… Compared to photographing flowers outside, photographing in the Greenhouses is much more challenging and darker than you think. With a limited depth of field, I chose to … Freeman It may be bright outside, but the light in the Chicago Botanic Garden's Greenhouses is being filtered through glass and other plant material; be aware that it is even darker on … can push the ISO and still get images I find pleasing. It's best to do this before you are on-site, so you will be able to review the images on a large screen and know what will be acceptable …
Type: Blog
… a pretty face. Dodecatheon 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 Pride of Ohio Answer: Shooting star is the most common name for this species, at least in the Midwest. The plant’s myriad arching … protruding from the central core of the anthers creates a perfect pointer. Prairie primrose is not a common name, but one that I created. Not very colorful, but this could very easily be a …
Type: Blog
… the changes in projected species distributions between now and 2080. The goal of the research is to help BLM to make informed management decisions regarding rare plants. The research takes … southwestern North America. In this exceptional genus, dwarf bear-poppy ( Arctomecon humilis ) is the rarest — and perhaps most remarkable — species, due to its profusion of delicate white flowers and unique habitat. In many ways, the dwarf bear-poppy is a poster child for rare plant conservation. It is restricted to a small area in southwestern …
Type: Blog
… orchid roots. A traditional winter drink in the cafés and restaurants of Turkey, salep is made from the tuberous roots of orchids—specifically, terrestrial orchids in the genus Orchis . Dried and powdered, the resulting flour is combined in a drink mix with other ingredients, much as hot chocolate or chai spices would be: … cinnamon, and vanillin (the main flavor component in vanilla) are added. A warm cup of salep is perfect on a wintry day. The instructions are hot-chocolate simple, too: mix 1½ tablespoons of …
Type: Blog
… The fourth of July is upon us, and while many beautiful flowers can be found in patriotic shades of red and white, the color blue is very difficult to find at the Garden. In fact, blue is a rare sight in the entire natural world. Less than ten percent of the plant kingdom …
Type: Blog
… the Prairie Series Rosa setigera , or Illinois rose, grows in moist prairies and thickets, and is a typical wild rose in many ways: five pink petals, with lots of yellow stamens in the center supported by prickly stems. There are distinct differences, however. Illinois rose is larger than most wild roses of the prairies—often growing up to 8 feet tall, while others … five leaflets. Its multiple styles (female flower parts that support the stigma, where pollen is delivered from insect pollinators) are united instead of separated in most wild roses. There …
Type: Blog
… GO has taken over the imaginations of kids and adults alike since its recent release. The game is global—users can play anywhere in the world—and the Garden is one of the locations with many features for those using the game. Nearly 50 PokéStops dot the … Gyms—virtual locations where players can train and battle their Pokémon—are currently found on-site. But that’s not all that’s to be found: the gardens are a mass of blooms and butterflies, …
Type: Blog
… gentian. Talk about taking your breath away! It seems that a brilliantly colored flower is necessary to attract pollinators to a plant of such short stature that chooses to bloom at a … in remnant prairies of high quality, of which very few have survived. To find this rare gem is a real treat. Gentiana puberulenta Gentianopsis crinita Equally impressive is its cousin, fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) . Fringed gentians can be found in …
Type: Blog
… find are petals scattered on the ground, and you realize you have to wait another year. This is particularly true of species like bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), whose blossoms only last for a day before they drop. Additionally frustrating is that cloud cover can hamper catching the full glory of the blooming of some species. You may … species and other ephemerals absorb large quantities of water that would otherwise move off site, often carrying valuable nutrients and soil with it. This high demand for moisture also …
Type: Blog
… August 6, 1878, he first observed the leaves and fruits of a plant (interestingly, August 6 is the date we put Spike on public view!) . Several weeks later, Beccari saw a flowering plant … flowered for the first time outside its tropical home. No one knows how common the titan arum is in the wild. Many suspect it is endangered. Its only known habitat is the rainforest of Sumatra, which is being steadily …
Type: Blog
