… all gardeners, proper drainage, size, and a suitable material are important considerations. In the art of bonsai, the relationship between tree and container is equally important. It’s all … according to Baker. All images and quotations below, courtesy of Chris Baker. A crabapple tree in the Garden’s bonsai collection. “This is a deciduous tree so it has a glazed pot. The color … look. Then there’s age, both of the tree and the pot. “You certainly wouldn't take a 300-year-old pine with cracked bark and throw it in a shiny, glazed container that you just got …
Type: Blog
… First, remove, clean, and dry the seeds. After scooping the pulp out of the pumpkin, place it in a bowl of water and gently rub the stringy pulp off the seeds. Rinse seeds in a colander and let them drain. Prepare a baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper. Do not add any oil. Spread seeds in a single layer on the paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30–40 minutes to dry them. After they have cooled, they will be ready …
Type: Blog
… for science fair projects and sometimes wait until the last minute to do their experiments. We in the Education Department of the Chicago Botanic Garden are committed to helping make science … be able to wrap this up in less than a week. Now all you need are some ideas for conditions to test. Here are eleven questions you can investigate at home or school using the same basic … as germination rate. Try to ensure that the seeds have the same amount of light so it's a fair test of temperature and not light variation. 4. Do microwaves affect germination? Put seeds in …
Type: Blog
… Amorphophallus remains a unique occupant in the world of plants, and visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden recently experienced the … This formation produces the startling look of snake eyes. One of the first jacks to emerge in spring, cobra lily has flowers that can last a long time in the cool spring weather. Japanese … easiest to grow, and perhaps the best garden subject for the Chicago area. They are pricey to buy, but the flying saucer-shaped tubers bulk up quickly in a rich, woodsy soil. There are …
Type: Blog
… lounging or late-night stargazing. Still, I find myself dreaming of an herb garden growing in the little patch of morning sun that filters through the stairs. Growing an herb container … & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She recently planted an herb container tower in the garden, so ideas were fresh on her mind when I talked with her. Here are her tips for … calls for two types of potatoes, and four or five different herbs. If you go to the store and buy these ingredients, it could cost eight bucks apiece. To grow scallions, dill, basil, and …
Type: Blog
… In Chicago, February is too early to start gardening outside, but herbs may be started indoors … It’s often used in Italian and Greek dishes, soups, stews, tomato sauces, and with meats. Buy a plant in the produce section and transplant it to a larger pot filled with soilless potting … water them frequently. Although you can grow rosemary from seed, it’s easier (and faster) to buy a pot from a garden center or produce section. Lemon verbena A tender perennial that is easy …
Type: Plant Info
… There’s less mystery in the natural history of aquatic green algae and its relationship to land plants, thanks to … research co-led by Chicago Botanic Garden scientist Norm Wickett , Ph.D., published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The study examined how major forms of … January in San Diego to discuss next steps for 1KP, which will lead to the analysis of some 1,300 species. The team will likely break into subgroups to focus on sets of plants that share …
Type: Blog
… gathering. One Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving, we did just that for the first time in our office at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Within an hour, each of my work friends had created … packets that come with bouquets of flowers from the grocery store or florist. Flowers Buy flowers at places like grocery stores or Trader Joe’s; you can ask people to contribute money to buy them. Figure on about 15 to 20 stems per person. Tips: Lilies in the bud are pretty and …
Type: Blog
… On Monday, April 26, head outside to see the "pink" supermoon. Whether you prefer to walk in solitude or with family members, don’t miss peak illumination at about 10:30 p.m. Central … Earth. April's supermoon is nicknamed the pink moon, but not because the moon will look pretty in pink—it won't look pink; the photo below is just for fun. April’s first full moon got its … Want to capture the supermoon on your phone? Consider downloading a night photography app and test it before the big night. Tips on taking a night walk: In the glow of sunlight, vibrant …
Type: Blog
… It’s easy to find fun outdoors—with sticks, chirpy crickets, magic circles, and more. “Hands in earth, sand, mud: building, digging, sewing, baking—these are what humans DO.” For fun, … this all the time, and now she’s a wildlife biologist.” 1. Pick up a Stick How cool is this? In 2008, the stick was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame! It’s in great company: the … process of decorating it with ribbons and streamers… 6. Cricket Bug Box Catch a cricket (or buy a dozen for $1 at the pet shop). Friendly and chirpy, crickets are many kids’ first …
Type: Blog
