… bed in our front yard when a woman walked by. She said, “I love those—every time I see one on my walk, I take a picture and post it. Do you mind?” Kindness stones make people smile and are small enough to put on a desk or window ledge. The whole family can get involved—even teen-agers will enjoy a chance … place to start * Paint Permanent marker Newspaper or work surface * Any paint will do—look for nontoxic options that are safe for children and environmentally friendly. Sidewalk chalk is …
Type: Blog
… I am a postdoctoral researcher working on conservation genomics of Amsonia tharpii and reconstructing the evolutionary tree for Amsonia . My graduate school work focused on the systematics, taxonomy, and biogeography of several genera from the Loasaceae. …
Type: Staff bio
… than the length of the bean. The staples hold the bean in place, but should give enough room for the bean to grow between the staples. Watch to see how the bean grows and needs the space. … bag to a wall, or your refrigerator, or a window if it’s not cold. That’s right, put it right on a vertical surface. Don’t close the bag, because it’s good to allow water and air to move in … out. The picture shows you what it should look like. (Ignore the four staples, only put three on yours. I discovered that four staples trap the seed and ruin the activity.) As soon as your …
Type: Blog
… engaged last year at our holiday event Lightscape. So we got to thinking about romantic spots on our 385 acres and heart-fluttering engagement moments. Esplanade: We’re not crying. You’re crying. Recently, a bystander came upon this scene on the Esplanade and posted a charming play-by-play on Twitter: She said….yes! Graham Bulb … . That's what we're talking about. Sure, there’s something to be said about just waiting for the right moment. But it doesn’t hurt to scout out a memorable place. More hot spots to pop …
Type: Blog
… The food’s been great, and the music sounds terrific…time to grab his/her hand and head out for a romantic stroll. Find the places where the two of you can hear the music across the water, … perfect for taking in the scent of the thousands of roses in summer bloom. Where light dances on water. In summer, the bridges to Evening Island—the Arch Bridge, the Serpentine Bridge—are … night. You can spend hours watching the reflections in the water. Around the council rings. On Monday nights, the Carillon Concerts sound incredible from either of the council rings on …
Type: Blog
… Reflections on a season of blooms in plant evaluation garden The Chicago Botanic Garden dedicates an entire … in the evaluation garden too. The final set of blooms come from the grasses, which are putting on a spectacular show this year. As this change occurs, my job shifts slightly. Instead of trying … less concerned about plants that just fade into obscurity because then they just provide room for something new and exciting to take their place. Now that the garden is being less dramatic, …
Type: Blog
… For Earth Day this year, take some time to appreciate the rich soil that covers our planet and … soil collection site Moss growing nearby Directions Pour a layer of gravel about 2 inches deep on the bottom of the terrarium. This will collect excess water and keep the soil moist. Cover the … an inch deep. Spread your forest soil over the “artificial” soil layer; place moss and leaves on top. Water the terrarium and put the lid on to keep it humid. Place in a warm location and …
Type: Blog
… It’s a big week for cooking, for getting out the china, crystal, and silver, and for setting a holiday-worthy … expense. I taught a fall cornucopia class at the Garden, and I had the pleasure of appearing on WGN-TV with tips for making an edible fruit-and-vegetable cornucopia. This week, I thought I’d … floral foam by soaking it in water. Ingredients for a fall cornucopia include apples, leaves on branches, gourds, and fall flowers. Gather the bountiful ingredients No two cornucopias are …
Type: Blog
… In November, I had the unique opportunity to go to the Portland Japanese Garden for a week-long training session—and what a week it was! I arrived in Portland in early November, … minutes. The tools I used to rake and clean were very efficient, but at the same time gentle on the moss. Bamboo rake, broom, and winnow Leaf litter should be removed on a regular basis for healthy moss growth. The next few days were all about pine pruning. We …
Type: Blog
… Garden, we were reminded of the pure joy that plants can bring. Alice provided special moments for many people—including me. On September 28, at 12:51 a.m., I received a text from the Chicago Botanic Garden’s senior … of marketing, Jennifer Napier. All night, she had been watching the feed from a camera trained on the plant we hoped would yield the result that our first titan arum, Spike, did not. She …
Type: Blog
