… that stoked your curiosity about the natural world. Maybe it’s the first houseplant you cared for, or the first one you kept alive. Maybe it’s the first native species you learned to … Plant Valentines (we call them #PlantHeartArt) to celebrate our birthday, which happens to be on February 14. Some Love Stories Out of all these plant lovers, there are some who have taken … National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank, credits his parents and teachers with nurturing him on his botanical path, as he wrote in his story, "Plant Lovers Beget Plant Lovers." “My parents …
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… have a jewel-like quality and stand out against the green foliage. The swollen seedpod on this plant looks ripe and ready to pop. You might expect a plant called “touch-me-not” to be … juice from the stem of jewelweed and applied it to poison ivy rashes and other skin ailments for a very soothing treatment. It is ironic that “touch-me-not” is a cure for “leaves of three—let it be,” don’t you think? Folklore tells us that wherever you find a …
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… base in beer and scotch. Photo via Finlay McWalter, Wikimedia Commons. GFDL A beautiful vine for the home garden is hops ( Humulus lupulus ), pictured here in flower. Pollinated and fruited … to skip the mashing process. Step 5: Boiling the wort Home brewers can simply turn up the heat on malt syrup plus hot water to boil the wort—an important step that denatures , or kills, the … standard equipment for the home brewer: a 6-gallon glass “carboy,” a device that fits right on top of the carboy rim called a universal carboy cap, and an air lock. Porter, lager, stout, …
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… the Garden. The Conservation Corps is a paid summer internship that gives young people hands-on conservation and environmental science experience. Students partnered with Garden … of government affairs, who helped coordinate the program. “Not only is it a great help for the Garden’s staff to tackle needed projects, it is a great learning experience for the crew members who may be for the first time working as part of a land management team.” …
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… Growing Weekend. We spoke to her about her potted paradise design. Q: Describe your process for designing your container. What makes a good container? A: One of the things I’m always … look quite different. You have to think in advance about plants growing to varying heights. For instance, I always like to have something that hangs over the sides of the container, like … right there in the store. You can see the textures together, and choose what makes sense based on a few basic principles: leaf texture, differentiation, and colors of the same family. …
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… was crisp, and the nights were frosty: parsnip weather. Cold weather is actually a good thing for parsnips—in fact, they need it to convert the starch in their roots to sugar, transforming … ,and ‘Half-long Guernsey’. Parsnips germination can be a bit fussy, so here’s the our strategy for sowing: Plant fresh seed. Parsnip seed viability is short, so plant only newly purchased … lots of Italian parsley. Form pancakes about ½-inch thick and 3 inches wide, and fry in oil on medium heat until parsnips are cooked through and cakes are golden brown and caramelized. …
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… conifers are at their peak during the coldest weather. While other plants have gone dormant for the winter, various conifers are lighting up the landscape in shades of blue, yellow, bronze, … providing a calming backdrop. Arborvitae ( Thuja sp.) are among the best evergreens for bright winter color. Cultivars such as Thuja occidentalis ‘ Golden Globe’ provide a burst … Douglas fir have cones with interesting wings at the tip of each scale, such as those seen on this dwarf selection, Pseudotsuga menziesii ‘Fletcheri’. Other groups of conifers such as …
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… The black-and-white warblers ( Mniotilta varia ) can be seen hopping along branches looking for insects. Photo © Carol Freeman After delighting in the abundance of birds for a few hours, I slowly made my way back to my car, choosing to walk under the amazing … some photos. I’ve only seen a parula a couple of times before, and never this close, and never on such a pretty perch. A perfect way to end my journey in warbler heaven. I could hardly believe …
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… every plant parent’s life when you begin to think about expanding your family. Are you ready for more plant children? Should you reassemble the crib? How will your houseplants feel about … or dividing roots. Taking leaf or stem cuttings is one of the most common propagation methods for houseplants. Some houseplants, such as pothos or begonia, are better suited to stem cuttings. … Cuttings don’t have the root system to take up water yet, so fewer leaves means less stress on the cutting,” said Thomas. For some succulents and plants, such as African violets or jade, …
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… a walk around your neighborhood—or at the Chicago Botanic Garden and other green space—to look for animal tracks, either with your children or for your own benefit. Fresh air, exercise, and exposure to nature deliver many benefits for your … specifics. Look for bird tracks near bird feeders or grass plants, where birds are feeding on the seeds. Squirrel Squirrel tracks have little toes that you will see in their fresh …
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