… a zebra? Our brains are natural pattern detectors, wired by evolution to appreciate structure in chaos. Decoding patterns helps us navigate the world—it’s how we recognize faces, understand … language, and learn new skills. For scientists, patterns are also clues that something deeper is at work. “Nature is inherently random, so patterns indicate either selective pressures or a … the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Evolution has a way of weeding out what’s not useful.” Patterns in plants—from microscopic leaf veins to elaborate petal designs—are unique expressions of a …
Type: Blog
… One of the most nutritious, ornamental and anticipated early spring vegetables is asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ). This Mediterranean native has just 20 calories a serving, … Renaissance, and as early as 1670, "forced asparagus" (harvested earlier than usual) was sold in London markets. Its appearance has changed over the years from skinny, tall, narrow stems … years for a planting to become mature. Since asparagus plants can live for more than 20 years, site them where they can grow undisturbed, such as at the end or border of a vegetable garden. …
Type: Plant Info
… and annuals that can handle occasional frosts. Spring cleaning tasks can be undertaken in the yard as well, particularly if March’s weather proved too cold and/or wet. April also is a good month to help emerging plants for the growing season ahead. Garden To-Do List Continue … conditions before planting. Plant perennials, hardy ornamental grasses, and roses. Be aware of site conditions when planting in April, especially for plants that require six hours of direct …
Type: Plant Info
… your group after the workshop. Field trip workshops must be booked a minimum of three weeks in advance; full payment is due at time of scheduling. Select a workshop topic at checkout. Please call our field trip … K-ESS3-1 Grades K – 1: Sneaky Plants How and why do plants change the spaces they live in? We will show you places in the Garden where plants have affected their environment and …
Type: Item Detail
… their jagged petals which look like they have been cut with pinking shears. Spangled star pink is a hardy compact perennial 5- to 7-inches tall that produces clove-scented red flowers with two pale pink spots on each petal in May and June. They are easy to grow in average, alkaline soils in full sun, but require good drainage—plants may die out in the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Dark pink shading to red flowers in hundreds are produced on Echium 'Red Rocket', a nonhardy biennial in the annual displays at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Fuzzy grey-green leaves are produced in a … a cool greenhouse, its 10-gallon (or larger) pots are moved into the display gardens. Echium is a favorite of hummingbirds, bees, and pollinators of all kinds due to the rich nectar produced …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This European native is a perennial bulb that has conical racemes of tightly packed, violet blue, white edged flowers … of 8”. Each bulb has 1 to 3 scapes. These scapes rise up from clumps of narrow, green leaves in April. These bulbs can be grown in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, planted about 3” deep and 3” apart in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Pinellia tripartita ‘Polly Spout’ green dragon is a hardy member of the aroid (philodendron family) that produces spikes of green flowers in late summer. This cultivar was named to honor the home town of We-Du Nursery in South Carolina where this sterile cultivar was created. Plant in shade or woodland gardens for …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… houseplants take a rest during the winter. Indoor temperatures tend to be high and the air is often dry. Plants are not entirely dormant but their growth is certainly not robust. Think of … now, plants are responding to increased sunlight, a signal that the growing season has begun in earnest. As the light grows longer each day your houseplants sense the change. The sun is warmer and stronger as it streams in the windows. Plants are awakening to the growing season and this is the time to take stock of …
Type: Plant Info
… The pale pink blooms of the Hiawatha lilac appear one to two weeks after the common lilac. It is one of the Preston lilacs. Preston or Canadian Lilacs were first hybridized for their cold hardiness in the early 20th century by Isabella Preston of Ottawa, Canada. These lilacs result from a cross … commonly known as lilacs, are shrubs or small trees prized for their showy and fragrant blooms in late spring. The individual flowers are tubular in form and are borne in large panicles. While …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
