… of the Gators) hosted the State Bonsai Convention. That weekend was an eye-opening experience for me, as I got to learn from and assist international bonsai artists like Jim Smith, Colin … in Okazaki, Japan, where he had spent some time. Suzuki, or “Oyakata” (an honorific reserved for a person of high authority) as we would call him, was a third-generation bonsai master and … gave me an entirely different perspective on how the practice of bonsai has evolved in Japan for centuries. In April 2014, I started as the curator of bonsai at the Chicago Botanic Garden. …
Type: Blog
… to close on July 13 and 14—the first time in the Garden’s history that we closed to visitors for two consecutive days. So what exactly happened that required us to close? And how did the … back into the Skokie River. The Skokie River watershed, highlighted in blue. ( Click here for larger view .) The Skokie River watershed, highlighted in blue. ( Click here for larger view .) The 2017 flooding at the Garden was dramatic. Our lake levels rose more than …
Type: Blog
… Garden, we were reminded of the pure joy that plants can bring. Alice provided special moments for many people—including me. On September 28, at 12:51 a.m., I received a text from the Chicago … This is it. This is what so many dedicated horticulturists at the Garden have been waiting for, and watching for, with our collection of eight titan arums over these last 12 years. I arrived at the Garden …
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… reportedly said, “Let him who hath two loaves sell one, and buy the flower of narcissus: for bread is but food for the body, whereas narcissus is food for the soul.” During the Victorian era, when flowers were selected carefully for their meanings, …
Type: Blog
… team from the Development Department (spearheaded by Lisa Bakker) brainstorm, gather, and plan for their wreath that it took them just two lunch breaks to assemble and decorate it. Monica … a charming mascot dubbed “Mr. Who.” Children’s educator Kathy Johnson used just one ingredient for her made-by-hand wreath: natural raffia. It’s hand-knotted into evergreen sprays and red … at the bottom All summer long, assistant horticulturist Leah Pilon kept a sharp eye out for materials that dried well: the Carex seed pods, okra, millet, dried flower heads (Green …
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… Horticultural therapy has proven benefits for individuals with autism. The integration of horticultural therapy and therapy gardens within … skills, socialization, and ambulatory movement. In veteran’s hospitals, gardening is used for exercise, vocational training, and education. There is one population that, in my opinion, … observed with quiet fascination. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized by …
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… Cutie Patootie, and Diva. The availability of low-growing varieties makes them perfect for containers. While dahlias receive a standing ovation for their color and form, they have no scent, making them an ideal bloom for people with allergies. Devoted followers highlighted ease of growing as an attribute. …
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… Garden. But dig a little deeper (literally and figuratively), and you’ll find the reason for that slope: the “hill” is actually the remnants of a glacier. Its proper name is the Highland … of the country; a secondary divide travels along our edge of Lake Michigan. A helpful map for visualizing the ups and downs of the moraines and the valleys in between. Source: Luman, … LiDAR map courtesy of the Illinois State Geological Survey. Planning & Planting Planning for the bike/pedestrian path included much deliberation about the plants that were already …
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… meadia : A Must-see of the Prairie Question: Which one of these is NOT a common name for this handsome spring ephemeral? Shooting star Prairie pointer Prairie primrose Roosterheads Pride of Ohio Answer: Shooting star is the most common name for this species, at least in the Midwest. The plant’s myriad arching flower stalks sporting … a common name, but one that I created. Not very colorful, but this could very easily be a name for this species, since it commonly occurs in prairies and is a member of the primrose family. …
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… My top pick for cool new plant species? The media has called it grotesque and compared to an eyeless worm. … when researchers stumble on a species unknown to science. Here are five of my favorite recent news stories on orchids: Gastrodia agnicellus , by Rick Burian, courtesy of the Royal Botanic … across a crested fringed orchid (Platanthera cristata) , which no one had seen in the state for nearly 20 years. It’s always a feel-good story to learn that a plant has been rediscovered …
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