… to holidays, friends, and food. Put planet Earth on your gift list and consider these ideas for how to have a more environmentally friendly holiday season: Decorate with natural materials: … acorns can become a table centerpiece. Choose a tree you can see from your window to decorate for the birds, and hang it with pinecone bird feeders and strings of cranberries and popcorn. … Share your love of plants: Add more plants to your indoor space, or give one as a gift. Opt for fragrant and easy-to-grow herbs like mint, parsley, or lavender. Make your own wrapping …
Type: Blog
… Prairie As an added bonus, find a spot in the Dixon Prairie toward the south end of the Garden for an optimal vantage point to see birds flying over, especially hawks, gulls, and waterfowl. … winters by lowering their body temperature while they sleep. Look closely along the path for flashes of movement from song sparrows as they hone-in on the feeding area. 4. McDonald … trees. Birding at the Garden Before you go, remember these helpful tips: Dress for the weather, especially when it’s extra nippy. If you go birding solo or with a small, quiet …
Type: Blog
… Scientists report new nonnative bee species for state of Illinois. Andrea Gruver, a student in the Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern … urban environments, like Chicago, and is spreading across North America, because it is active for much of the summer growing season and can take advantage of abundant nonnative floral food …
Type: Research
… they are just large enough to hold the one to three navy bean-sized eggs of the hummer. For the pint-sized bird to be able to keep the tiny eggs warm during incubation requires that the … of room necessary to hold the family. One of the ways the hummingbirds get around this need for flexibility is that they construct the nest of soft plant fibers and then wrap the whole … find the nest of one of these birds during the nesting season, but if not, keep an eye out for little bumps, lumps, and knobs on bare branches in winter. You might get lucky. …
Type: Blog
… Fungi are critical for society, both through direct impacts on human health and the economy and through their …
Type: Research
… world through citizen science. Citizen Science Academy courses use Budburst as a case study for learning about citizen science as a field, how to use citizen science effectively in a … ($95 fee). Two-week courses are eligible for one credit ($55 fee). For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions . Current Courses Teaching Phenology and Climate Change (CSA … ($95 fee). Two-week courses are eligible for one credit ($55 fee). For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions . Future Courses Teaching Phenology and Climate Change (CSA …
Type: Page
… leathery green summer foliage, and brilliantly tricolored autumn foliage—stunning color for a tall border. Visit the Buehler Enabling Garden to see a nice specimen. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… of space, luckily. To find the best inspiration, I turned to Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She recently planted … tower in the garden, so ideas were fresh on her mind when I talked with her. Here are her tips for starting an herb container, no matter where you live. Find the right container: Drainage is … your herbs with recipes in mind: What herbs do you use most in your cooking? Are you always buying basil? Do you like to use mint? The fun of planting herb gardens is to use them in …
Type: Blog
… addition to our gardens in winter. Unlike spring—when they’re busy singing, looking for a mate, and building nests—in winter, a bird’s main activity is to find and eat enough food to keep warm. They’re searching for something to eat and for places to sleep and to hide from predators. Gardens can offer seeds, … freezing. Birdbath heaters can be purchased at independent garden stores and online. If you’re buying a birdbath for the first time, choose one that has a shallow bowl (not more than 2 inches …
Type: Plant Info
… "flamingo flowers" throughout the year. It is pollinated by a number of tropical bees that visit the pollen sacs in a spiral up the inflorescence. The seeds are contained in a berry with …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
