… Landscape Waste Program As manager of horticulture services, Cindy Baker is responsible for the care and maintenance of more than 100 acres of ornamental landscaping. She also manages … 250 college students and public garden professionals. She also was the first project manager for the Skokie River Restoration Project—an 11-acre transformation of an eroded stream bank zone … events, and classes at the Garden since 1988. She is a regular guest on the WGN-TV Morning News "Botanic Backyard" segments. Baker is also a frequent speaker at the American Public Garden …
Type: Staff bio
… of government affairs, who helped coordinate the program. “Not only is it a great help for the Garden’s staff to tackle needed projects, it is a great learning experience for the crew members who may be for the first time working as part of a land management team.” For many, it was just the place …
Type: Blog
… . That's what we're talking about. Sure, there’s something to be said about just waiting for the right moment. But it doesn’t hurt to scout out a memorable place. More hot spots to pop … background. At the top of the Sensory Garden is the photo-worthy frame you’re looking for. Tucked away in the Sensory Garden is this shady arbor, ready for a romantic moment. A summer walk through the Dixon Prairie is inherently romantic, with …
Type: Blog
… The food’s been great, and the music sounds terrific…time to grab his/her hand and head out for a romantic stroll. Find the places where the two of you can hear the music across the water, … and the Linden Allée is a tiny terrace, tucked behind a hedge. The chairs there are perfect for taking in the scent of the thousands of roses in summer bloom. Where light dances on water. … yet? We think the Cove is one of the prettiest places at the Garden in the evening—perfect for listening to the natural chorus of frogs, birds, and insects. A view to the east. Turn left …
Type: Blog
… or passionflower. On Bridgerton , masses of lush wisteria are twining everywhere—a metaphor for all of the romantic entanglements? Artistic license? No judgments. But alas, senior … Heather Sherwood notes that, in the Chicago area, the lovely vines typically bloom for only three to four weeks in June. We do love that the show’s main characters—the duke, Simon Basset, and Daphne Bridgerton—share their first kiss in a garden. For a flirtatious conversation piece in the English Walled Garden, look for the tulips ‘Sensual …
Type: Blog
… Growing Weekend. We spoke to her about her potted paradise design. Q: Describe your process for designing your container. What makes a good container? A: One of the things I’m always … look quite different. You have to think in advance about plants growing to varying heights. For instance, I always like to have something that hangs over the sides of the container, like … work well in a container? A: I always like to use a simple color palette in containers. For this one, it’s all about shades of purple, black, and green. It makes for a more effective …
Type: Blog
… Take a break from the news and ease your stress with soothing plants that bring calm, comfort, and peace of mind. These … wore boutonnières and corsages when going out on dates. Keep gardenia in a sun-filled window for your very own oasis of calm and relaxation. Lavender Lavender has long been cultivated for medicinal uses and is popular in indoor and outdoor gardens for its aromatic fragrance. The …
Type: Blog
… was crisp, and the nights were frosty: parsnip weather. Cold weather is actually a good thing for parsnips—in fact, they need it to convert the starch in their roots to sugar, transforming … ,and ‘Half-long Guernsey’. Parsnips germination can be a bit fussy, so here’s the our strategy for sowing: Plant fresh seed. Parsnip seed viability is short, so plant only newly purchased … As a secret ingredient in mashed potatoes Or as my chef-friend Brad does, make parsnip cakes for a light main meal or delightful side dish. Here’s the recipe he knows it by heart: Boil …
Type: Blog
… less concerned about plants that just fade into obscurity because then they just provide room for something new and exciting to take their place. Now that the garden is being less dramatic, … compiling data instead of gathering it. Part of this process includes writing year-end reports for our cooperators: those breeders, distributors, or other entities that have given us their … interested to know if this could be used in a design setting to play off plants that bloom for shorter periods and could complement the distinct colors of either the new or old blooms. …
Type: Blog
… as the number of species and their habitats, but where they naturally occur provides clues for how to grow them in cultivation. Luckily, the vast orchid literature available often includes … are a brilliant red to orange-red with some yellow and/or orange in the small lip. Look for forms with flat flowers and broad overlapping petals. They are always a draw in bloom. … the summer. Cool temperatures are optimal, with nights as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit (I aim for around 52-degree nights) and day temperatures no higher than 86 degrees in the summer. …
Type: Blog
