… A striking century plant is putting on a show in the final stages of its life—it’s blooming for the first and only time in 27 years. The succulent sends up a tall stalk of blossoms right … stalk grow in a rosette to funnel water to the base of the plant and their waxy coating allows for better water storage. The energy required to push up the flower spike causes the leaves to …
Type: Blog
… herb of the year. “What?” you might be thinking. “What about basil?” Discover a world of uses for your herb harvest—essential and flavored oils, vinegars, jams and jellies—at Herb Garden … Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, who likes dill for both its flavor and growing habits. “It’s my favorite tasting herb, especially with fish, … freshener. I’d Have the Thyme Versatility—and a pleasing bloom—makes thyme the herb of choice for Celeste Vandermey, supervisor of plant records. “Thyme adds flavor and aroma to any soup or …
Type: Blog
… are all guilty of this unsightly phenomenon. Fortunately, there is a compact substitute for each of these bulky favorites. So, if you want to give your yard more color in autumn but … progeny of Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’. While 3 feet isn’t necessarily short for a perennial, it is definitely an improvement over its 5- to 6-foot-tall daddy. And like Henry … quit until it has fought its way through multiple frosts. Helenium s are plants perfect for rain gardens or any moist, sunny spot. Butterflies find them irresistible, too. Aconitum …
Type: Blog
… at a Time Parents and grandparents are often children’s first and most important teachers. For 15 years, I have had the pleasure of teaching families with young children at the Chicago … of space to acquire new skills like weeding, watering, and planting. All of it is about caring for something —the first step in understanding that the world is bigger than ourselves. This is … ideas and of course, asking lots of questions! Gardening also provides wonderful invitations for children and adults to solve problems together. Why didn’t the seeds grow? What can we do …
Type: Blog
… recognizable and beloved wildflowers, but there are a few things you may not know about them. For one thing, there are several wild species of Rudbeckia growing in the region and several cultivars with bigger and/or fancier flowers that have been developed for people’s gardens. My favorite, sweet black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) , is a native … cleaning this species is wonderful! Sweet black-eyed Susan is a sweet addition to any garden for several reasons: it is a native species, a long-lived perennial, adaptable to several …
Type: Blog
… 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
… What is it, you ask? Some of the most unusual plants our Production Greenhouse team grow for our display gardens are six species of Echium, a biennial plant that produces giant spikes … into smaller pots to establish healthy root systems, before placing them in a cool greenhouse for the winter. Echium pininana ‘Blue Steeple’ The following spring, they are transplanted into …
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
