… Career Continuum , offering relatable, near-peer guidance that students consistently say is one of the most impactful parts of their time at the Garden. Here's what their summer at the …
Type: Blog
… Only a small percentage of them are nursery-propagated and available to gardeners. There is considerable variety in the color and shape of their foliage, often mottled or striped. Many … a problem in your garden, avoid the mulch, since it can provide a nesting area. Instead, apply 1 to 2 inches of sharp gravel to the planting hole before adding the bulbs. And to protect …
Type: Plant Info
… chomping at the bit to plant this native shrub. It’s unfortunate, because the chokeberry is one of the best shrubs you can grow in Illinois. Iroquois Beauty™ chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘Morton’) is starting to ripen. The beautiful black fruit stays on the plant longer than some other … The white, butterfly-attracting flowers are arranged in little celestial spheres that are 1 to 2 inches in diameter, emerging between late May and late July (depending on the region). …
Type: Blog
… This is the story of a road trip I took with some corpse flowers, the rock stars of the plant world. One of the hallmarks of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s plant collection is the more than 70 species of Amorphophallus . In particular, Amorphophallus titanum , also … and could appreciate my stories of Andrew’s Excellent Amorphophallus Adventure. More than 1,000 miles later, the Titan Express made its last stop. …
Type: Blog
… Turns out there are three “levels” to consider for dedication. Here’s how they work: Level 1 : General Book Dedication Each year, approximately 100 newly-purchased books are set aside … then fill out a book dedication form, including copy for the bookplate. After the bookplate is printed and mounted, you’ll be notified that it has taken its place on the library shelves. … Naturally, every conservation book requires a labor of love—a typical restoration time frame is three months. After conservation work is completed, you’re invited to view the restored volume …
Type: Blog
… milkweed (A. verticillata) , which often can be found at the very edge of highways where there is little competition or dry pastures and degraded prairies, and swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) , which is the only species we have that grows in marshes. You are not likely to see the other 11 species … and try to deconstruct it into the parts of a flower, you may recognize the petals but that is about all. Milkweed flowers do not appear to have either sexes, but both the female part of a …
Type: Blog
… The maintenance of biodiversity is an important objective of many conservation plans. We are working with a number of … of critical concern and assist with management and conservation collection decisions. It is also important to understand the genetic diversity held by ex situ collections and develop tools and techniques to slow the loss of this diversity wherever possible. This is important because ex situ collections that are not genetically diverse are of limited value to …
Type: Research
… A new collaboration between Garden scientists and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hoping to expand the range of a species once extinct in Illinois. Garden scientists, students, … ( Tetraneuris herbacea ). Plant Biology and Conservation Ph.D. student Rafael Urbina Casanova is working with Garden scientists Drs. Jeremie Fant and Andrea Kramer, and collaborators Jenny … relies on dry, rocky habitat in the Great Lakes region to survive. Unfortunately, this habitat is often quarried, so very little habitat remains available in Illinois,” said Rafael. This …
Type: Research
… on the edge of fading away. He had discovered the treasure he set out to find. Often, this is where the story ends. But when the prize is an elusive plant sought by scientists nationwide, this is where the story begins. Andrew … bags. The murky waters that now stood between them and a successful exit from the overgrown site were deep and dangerous, and wading out was not an option. They had no choice but to leap …
Type: Blog
… a gelatinous substance that makes them slippery and difficult to handle. So the first question is, what purpose does the slimy coating serve? This is not the kind of blog post where I give you all the answers. That would not be good science … Oxi Clean method goes like this: Put the tomato seeds in a measuring cup and add water to make 1 cup of liquid. Add 1 tablespoon Oxi Clean power to the mixture and stir to dissolve. Let the …
Type: Blog
