… and woodcarver off-hours. A close look at his wreath reveals the mushrooms he hand-carved from tagua nuts and cedar. Everlasting mushrooms were hand-carved from wood and nuts. Star-shaped flowers are made from milkweed pods, with a crabapple at the center. The supersized fruit of ‘Ralph Shay’ …
Type: Blog
… by the orchids in the air, you wonder, and how do they work? Let’s look at those roots from a different angle Most orchids are epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another … the plant as it grows. Roots are an orchid’s lifeline, absorbing water and nutrients from the air and from the leaf litter in the tree niche it inhabits. Orchid Roots Are Adventitious That is, an …
Type: Blog
… make it worth getting to know. Its common names, jewelweed and touch-me-not probably come from the characteristics of the flowers and seeds. The bright orange blossoms have a jewel-like … “touch-me-not” to be toxic or irritating to the skin. This is not the case. The name comes from a little seedpod surprise. When they are ripe, a slight disturbance will cause them to pop … mechanism, shooting seeds is an effective dispersal strategy, as it sends the seeds away from the mother plant where they might have a better chance to sprout and grow. Viewed from …
Type: Blog
… of permanent plants. Curating the living plant collection involves the procurement of plants from other botanic institutions, commercial nurseries and partners, plant breeding programs, and … Garden’s breeding and evaluation programs to incorporate successful trials and new releases from Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction . Jess has a focus on building and managing the … a native of northeast Ohio, Jess has earned a BA in Plant Biology and Environmental Studies from Ohio University and a MA in Urban Geography and GIS from Chicago State University. Jess has …
Type: Staff bio
… specialist in palliative care, says exposure to death in the developed world has been omitted from our life experience, leaving us disconnected from death as a natural part of life. I found his words deeply heartrending and liberating, but I … and sparks creativity, imagination, and connection. Sitting around a table with colleagues from across the Garden, folding hundreds of paper marigolds together, I couldn’t help but think …
Type: Blog
… pulcherrima ‘Jubilee Red’ Poinsettias ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ) appreciate bright light away from heating vents, fireplaces, and drafty windows or doors. Maintain even moisture (but … remains above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Then place the pot in a sunny spot where it is protected from strong afternoon summer sun. Water and fertilize regularly. When night temperatures approach … the plant must be placed in a completely dark closet or covered with a box every night from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.—with no exceptions. After 7 a.m., it can be placed back in a sunny window …
Type: Blog
… of flowers in April and May, these ornamental trees boast a variety of sizes, shapes and forms from dwarf and weeping to mounding, wide-spreading and upright. Besides the spring flowers, … single blossoms, but some varieties have semi-double or double blossoms. Bud color ranges from pure white to dark purple-red with many variations. The flower color may be different than …
Type: Plant Info
… many of us want to preserve the bounty of this year for the next. Why not save save seeds from your last tomatoes so you can grow them yourself next year? 1) Make sure to save the seeds from an open-pollinated or heirloom tomato. These seeds will reliably reproduce the “parent … over the kitchen sink. Run cold water over and use your fingers to try and separate the ‘goo’ from the seed. 4) Knock the strainer on a paper plate lined with a coffee filter, dislodging …
Type: Blog
… Fast and graceful, hummingbirds flit from flower to flower—but which ones and why? A Chicago Botanic Garden scientist and his … hummingbirds. A hummingbird’s long bill appears perfectly matched for the extraction of nectar from the long, tubular flowers. But don’t be fooled—while it’s satisfying to organize flowers and … Yet the hummingbird’s signature hovering flight burns massive amounts of calories. From the hummingbird's perspective, it would therefore be much more efficient to drink from …
Type: Blog
… in Kankakee, just south of Chicago. He received an associate's degree in agricultural business from Kankakee Community College and an associate's degree in turf management from Joliet Junior College. After graduation, he interned at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. From there, he continued to grow his love for the turf industry at numerous golf courses …
Type: Staff bio
