… A striking century plant is putting on a show in the final stages of its life—it’s blooming for the first and only time in 27 years. The succulent sends up a tall stalk of blossoms right … the lower end of this range. In the wild, the plant is pollinated by birds and bats that feed on its nectar. The leaves at the bottom of the stalk grow in a rosette to funnel water to the …
Type: Blog
… garden, I grow at least one African American heirloom crop, partly to commemorate Juneteenth. For Black Americans, Juneteenth marks the final liberation of our ancestors held as slaves on June 19, 1865. What better way to commemorate that historic day than to plant heirloom seeds … forgiving, and prolific crop. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad Tomato This heirloom seed is still with us today because an …
Type: Blog
… We love nature here at the Chicago Botanic Garden, so we looked to the natural world for inspiration on how to enjoy the eclipse— here at the Garden , or in your own backyard. On Monday, August 21, 2017, people across the United States witnessed a rare event: the first …
Type: Blog
… As early as Dracula in 1931, wolfsbane casually replaced garlic as a repellent for vampires in film. Nevertheless, the correlation of wolfsbane with the supernatural predates … launched them at unsuspecting enemies. One thing both Hollywood and horticulturists can agree on: wolfsbane is a potent plant. Ingesting wolfsbane is typically fatal. Arends azure monkshood … the plant, or even tamed by it. Others, however, believed that having contact with wolfsbane on a full moon could actually cause shape-shifting. Patients who suffered from lycanthropy (the …
Type: Blog
… and bring focus to your pictures. The most important thing to keep in mind when photographing for Instagram is that your photo will be viewed at a relatively small scale. Your composition … these blooms context. Light Avoid dappled sunlight to allow viewers to focus their attention on your subject matter. Try finding shade if you are photographing on a sunny day, or take pictures during the morning and evening when the light is softer. Choose …
Type: Blog
… and other conifers are the plants that shine. Recently, we ran a blog about cultivating awe on winter walks, on how to shift your energy and attention outward instead of inward for emotional well-being. One easy way to do that at the Chicago Botanic Garden or anywhere you …
Type: Blog
… Horticultural therapy has proven benefits for individuals with autism. The integration of horticultural therapy and therapy gardens within … found in the organizations, schools, institutions, and training centers that serve individuals on the autism spectrum. Flowers like butterfly gaura ( Gaura lindheimeri) can be observed with … in their outdoor gardens. We observed many benefits when engaging both children and adults on the autism spectrum. For today, I’ll discuss three primary benefits I observed: quiet …
Type: Blog
… not. They’re hard at work during snowy winters, thinking about all the new plants and planning for the New Year. We asked a few horticulturists for their gardening resolutions—whether at the … sharpen my tools, start a compost pile with my kitchen scraps, pet more bumblebees, and sit on a Garden bench every day. Okay, maybe every week. Well, at least every month. Baby steps. Baby … when going plant shopping, but they can be used to complement perennials in bloom or massed on their own to make a bold statement. How about an early summer combo of Allium ‘Globemaster’ …
Type: Blog
… small foliage and flowering plants together in a decorative container—like a basket or saucer—for a versatile display you can enjoy throughout the year. Dish gardens are easy to grow, very … container: Your dish garden should be planted in a shallow container. The size depends only on how many plants you want to put into it. Almost anything can be used as a container—let your … of your dish garden. Be sure to remove excess water and avoid over-watering. Drainage holes on the bottom are best, but not mandatory. If drainage holes are not present, use a plastic liner …
Type: Blog
… to take to help ensure a successful winter of windowsill gardening. Sunburn causes brown spots on leaves. Trimming off damaged leaves helps keep plants looking good all winter. 1. Clean up … plant and send it into shock, which can be hard to recover from indoors. 3. Check thoroughly for pests, and treat as needed. One of the biggest ways to set yourself up for success is to … is NOT recommended to use soapy water—this eats away at the cuticle (a protective waxy layer on the leaf), making it more vulnerable to disease problems in the future. Large-leaved plants …
Type: Blog
