… life. Try this soil seed-bank test to discover the magic of topsoil. The soil seed-bank test is used by farmers, scientists, and others to find out what weed seeds are hidden in a garden or … could affect the growth of the crop. You can use the same basic procedure to find out what is living in the soil in your yard or other location. For this variation of the test, your … soil from a woodland area Dry leaves (leaf litter) from the ground above the soil collection site Moss growing nearby Directions Pour a layer of gravel about 2 inches deep on the bottom of …
Type: Blog
… Jamie Berlin is the horticulturist for the Lavin Evaluation Garden and Green Roof Gardens at the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. The Lavin Evaluation Garden is home to the Garden's Plant Evaluation Program, featuring plants best suited for Midwestern …
Type: Staff bio
… scientists learn more about how climate change affects plant populations. Climate change is causing plant species to flower earlier around the globe. Some plants experience severe frost … damage causes little harm to the populations. Instead, the big challenge facing these plants is increased mortality due to water stress under climate change.” This research was recently … changes, like climate change, threaten plant species. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2745.13146 …
Type: Research
… Thanksgiving is here again, and we at the Chicago Botanic Garden are thankful for all the pollinators who make … on the image above to download our placemat to enjoy with your feast. The ideal printing size is tabloid (11 x 17 inches). Letter size paper (8.5 x 11 inches) will also work if you choose …
Type: Blog
… hand in hand? A romantic picnic need not be formal or fancy. The secret to making it romantic is a personal touch—something that both reflects your personality and makes the evening more fun. … of our favorite ways to make picnic fare more special—whether it’s homemade or store-bought—is with edible flowers. Gathered from your garden or from a trusted source (no florists or … and dramatic colors (including near-black), and are shaped like little hearts. Their flavor is sweet and perfumed. Conversation starter: the word “pansy” comes from the French “ pensée ,” …
Type: Blog
… a mass planting in the Garden. People look forward to these 41 containers each spring, which is something Soulsby keeps in mind when he’s planting them. By the time April rolls around, … them look full from the get-go. Poking through the red, orange, and yellow flowers this year is an unusual, edible treat: some Lactuca sativa ‘Australian Yellowleaf’ lettuce. “I’ve never … can tolerate cooler weather,” said Soulsby. Lactuca sativa ‘Australian Yellowleaf’ lettuce is a fun foliage accent for a container, and a tasty snack. That’s another trick: all of the …
Type: Blog
… Spring is done and we’ve finally moved into summer bulb season! The annual beds have been replanted with … for the shade garden because they provide both structure and color at a time when little else is blooming in the shade. The leaves emerge in a layered whorl, giving the plants a pagoda-like … of those beginning to bloom in bold shades of pink, red, yellow, and orange. Lilium ‘Nepera’ is a vibrant orange martagon hybrid that lights up a shady corner. Pale yellow foxtail lilies ( …
Type: Blog
… flora of the areas we are going to visit. We search out areas of the world where the climate is similar to that of the midwestern United States, and we make lists. Lots of lists. Massive … gasoline in the country, driver wages, botanist guides, food, and lodging. All of this data is condensed into a one-page document that our hosts submit to the national environmental … each country for approval and permits for the trip. Among our goals on plant-collecting trips is to collect seeds to conserve and to look for plants of horticultural interest to display in …
Type: Blog
… spirit to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Jeff Ross at Blackberry Farm Ross showed how easy it is to incorporate fresh produce and gardening into your life in his lecture, “Eating Between the … throughout the season.” In addition to being a well-known restaurant and inn, Blackberry Farm is a fully working farm. Ross spent nearly ten years managing the gardens at Blackberry; now he … helps chefs get more involved in the garden. Morning at Blackberry Farm Even though the farm is a large operation, the lessons learned there can be easily adapted in containers or raised …
Type: Blog
… Home gardeners can sympathize: not every seed that is planted grows. This truth extends to restored prairies that are grown from seed mixes, … development has left us with less than one-tenth of one percent of prairieland, which is vital part of our ecosystem. Today, the prairie can be found only in small patches, and … to a large swath of acreage in the suburbs, she and her team visited each restored prairie site to compare the plant communities to the mix of seeds that were planted there initially. “I …
Type: Blog
