… United States to broaden my understanding of how cities here developed over time in comparison with France, which has had many hundreds of years to develop. In Chicago, I saw that the gardens … who was an ambassador to France and a great plant enthusiast. He made many plant exchanges with people around the world, especially France. It goes to show that plants everywhere bring people together, no matter the country or culture. Lisa Hilgenberg and Lisa Ho pose with Christine Moore from the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Moore is the …
Type: Blog
… to seeing every season. In spring, I watch for “mighty plants” that emerge from the ground with enough force to heave the soil above ground. These botanical weightlifters—the bulbs, … how this is possible and I want to test their strength. So I spent a few weeks playing around with this phenomenon in the Learning Center’s Boeing Nature Laboratory. To begin, I wanted to … in a pot. I soaked bunch of wheat seeds overnight and planted them in a pot. I covered them with a generous amount of potting soil (about a 1/2-inch layer) and I tamped the soil down gently …
Type: Blog
… and even mild depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder is defined as depression associated with late autumn and winter, thought to be caused by a lack of light. Most people with seasonal affective disorder have symptoms that start in the fall and continue through the … a few winter-themed Horticultural Therapy (HT) activities that will fill your home or office with the sights and smells of the season. One of my favorite HT activities to do this time of …
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… It’s a great chance for photographers of all abilities to practice shooting after dark. And with a little time and effort, you’ll get some cool pictures of holiday lights—one of my very … our holiday exhibition . I want to share a few tips, but I’d also love to see what you come up with. Post your photos, #Lightscape, and tag us: @chicagobotanic. Blur is good If you manually … blur is called bokeh. Lightscape is a perfect opportunity to explore what your lens can do with this technique. Camera phone users can create bokeh by using focus-lock on a nearby subject …
Type: Blog
… pollinator decline. Perhaps many of you, like me, have childhood memories of setting out with a butterfly net and a jar with nail holes in the lid. I recall with pleasure catching and admiring monarchs up close until it was time to set them free. I worry …
Type: Blog
… the early morning visitors to the rare phenomenon of a corpse flower in full bloom. We chatted with the early birds and met some “regulars”—visitors who had come by to meet Spike, the Garden’s … at #CBGSprout the corpse flower. Carrie Kirchen of Deerfield visited this morning, along with Maxwell, age 9, and Lexi, age 6. Lexi: It smells horrible. Maxwell: We found out on the … arum that previously was on display at the Garden). Jamie Smith of Highland Park was here with Harper, 14 months old, as well as Susan and Jim Osiol of Mt. Prospect. Jamie: We keep …
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… perennials from all over the world. Foerster successfully bred approximately 370 crosses, with a particular interest in clumping grasses, Delphiniums , and Phlox . Originally propagated … James van Sweden. Both were inspired and influenced by Karl Foerster. In his book Gardening with Nature, van Sweden remarks “Foerster’s great contribution was to make plants the most … was highly sensitive to seasonal variations and promoted the garden as a place of learning.” With inspiration from the arts, travel, and the influence of other garden styles, Oehme and van …
Type: Blog
… it has a broad brown band through the eye, a brown back, and white belly. An osprey flies with a crook in its wings. Immature bald eagles, with their mottled black and white plumage, can easily be mistaken for ospreys. In summer, visitors can watch an osprey (Pandion haliaetus) —with its 6-foot wingspan—soar above a lake, then plunge in to snatch a meal with its talons to …
Type: Blog
… shrubs, such as forsythia. Prune 2- to-3-foot lengths, put them in a container filled with water, and place them in a sunny location. The bright yellow forsythia flowers will begin … in roughly a week, while other shrubs may take longer. Heather likes mixing the forsythia with silvery pussy willow. You can tie the bunch with a big red bow and attach a homemade card with a big “I Love You” on it. Flowering plants …
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… decorations in stock this year—supply chain issues or maybe gremlins—we’ve got some DIY ideas. With a little help from nature, you can go Insta cool or full-on Martha Stewart. Capture the … before painting. Group it! Fall arrangements Pair foraged elements like fallen oak leaves with houseplants, candles, fresh-cut garden flowers, and some gourds. Groupings create impact. You can clip branches of oak leaves and bunch them together with twine. Stand them in urns outside, or in baskets inside. Tuck in berries, dried grasses, and …
Type: Blog
