… The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Pollen Bank is a critical tool for advancing our work to prevent plant extinctions, reintroduce species into the wild, and support habitat restoration. Preparing an Amorphophallus perrieri flower for pollen collection. Photo by Jeremy Foster. Storing pollen is an efficient and effective way … diversity of these species. You need to breed plants – Our Pollen Bank is like a sperm bank for plants, storing the genetic material of just one parent. This provides the flexibility to …
Type: Research
… flowers dry better than others, and there are conditions and techniques that can set you up for success, so I set out to learn more. Nancy Giardina, one of the Garden volunteers who made … markets this summer. Selecting flowers to dry Annuals: Annuals are a good starting point for beginners as they bloom all season long, providing ample time to harvest. Perennials: They … white and then fade back to green. Wait until they turn green again, in mid- to late July, for best results. Panicle hydrangeas dry well too. Drying tips Gather about four stems and …
Type: Blog
… Here, Garden experts offer some suggestions for the small garden, whether an urban backyard or a rooftop, a border around a townhouse patio, … space is limited. "If you're planting a hedge, consider plants that are more narrow in habit. For example, Techny arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalis 'Techny') is popular, but for a small area, … botany, plant conservation, and landscape design, in formats from rare books to e-books. Visit Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about small-space gardening, …
Type: Plant Info
… don’t put away your trowel, shovel, hose or clippers just yet. Autumn is another great time for planting and many garden centers have a fresh inventory of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals … kicks in. As we ease into fall, night temperatures start to drop, but the soil will stay warm for some time. Planting in fall gives many trees and shrubs an “extra” growing season. Root … seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle. Take a break from planting and come visit the Garden to see what’s in bloom . Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who …
Type: Plant Info
… she learned everything about labeling and tagging the plant collection and created a schedule for the Integrated Pest Management scouting program that assisted Production staff in decision-making. She was hired to be the labeling coordinator, a job she did for a decade, where she established protocols and procedures and doubled the number of labels … high school, college, and graduate students, as well as veterans. Gabriela coordinated the visit of international Garden guests and has translated documents for educational programs …
Type: Staff bio
… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the wildflowers in bloom. But for Susanne Masi, a plant conservationist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the wildflowers she … them from extinction." For more information on plant conservation science at the Garden, visit chicagobotanic.org/research. …
Type: Plant Info
… bits of green—reminders of the resilience of nature. On a winter awe walk , when I’m looking for unexpected beauty, those bits of color bring my attention to the bigger world around me. My … plants that we may rush by in our hurry to get inside from the snow or cold. It’s a great time for everyone—especially kids and families—to cultivate an appreciation of nature by thinking … means many of their activities like flowering and fruiting have been paused. I might observe for Budburst that the tree outside my house has no flowers, fruits, or leaves, or that the …
Type: Blog
… to know that although it looked like a bad infestation, aphids are not really a big problem for the plants. When they are very abundant, it does not take long for natural predators like praying mantises and ladybugs to find them and move in for a feast. … and devour on our flowers, and they will grow up over the summer. The next time you visit, stop by and see if you can find them helping our plants remain healthy and less bothered …
Type: Blog
… is soil? Great garden soil teems with life, and the creatures that live there are responsible for breaking down leaves/compost/mulch into the nutrients that your plants need. Some creatures … of soil hold the oxygen that underground roots and animals need. They also create the spaces for water and tiny creatures to move around in. Pressure from above ground—from a car, a tractor, … The benefits are many: Compost recycles your household's waste…for free. Homemade compost is safe—its ingredients are known to you and are as chemical-free as you make them. Composting …
Type: Plant Info
… March’s weather proved too cold and/or wet. April also is a good month to help emerging plants for the growing season ahead. Garden To-Do List Continue to remove garden debris left over from … material. Amend soil with compost Compost is a superb soil amendment, top dressing, and mulch for gardens, borders, and lawns. In April, work compost several inches into the existing soil. In … Illinois is technically May 15, volatile spring weather compels many gardeners to play it safe by waiting until Memorial Day weekend to plant their transplants outdoors. April is a …
Type: Plant Info
