… turn to romance. Over the years, the Garden has been the site of many a romantic story for both staff and visitors. With summer in full swing—and romance in the air—here are a few more … gondola car that bore an engagement ring in a box, and dropped to one knee to ask for his lady’s hand. She said yes. 2005: Where to Hide a Ring in Spring She said yes—Heather and … Like any workplace, the Garden has its share of romantic stories starring staff, too. For horticulturist Heather Sherwood, the story began with a memorable date: 5/5/05. She worked …
Type: Blog
… Miniature flower arrangements offer a charming and whimsical gift for mom, grandma, or anyone special. A nice feature of these tiny bouquets is that you can show … herbs (thyme, rosemary, and lavender work well because they have stiff stems) Optional: ribbon for added decoration Here are the supplies for creating bottle cap bouquets. The directions are pretty simple. Cut the floral foam to fit …
Type: Blog
… important driver of this diversity was the mosaic of soil and bedrock underlying the prairies. For example, the xeric (dry) communities of the prairies were associated with exposed bedrock … be developed based on findings and past data to ensure that land managers have clear guidance for how to support healthy populations of rare species. (Fant, Kramer, POC, Casanova-Urbana, …
Type: Research
… The black-and-white warblers ( Mniotilta varia ) can be seen hopping along branches looking for insects. Photo © Carol Freeman After delighting in the abundance of birds for a few hours, I slowly made my way back to my car, choosing to walk under the amazing … you will see this many warblers in a day, there is always something to see, and the fun part for me is never knowing just what might show up. Last week it was a white-eyed vireo ( Vireo …
Type: Blog
… sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ‘Panache’) With that in mind, here are five simple secrets for seed-starting success 1. Quality seed starter. Give your seeds a healthy jump start by … before filling with starting mix. 4. The right light. A strong light source is crucial for stimulating plant growth. Without it, plants turn leggy, making them weak and more … in years past, only to have them dry out and wither before you know it? You may be a candidate for a simple capillary mat/self-watering system. After filling pots with seed starting mix, set …
Type: Blog
… While it may be true that one person at the party really likes kale, it’s hardly fair for the preferences of that person to supersede everyone else’s needs. In the case of buckthorn, … there in the first place) is like keeping all of the kale on the tables and not allowing for other foods to be served just for that one person. Even more frustrating, the person that likes kale has plenty of other …
Type: Blog
… of the Chicago Botanic Garden have a new place to show off in a “theater” designed just for them in the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled Garden . Plant theater is a traditional … a fantastic production department,” Sherwood said, and they will coordinate the best times for the plants to be replaced with new ones, four times a year. The potting soils will vary as … while the Muscari and geraniums will go in regular potting mix. “We’ve been planning this for a year,” Sherwood said. “Seeing it come to fruition, as a horticulturist, is wonderful.” …
Type: Blog
… We commonly think of floral scent for its role in attracting pollinators, but it can also be a cue for floral and seed predators. This National Science Foundation-funded project, Landscapes of …
Type: Research
… in the Heritage Garden, but they were not interested in this flower. Honeybees tend to go for sweeter-smelling flowers. 3. Red admiral butterfly The red admiral, with its characteristic … as hoverflies or flower flies, feed on pollen and therefore serve as important pollinators for many plants. I found three species of syrphid flies on the eryngo. Flower flies resemble bees … syrphid fly is a little bigger and fuzzier than the previous one. It could easily be mistaken for a bee. 8. Mystery fly, possibly another syrphid I was having a difficult time getting good …
Type: Blog
… Take a peek in your closet, and you might find a long wooden broom for sweeping up dust or offering rides to witches and wizards. For broom maker John Spannagel of Hidalgo, Illinois, brooms are more than just a pantry item. … a threshing machine to remove their seeds. The stalks are then laid on a broomcorn crib to dry for a few weeks. Once the stalks are dried, Spannagel uses broom-making equipment, including an …
Type: Blog
