… we simply want winter—too often maligned as cold and dreary—to get its due. Perhaps no one is more agreeable to take on the pro-winter debate than Fred Spicer, the Garden’s executive vice … walks, which, he said, “offer completely different impressions of what the winter landscape is like.” McDonald Woods “It’s a magical place any time of year,” Spicer said. “But seeing those big, bare trees is wonderful. They have a winter signature.” Dwarf Conifer Garden “When you need a shot of …
Type: Blog
… If nature is a healing force, Sabryna-Joi King-Bell has felt its power. It happened during a recent Chicago … as simple as potting a plant brought tears to her eyes. “I’m so appreciative because this is such a safe space and I live a life of gratitude,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. … are group-oriented, designed for an array of audiences and ages. The main campus hosts on-site programming for a wide variety of groups. But the outreach programs from the Windy City …
Type: Blog
… in a light soilless mixture. Water the bulb thoroughly once, then again only when the soil mix is dry to the touch. Amaryllis bulbs can tolerate dryness but not soggy conditions. Place the … flowers will last for weeks. Place the plant in a cool area and water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid splashing water on the leaves. Fertilize with a dilute 10-10-10 … the soil evenly moist and punch holes in foil liners to allow for proper drainage. If the soil is allowed to dry, the plants will wilt and lose leaves. However, saturated soil conditions can …
Type: Plant Info
… Changing your planting style is a win-win for you and your local bees. At the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg is planting for pollination success. "It's actually been good for us that the weather stayed cool … are a great example—the flowers don't easily release pollen. The first day of flower opening is the most important day for pollination, as the fruit set will be better. As the flower ages, …
Type: Plant Info
… the autumn palette, especially when it announces itself gradually, very gradually. Change is good, we say, as we bid farewell to lavender, frothy pink, cerise, and soft yellow, and … pleasantly with the richer, darkening tones of the landscape, and their delicacy of blossom is quite irresistible. Autumn windflower, Japanese anemone, and fall-blooming anemone are common … them. They do tolerate partial shade but not poor drainage, whether in summer or winter, so site your plants carefully. Their bare, round stems are often compared to waving wands with …
Type: Plant Info
… lava rock in foundation plantings back in the 1980s? That’s not what today’s gravel garden is about. Unlike the raked layer of gravel found in Japanese-style gardens, the “new” gravel … ponds offer lower maintenance costs than traditional and chemically treated pools. What’s old is new again. Meadow Gardens Meadow-making. It’s not a new thing—the Garden installed a Meadow Garden in 2000—but the “meadow look” is increasingly popular. It’s called by other names—The New Naturalism, The New Perennial …
Type: Plant Info
… Lawn tasks, including seeding and fertilizing, can begin in earnest. September also is a good month to plant many varieties of trees and shrubs. Garden To-Do List Continue to … soil samples. Start a compost pile If you didn’t start a compost heap in the spring, September is a good time to make one. Begin to layer grass clippings, dried fallen leaves, soil, a handful … selections of spring-blooming bulbs to plant in October and into November, provided the soil is workable and not frozen. Want to see flowers as soon as possible next year? Learn more Plant a …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: The Garden's largest member of the swallow family is the purple martin. Look for them flying around or perched on the large, aluminum birdhouses on … various locations around the Garden. Anyone walking the Garden perimeter in spring and summer is sure to notice the mini apartment complexes filled with purple birds flying in and out of … the martins will return year after year to the same place to raise their young, which is exactly what they do at the Garden. Purple martins spend the winter in South America, and …
Type: Birding
… Annual cicada Insect fascination is never ending. Here are five activities you can do this summer to extend the enchantment. 1. … their shed exoskeletons clinging to the base of the plant stems. A good place to find them is at the Kleinman Family Cove. Please be careful not to fall into the water while you are … cicadas 4. Visit an insect exhibition. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Butterflies & Blooms is open through Labor Day and free with admission. Immerse yourself in a habitat filled with …
Type: Blog
… Center, Greenhouse Galleries Open during Garden hours , included with general admission This is a story about people with big dreams. It’s a story about imagination and growing new things. It’s a story about the past and also about the future. This is a story about the Chicago Botanic Garden: who we were, who we are, and who we might become. …
Type: Event for Ongoing
