… in restored plant communities, as most—especially those in highly degraded systems—are started from seed, as well as to conservation projects that rely on seed or seedling introductions. We …
Type: Research
… so you’ll often find their tracks at the base of a tree; sometimes, there will also be tracks from a dog that chased the squirrel up a tree. The larger back paws of the squirrel may be ahead … footprints often appear ahead of the front feet in their tracks. Rabbits come out of hiding from bushes or other sheltered locations, so you will have most success finding their tracks near …
Type: Blog
… a mucilaginous sap that, for all you farmers out there, resembles bovine saliva as it drips from the broken leaf. A volunteer who worked with me on the Dixon Prairie called the plant … stems and leaves are pale green, slightly glaucous (light grayish color often resulting from a waxy surface), and nearly hairless. In fact, the hairiest parts of the plant are the long …
Type: Blog
… while your jack-o-lantern is on display. While most of the pumpkins carved for HallowFest were from outside growers, each year, Obenchain tried to grow a few giants of his own in friendly … Garden staff members. That year, he planned to grow another ‘Atlantic Giant’ with seeds saved from the thousand-plus-pound monster—if the raccoons don’t get it first! …
Type: Blog
… Rocks’). The key to establishing the plants in a gravel garden is to prevent the root balls from drying out until they have a chance to root down below the gravel layer. This means watering … this “sterile” environment is a matter of simply making sure old plant material is removed from the bed each spring, and that no organic material is left on the beds (which could …
Type: Blog
… in either January or February. Chicago’s record year was mirrored globally. Scientists from both NASA and NOAA released reports showing that 2016 was the hottest year since global … will allow you make observations on the same plants throughout the growing season, from budburst to leaf fall. Your phenology observations can help scientists understand how plants …
Type: Blog
… carry their beauty well beyond the first frost. A container garden that changes its appearance from one season to another is the definition of a seasonal “change-out” concept. Change-outs can … condition. The change-out can add instant color or texture to the display and create a “wow” from one season to another. Color schemes can change through the seasons as well, such as pastels …
Type: Blog
… that give all leaves their color are essential for the plant’s ability to harness energy from the sun and make sugars in the process we know as photosynthesis. But every once in a while, a completely white seedling sprouts from a seed. This happened with some basil I grew a few years ago. The green and albino … VERY curious, and perhaps you are, too. How can this albino plant survive? (Photo permission from W. Atlee Burpee Company) I had several questions: The term “variegated” implies that the …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden. Currently we have accessioned more than 4,950 genetic samples, which come from a broad variety of sources including living collections (Tankersley), Seed Bank (Vitt, …
Type: Research
… for repotting a Paphiopedilum orchid, which has different watering and culture needs from a Phalaenopsis . After your initial purchase and repotting, you should repot your orchid …
Type: Blog
