… Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) is one of the most popular herbs grown today. It is not only a flavorful ingredient in Italian, … off the top of the young plant to encourage bushy growth. Most basil varieties grow between 1 and 2 feet, so space your plants accordingly. The dwarf or tiny-leaved varieties grow in a … off developing flowers to concentrate the essential oils in the leaves. Starting from Seed To get a jump-start, start basil indoors from seed four to six weeks before the last frost date, May …
Type: Plant Info
… Greenhouses at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I talk to a lot of people about indoor plants. I get that you want potted plants that are easy to take care of (hello, spider plant). But there … have captivating flowers that look like they escaped from a Dr. Seuss book. The foliage is heart-shaped, with blushing purple undersides. The purple hues will fade with low light … These striking tropical plants have slippery pitcher-shaped modified leaves. The plants get nutrients from the insects that accidentally slide into their pitchers. No worries if you …
Type: Blog
… trains rolling at the Chicago 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 . That is why there is a staff of three year-round engineers and 18 … . “So we just continually use up the trains, and when they’re used up, we discard them. We get two of everything. When one breaks down, we replace it with the other.” The engineers replace …
Type: Blog
… U.S. Navy veteran Anna Andersen is quick to tell you how the Chicago Botanic Garden’s impact on her life goes beyond the beauty … to deal with,” she said. In the summer camps, for example, “Amy [Wells] knew what needed to get done, yet she still gave me opportunities to do it how I wanted to get it done. Which is different than the military. They just told you what to do and didn’t give …
Type: Blog
… This approach implies flowers are to look at and vegetables are to eat. And fraternization is frowned on. But things are changing. To see what's happening in today's gardens, one has only … of every kind, including pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, and wall planters. The idea is to use plants in completely new ways. Color As for ornamental vegetables, who would have … bright green parsley can do a good job of covering up the yellowing foliage of your tulips. To get the most out of your garden, enjoy the whole plant, not just the end product. This might mean …
Type: Plant Info
… Spring is the time to start seeds—especially for the veggies and herbs that thrive in summer's heat. … them. Some packs include a seedling illustration—a big help if your plant labels happen to get out of sorts. And there's invaluable information about transplanting, watering needs, and harvesting—which is why it's a good idea to save your empty seed packs for further reference through the season. …
Type: Plant Info
… home to my quiet, tree-lined Chicago neighborhood, but one thing I miss about urban living is ample outdoor space. The back door of my apartment leads to a wooden fire escape—built after … work if that’s allowed on your porch, or a strawberry jar with a dozen holes in it. You can get really creative." Consider the light: Most herbs like at least four to six hours of bright, … Hilgenberg. “Use herb snips to harvest two leaf nodes down. If you harvest by the leaf you’ll get a leggy, tall plant.” Always remove flowers, especially on basil. This encourages new growth. …
Type: Blog
… Ever see a tree or even a weed and wonder what kind of plant it is? We’d love for you to stumble across the answer—right in front of you. Inspired by a movement … and other plant lovers began chalking plant names on streets and sidewalks as a way to get people to appreciate the natural world and biodiversity around them. Sometimes, the street … sidewalks chalked up. It never hurts to ask first. The property owners might even want to get in on the fun. …
Type: Blog
… cover some of the dos and don’ts about purchasing a bonsai as a gift, tell you where you can get quality trees, and give a little information on what to do if you receive one of these … your list. But before buying that little tree, there are a few things to consider. Tree health is essential. Glued-down rocks on a juniper bonsai Often, a tree’s leaves will give you a good … it will most likely not do well with the abrupt change in temperature. Likewise, if you get a juniper that was in winter storage and bring it indoors, that tree will suffer too. When …
Type: Blog
… There’s nothing quite like a fresh start to the new year. For gardeners, this is a great time to set goals and to think through plans for the year. We asked our dedicated team … environmentally smart, and learn what types of plants best attract these amazing creatures—and get outside to enjoy them. Tim Johnson, director of horticulture Goals: My goal is to catch up on pruning in my garden to get plants back in scale. I also want to fill holes in beds with reliable performers to improve …
Type: Blog
