… Like everyone else, I love to watch spring unfold in gardens everywhere—but at the Chicago Botanic Garden, my heart is in the water. As the Woman’s Board Curator of Aquatics, I like to point out the signs of spring, in and around the 60 acres of Garden lakes and 6 miles of …
Type: Blog
… Native to China, the Chinese willow-leaf magnolia is sometimes called the Hope for Spring Flower due to its early blooming. Its white blossoms with splashes of purple at the base emerge in late …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Said Crocus: "My this wind is cold! Most wish I had not been so bold; here the fields are still all brown; glad I wore my … crocus always brings me such joy after a long winter. Plus, seeing how happy the bees are to discover these lovely flowers on a cold day is all the more reason to love them!” —Jill Selinger, manager, adult education The Tommy crocus was named in honor of …
Type: Plant Info
… but many seeds come equipped with mechanisms that stall germination until the time is right. Without the inhibitors in the gel sack, nothing would prevent a tomato seed from … off the plant, it sits on the ground and rots away, gel sack and all, and the seeds are left to germinate. Home Grown Germination You can replicate this rotting process at home. Cut open a very ripe tomato and squeeze the seeds into a tall jar. Stir the seeds once a day for three to five days. A fungus will form, ferment, bubble and smell absolutely awful (you'll want to keep …
Type: Plant Info
… College First High Schools Each summer, Chicago Public School students travel to the Garden by school bus from designated stops to participate in the Science First and College First programs. Over 500 students participated in … the Science Career Continuum program from over 100 different public schools in Chicago. Below is a map of College First participants’ schools. [gmap … Each summer, Chicago Public School students travel to the Garden by school bus from designated stops to participate in the Science First and College …
Type: Page
… have noticed a white substance accumulating on the soil and edges of my houseplant pots. What is causing this? A. This is probably salt residue caused by an excess of soluble salts in the soil. If your plants do not … and flushing out the salts. If you live in an area with very hard water, you might want to water your plants with distilled water. …
Type: Plant Info
… PINKY BELLS abelia is a small shrub with arching twigs covered in dainty, glossy opposite leaves that are sharply … can continue from May until November. As the petals fall, the tiny coral-pink calyxes continue to provide color. The foliage becomes burgundy in late fall and persists well into winter—it is evergreen in warmer climates. In the Chicago area, it should be planted in a sheltered …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Brazilian species Alternanthera ficoidea , known as Joseph’s coat, calico leaf or parrotleaf, is a tropical perennial used to fill in the blanks in a floral tapestry. Rarely grown as individual plants but in crowds, they … are ruby red in full light. In a container it will form a neat low mound. In flower beds, it is used as a filler between other annuals, contrasting nicely with chartreuse, orange or yellow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Metallica Elephant's Ear is a striking plant with large, puckered, heart-shaped, dark greenish-black leaves, and … a sheltered location, or as part of a moist understory planting or shady border. It will grow to about five feet tall and wide. It is not hardy in Chicago and must either be brought indoors, or the bulb can be lifted and stored …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Asimina triloba ‘Prolific’ is a native plant that grows either as a small understory tree or a multi-stemmed shrub 15-20 … June, producing edible, yellowish green fruits that resemble bananas. ‘Prolific’ pawpaw is a heavy-bearing variety with large, early ripening fruit that can be eaten raw or used in ice … suckers and can naturalize in woodlands and in damp areas along ponds or streams in full sun to part shade. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
