… about right this year, but the quality of the experience is a little ‘off,’” Tankersley said. “For instance, the cherry [tree] outside my office—in a good year—is a mass of light yellow … the Chicago area is hard to predict.” Part of the mission of the Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action is to fight climate change through scientific research … a topic of conversation among the horticulture staff for the last couple of weeks and in the news,” said Tankersley. “The diminished [fall] displays are caused, in part, by the drought and …
Type: Blog
… leaves, buds, and flowers. How does scent play a role in attracting hawkmoths? Do moths use it for pollination? Or do they use it to find host plants to lay their eggs? Or maybe both? Hawkmoth … prior research, we know that floral scent can vary within and between plant populations. For instance, within the species O. harringtonii , some populations produce a scent compound … collaborator, Rob Raguso at Cornell University, sent us hawkmoth pupae and we patiently waited for them to emerge. Victoria Luizzi (left) and Andrea Gruver (right) dissect a female moth to …
Type: Blog
… 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
… 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
… 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
… place to start * Paint Permanent marker Newspaper or work surface * Any paint will do—look for nontoxic options that are safe for children and environmentally friendly. Sidewalk chalk is another great option. Instructions …
Type: Blog
… 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
