… ranging from 1 to 2.3 miles. A hidden gem, the path along Spider Island is just the place for a peaceful winter walk. I love a brisk walk any time, anywhere. But never is it as urgently necessary for my mental health as in winter. A winter walk is the cure for cabin fever. And more than that, it’s the way to reshape the way you think about winter. …
Type: Blog
… start to wonder. Where was it going? And what made it turn? After a big snow, I love looking for wildlife tracks and the stories they tell. The paw prints and other tracks in the snow are … a recent blog, we talked about finding awe on winter walks—turning attention outside yourself for emotional well-being. By following animal tracks, you lose yourself in a different world and … , where I’m director of youth education. One winter, after a snowstorm, I decided to look for evidence of wildlife near the Garden’s Regenstein Learning Campus. My first sighting was the …
Type: Blog
… way out of the ground in the Farwell Landscape Garden. Cooler temperatures may slow growth for most plants, but they also allow for richer colors to develop. These peony stems have a deep burgundy color that is highly … empty bed. Eventually these will grow out into large bushy plants with showy red flowers, but for now we can enjoy the unique form of the new growth. Many geranium varieties also feature …
Type: Blog
… be contained in its pot. Roots growing out of and over the edge of a pot signal that it’s time for re-potting—which gives you the opportunity to examine your plant for overall root health. Plump, green roots look and are healthy; yellow, spotted, black, or dried out roots indicate that it’s time to re-think how you’re caring for your orchid. Learn more about repotting Phalaenopsis and other orchids in our blog. …
Type: Blog
… about and get engaged with nature. The hands-on component is key. After a teacher signs up for a field trip, we deliver kits of materials for every student. Students pick up the kits at the school. Every virtual program includes a live … seeds that we plant together. Thanks to a generous donor, we offer this program free of charge for all schools that serve a population where 50 percent or more students are considered “low …
Type: Blog
… while the smaller berries are sterile. Spike and Stinky contributed all the pollen used for Alice’s pollination last September. About one-third of Alice’s female flowers received … while Stinky, thought to be more distantly related, provided appropriate genetic material for proper reproduction. You can see the difference on Alice’s infructescence (fruit stalk) , … produced by Stinky’s pollen will make one or two seeds. It will take several more months for the fruits to ripen and turn deep red—a signal that seeds may finally be collected. One …
Type: Blog
… so they prefer hot temperatures and high humidity. Still, these days can be great for taking pictures. Butterflies tend to stay at rest to conserve energy to stay warm. So you … to snap a picture of their ventral side. After the rain passes, humid conditions are ideal for the butterflies, and you can find them roosting or drying their wings in the post-rain … well. Our butterflies tend to be very interactive on these days, so be sure to keep an eye out for butterflies flying in a flutter (or group), mating, and even fighting. Mornings: Butterflies …
Type: Blog
… explore and make more than one kind of insect. Coffee filters —Cut these each into six pieces for wings. You can see how to cut them from the photo of our completed insect below. Pipe cleaners —Cut these into 3-inch pieces for legs. Craft supplies to decorate and color your insect —Use feathers, googly eyes, crayons, … wait until the fall season of Little Diggers, but if you don’t want to wait, you can sign up for My First Camp for 3-year-olds, and enjoy more hands-on science, art, food, and gardening. …
Type: Blog
… of the garden with more pronounced growth, they might benefit from a light layer of mulch. For the most part, though, there is nothing special for most gardeners to do in their perennial beds. Even in great weather for pruning, proceed with care. Spring-flowering shrubs like viburnums, lilacs, and forsythia set …
Type: Blog
… but that knowledge has been lost,” Ross said. It’s not just edibles. Ross looks to the garden for home décor ideas, such as using okra pods in creative ways, and as an unexpected source of … and pick them young. Choose the right plants—such as cherry tomatoes instead of beefsteak for an urban container, or squash blossoms instead of larger squash (and pick the squash when it … keeps up to a week or more in the refrigerator; use on roasted vegetables or grilled steak. For the potato salad 10 ounces small purple Peruvian potatoes (about 20) 10 ounces small yellow …
Type: Blog
