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  • … Merian (1647–1717) was a fascinating woman, artist, and naturalist. While she was known for her watercolor paintings of flowers and insects, embroidery patterns, and copper engravings, … in the eighteenth century. Nine species of butterflies, six plants, and two beetles were named for her. She is still a well-known historic figure today and is represented on the 500 deutsche …
    Type: Blog
  • … have survived and are unlikely to survive over the long-term. “We suspect one reason for these declines is too little genetic diversity. This species is self-incompatible, meaning … genetically different individuals remain in a population, it will not be able to produce seeds for the next generation,” said Rafael. “I hope my research will bring stakeholders together, …
    Type: Research
  • … Want to grow your own orchids? We’ll help you choose which ones are right for you. Assistant Horticulturist Chester Jankowski provided these basics on four kinds of … Intergeneric hybrid Cattleya Cattleya come in almost every color (just not blue) and are known for their large, fragrant flowers. You might recognize them from being commonly used in orchid …
    Type: Blog
  • … of Chicago and in Lake County. The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden has inspired visitors for decades to grow their own vegetables. The COVID-19 health crisis has changed how we get our … plants is not feasible on the scale needed to feed our population. That presents challenges for those on the front lines of our food chain. In addition, supply chains and other economic …
    Type: Blog
  • … working on conservation genomics of Amsonia tharpii and reconstructing the evolutionary tree for Amsonia . My graduate school work focused on the systematics, taxonomy, and biogeography of …
    Type: Staff bio
  • … two of the major islands in the nation of Indonesia.  Amorphophallus titanum , the Latin name for the titan arum species, is native to the island of Sumatra. The corms of the Titan Twins were … arums with pollen from an individual from another institution that has been stored “on ice” for just such an occasion. Java: height=79.75” and circumference 51.25”; Sumatra: height=69” and … through use of a thermal camera and determine if the unpollinated inflorescence produces heat for a longer period than the pollinated one. Measuring odor production will be a bit more …
    Type: Blog
  • … health care, said an insulating blanket of snow on the ground helps. Snow is a good insulator for plants that are exposed to extreme cold temperatures, so any plants that are covered should … get damaged by more cold temperatures that are sure to come. We need winter to stay winter for plants to remain safely dormant. The lesson is to choose the right plant for the right place. Any plants that are marginally hardy in our zone, or that were planted in …
    Type: Blog
  • … to place his or her planter next to a friend’s planter so they could grow close together. Just for fun, we experimented with some other kinds of planters, including plastic bottles and shoes. … a rectangular opening in the side of the bottle, poke six to eight holes on the opposite side for drainage, fill with soil, plant, and hang it up. The preschoolers are fascinated by the soda … because they tend to dry out faster than larger containers. It’s a good project for young children because they will get to do a lot of watering without harming the plants.   …
    Type: Blog
  • … garden beds each season to improve plant health and drainage can also be an expensive endeavor for the home gardener.   The first step in prepping the beds is removing the top layer of soil. … fact, with the exception of times of extreme drought, no supplemental watering was necessary for the gravel garden beds I managed at Epic Systems. Another benefit of growing plants in 4 to 5 … maturity in 2019. It is my hope that this patience will give way to something beautiful for years to come. …
    Type: Blog
  • … and she oversees the Malott Japanese Garden, including the Island of Everlasting Happiness. For Lightscape, Pogue worked with the designers to ensure the lights on the island honored … of Keiunto (Island of the Auspicious Cloud) and Seifuto (Island of Clear, Pure Breezes). For the full effect, she recommends catching it on a foggy day—especially in the fall. But this unreachable island has a deeper story and meaning—namely, a quest for immortality. Through the ages, people have tried to discover the secret to everlasting …
    Type: Blog