… over a period of several weeks. You can also see what a blooming comet orchid looks like in the Tropical Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden —but the rotation is so slow that you won’t be able to see the buds move in real time. We’ll have two comet orchids on display until the end of October or so; they should be in full bloom around the end of September. Why twist? As buds start to form, the comet orchid …
Type: Blog
… for a little more than $10 each from the Dutch originator. Hippeastrum used to be included in the genus Amaryllis until the 1930s. It seems Linneaus gave the name to a bulbous plant, but later, taxonomists could not figure out if the specimen he named originated in South Africa or South America. Because the argument could not be resolved scientifically, the … to plants from South Africa and used the name Hippeastrum for the species originating in South America. Whether called Hippeastrum or Amaryllis (now used only as a common name), these …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Ever been to Norway in the winter? It is bone-chilling cold and dark...and everyone is outside, even when … outside a part of your daily routine. Drink your morning coffee outside. Spend time every day in a nearby park or your garden or porch. Breathe in the crisp air and reshape the way you think of winter. Learn more The Chicago Botanic Garden …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden design manager Wendy Griffiths was inspired by her visit to a textile factory in Jaipur. She knew she needed a font that reflected the beauty and tradition of Indian artistry … Wendy chose is from The Typecraft Initiative, a nonprofit organization founded by Ishan Khosla in 2012. After spending 13 years in the United States, Khosla returned to India and noticed something surprising: graphic design …
Type: Blog
… When our daughter was growing up, we wanted to teach her about the cycles of nature and, in the process, maybe sneak some science in there. This naturally led to the reasons the seasons occur in terms of planetary motions, and this led to discussions of the solstice and equinox. Over the …
Type: Blog
… Kryptonite 'Red Streak') was created by fourth-generation orchid grower George Hausermann of E.F.G. Orchids in Deland, Florida, by hybridizing Calanthe 'Rozel' with Phaius tankervilleae . The resulting … open to reveal pink petals and a dark red throat. Terrestrial orchids are orchids that grow in the ground in soil. This cultivar requires a long, hot, moist growing season followed by a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… produces 3 to 5 linear, sword-shaped, pale green leaves. Small, pinkish-purple flowers develop in racemes from March through June on long thin stalks growing 12 to 18 inches tall. Although it … 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 gardens, or containers. The orchid family consists of a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Yellow petals feature darker splotches surrounding a yellow lip patterned in white. Grow indoors in bright light, high humidity, warm temperatures, well drained potting media. Move to patio in summer and fertilize weekly with a dilute foliar feed solution to build up energy to support …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… crown. It is native to eastern and central North America. Although once widely planted in the United States as street and lawn trees, American elms have now been so decimated by Dutch … being planted. It typically grows to 60-70 feet tall. Non-showy, small green flowers appear in spring before the foliage emerges. Flowers give way to single-seeded, wafer-like samaras (each tiny seed is surrounded by a flattened oval-rounded papery wing). Seeds mature in April-May as the leaves reach full size. Rough-textured, ovate-elliptic, dark green leaves (to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… clump over time. Performance is sensitive to sunlight; flowers appear to be retained longer in afternoon shade, but full sun enhances bloom quantity overall. Prune back after flowering to … hairy and refers to the downy fringe present on the needle-like leaves. The leaves turn yellow in the fall for a pleasing effect. Members of the genus Amsonia are commonly known as bluestars for the abundant small blue flowers borne in clusters at the stem tips in late spring or early summer. The foliage ranges from threadlike …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
