… Long-ago legend says that cranes can live for 1,000 years…and that folding 1,000 paper cranes, one for each year, can make a wish come true. So it is that the crane is the symbol of longevity and … Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden, decided to make origami cranes as a take-away gift for children who visited the garden’s Shoin House. Each winter, Ray and wife Ginny folded …
Type: Blog
… the tree species and the region in which you live. Bonsai in fall color, before being prepped for storage. The same bonsai prepped for winter storage; tags indicate tasks to do in spring on this tree. Here in the Chicago area, … conditions. Prior to bringing in your tropical trees and tucking your cold hardy trees away for the winter, there is some work to be done. In this post, we will discuss fall and early …
Type: Blog
… Terese Adamiec is the grower for outdoor floriculture in the Plant Production department. She focuses on growing and maintaining the annuals that are used in the display gardens for the spring, summer, and fall seasons. She also maintains the inventory of nonhardy plants that are overwintered each year, orders hundreds of varieties of seeds for seasonal displays, and delivers the finished plants to horticulturists throughout the year. …
Type: Staff bio
… As we are all adapting to new ways of connecting for work and play, students in Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm program have learned to adapt too. … “We built community by coming together despite the pandemic and produced vegetables for the community during it.” “I’m glad to have been able to work on the Farm another year.” “I was glad to come back to familiar faces.” “If it wasn’t for this opportunity, I would have had more anxiety about the situation. It really does take my …
Type: Blog
… Tom Tiddens has worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the Plant Health Care department for 25 years. In 1994, Tiddens was promoted to supervisor of the department. Since then, the … lead arborist in managing tree care and risk assessment. He is also the containment director for the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition and is responsible for butterfly health and management as well as the permitting process through USDA. Tiddens is …
Type: Staff bio
… woodlands, and fish are a part of this shadowed world that has long been entrenched in mystery for local residents and scientists alike. As urbanization, erosion, increasingly intense weather … plants begin to peel away at the perimeter of the ravines, it has become increasingly urgent for us to unwrap those mysteries and help protect the system that has long protected us. “The … challenges have not deterred Goad and a team of citizen scientists from digging in to look for solutions. For 15 years, the many contributors to Plants of Concern have been collecting …
Type: Blog
… April, that blanket can be especially welcome. If you are like me, though, you just can’t wait for that first day when you lose the covers and open the windows. It is that breath of fresh air … the corner. Roses under a warm winter blanket of mulch. Our Krasberg Rose Garden is ready for its breath of fresh air, too. All winter, many of our roses have been under their warm … increase and daytime temperatures get warmer, however, we need to start inspecting our roses for signs that it is time to remove the compost and prepare the roses for the beauty yet to come. …
Type: Blog
… important agricultural pollinators, but many of our native bees are vastly more imperiled. For example, the rusty patched bumblebee , native to the Upper Midwest, was just listed this … losses and asking what they can do to help support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. For a start, it’s more beneficial to pollinators to plant species that are native to your region, … Here are five more pollinator-friendly actions that everyone can take. Provide resources: For pollinators, this means flowering plants with pollen and/or nectar. Diversity is key, as …
Type: Blog
… and subtract the blah by turning food into art. Use what you have in the fridge, and look for fruits or veggies in a fun variety of colors, which is not too hard to do since they are … Dough This treat you can't eat, but it's always fun to smush! Here is an easy to make recipe for stove-top play dough... Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1/2 cup salt 4 tbsp. cream of tartar 2 cups … dollar store, or use regular, old ice cube trays. Sometimes we like to hunt through our toys for fun- shaped plastic "molds" to make icey treats in, too. Put out a few different types of …
Type: Blog
… Mealy apples, sprouted potatoes, and wilted celery, oh my! These may sound like candidates for the compost bin, but don’t toss them out just yet. Even if they aren’t fit for consumption, some fruits and veggies might be good for making prints. For younger children, this activity provides ample opportunity to practice …
Type: Blog
