… beauty, those bits of color bring my attention to the bigger world around me. My work with Budburst , the Chicago Botanic Garden’s community science project, has made me appreciate … these moments even more. Budburst encourages everyone to observe and record how plants change with the seasons. The spots of green usually come from evergreen trees that keep their leaves … which have modified leaves called needles. I marvel at how conifer branches and needles, laden with snow, hold all that weight. In contrast, I appreciate the exposed branch structure of a …
Type: Blog
… An edible orchid in an ice sphere adorns a cocktail from chef Daniel Boulud, marthastewart.com Why, yes, that's an orchid in my cocktail Noted French chef Daniel Boulud paired with a mixologist to come up with a white cosmopolitan recipe that calls for elderflower liqueur and a frozen orchid sphere. …
Type: Blog
… in the genus Orchis . Dried and powdered, the resulting flour is combined in a drink mix with other ingredients, much as hot chocolate or chai spices would be: sugar, cornstarch, … too: mix 1½ tablespoons of powdered salep into 6 ounces of steamed or boiling milk. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve in small cups. Our lesson in salep came from the one person who had not only … America; it arrived here courtesy of Ayse’s mother, Figen Ormancioglu, who kindly brought it with her on a recent visit. (The family surname translates as “son of the forester”—Ayse’s love …
Type: Blog
… as possible by understanding how to restore resilient plant populations that can cope with current conditions and adapt to changes over time. “Unfortunately, restoring resilient plant … restoration are not genetically diverse, restored populations are unlikely to be able to deal with changing day-to-day conditions at a site—think polar vortexes followed by record heat in … in the peer-reviewed journal Restoration Ecology. Full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13131 Photo by Tom Kaye: A population of golden paintbrush ( Castilleja …
Type: Research
… Choose the plants: Use small starter plants; 3-inch or 4-inch pots work best. Choose plants with the same general light and water requirements. Using seasonal flowering plants or … poinsettias for the holidays—and change them out throughout the year: replace your poinsettia with a flowering primrose or bulbs in the spring. Dish garden themes: Be different! Try a cactus … bulb garden, flowering annuals, African violets, or herb garden. Or try to spruce it up with special decorations for a holiday or event. Planting and design: Always use a …
Type: Blog
… Take a break from the news and ease your stress with soothing plants that bring calm, comfort, and peace of mind. These plants are said to have … oil is said to have calming properties. It is a popular herbal tea that is said to help with digestion, insomnia, and the common cold. Its fragrant white flowers with a yellow disk in the center make a great addition to your home garden. Gardenia Nothing …
Type: Blog
… Researchers at the Chicago Botanic Garden teamed up with experts nationwide to help home gardeners select the best native plant sources for their … is available to help select the best native plant source. Garden scientists are working with researchers across the country to begin to address this gap. They developed a tool to assess … the suitability of different sources for different planting situations. They tested this tool with a nationwide list of native species and sources sold across the country, assembled by the …
Type: Research
… Garden horticulturist Tom Weaver recently moved to Minnesota to start a new chapter. Along with his husband and dog, he brought his plant family, a love he has nurtured since childhood. … thriving plant collection? As I prepared for my own move (only a few blocks away), I sat down with Weaver to learn how to make the transition happy and healthy for my green, leafy friends. … can easily chop a leaf off and root it without really having to think about it.” Pack plants with care Make sure plants are packed snugly in boxes so they don’t move and break. Weaver …
Type: Blog
… is an almost black-purple color, enhanced in autumn by numerous sprays of teeny white daisies with pinkish-purple centers. A location in full sun or partial sun will produce the darkest … is to plant it in front of Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) or any other shrub with amazing fall color. “Lady in Black” also happens to be the popular name for a mournful soul … fort during the Civil War. On a stormy night in January, she rowed across the freezing water with nothing more than a pickax and an old pistol. She chopped off her hair and disguised herself …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden, offers a step-by-step guide to creating a one-of-a-kind terrarium filled with your favorite plants and personal touches. Need a little more direction? Follow along on the … but will require more frequent watering. Let’s build the layers (from the bottom up): 1. Start with a layer of coarse sand or pebbles, usually no more than 2 inches deep. 2. Cut a sheet of … 5. Select small plants that are suited to your light conditions. Add a mixture of plants with small or large leaves, short and tall in height, and other variations. Add color, either …
Type: Blog
