… has largely focused on the fauna and flora of the region in relation to this event. There is no comprehensive study of how important geological events such as this shaped the diversity of … and saprotrophic ecological interactions with the animal and plant communities. This study is focusing on the evolutionary consequences of the Great American Biotic Interchange on the … Oaks are hosts to diverse ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungal communities. The research is exploring the biogeographic history in symbiotic and free-living soil organisms, the …
Type: Research
… slow-growing, this boxwood ( Buxus microphylla ) should make a full recovery. The bad news is that more plant damage is likely to appear once the weather is consistently warm, though many plants will recover from the long, hard winter. While plants …
Type: Blog
… too? What, with the world’s best antidepressant right out your front door? The magic elixir is a winter walk. And the Chicago Botanic Garden awaits with a prescription-strength dose—miles … almost all of them kept clear of snow and ice, with a number of mapped-out walks ranging from 1 to 2.3 miles. A hidden gem, the path along Spider Island is just the place for a peaceful winter walk. I love a brisk walk any time, anywhere. But never …
Type: Blog
… ( Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Polished Brass’), which at 68 inches tall and 96 inches wide, is one of the most pollinator-friendly plants ever. Eupatorium perfoliatum Astrantia Echinacea Hibiscus Beyond the beauty of the evaluation garden is the science that is happening there every day. Each plant is regularly monitored for its adaptability to the environmental conditions of the trial site, disease and pest problems, and the ornamental value of the flowers, foliage, and habits. …
Type: Blog
… gathered stories about the most famous orchid of them all: the genus Vanilla. (Yes, vanilla is an orchid.) One unusual story comes from Ph.D. student Lynnaun Johnson, whose work in our … in Mexico, including those of Madagascar and Tahiti. Vanilla cultivation Tahitian vanilla is a hybrid of V. planifolia (shown) and V. odorata . Photo by H. Zell CC-BY-SA-3.0 While in … vanilla is cultivated in a highly managed environment. By contrast, the vanilla grown at 1 de Mayo farm in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, is cultivated in a completely natural …
Type: Blog
… A Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid, is called the “gateway orchid” for beginning collectors: it requires very little care, and yields … candidate in the Garden and Northwestern University’s Plant Biology and Conservation program, is an expert in all things orchids, both native and tropical. She took some time this past fall … plant in the solution, repot and water well. Make sure your container has good drainage holes, is planted in a well-draining bark media (not moss), and the plant is never allowed to sit in a …
Type: Blog
… At the Garden, peak fall color emerges around mid-October. This year’s fall color show is not a drastic change, but the colors are a little “off,” according to Boyce Tankersley, … “The progression of species looks about right this year, but the quality of the experience is a little ‘off,’” Tankersley said. “For instance, the cherry [tree] outside my office—in a good year—is a mass of light yellow leaves. This year, some leaves have already dropped, some are the light …
Type: Blog
… The ever-creative Nancy Clifton is putting the finishing touches on her fun and fragrant project. She’s making more than 400 … no-bake “faux dough” made of just two all-natural ingredients, cinnamon and applesauce. Nancy is a horticulture program specialist and popular Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago … Nancy let us photograph her at work, while supplying some tips along the way. THE BASIC RECIPE 1 pound (16 oz.) cinnamon 3 pounds (large 48 oz. jar) applesauce The first question: Where do you …
Type: Blog
… at the Garden, you can find examples of this everywhere. The milkweed in the Dixon Prairie is a favorite meal of the monarch butterfly. In the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden, … food to all kinds of wildlife like birds, insects, and mammals, having a set of diverse plants is crucial to helping create diverse wildlife for a flourishing ecosystem. Managing our natural areas so they support diverse native plants is a priority of the Garden’s ecologists, who appreciate this important connection between plants …
Type: Blog
… native seeds for the national Seeds of Success (SOS) program this field season. The Garden is an active partner in SOS, led by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, to collect seeds for … Land Management Internship Program also participate in the Seeds of Success program. The goal is to collect 80,000 viable seeds per site, but the devastating heat and drought in the west has made the job especially challenging. …
Type: Blog
