… States Department of Agriculture more than 150 years ago. The big, sweet, and juicy tomato is a good slicer and also makes great ketchup. “What could be more American than that?” … bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), said to originate from the Cherokee people. The variety is also known as the preacher bean because its abundant yield of purple-streaked green pods gives … Capsicum annuum ‘Alma Paprika’), of Hungarian origin, can be dried and ground into paprika and is cited in one of the earliest American cookbooks, according to Hilgenberg. In the American Seed …
Type: Blog
… The sun was out, the air was crisp, and the nights were frosty: parsnip weather. Cold weather is actually a good thing for parsnips—in fact, they need it to convert the starch in their roots … dishes. We used a pitchfork to loosen the dirt deeply around each parsnip top—a gentle harvest is required, as parsnips are brittle and can snap if eager hands try to pull the roots by their … a bit fussy, so here’s the our strategy for sowing: Plant fresh seed. Parsnip seed viability is short, so plant only newly purchased seed every year. Sow heavily. We’ve found that …
Type: Blog
… used as a container—let your imagination be the judge. Provide drainage: Adequate drainage is probably the most important rule to ensure the success of your dish garden. Be sure to remove … peat-based potting soil. Place the tallest plants in the center if the dish garden is to be viewed from several sides, or place them in the back of the container if viewed only … and minor trimming if needed. They can last in the home for one to two years before repotting is needed. …
Type: Blog
… Chester Jankowski, Jr., is the senior horticulturist for the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and the Kleinman Family Cove at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He is responsible for designing and maintaining the gardens, and working with the education staff to …
Type: Staff bio
… will enjoy a chance to express themselves with this easy craft. Supplies Rocks—fist size is a good place to start * Paint Permanent marker Newspaper or work surface * Any paint will … for nontoxic options that are safe for children and environmentally friendly. Sidewalk chalk is another great option. Instructions Wash the rocks with soap and water. Then dry them. Paint …
Type: Blog
… England to Chicago in the late 1950s, she’d never heard of a prairie. In England, a grassland is called a meadow. But every kid in the neighborhood near Chicago’s Midway Airport called the … changing not only daily but with the seasons and from year to year.” The Dixon Prairie is a recreated prairie. “The soils and the hydrology are the foundations for the different … and other factors favorable to some plants and unfavorable to others.” The prairie is like a jazz melody where the players improvise, coming and going, and making a splash at …
Type: Blog
… Louis Foundation Green Roof Garden North Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden Ayse Pogue is the senior horticulturist for the Malott Japanese Garden. She is also responsible for overseeing and coordinating the maintenance of Evening Island, the Ellis …
Type: Staff bio
… Conifer Garden Waterfall Garden Sensory Garden Circle Garden Lakeside Gardens Heather Sherwood is the senior horticulturist for the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled Garden. She also is responsible for the West Flower Walk, McGinley Pavilion, Runnells Courtyard, and Searle …
Type: Staff bio
… away on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s southeast side, just north of Dundee Road, the Reserve is relatively unknown, even to longtime visitors. As an assistant ecologist, I’m in the Reserve a … Nope, you’re not in a movie theater If you’re in the Reserve’s prairie when the breeze is just right, you might pick up on the fragrance of prairie dropseed, a short, mound-forming … and hazelnut trees turning shades of yellow, orange, and red. My favorite place in the Reserve is the southeast corner. I love the views across the pond, with the Garden’s other shorelines in …
Type: Blog
… view the landscape. Contrasting textures and shapes keep the garden interesting even when snow is minimal. Fresh snow highlights the different textures found throughout the garden. The Dwarf Conifer Garden is full of dozens of varieties and species of conifers in all shapes and sizes. While the rest of the Chicago Botanic Garden slumbers under a thick layer of snow, this one is at its peak, waiting to show off shapes and colors that almost don’t seem real. …
Type: Blog
