… Immature bald eagles, with their mottled black and white plumage, can easily be mistaken for ospreys. In summer, visitors can watch an osprey (Pandion haliaetus) —with its 6-foot … fiercely defends their territory and brings food to his mate. The young remain in the nest for about two months, begging constantly for food. Then they take their first flights off the platform. Watching an osprey grab a meal can …
Type: Blog
… horticulturists at the Chicago Botanic Garden transcend tradition on Valentine’s Day. Read on for thoughtful, unusual, and homemade floral gift ideas. Spouses can evoke their wedding day by … outdoor floriculturist at the Garden. Tim would use sweet peas, freesias, and delphinium for a nostalgic, sweetly scented gift. Tropical flowers from spots such as Hawaii and Florida can … on it. Flowering plants such as kalanchoe, African violets, cyclamen, and azaleas can bloom for weeks and serve double duty in the summer garden. Tim Pollak likes giving indoor blooming …
Type: Blog
… and festive way to show friends and relatives that you care about them. It’s a great project for kids who need something to do. (It’s also a way to use up some of those 20-year-old spices … the crease to apply them to your picture. It helps if you make the glue design for one spice at a time, and let each spice dry before putting a new one on. When each spice has dried, shake the card to remove excess, and apply glue for the next spice. This reduces blending. Cream of tartar dries white to make this snowman. …
Type: Blog
… a biocontrol weevil. I am also interested in developing measures of success and best practices for ex situ plant conservation programs, from collecting genetically diverse seed accessions to … of restorations. A more recent area of focus involves adapting zoo conservation approaches for plants. In restoration ecology, much of my work has focused on defining seed transfer zones, … I am interested in improving predictive risk assessments and evaluation procedures for deliberately introduced plants, and led a team that developed the Chicago Botanic Garden's …
Type: Staff bio
… 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
… 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
… 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
