… One of the best things about visiting (and working at!) the Chicago Botanic Garden: you get great ideas for your own garden. I put one of them to work in my new "all vegetable" front … varieties in containers. Her solution was simple and elegant: gather up the paint stirrers and get out the chalkboard paint! The photos are testament to how easy it is: assemble a pile of paintable wooden markers-to-be, scrub-brush lightly under running water, …
Type: Blog
… plants, tools, books, or other items to make the garden a work of art. Stumped about what to get? Here are a dozen suggestions to inspire you. Books There are many field guides to help … hoe? Many garden centers now offer lightweight collapsible hoses that curl up when the water is turned off. Most gardeners could use a spare watering can, too. Wind Chimes Give the gift of … produces large showy flowers indoors during winter when the winds are howling and the snow is blowing. Discover what they look like and how to care for them. You’ll find them in garden …
Type: Plant Info
… A quick primer for successful combinations Every gardener is an artist. After all, you “paint” your garden with plants. Just as an artist moves paint from … coleus makes for a hot-colored tapestry that feels tropical and exotic. At the other extreme is a grouping of pale blue ageratum, pastel pink roses, and white sweet alyssum, which creates a … that is a sprawling suburban lot. Understanding how color combinations work can help you get the most out of your garden, big or small. Here's to Hue Most people see a violet afterimage …
Type: Plant Info
… back from extinction in the wild? Chicago Botanic Garden scientists think so. Their belief is reflected in the rows of rare alula ( Brighamia insignis ) growing discreetly in a Garden … decade ago, with just one plant clinging to a wind-swept sea cliff on a Hawaiian island, alula is still seen today by visitors at botanic gardens around the world. These living collections of … of extinction. And this is a relatively easy way to stop extinction and biodiversity loss and get things back into the wild.” …
Type: Blog
… greatest achievements. Their transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly is truly mind-boggling when you really think about it. Seeing one is a joy. Seeing hundreds at … and 200mm macro lenses. They allow me to be a comfortable distance away from the butterflies, get excellent details, and also keep the background soft. As with all wildlife, I always focus on … photograph will have a more satisfying feel. If you are photographing the side of a butterfly, get parallel to the wings to keep your plane of focus aligned with entire length of the …
Type: Blog
… of train exhibitions at the Chicago Botanic Garden—and he still plays with trains. “I hardly get to play with my railroad at home because I get to play with this one,” said Dave Rodelius, in … and manages the Chicago Botanic Garden). Models of historic steam engines will chug along 1,600 feet of track, representing the early days of the Society, when steam engines ran commuter … Q. What keeps you motivated after all these years? A. My passion for the railroad is what drives me—I absolutely love this railroad. The same passion goes for everyone. We have 18 …
Type: Blog
… the plants, harvesting the bounty, and eating the delicious, nutritious final product is a priceless education in itself. Gardening and the subsequent cooking activities transcend … spinach, peas, and carrot seeds can be scattered lightly in prepared soil, or, once you really get going with vegetable gardening, can be started indoors in March. Radish seeds are a perfect … good rich compost. By rotating in summer crops once the spring crops are done (often by June 1), the garden will continue to provide food, interest, and great enjoyment to all. For any …
Type: Plant Info
… ideas. Here are some things to do now before your garden winds down. Time to Plant September is a great time to plant some types of trees and shrubs. Cooler days, warm soils, and rain or supplemental watering help woody plants get established before going dormant. Some trees are marginally hardy in the Chicago area and … should be planted in the spring. Be sure to ask an expert before planting. Think Ahead This is the month to start planning and planting for a spring display. Daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses, …
Type: Plant Info
… lamps in his basement. Now he’s a proud plant parent to more than 100 plants. The collection is impressive, to be sure. But just how does one transport a thriving plant collection? As I … to bring to your new home. “Why bring something if you’re just going to throw it away once you get there?” Weaver said. “Now is the time to get rid of anything disease or insect-infested.” Make cuttings of large plants you can’t move If …
Type: Blog
… Summer is a social time, filled with friends, family, and sunshine—but what if you want to slip away on … your thoughts Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center Green Roof Garden To get away from it all, head to our Green Roof Garden on the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant … to a lyrical reading of “Ozaagi’aan One Open to an Other” in English and Ojibwe; an excerpt is printed on the love seat. Recording courtesy of Margaret Noodin, Ph.D. Noodin reads her poem …
Type: Blog
