… endocuticular thin alternating layers.” That’s quite a mouthful, so they call it M.E.T.A.L. for short. The acronym fits perfectly. Here's another way to think of what you are seeing: … they’ve found ingenious ways to survive and reproduce. Come to Butterflies & Blooms and see for yourself. …
Type: Blog
… to have a problem with them. Scientists have been investigating the origins of blue flowers for a long time, and it was not until recently that they came up with a result. Blue sea holly ( … colors impart red, purple, and blue in blooms, but are found much less often in flora. For anthocyanin to steer blue, complex scenarios must occur. Most often, metal atoms and ions …
Type: Blog
… either intentionally or accidentally, they can spread prolifically, out-compete native species for resources, and eventually even dominate the landscape. Biologists are studying the mechanisms … period) E Evaluate species and cultivars, then remove invasive taxa W Watch and monitor for signs of invasiveness Scientific Name Common Name Plan Removal complete? Acer ginnala Amur … but may do so in the future, particularly as the climate changes. Plan: W= watch and monitor for signs of invasiveness. Addition of Watch List taxa to the collection should be avoided. …
Type: Research
… Greg Mueller , Ph.D., chief scientist and Negaunee vice president of science at the Garden for answers. Why do mushrooms pop up out of nowhere? Mushrooms can appear magical—seeming to pop … nutrients and water. Depending on the species and its ecology, an individual may persist for weeks to more than a thousand years! When conditions are right, the mycelium produces …
Type: Blog
… already with the pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin cookies), consider this recipe for bourbon pumpkin-pecan fudge. The bourbon gives the fudge a bit of a kick (and who doesn’t …
Type: Blog
… are not large enough to escape the pollinarium’s grasp on its leg — an unfortunate situation for the insect! There are so many flowers in close proximity on a milkweed plant that it seems … but only one or two pollinated flowers develop into mature follicles. The energy it takes for a plant to produce a healthy follicle is considerable, so the other pollinated flowers are …
Type: Blog
… question now? Take the Fruit Pursuit quiz below. Is This a Fruit? Click on each picture for the answer. × Yes, bell peppers are fruits. Fun fact: Red bell peppers are green peppers that …
Type: Blog
… living plant documentation, respond to environmental conditions when preparing to go dormant for the winter. Just like animals that hibernate, trees slow their processes down in order to …
Type: Blog
… lawn mower’s mushroom, is also nonedible. (Photo with permission Michael Kuo, mushroomexpert.com .) Not all mushrooms growing in lawns are toxic. But the only way to tell is to know what … to join a club like the Illinois Mycological Association . Identifying mushrooms and plants for the Illinois Poison Center and hospitals is something that I and other Chicago Botanic Garden …
Type: Blog
… you get comfortable with the concept, try making nature art on a walk or in your own yard for someone else to discover or add to. Imagine walking in the park and discovering a river of …
Type: Blog
