Search

  • … at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It’s really cool to see how there’s a cult-like following for this plant.”      The scientist’s mail bins overflowed with leaves of native pawpaw trees. … from the seeds Pawpaw trees in Ithaca, New York, in the fall The plant has been around for millions of years, and has been used for centuries by Native Americans and others as food and … but can be found as far west as eastern Nebraska. Learn more about the pawpaw growing range, visit the related Plant Information page. “It will be interesting to see where our research …
    Type: Blog
  • … drinking glasses or glass jars (like Ball or Mason jars) 2 clothespins All the ingredients for the solution are assembled and ready to go. Note: the flavoring pictured here is not the best to use, because it contains alcohol. Use an essential oil for better results. Directions First, assemble the hardware. Cut the bamboo skewer to 6 to 8 … holding it in place with the clothespins. Cover lightly with the paper towel and place it in a safe location where nothing will bump it or land in it for at least one week—two weeks if you …
    Type: Blog
  • … to name a few. Plus, winter has the bonus of birds that actually migrate to our area just for the winter. Some migrants you will see every year are juncos, tree sparrows, and a variety of … what you will find on any given day. That is why I go out every chance I get! Before your next visit check out our list of birds that you can expect to see at the Garden each season.   A … of birds—especially woodpeckers—in the McDonald Woods. If there is open water, check there for ducks and geese. You might be surprised at just how many birds you can find in winter. What a …
    Type: Blog
  • … watch or sleeping on a portable bed nearby. The image may appear bucolic, but more importantly for Rubinberg, it represents a crucial step on his path to recovery from post-traumatic stress … main thing is, the program creates a soft spot to land, learn, grow, and make mistakes in a safe environment while also having a community again,” said Boehm. “It’s eye-opening to see how … horticulturists and conservationists.” Rubinberg grew up in Skokie and went to basic training for the National Guard in June 2018. All his life he’d been part of a tight-knit Jewish …
    Type: Blog
  • … as echinacea and milkweed, there is an overabundance of blooms, making it a joyful month to visit our gardens. It would be easy to draw parallels between the rainbow of summer colors and … sometimes a moth, fly, or even the wind. The diversity of pollinators might be the very reason for the diversity of flowers; more interactions beget more diversity. Regardless of the cause, … that, like flowers, people also come in all types, forms, and expressions. June was chosen for Pride Month to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which happened during a …
    Type: Blog
  • … Garden, mulches and plants nine acres and offers these tips: Purchase the right plant Shopping for a tree? Do not be intimidated; insist upon inspecting the burlapped root ball. Remove the … planted, this root flare should be at least three inches higher than the surrounding soil. Visit Chicagoland Grows for suggestions on trees and plants best suited for the Chicago area. Break the cycle When you …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … to its demise at the turn of the twentieth century, when these and other waders were hunted for their feathery plumes that women wore in their hats. Since then, the great egret, standing more than 3 feet tall with a nearly 5-foot wing span, has become the symbol for the National Audubon Society, founded in part to stop these birds from being killed to … is doing well in Illinois; however, habitat loss and water pollution may threaten its future. Visit Baker’s Lake in Barrington to watch the great egret during breeding season and McGinnis …
    Type: Blog
  • … and reds of the torch lilies, the evaluation garden will be a riot of colors and a haven for pollinators. The masterworts sulked last summer so we worried that winter might end the trial. But, after a strong start this spring, we’re hopeful for a bounty of their pincushion-like flowers in June and July. Visitors and staff were sad to … on Instagram and Facebook. Keep an eye on our social media channels, but better yet, come visit us in person. …
    Type: Blog
  • … examine on a daily basis. The goal of the field trips is to create real-life opportunities for students to have fun with science outside of their classroom walls, said Drew Wehrle, the … together outside is part of the fun of guided field trips. Field trips are a great opportunity for outdoor fun, too. Each of the guided field trips is crafted to fulfill age-appropriate state … and can be guided or self-directed.  For more information about field trips, or to sign up, visit  chicagobotanic.org/fieldtrips . …
    Type: Blog
  • … tombstone in Cumberland, England "While life lasts." This can be a very brief moment in time for a spring ephemeral. In that narrow window that exists between thawing ground and the leafing … pollinators associated with them, they usually have several different pollinators that can visit, including other native bees and many species of flies. For ephemerals in the genus … False rue anemone ( Isopyrum biternatum ) With spring on the horizon, you should make plans to visit the McDonald Woods to view the diversity of colorful spring wildflowers. For those of you …
    Type: Blog