… images at a slower shutter speed. (Typically, you want to have at least 1/400th of a second for a 400mm lens, or 1/100th of a second for a 100mm lens, etc., so the shorter lens will gain you two stops in this example—a significant … review the images on a large screen and know what will be acceptable to you on the day of your visit. Every camera is different, and what may work for me may be too grainy for you. Most …
Type: Blog
… we spend a lot of time and energy researching the flora of the areas we are going to visit. We search out areas of the world where the climate is similar to that of the midwestern … document that our hosts submit to the national environmental agencies within each country for approval and permits for the trip. Among our goals on plant-collecting trips is to collect seeds to conserve and to …
Type: Blog
… Collection, graciously met me on a Saturday and more graciously waited two additional hours for my arrival. With Pat safe and sound, I headed to the New Jersey Turnpike. As much as … as take care of some additional botanical business. I conducted a national collections review for the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens in Newark, Delaware. Feeling weak after a long day … from the Chicago Botanic Garden a couple years ago. While in the area, I had a chance to visit Doe Run, which was the famed garden of plantsman, Sir John Thouron, and which is now owned …
Type: Blog
… patches, and scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden study prairie plants and their chance for survival amid changing climates and landscapes. For Dr. Barak, a key question is what restored plant communities will look like. Restored … rainwater and carbon dioxide—they also provide opportunities we can all enjoy each time we visit, said the scientist and former teacher. “I think it’s about more than that [the ecological …
Type: Blog
… “Back then, we were getting ready to pack it in,” says Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and the Linden Allée. Tom is responsible for curating and maintaining a collection of more than 5,000 roses in one of the largest public … years and Soulsby has no reason to believe that trend will not continue. “We continue to care for roses now as we do in June and July—we water, mulch, and keep on top of the deadheading to …
Type: Plant Info
… others feature thistles and brambles, as well as bindweed, nettles, and red campion. Known for its fabulous floral displays and glorious garden designs with state-of-the-art plants, the … of a garden or neighborhood and well behaved in another. The Garden does offer alternatives for many invasive plants. There can be a happy medium when it comes to dandelions. Lawn “Mow How” … inches tall before the first cut. You’ll have less maintenance during May, and the bees will visit clover and dandelion blossoms, but when it comes to cutting the grass for the first time, …
Type: Blog
… with the diverse plants appropriately themed to each specific garden. A fine starting point for this walk is the Great Basin, the Garden’s central lake, which is surrounded by gardens that … the roses, irises, daylilies, bulbs, and sages are massed by the hundreds, even thousands, for their color impact visible across the water. This time, too, is when the waterlilies and … is every gardener’s dream. Look and listen for all our water sources on your next Garden visit. …
Type: Walks
… Resale stores, antique shops, and garage or estate sales can be rewarding if you’re looking for inexpensive, unusual containers to hold your plants. The only caveat is that if the container … pots that sit on narrow trays to catch any water. The windows face south and are perfect for her sun-loving succulents planted in old empty spice tins that have a few drainage holes in … ( Streptocarpus ), nerve plant ( Fittonia ), and money plant ( Pilea ). And, the next time you visit the Garden, stop by the Greenhouses where fragrant flowering plants, seasonal plants, and …
Type: Plant Info
… than a blooming apple tree growing against a brick wall — but it's also an effective technique for producing an ample crop of fruit in a small space. You don't need an orchard to grow apple … or spurs, that will ultimately produce apples. Mail-order catalogs are often the best source for selecting trees to espalier. Popular varieties hardy to the Chicago area include 'Northern … the end buds that are more likely to produce leaves and stems. Before attempting espalier, visit the Chicago Botanic Garden's Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden to study the many examples …
Type: Plant Info
… there’s always something to see, something different.” Bundle up, grab your camera, and come for a visit. Composing a winter photo is a lot like writing. There’s a story that you tell with the … branch evenly coated in snow as the sun makes everything sparkle—but that's not an excuse for leaving your camera at home.” Indeed. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who …
Type: Plant Info
