… Can a plant come back from extinction in the wild? Chicago Botanic Garden scientists think so. Their belief is reflected in the rows of rare alula ( Brighamia insignis ) growing discreetly in a Garden … easier. Alula awaiting planting at NTBG on Kauai. Photo by Jeremy Foster. “Nature has paid a price” While alula is rare, the story of its decline is not— almost 50% of known flowering plants …
Type: Blog
… When the sun begins to shine brighter in late April and the day temperatures reach into the 50s, Chicagoans become eager to reunite … many of our favorite vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, but there still is hope. By the third to fourth week of April, we can begin to plant a salad garden. Most leaf … colors, textures, and flavors by using only young and tender leaves. Unfortunately, the price of these tender young greens is staggering. Markets may charge as much as $7 per pound even …
Type: Plant Info
… are many definitions for the word “zen.” It’s been described as “a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.” It may be … gardens found at Zen Buddhist temples in Japan. The correct term for this type of garden is karesansui, or dry garden. A Zen Garden is the epitome of control, moderation and simplicity. … are sold for use indoors.) One key to creating a zen garden is avoiding excess—overloading the site with plants, too many rocks, lanterns or statues. The main characteristics of the zen garden …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Care about Fungi? The Chicago area is host to more than a thousand species of mushrooms and mushroom like fungi—beneficial, … most effective precyclers and decomposers . Without them, we would be buried miles deep in dead leaves and logs. Other fungi are plant pathogens . In large forests that extend miles, … (e.g., truffles, chanterelles, and morels) are so expensive—as much as several thousand dollars per pound? It is very difficult, if not impossible, to cultivate these fungi. So, each …
Type: Plant Info
… It’s official, sunshine lovers! While October in the Chicago area is usually one of the most pleasant …
Type: Plant Info
… Tequia Burt to write about the importance of African American heirloom seeds. Every year in my garden, I grow at least one African American heirloom crop, partly to commemorate … that you can try growing in your own garden. Hill Country Red Okra OK, I’ll admit that okra is not my favorite—it’s slimy. But I have been convinced by other gardeners that growing your own … forgiving, and prolific crop. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad Tomato This heirloom seed is still with us today because an …
Type: Blog
… January ushers in the deep winter when arctic winds howl and the temperatures plummet. Any day could bring a thick layer of snow. This is the season when our gardens sleep and gardeners dream of spring. Perusing seed catalogs in … plants from seed is fun and saves money—where else can you get dozens of plants for a few dollars? Many plants can be grown from seed indoors while others, such as carrots and beans, are …
Type: Plant Info
… and Meghan Markle? Visit the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled Garden instead. If you’re in Chicago this weekend, that means—like most of us—you didn’t get an invite to the wedding of … younger sister. The occasion was fit for royalty, with a performance from a bagpiper, and an official dedication by the princess, who sported a lovely royal blue coat. You can find a plaque … I have given birth to perhaps a thousand gardens.” The English Walled Garden in May The garden is divided into six “rooms,” and one was made as a nod to the working class. The least formal of …
Type: Blog
… love for veggies. “The stuff’s not bad. It just grew on me,” he said. Williams participates in VeggieRx, a program that offers free vegetables and nutrition training to help patients with diet-related diseases who are also food insecure. VeggieRx is a partnership among the Chicago Botanic Garden, Lawndale Christian Health Center, and the … bags Williams brings home, too. Williams also visits the Farm on Ogden retail store for half-price produce on weekends. Carrots are one of his favorites. “I feel blessed that the Farm on …
Type: Blog
… One morning in early July, while conducting routine pollinator assessments with my Research Experiences for … ) sips nectar from wild bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa ). Photo by Nick Dorian. Only one species in our region has this color pattern—the rusty patched bumblebee ( Bombus affinis )—but this … the eastern United States, ranging from Minnesota to Massachusetts. Like all bumblebees, it is a superb pollinator of some of our favorite foods like tomatoes and blueberries, but also of …
Type: Blog
