… meadia : A Must-see of the Prairie Question: Which one of these is NOT a common name for this handsome spring ephemeral? Shooting star Prairie pointer Prairie primrose Roosterheads … of the primrose family. Roosterheads is comical but descriptive. With a white feathered head on an arching neck with a yellow beak, the plant’s resemblance to the animal is easy to see if … the anthers onto the bee’s abdomen. As the bumblebee travels from flower to flower, the pollen on its abdomen from previous visits comes in contact with the stigma at the tip of the …
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… stories. Work this quiz with every kid you know: The (female) cross orbweaver spider, named for the cross on the top of her abdomen. 1. Spiders can fly. TRUE. Some spiders travel through the air by … still. Some spiders have two bigger eyes (like binoculars) up front so they can focus on moving prey. 5. Spiders have stingers, like Shelob in The Lord of the Rings . FALSE. Spiders …
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… scientist, an inventor, and a genius. George Washington Carver did not seek wealth or fame for his work. He found personal satisfaction in scientific discovery and using his talents to … cash crop. The problem is that cotton needs a lot of nitrogen. Several years of growing cotton on the same patch depletes the soil, making the crop yield less and less over time. In the late … imported from other countries. In 1921, Carver spoke to Congress to advocate for a tariff on foreign peanuts so American farmers would be protected from the competition. Though it was …
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… environment of the production greenhouse. In the wild, its relatives are clinging to life on remote sandstone gorges in the Blue Mountains of Australia. “It is probably the most watched … and if available, pollen from a tree at another botanic garden. They will also reserve pollen for a potential future exchange. Find Wollemia nobilis in the Heritage Garden in the summer … a result, any seeds they produce have a low level of viability. Only six percent or fewer go on to become healthy, mature trees. The species is listed as critically endangered. The urgency …
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… to show us the process. Note that you should wait until a hard frost before digging them up for storage. Dahlias , which grow from small tubers planted in the spring, are one of my favorite … ideally range from 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I also turned to a Garden expert with hands-on experience with doing this at home. Boyce Tankersley, director of living plant documentation, … garage was not successful.” Revive them under grow lights in spring. “If I leave soil on the tubers, they stay in the paper sack until mid-April. At that time, I move the whole clump, …
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… Sure, they are fun pets and a good educational tool for your kids, as well as a great source of fresh eggs. But what do chickens have to do with the … amount of organic waste. A mother hen teaches her chicks to forage. By fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au [ GFDL 1.2 ], via Wikimedia Commons An adult chicken eats around 9 pounds of food per … waste in a year. (As an aside, only fruit and vegetable matter should be fed to the chickens on a regular basis; too much pasta, dairy, bread, etc., can lead to obesity and health problems.) …
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… known as the owl butterflies ( Caligo ). They’re called owl butterflies because the markings on the undersides of their wings have large black eyespots that resemble the eyes of an owl. (You … aptly named, as it is much more colorful than its peers—its dorsal side has deep blue striping on the top part of the wing and bright yellow on the bottom half of the wing. During most of the day, you can find them hanging out on the …
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… Holiday plants and flowers make great gifts for everyone on your shopping lists. They are perfect gifts for family members, the host and … they can be enjoyed long after the holiday season is over, adding color and life to your home on chilly winter days. But getting your plants to last longer will require a little special care. …
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… of fall allium and autumn crocus blooms. This year, however, a special mention must be made for the glorious gladiolus! Especially the delicate, 4-inch, salmon pink flowers of the salmon … cold temperatures! Two characteristics of its native habitat nominated the gladiolus for trial at the Garden: first, it is a winter-growing bulb in South Africa, which translates to … in moist soils in grassy areas—it was perfect for the site we chose in the Bulb Garden. Based on its initial success in our plant trial program, other gladioli (also currently in full flower) …
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… Horticulturists at the Chicago Botanic Garden do recommend waiting until Memorial Day for cold-sensitive plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash. Happy planting! … been hardened off properly before planting them outside. That means moving plants outdoors for a portion of the day to gradually introduce them to the direct sunlight, dry air, and cold … middle of July. This promotes stocky growth. Continue to direct the growth of perennial vines on their supports. Climbing roses should be encouraged to develop lateral, flower-bearing canes. …
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