… can use mushrooms found growing outside or buy them from the market. When selecting mushrooms for spore prints, look for these things: The cap should be fully open with the gills exposed The gills should look good, … mushroom They should look like mushrooms you want to eat This portobello mushroom is good for making spore prints. This shiitake mushroom may be a little old—notice the brown spots on the …
Type: Blog
… “Plant physiologists have understood the environmental factors that lead to fall color for many years. However, each of the 1,391 different taxa of trees and 2,319 taxa of shrubs here … own genetics, and, of course, the weather. A warm and dry September can mean a late start for color. Don’t miss a chance to see the full palette of fall color at the Chicago Botanic … fall walk or use our virtual guide: our Garden Guide app . Check out our infographic below for the full fall story in living color. Want to share our infographic? Download a print version …
Type: Blog
… Welcome to winter, one of the best seasons for gardeners. You have time to plan, prune, and enjoy those houseplants that don’t get much love … east- or north-facing windows may benefit from being moved to a southern or western exposure for winter. DON’T try to remove ice or snow that has frozen onto your outdoor plants. You might inadvertently damage them. Let it melt off on its own. DO start to plan your garden for the new year. Order seeds and bulbs during the winter so you’ll be ready to plant in the …
Type: Blog
… “Wealthy individuals would send floral specimens by railroad from as far away as New York. For people in the Chicago area, that was astounding.” One fall flower show in 1899 drew more than … the future Chicago Botanic Garden; low in the horizon is the city of Chicago (click on image for a larger view) An early image of the Garden’s islands: in the foreground are Bird Island on the left, and the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden on the right (click on image for a larger view) Midsummer in the English Walled Garden is a feast for the senses. Research …
Type: Blog
… it comes to controlling invasive plants, a little faith can’t hurt. This is particularly true for garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). We have been struggling to get this highly invasive biennial plant under control at the Chicago Botanic Garden for more than 20 years. When I first began working on restoration of our 100-acre Mary Mix … is having a significant negative effect on garlic mustard (see woodsandprairie.blogspot.com ). Observers have reported an almost complete absence of garlic mustard in areas that are …
Type: Blog
… Melecio supervises four regular employees and 43 seasonal employees, and is responsible for general grounds maintenance, major event support (set up and tear down), and the landscape … and trains staff and volunteers in safety and equipment operation. Melecio also teaches for the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. …
Type: Staff bio
… He works with a talented team of growers to produce a complex and diverse range of plants for the Garden's programs, collections, and displays. Clark has been with the Garden since 1979, … of the new Plant Production facility being built on the Kris Jarantoski Campus. His passion for producing the highest quality plants has defined his career at the Garden. …
Type: Staff bio
… Helen Bartlett is the horticulturist for Evening Island, which was designed in the New American Garden style of landscape design, … on the Green Roof and the Evaluation Gardens. Bartlett then was assistant horticulturist for the Graham Bulb Garden, Aquatic Garden, and Viburnum Walk. She has been fascinated with the …
Type: Staff bio
… 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. Roots Can Rot Overwatering is the number one threat to an orchid plant. Orchid …
Type: Blog
… Violet has just cracked the top five on Nameberry . What’s behind the trend? Celebrities, for starters. When Gwyneth named baby Apple a dozen years ago, some scratched their heads. Fast … Floral Emblems. Ask the librarian to show you books where you’ll find these beautiful names for girls (and boys) and their language of flowers meanings. Angelica gigas Angelica : … and Rocket ( Eruca sativa ) connoted “rivalry” in the language of flowers, but names for boys are few in the world of blooms. Expand into the wider world of plants and a few more …
Type: Blog
