… But, as an educator, I chalk them up as life-long learning experiences. After gardening for more than four decades. I’ve discovered, hey, I’m still learning (and groaning). Because this … in the shopping cart, think carefully about where it’s going and whether there’s enough room for it to spread up and out—and whether your partner, spouse, children or neighbors might … holds moisture. Over time, it can soften the bark and cause it to rot. Don’t try this at home. Visit a volcano in Iceland instead. Know What’s Down There There’s nothing worse than stepping on …
Type: Plant Info
… the floriculturist who had raised Spike from a seed, peeked inside the frilly spathe to check for pollen. “If there had been pollen, it would have been all over my hand,” Still said. Pollen’s … tubes, paintbrushes and a “scoopula” (to collect pollen). At 10 a.m. today, staff gathered for the delicate procedure. Pollak and Still fist bumped…and the operation began. As Still began … and director, explains Spike’s spathe to a young visitor. For more information please visit our titan arum page . …
Type: Blog
… May is the month to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and some shorebirds, as they migrate through the … the weather report if you want to see these beauties while they are passing through. The good news is that there are a few warblers that actually nest in our area, so if you miss them during … but its song sounds like one. Join me and #birdthepreserves. My top five migration places to visit in the spring are the Chicago Botanic Garden, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary (the magic …
Type: Blog
… Persistence can be a good trait for prairie plants. Take this tale of the return of the Hill’s thistle ( Cirsium hillii ) to the Dixon Prairie at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I’m the assistant ecologist for the natural areas at the Garden. While managing some tall vegetation on the gravel hill of … prefers drier prairies with less competition from taller plants. A number of species of bees visit and pollinate this plant. The plant is believed to be monocarpic, which means the plant …
Type: Blog
… whether the plants can recover. “There’s not a lot you can do at this point but make a note for fall to protect the plants. For now, it’s scout and monitor your garden once or twice a week.” Be Proactive Tiddens is taking … Resources Deer-resistant plants, voles, and preventing animal damage . More related topic, visit our Plant Information Service . Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who …
Type: Plant Info
… no rain, it’s tricky to figure out how and what to water. Our experts have some watering tips for your summer garden and containers. Know what you are watering weekly A general watering rule … to evaporate quickly, too. —Cool nights or warm this week? Cool nights slow evaporation. For some gardeners, an electronic or written garden journal is a helpful tool for plotting … are available through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District website . In Lake County, visit the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County website for plastic rain barrels. An internet search …
Type: Plant Info
… pollinators and that each pollinator has a specific flower type that they are attracted to. For hummingbirds, many gardeners and scientists alike have long assumed their flower type to be … strikingly red, tubular, and scentless. Flowers that are often thought of as typical choices for hummingbirds: Wyoming paintbrush Castilleja linariifolia Giant red paintbrush … hummingbirds do have a sense of smell. So why would hummingbirds go out of their way to visit a limited selection of reddish, long-tubed, scentless flowers that produce cheaper nectar …
Type: Blog
… a woodlot. I was traveling between nature preserves in this area of the state collecting seeds for the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank , so my mind was already tuned in for interesting native flora that might produce a collection for the seed bank. It was impossible … gave me plenty of time to contemplate whether or not to make the collection. Since my first visit to the woodland, I have made several seed collections of many quality native woodland …
Type: Blog
… is anything around them at all. This reminds me, once again, of the mission I have defined for myself as a professor of botany: In order to help them understand and appreciate the nature … down electronic devices and experiencing nature firsthand. “Plant blindness” (an incapacity for many people to recognize the green world around them) has been bemoaned by modern botanists … are institutions like the Chicago Botanic Garden in cities around the world where people can visit, learn about, and come to love real plants. Botanic gardens are thus critical players in …
Type: Blog
… Those are complicated words, but what they mean is that these compounds are being studied for their effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer. Most importantly, they taste great … in trying scallions, purple potatoes, or red peppers while meeting our bright youth, come visit Windy City Harvest at our community markets. Thank you to Conagra Brands Foundation for … http://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/48446.pdf http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/antioxidants-topic-overview http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f1378 …
Type: Blog
