… of Hidalgo, Illinois, brooms are more than just a pantry item. They’re a labor of love, made with a special ingredient: broomcorn. Broomcorn is a type of ornamental grass used to make … his broom-making machines to the Garden to demonstrate broomcorn broom-making. We caught up with Spannagel to learn a little about his craft: What is broomcorn? (Spoiler: It’s not corn) … central Africa, where it eventually spread to the Mediterranean. Benjamin Franklin is credited with first bringing broomcorn to the United States in the 1700s, says Spannagel. Commercial …
Type: Blog
… research. “We have known for quite some time that all plants on land share a common ancestor with green algae, but there has been some debate as to what form of algae is the closest … scientist in genomics and bioinformatics. Over the past four years, he has collaborated with an international team of researchers on the study that gathered an enormous amount of … research partnership initiated by researchers at the University of Alberta and BGI-Shenzhen, with funding provided by many organizations including the iPlant Collaborative at the University …
Type: Blog
… somebody’s bed. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Create patterns of color and texture with leaves Weave sticks and dried grasses together Stack stones according to size Create a … product. As you are collecting and sorting materials, see what patterns or images you come up with. This open-ended activity is about experimentation and a celebration of nature. The pressure … woven grasses. So, leave any ideas about “artistic ability” at the front door and head outside with your family to make nature art. Research shows that tapping into your creative side will …
Type: Blog
… When I was 8 years old, I traveled with my family to Przysietnica, Poland, to spend the summer with relatives. My grandparents’ farm was the home base for my adventures with cousins and siblings. We spent hours in the breezy northern hills, picking the sweetest …
Type: Blog
… Rachel Carson was one of the reasons why I became conscious of the environment and so involved with environmental issues. Her example inspired me to write Earth in the Balance. . . . Her … holding me My mom was a grade school teacher. During a brief period where she stayed at home with children, she became an environmentalist. It all began with the book Silent Spring . My mother read about chemicals used in farming post-World War II …
Type: Blog
… that an organic medium such as mulch will inevitably play host to weeds as well and just live with it. (Besides, they pull out easily). Let’s make the distinction here, too, that when crushed … passage of air, water, and nutrients through the soil and into the tree’s root zone. With the root zone de-turfed, the repetitive visits of mowers and accompanying foot traffic … as they serve as a conduit for the movement of air and water through the soil. Additionally, with mowers and weed whips relegated to the drip line, there are far fewer opportunities for …
Type: Blog
… 60-plus phlox species are relatively unknown to horticulture, yet can delight the senses with their almost infinite variation of flower color and fragrance. The underutilized species are admittedly a persnickety group to cultivate, with many of them inhabiting harsh habitats from baking desert valleys to frigid alpine rock … indigos ( Baptisia ), to name a few. In 2006, I started assembling a collection of phlox with the intent of testing my luck in creating novel hybrids between the species here as well. …
Type: Blog
… bonsai collection. “This is a deciduous tree so it has a glazed pot. The color works well with the white and pink blooms.” A hornbeam tree in the Garden’s bonsai collection. The pot was … the colors are more muted and allow the fall color to stand out. It also is very complementary with bark color in the winter when the leaves have fallen.” A juniper raft in the Garden’s … a fabricated slab. An evergreen in the Garden’s bonsai collection. “This tree is paired with a glazed container that was made by artist Paul Katich, the tree's owner.” A maple tree in …
Type: Blog
… horticulturist Goals: My goal is to travel to another growing zone to familiarize myself with the plants growing there as much as possible. When I travel, I always try to pick up a book … garden. I also fancy the world of fungi and will be helping friends inoculate their properties with oyster, reishi, and morel mushrooms. Advice: Stay curious, try something new, and have fun! … grown before or learn a new technique. Resolve to become a more thoughtful gardener by working with the cycles of Mother Nature and trusting your instincts. Lastly, eat something from your …
Type: Blog
… programs such as classes, field trips, horticultural therapy, and Camp CBG. Pillar has been with the Garden since 2017, when she started as an intern in Plant Production. She has since … in 2020. Her interest in nature and plants led her to graduate from Macalester College with a bachelor’s degree in biology, where she also worked on the school’s grounds crew. A lifelong Chicagoan, she sees the immense value in connecting with plants and having access to green space. …
Type: Staff bio
