… scientist, an inventor, and a genius. George Washington Carver did not seek wealth or fame for his work. He found personal satisfaction in scientific discovery and using his talents to make the world a better place for farmers and everyone. I believe if he were alive today, he would have embraced the challenge … agriculture to improve the health, nutrition, and livelihood of people in need, just as he did for rural farmers 100 years ago. The Garden's Windy City Harvest grows out of that same spirit …
Type: Blog
… teamed up with experts nationwide to help home gardeners select the best native plant sources for their backyards. Many resources are available to help home gardeners decide which native plant species are right for their garden and goals. However, selecting the best source for those species can be challenging and often overwhelming. Gardeners often have many different …
Type: Research
… Tom Tiddens has worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the Plant Health Care department for 25 years. In 1994, Tiddens was promoted to supervisor of the department. Since then, the … lead arborist in managing tree care and risk assessment. He is also the containment director for the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition and is responsible for butterfly health and management as well as the permitting process through USDA. Tiddens is …
Type: Staff bio
… Bright blooms never last long enough for me—but I’ve found an easy way to preserve the color and beauty of favorites. Lately, I’ve … or even Harry Potter books, work well Flowers (see note below) Spatula Optional: card stock for homemade cards, gift tags, etc. Directions: Gather your favorite flowers—if the blooms come from your own garden, all the better for gift purposes. Choose bright ones without blemishes. The best ones lie flat easily. Disc …
Type: Blog
… the tree species and the region in which you live. Bonsai in fall color, before being prepped for storage. The same bonsai prepped for winter storage; tags indicate tasks to do in spring on this tree. Here in the Chicago area, … conditions. Prior to bringing in your tropical trees and tucking your cold hardy trees away for the winter, there is some work to be done. In this post, we will discuss fall and early …
Type: Blog
… on what to do if you receive one of these wonderful trees as a gift yourself. Juniper bonsai for sale at a large garden center During the holiday season, little areas pop up in … as I call them). These bonsai are reasonably priced, cute, and seem to be a perfect gift for the horticulture enthusiast on your list. But before buying that little tree, there are a few … tree is healthy and actively growing. Dull, spotted, or damaged leaves are things to look out for. These may be indications a tree is unhealthy or stressed. Be sure to gently feel the …
Type: Blog
… As we are all adapting to new ways of connecting for work and play, students in Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm program have learned to adapt too. … “We built community by coming together despite the pandemic and produced vegetables for the community during it.” “I’m glad to have been able to work on the Farm another year.” “I was glad to come back to familiar faces.” “If it wasn’t for this opportunity, I would have had more anxiety about the situation. It really does take my …
Type: Blog
… Americans are at last tuning in to the taste of homemade condiments. The time has come for homemade mustard—and you won’t believe how easy and tasty it is. Start with the Basics As … horticulturist Nancy Clifton to learn the how-to’s. Within five minutes of starting her demo for us, she had the first batch of mustard whipped up: Nancy Clifton’s Basic Mustard Recipe ½ cup … Whisk ingredients together. Pour into clean Mason or Ball jars and set aside on a pantry shelf for two weeks, to allow the spice’s heat to mellow to the degree desired. Sample out of one jar …
Type: Blog
… Botanical Garden, and the Chicago Botanic Garden) and we all researched best practices for digital libraries and made recommendations for improvement to the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). BHL is a group of natural history … the past ten years, BHL has uploaded more than 50 million pages of biodiversity literature for public use. (Left to right) 2017 BHL residents Ariadne Rehbein, Alicia Esquivel, Pamela …
Type: Blog
… are in their prime now, when the hot summer days and good strong rains are perfect support for a fruiting pepper plant. In just a month or two, the number of varieties will start to … glass is hot. Pour out water just before you fill them with peppers and brine. A basic brine for a 1 pint jar contains the following: 2 cups vinegar (white distilled vinegar preserves the … sesame seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, and many other spices can add flavor to the brine. For a true Chicago hot dog, add two garlic cloves and a pinch of mustard seed. For a sweet …
Type: Blog
