
Type: Blog
… to give them a second chance to be appreciated—ranunculus, chamomile, and more. The process is straightforward, using things you have around your home. And it’s easy enough that you can do … flower center matters more than the general size. I would recommend pressing blooms that are in season and have just opened up. Use scissors to trim them down to just the blossom part. 2. … top of the book. Place the flowers on the paper, as flat as possible, leaving plenty of space in between each bloom. 3. Add another layer of paper, topped with your second book. If you have …
Type: Blog
… The gorgeous colors and geometry of dahlias always turn my head when they’re in bloom in my home garden from June through October. Recently, I decided to revisit an old goal and … I dampened them too much) if I cleaned them thoroughly of soil before storing. My solution is to leave soil around the tubers (whatever sticks there) and place them in a paper grocery …
Type: Blog
… One of the joys of indoor gardening is growing pots of fragrant paperwhite daffodils. During the cold, dreary, winter months, their … and more than 32,000 registered cultivars (named hybrids). They are divided into 13 divisions in an official classification system. Some people refer to any yellow daffodil as a jonquil. However, …
Type: Plant Info
… plant was the cause of the girl’s life-threatening allergic reaction. The girl had been flown in from Japan to be treated at the hospital, National Jewish Health. After I got the call, I looked into the hospital, which is known worldwide for treating patients with respiratory, immune, and related disorders. In the … were testing, including Thujopsis , a rare evergreen shrub that is native to Japan. A hospital official began the search for the plant with a colleague of mine at the Denver Botanic Gardens. …
Type: Blog
… One of the most delightful and perhaps underused smaller trees is the native American pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ). Large, dangling leaves give the plant a tropical look. But it’s the fruit—the largest in North America—that is most noteworthy with its almost indescribable flavor—a mix of banana, … at how delicious it tastes: Indiana banana, custard banana and American papaw. It’s been used in custards, ice cream, breads and smoothies. Because the ripe fruits bruise easily and are …
Type: Plant Info
… Performance by Joey Brink In 2021, the National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP) sponsored a juried carillon … Paul Olejar, along with other garden-themed pieces to celebrate. About Olmsted 200 The Garden is partnering with Olmsted 200 to present a Carillon Concert in celebration of Frederick Law … Olmsted. 2022 marks the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, author, journalist, public official, city planner and father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted and his successor …
Type: Event for Calendar
… If you happened to walk around the Heritage Garden in late June, the unusual blue color of the Moroccan mountain eryngo (pronounced eh-RING-go), … as many of them as I could. This was a lot harder than I expected, because the insects were in constant motion and most of them were small. I didn't always capture the key features needed … its hind legs with pollen from the eryngo, and they are now swollen and bright yellow. Pollen is also sticking to the hairs on its thorax and underside. It is a good pollinator! Carpenter …
Type: Blog
… Several decades ago, an osprey would be a rare—if not impossible—sight in Cook County in the summer. But now, thanks to the ban on certain pesticides (including DDT), and the creation of osprey nesting platforms, the fish-eating bird is breeding again in local forest preserves. The osprey looks somewhat like an adult bald eagle, …
Type: Blog
