… 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
… Many gardeners consider hostas quite similar to daylilies — absolutely fail-safe plants. Stick them in the ground, give them a little water, and they're on their own. In … because they are so easy to grow and so adaptable to many situations, they tend to be taken for granted, even considered a little... boring. However, they are anything but, especially the … tract and speeds up the drowning process. If slugs are in your garden, be prepared for them to visit daylilies in the early, cooler days of summer, before temperatures and midday sun send them …
Type: Plant Info
… 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
… Dye-ing for nature-based fun? Forgo the food coloring and kits, and go for naturally safe, naturally … you go from color to color, so there’s no contamination. Pint and half-pint Ball jars or heat-safe glass bowls (the better to watch stuff happen!) Non-reactive stainless steel or enamel …
Type: Blog
… good place to start *Paint Permanent marker Newspaper or work surface *Any paint will do—look for nontoxic options that are safe for children and environmentally friendly. Sidewalk chalk is another great option. Instructions: …
Type: Blog
