… This Asian native is an evergreen shrub that grows to 4’. It blooms in late May with clusters of white flowers. Like all rhododendrons, it prefers well-drained, fertile, acidic soil in partial shade. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. It has yellow and white blooms in May and June and belongs in a hedge or a ground cover. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… zephyrs, tempts us all to step outside and enjoy the warming days. The Arrival of Spring In the northern hemisphere, we anticipate this season of new life and celebrate it (often long before it arrives) with flower and garden shows, pageants, and parades. In certain quarters, Mardi Gras and Carnival are synonymous with the advent of spring, as well as … and other seasonal holidays. The gradual lifting of light, coupled with a subtle change in the sun’s angle, reinforces the age-old feelings of hope, rebirth, and joy that define this …
Type: Walks
… take a cue from natural areas where rocks and stones slide off a bluff and land at the bottom. In those sites, plants sprout up over time in the meager soil and sand that falls or blows in. In a designed planting, a crevice garden features vertical stone slabs closely spaced, …
Type: Plant Info
… a zebra? Our brains are natural pattern detectors, wired by evolution to appreciate structure in chaos. Decoding patterns helps us navigate the world—it’s how we recognize faces, understand … the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Evolution has a way of weeding out what’s not useful.” Patterns in plants—from microscopic leaf veins to elaborate petal designs—are unique expressions of a … also generate a leopard’s spots or polka dots on a flower—a phenomenon first introduced in 1952 by codebreaker Alan Turing, who, among his many achievements, theorized how chemistry on …
Type: Blog
… The Greening Tradition The tradition of bringing greens into the house in December has its roots in paganism, not Puritanism. Long before European Christians incorporated swags, garlands, … site and a suitable plant. Ivy is shade tolerant and loves cool conditions, but will crisp up in overheated rooms. Jasmine and lavender prefer excellent air circulation and full sun (not …
Type: Plant Info
… this time, although the "blossoms" are not quite what you might expect. Ornamental grasses are in their full glory during the golden days of fall. All summer, these warm-season grasses have … foliage...and more foliage. Some feature delicate arching sprays; others form clumps, filling in the holes where spring bulbs or early perennials once bloomed. The tall, more upright forms … with contrasting texture and color. Ornamental grasses are some of the most versatile plants in the garden, offering fine lines with feathery flowers. The range of distinctive foliage …
Type: Plant Info
… about big, beefy Boston ferns or tall parlor palms? They serve as lush, green focal points in a room and, like rubber plants and ficus trees, they demand adequate space to strut their … roses, pitcher plants, Venus fly traps, shamrocks, and many cacti and succulents—most can fit in small pots on or near a windowsill. Hang air plants ( Tillandsia ) from a string or set them … jade plants ( Crassula minor ), miniature moth orchids, even miniature Sansevieria (mother-in-law’s tongue/snake plant). They’re finding their way into apartments, dorm rooms, along …
Type: Plant Info
… exactly when that will happen! When it does, a nice warm day will trigger them to come out. In a given area, most cicadas will emerge over only a two- or three-day period, which is an … between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Where will we see the most cicadas? Cicada levels will be highest in areas adjacent to woodlands and in older neighborhoods; disturbed lands limit their numbers greatly. Also, researchers have …
Type: Blog
… Description: Look carefully for the smallest owl species at the Garden during its migration in late October and November. Although it is difficult to find, it may be seen in any shrubby or wooded area. …
Type: Birding
