… to it as the “abominable mystery.” The quest to answer why we have so many flowering plants is still ongoing and has made flowers a model group to answer important questions about speciation. One particularly challenging aspect of the mystery is how new forms arise and spread. Given flowers’ specialized structure, modifications can result … common form. For this reason, variation in floral shape, color, or scent within a population is often rare, but still can occur. When we see variation in floral forms within a population, …
Type: Research
… 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 … right before it dies. In the Arid Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Agave ocahui is known as the century plant because people used to think it flowered only once every 100 years. A more accurate estimate is that it blooms once after 25 to 30 years of growth. The Garden’s century plant came from The …
Type: Blog
… with its breathtaking flower…accompanied by a titanically rotten smell. “Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch. The three words that best describe you are as follows— and I quote: … ( Catharsius sp.) think that stink smells great. Photo ©2012 via potokito-myshot.blogspot.com A different view of ewwww! Carrion beetles, dung flies, and flesh flies aren’t responding to …
Type: Blog
… it’s time to start thinking about moving your houseplants inside. The best time to do this is when temperatures outside are relatively close to the temperatures indoors, meaning mid- to … unsightly growth from your plants. 2. Lightly trim back plants as needed. This step is optional, and you really only need to do it if your plants have become large and overgrown. … for pests, and treat as needed. One of the biggest ways to set yourself up for success is to start with clean plants. There are several pests that can cause problems indoors. The most …
Type: Blog
… can also be an expensive endeavor for the home gardener. The first step in prepping the beds is removing the top layer of soil. Plantings include succulents and drought-hardy plants. They … by 4 to 5 inches of pea gravel. The gravel allows plants to grow in sharp drainage, which is a very desirable attribute when growing many native prairie plants or other dry-loving plants. … (Penstemon x mexicali ‘Red Rocks’). The key to establishing the plants in a gravel garden is to prevent the root balls from drying out until they have a chance to root down below the …
Type: Blog
… Although it may not look like it, spring is on its way, which means it’s time to start prepping for the anticipated spring planting season. This is a great time of year for horticultural therapy contracts. Everyone is itching to start planning and prepping for a successful horticultural therapy outdoor garden …
Type: Blog
… grains are grasses with a special type of seed called a caryopsis . Inside a caryopsis is an embryo and a large, starchy food reserve (called the endosperm) that plays a key role in … the beer-making process. Step 2: Making the malt As a grain seed germinates, its food reserve is converted from starch into smaller carbohydrates. This conversion process is important for the brewer, since those carbohydrates will feed the yeasts during fermentation. …
Type: Blog
… One of the top questions we have been getting about Spike the titan arum is “How do you know how much water to give it?” The care and feeding that we have given Spike … arums—our collection of nine Amorphophallus titanum growing in our production greenhouses—is very specific! Yes, the cultivation requirements for these plants are strict. Titan … to their natural conditions in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra. Therefore, the cultivation is not particularly suitable for most beginners or homeowners with minimal greenhouse facilities. …
Type: Blog
… and others. The national flower of Brazil— Cattleya purpurata (formerly Laelia purpurata) —is also an orchid. The native orchids of Brazil are often epiphytes growing on trees and shrubs, … elevations in cloud forests. The care of Brazilian orchids and their hybrids in cultivation is as varied as the number of species and their habitats, but where they naturally occur provides … recognized and still more commonly referred to as Sophronitis coccinea , C. coccinea is one of perhaps six to nine species and as many varietal color forms included in the former …
Type: Blog
… Gardening is all about embracing change. You plant seeds and wait to see which ones will sprout. You … for the Garden—and how the Garden will look when we are able to reopen. Only essential staff is on-site at the Garden and health and safety guidance on social distancing means big changes in the …
Type: Blog
