… artful, and transporting. In a way, the experience of seeing Asia in Bloom: The Orchid Show is much like ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. On display now through … Garden’s Orchid Show invites you to pause and reflect on this historic art form. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. The practice of ikebana ( ee -kay- bah … Since then, ikebana has established itself as an art form beyond religious ritual, and is often seen displayed in people’s homes. Though it is now a secular practice, ikebana carries …
Type: Blog
… We had not seen much garlic mustard in our natural areas in recent years, and its reemergence is a reminder for all of us that controlling and managing invasive species is an ongoing challenge. Our natural areas comprise more than half of the Chicago Botanic … plants to maintain healthy habitats for birds, wildlife, and other plants. Prescribed burning is essential for control of invasive species. We were only able to do one prescribed burn at the …
Type: Blog
… that go by the common name of "milkweed" are the food that these butterflies need. Milkweed is both a food source and a host plant on which the monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Monarchs … the underside of the milkweed foliage. After hatching, the larvae consume the foliage, which is high in cardiac glycosides—a poison that interferes with the heart functioning of vertebrates … Chicago region, the following milkweed species (Asclepias) are native: Asclepias amplexicaulis is native to our prairies and is suitable for planting in sunny perennial flower gardens. The …
Type: Blog
… it in the right spot and water it. Best for Sun ‘Joanna Reed’ catmint ( Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’) is one of the tidiest catmints I’ve ever grown, an attribute that cinched a top rating in our … pair well with catmint ( Nepeta —in the background). To me, lamb’s ears ( Stachys byzantina ) is an essential perennial for sunny gardens and ‘Big Ears’ is my favorite. Its large, pale silvery-green leaves are velvety soft and the perfect color and …
Type: Blog
… Pondering the Prairie Series Graminoid is a term created to encompass all of those grass-like plants with narrow leaves and barely … small and much reduced flower, often without showy petals. The function of most flower petals is to attract insects. Flowers with petals generally have sticky pollen that attach to the legs … plant so that cross pollination can happen and (voila!) the offspring of two parent plants is represented by a seed. Petal-less gramioid flowers produce dry pollen that is carried by the …
Type: Blog
… The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden is the place to explore small-space gardening. Seven Basil Types Planted at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden There, basil is king. (Of course it is—the word basil is rooted in the Greek basilikos , meaning royalty.) The bed is planted with …
Type: Blog
… May is the month to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and some shorebirds, as they … through the Chicago area. Most birders might agree that the highlight this time of year is warblers. It is for me—they are tiny jewels with wings. I feel totally blessed if I can see a few during …
Type: Blog
… like, right? Well, the same with plants. One important aspect of visiting a botanic garden is acknowledging its plant collection. Botanic gardens are living museums, and when you go to a museum, you want to know what is in front of you. A display plant’s name on the label is the first interaction between you, the individual, and the environment. It’s important to …
Type: Blog
… much larger than her body. Not much larger than a quarter, the ruby-throated hummingbird nest is an engineering marvel. This is all well and good until the eggs hatch. Growing young hummingbirds can double or triple the … to hold the family. One of the ways the hummingbirds get around this need for flexibility is that they construct the nest of soft plant fibers and then wrap the whole thing with spiderweb …
Type: Blog
… and squeals of delight, as folks of all ages decided how best to connect with the fruit: Is it real? Should I touch it? Should I sit on it? Hug it? Photograph it? People even talked to … Garden. While they seem to be called “squash,” “pumpkin,” and “gourd” interchangeably, there is actually a science to identifying these cultivars, and pretty much everything called “pumpkin” is really a squash—although “pumpkin” is most commonly used to describe those distinctive orange …
Type: Blog
