… young people hands-on conservation and environmental science experience. Students partnered with Garden horticulturists and learned to identify plants and remove invasive species. This … I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.” —Gabby Onnenga, 17, Skokie “It’s allowed me to connect with a lot of people I wouldn’t have before. Last Friday we went to the Field Museum and talked to a lot of interesting people there. I talked with one of the leaders here at the Garden who recommended me to someone who runs a fungus …
Type: Blog
… dancing flash mobs One summer, a group of people gathered at “the Ken,” the lovely green field with a photo-perfect view of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden . That's what we're … golden light typically illuminates the bridges. A bridge is a lovely place to start a future with your beloved. Head up the hill between the Japanese Garden and the Arch Bridge. The Puryear … ready for a romantic moment. A summer walk through the Dixon Prairie is inherently romantic, with grasses and prairie flowers taller than your head, and late-day light filtering through the …
Type: Blog
… Former senior ecologist Jim Steffen always had lots of good spider stories. Work this quiz with every kid you know: The (female) cross orbweaver spider, named for the cross on the top of … fly. TRUE. Some spiders travel through the air by "ballooning"—sending out a thread of silk with a clump like a parachute at the end that carries them up into the air, where they swing … Spiders have stingers, like Shelob in The Lord of the Rings . FALSE. Spiders inject their prey with venom through fangs at the end of their jaws, which are called chelicerae . They don't have …
Type: Blog
… Using peonies as a cut flower for floral design is easy, with a few tricks to preserve the health of your plants and flowers. Peonies are the queen of the … for two to three weeks, but ... no fruit—such as apples—can be in the refrigerator with your peonies. The ethylene gas emitted by ripening fruit will cause petals to drop, and buds … very well. The other method is to cut the stems and place them lying down in a plastic bag with a dry paper towel to absorb moisture. Both methods require daily checks to replace the water …
Type: Blog
… April 26, head outside to see the "pink" supermoon. Whether you prefer to walk in solitude or with family members, don’t miss peak illumination at about 10:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time. A … open for the beauty of moonlight on daffodils, for instance. A flashlight or headlamp—along with reflective gear—is helpful, but consider switching them off when it’s safe to do so. Your … the full beauty of the stars and moon. As the weather gets warmer, the night will come alive with the sounds of nocturnal animals. Listen for frogs, owls, and whippoorwills. We love moths …
Type: Blog
… of Veracruz and one in the state of Puebla. It was fascinating driving to these vanilla farms with my Mexican collaborators. It took us three days of traveling to complete our field … root growth, but I did note that the roots in the organic farms were longer and healthier, with some growing up to 4 or 5 feet when we dug the roots up from the soil. At the Pantapec farm … that reside in orchid roots. Some fungi and bacteria can cause diseases. For example, with the appearance of a fungal pathogen such as Fusarium oxysporum, Mexican farmers can lose …
Type: Blog
… daffodils or tulips. In summer, eight out of every ten kinds of rose we grow—gone, along with daylilies, hostas, and most hydrangeas. Think about fall without mums and the golden ginkgo. … but since the Garden began doing field work overseas in the late 1990s, our relationships with Asian colleagues have been built on honest commerce and mutual respect, following the spirit … as re-establishment work is now underway. Nature circumvents disaster through diversity. With very few exceptions, high diversity is the rule in healthy ecosystems, and this makes them …
Type: Blog
… Leaves are intriguing—with all their shapes, colors, textures, and their incredible ability to harness the energy of … too close together, and we might have the feeling that the roof of the car is going to collide with something. Now imagine this same scenario, only this time, imagine it happening between the … America . The details of the publication can be found at Charlie’s website charleyeiseman.com/leafminers. …
Type: Blog
… of Snowdon, who was Queen Elizabeth II’s younger sister. The occasion was fit for royalty, with a performance from a bagpiper, and an official dedication by the princess, who sported a … to society. Brookes died in March 2018, but leaves behind a footprint that includes, along with the English Walled Garden here, many gardens on private estates and in town squares around … Charles and Diana are there—but not together. The garden features two varieties of clematis with familiar royal names. Clematis ‘Prince Charles’ and Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ are both …
Type: Blog
… Waterfall Garden, Sensory Garden, Circle Garden, and Lakeside Gardens. Sherwood has been with the Garden since 2000, when she started out as a grower for the Plant Production department. … into her current position in 2005. Sherwood shares her passion for and knowledge of gardening with the public by leading tours, giving demonstrations, and teaching a wide variety of classes …
Type: Staff bio
