… walk of the Garden. Or did you say cow slobbers? Whatever you call it, Tradescantia ohiensis is just one of the prairie plants that has a unique story to tell. Tradescantia ohiensis , better … are replaced by new flowers, prolonging the blooming period. Another interesting feature is its other common name, cow slobbers. If you break a leaf, you will understand how this common … form as it stretches between your fingertips. By the way, the “wort” part of spiderwort, which is commonly used to describe many plants (figwort, moneywort, mugwort, liverwort), simply means …
Type: Blog
… pesticides (including DDT), and the creation of osprey nesting platforms, the fish-eating bird is breeding again in local forest preserves. The osprey looks somewhat like an adult bald eagle, … counties. This year, the Chicago Botanic Garden installed an osprey nesting platform, and is waiting to see if a pair will find it to their liking. According to officials of the Cook … off the platform. Watching an osprey grab a meal can be fascinating. The bird appears as if it is going to plunge head-first into the water, but then it straightens its head and grasps the …
Type: Blog
… I appreciate any cultivar name that invokes thoughts of my favorite holiday: Halloween. It is fun to stumble upon some Gaillardia ‘Goblin’ , Hemerocallis ‘Bela Lugosi’ , or Alchemilla … The straight species, S. lateriflorum , was also among the seven, so you can see that this is one of the best asters for your garden. The foliage of ‘Lady in Black’ is an almost black-purple color, enhanced in autumn by numerous sprays of teeny white daisies …
Type: Blog
… All species have long, arching branches that cascade outward but with pruning, the shape is variable. Beautyberry should be planted in rich soil and pruned in early spring but otherwise … and coneflowers With familiar daisy-like flowers that will bloom through all of fall, it is no wonder that species of Rudbeckia are a fall favorite. Petal colors can range from shades of … via Wikimedia Commons Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’ Japanese blood grass Japanese blood grass is another low-maintenance ornamental grass. Usually smaller in stature than switchgrass, it …
Type: Blog
… at workplaces, in government, in science, etc. Unfortunately, the number of women in science is still pretty dismal. Despite earning about half the doctorates in science, only 21 percent of … we recognize that our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is some of the most important work we do. On International Women’s Day, we pay tribute to women in science at the Garden, past and present: Left to right: Krissa Skogen, Ph.D., is studying hawkmoth pollination with Victoria Luizzi (Amherst College student, NSF REU student, …
Type: Blog
… supervisor of plant health care, said an insulating blanket of snow on the ground helps. Snow is a good insulator for plants that are exposed to extreme cold temperatures, so any plants that … their trunk more so than other trees, making them more likely to develop frost cracks. There is not much you can do if frost cracks happen except to watch the tree through spring to see if … the tree will survive this injury. Other ways a polar vortex might affect plants negatively is in flower bud survival. Forsythia shrubs could see damage to any branches that were above the …
Type: Blog
… I could read,” he said. Now he’s a proud plant parent to more than 100 plants. The collection is impressive, to be sure. But just how does one transport a thriving plant collection? As I … bring something if you’re just going to throw it away once you get there?” Weaver said. “Now is the time to get rid of anything disease or insect-infested.” Make cuttings of large plants you … (and gifting the large plant to a friend). “The nice thing about aroid plants like monstera is the vines have roots growing all over the place,” said Weaver. “You can easily chop a leaf off …
Type: Blog
… Handmade greeting cards make people feel loved. Here is a fun and festive way to show friends and relatives that you care about them. It’s a great … crayons, or colored pencils Work over a large paper towel or mat, because this project is messy! Fold a piece of stiff paper (construction paper or card stock) in half. Draw a design … on the front of the card. Try to use glue sparingly, because the paper will warp if the glue is too thick or wet. Sprinkle the herbs or spices of your choice on the wet glue. You can apply …
Type: Blog
… in 2016, did a great job with the scale and placement of the plantings. Each year, the display is more impressive, as the trees grow and produce more flowers. Drifts of roses at the Krasberg Rose Garden The first big flush of flowers is typically around the middle of June. Note the simple shape and deep fragrance of heirloom … tend to be short-lived and fade quickly in warm weather. So catching them in full flower is a real treat. Crabapples at the Lakeside Gardens Don’t miss a walk through a cathedral of …
Type: Blog
… determined that Spike had run out of the energy it needed to continue its bloom cycle. Spike is powered by energy from the sun, stored in its beach-ball-sized corm—a tuber-like underground … giant flower structure that a titan can send up in its first decade or so of life (Spike is about 12 years old). OVERHEARD: “I WISH MY BIOLOGY TEACHER WAS HERE.” As this week’s expected … texture,” Herendeen said. “The color inside varies from one plant to another in nature. It is dark maroon, the color of rotting meat, which is meant to attract the flies and beetles that …
Type: Blog
