… few native plants to your garden. They can offer food, shelter, nesting material, and a place for insects and birds to lay their eggs. They tolerate the vagaries of an ever-changing climate. … nearly three billion since 1970, a number that scientists have called staggering. The reasons for the decline are numerous, but habitat loss and the resulting lack of food plays a significant … pears or rhododendrons. A lack of insects—especially caterpillars—means little or no food for hatchlings. Adult birds must spend energy flying longer distances from the nest looking for …
Type: Plant Info
… , the stark white trunks of native sweet birch (Betula lenta) stand out on overcast days. Look for paperbark maples (Acer griseum) and Peking lilacs (Syringa pekinensis) and discover the … cedar (Thuja plicata) has dark green, scale-like leaves that are aromatic when crushed. Look for the delicate brown cones near the tips of the branches. The deeply furrowed bark of dawn … be cut back in early spring. So grab your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf and come out for a visit. There’s much to see. Written by Nina Koziol, garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… the corpse flower that bloomed last September. Maxwell and Lexi (in her Alice T-shirt) Kirchen visit Sprout early this morning before school. Harper, 14 months old, waves at #CBGSprout the … And it is very stinky. Carrie: I happened to see the Facebook post. And we were here every day for Spike (a titan arum that previously was on display at the Garden). Jamie Smith of Highland … spathe (modified frilly leaf). It has great textures. Roman Bouchal of the Czech Republic came for the smell this morning, and found it in the window removed from Sprout the corpse flower’s …
Type: Blog
… muddy boots and thorn-snagged pants, giving back to the landscapes they love. “I think caring for the natural world brings out the best in people,” said Stevens. The swollen sedge ( Carex intumescens ). Source: Doug McGrady. And that care leads to wins for elusive rare species. Take the swollen sedge ( Carex intumescens ). Once classified as … than 550 rare plant populations stretch across the forest preserves—far more than staff can visit annually. Volunteer finding the white lady's slipper orchid ( Cypripedium candidum ). Its …
Type: Blog
… If you’re a beginning gardener, it’s easy to be intimidated by where to start and how to care for plants. The Garden offers many resources to get you growing. Let’s dig in. Start Small Don’t … rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you. Outdoors If you have a small … the existing garden or creating another one. We’re here to help. Take a class. Read a book. Visit the greenhouse. Watch a video. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… A walk through the Dwarf Conifer Garden is truly a plant lover’s feast for the eyes. It’s difficult to decide where to look next; what new magnificent specimens await … with new vistas, views, and plant discoveries revealed at every turn, and at every level. For as the garden clearly demonstrates, not all dwarf conifers are found by looking down. … of the year, especially in winter. Download a guide for the Dwarf Conifer Garden before you visit. Considering dwarf conifers for your landscape? Read on or take a class . The American …
Type: Walks
… rakes to remove unsightly mats of algae and invasive shoreline weeds. See the water quality for yourself: at this rare break in the shoreline plantings, you can walk right down to the … species, have become not only part of the shoreline infrastructure but also important habitats for fish, frogs, turtles, and birds. Arranged in eye-pleasing drifts, some plantings extend out … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… I sat there in front of a group of plants that produce lovely-smelling flowers, waiting for their impressive pollinators to show up. And when they did, I snapped some of my very first … volume and sugar content, floral scent, who pollinates and when (hawkmoths come at dusk and visit overnight; bees generally visit in the morning), how populations grow and shrink over time, which other plant species are …
Type: Blog
… a prescribed burn in Dixon Prairie. Fire burns through dead leaves and stems, opening space for native plants to grow from seed, nourished by the charred plant material and increased … areas.” That’s because periodic fires—ignited by lightning and set by Indigenous Peoples for hunting, managing resources, and more—shaped the Chicago area’s woodlands, wetlands, and … against them,” said Jim Jabcon, prairie ecologist at the Garden. Fire is an effective tool for keeping natural areas healthy because, over time, the cycle of burning, spreading native …
Type: Blog
… As the days get shorter, you might be looking for off-the-beaten paths where you can soak up the rest of the season. I’ve got just the place for you—the Barbara Brown Nature Reserve. Tucked away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s southeast … I’m always puzzled that so few people have discovered it. Here are just a few reasons to visit: The color purple—and more The fall colors are amazing—purple asters, yellow goldenrods, …
Type: Blog
