… bluish-green, and not pure white. The pigments that give all leaves their color are essential for the plant’s ability to harness energy from the sun and make sugars in the process we know as … look like? How long will it take to sprout? How easy it to grow? Is there enough green on those leaves for the grass to survive or will it die off like my basil? If it does survive, … for hundreds of years. Both are sold commercially as cat grass because some cats like to chew on the leaves. Not being a cat owner, I don’t know if cats actually like this stuff, but …
Type: Blog
… spring, I was traveling through the McDonald Woods at the Chicago Botanic Garden, searching for some of the flat-bodied crab spiders ( Philodromus ) that typically spend the winter in … bat that is a dark chocolate brown or black with white hairs scattered among the dark hairs on its back. I gently released the bark so as not to disturb the napping bat any more than I … some dead standing trees in our woodland communities. A silver-haired bat curls up tightly on a tree in the McDonald woods. Photo by Jim Steffen Even though bats are fairly common …
Type: Blog
… John Bartram (1699-1777). Artist Claire Owen and poet Beth Feldman Brandt, who collaborated on the boxes, are traveling from Philadelphia to give a free talk October 6 at the Chicago … hundreds of gorgeous [original] trees.” In 2010, after a fierce storm felled several trees on the grounds, Bartram’s Garden devised a collaborative project with The Center for Art in Wood, also in Philadelphia. The project, Bartram’s Boxes Remix, features the work of …
Type: Blog
… Botanic Garden. A room in the basement of the Regenstein Center is the hive of repair activity for the Model Railroad Garden. There are also ghost trains for Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns . … summer, a few of our younger visitors got a chance to interview our engineers. View the video on YouTube here . The work is crucial. The Model Railroad Garden has 350 model railroad cars and 125 engines, and during the season, they run on a punishing schedule: eight to nine hours a day, seven days a week. “The trains are not …
Type: Blog
… As Senior Director of Restoration, I am the team leader for the Garden's natural areas team (including the skilled team of ecologists who manage the … to be a part of the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute , which focuses on the overarching theme of how plant organismal systems (plant roots and shoots) relate to one … and understand natural areas. Our natural areas team is working to make natural history data on Mary Mix McDonald Woods available - the following datasets are available upon request: …
Type: Staff bio
… school of fine arts and crafts and applied arts in Paris, France), I decided to study for my master’s degree at the National School of Landscape Architecture of Versailles. For me, … to stake up tomatillos, and use trellises for beans. My sketchbook illustrations and notes on plantings in the vegetable beds. Three Sisters is a trio of vegetables planted together for … their mutual benefit. Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb. Beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the soil. Squash vines shade emerging weeds …
Type: Blog
… ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘Morton’) is starting to ripen. The beautiful black fruit stays on the plant longer than some other varieties. Not to be confused with the chokecherry tree ( … In spring to early summer, the plants become covered in white, apple blossom-like flowers for several days to weeks. The glossy green foliage holds up against extreme heat and drought, … fall color. The fruit attracts birds, though this may often be as late as February depending on Aronia species, food availability, and the density of your bird population. The fruit is also …
Type: Blog
… knew you’d say, “Share.” From a Fruitful Garden Web designer Christina Weisbard has a weakness for fruit trees…which explains the bounty of mulberry, quince, and crabapple jellies that she’s … work: each terrarium is a perfectly shaped jewel, fresh and green and carefree enough to leave on your desk all winter, with little care required. Bubble bowl terrariums are filled with dainty … can scent drawers, shelves, and suitcases for many months. Feel free to compliment Lynn on her sweetly modern design next time you see her at the Information Desk at the Visitor Center. …
Type: Blog
… ‘Tis the season for the harvest bounty at Windy City Harvest! Our staff and program participants are busy … of the Windy City Harvest program. Program participants learn how to cook with produce grown on the farms, sometimes using fruits and vegetables that may be unfamiliar to them. The … coated with oil. Rub each slice of bread with a garlic clove half. Drizzle the remaining oil on the bread. Grill the bread slices until golden brown with nice grill marks on each side. Set …
Type: Blog
… roots from a different angle Most orchids are epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant (not in soil), but is not parasitic. They’re Called Aerial Roots Of the 27,000-plus species of orchids on the planet, about 70 percent are epiphytes—plants that grow on trees, with above-ground rather … be contained in its pot. Roots growing out of and over the edge of a pot signal that it’s time for re-potting—which gives you the opportunity to examine your plant for overall root health. …
Type: Blog
