… well-being. One easy way to do that at the Chicago Botanic Garden or anywhere you walk is to seek out the company of evergreens. That includes most conifers, which are plants that … as well as their ability to transform and brighten the landscape. The charm of conifers is subtle; you just have to slow down and get up close. Here are a few suggestions on what to …
Type: Blog
… It’s now early fall and that means it’s time for Colchicum ! Colchicum is a group of flowers also known as autumn crocuses, though they’re not related to the true … bulbs. We’re still seeing the final blooms of Lilium speciosum ‘Uchida’ as well. This lily is notable for being the latest-blooming lily in our climate. These plants started blooming in …
Type: Blog
… It’s been another fantastic season at Butterflies & Blooms at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This is my second year working at Butterflies & Blooms, and I think it’s looking better than ever. The … Botanical (Own work) [ CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons Butterflies & Blooms home is in the Regenstein Learning Campus . I can’t think of a more appropriate place for visitors to …
Type: Blog
… Betsy ( Trillium cuneatum ) Yellow wakerobin ( Trillium luteum ) The Chicago Botanic Garden is collaborating with the Huntsville Botanical Garden in Alabama on a Trillium conservation … there are several species that thrive in the more alkaline soils across the Midwest. Our goal is to expand the range of growing areas for some species and increase the overall diversity. …
Type: Blog
… the paint stirrers and get out the chalkboard paint! The photos are testament to how easy it is: assemble a pile of paintable wooden markers-to-be, scrub-brush lightly under running water, … to read from a distance, get stepped on), and rocks (hard to keep in one spot). This approach is simple, recyclable, nice looking, and kind of fun to do—makes a good kid project, too! Can't …
Type: Blog
… used to do this all the time, and now she’s a wildlife biologist.” 1. Pick up a Stick How cool is this? In 2008, the stick was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame! It’s in great … in the dirt, a conductor’s baton, the first leg of a tepee, and anything else a child says it is. 2. Learn to Lash If one stick is interesting, a pile of sticks has real 3-D potential. The art of lashing teaches kids to turn …
Type: Blog
… to give them a second chance to be appreciated—ranunculus, chamomile, and more. The process is straightforward, using things you have around your home. And it’s easy enough that you can do … in a scrapbook or frame them for your wall. The easiest way to mount pressed flowers on paper is with simple Elmer’s Glue. …
Type: Blog
… running. In the Horticultural Therapy Department, we’re in the process of setting up our off-site gardens at facilities all over the greater Chicago area. These gardens come in all shapes … Enabling Garden. To start your own home horticultural therapy garden, the first thing you need is a good container. At the Buehler Enabling Garden, as well as off-site gardens, horticultural … a container with drainage holes to avoid root rot and water logging. The next item you’ll need is a rich, nutrient-filled, potting soil. If you’re using a large container, filling the entire …
Type: Blog
… check in with and be present in the natural world. Choosing a Spot The best kind of sit-spot is one that you feel comfortable in and familiar with. So choose a natural area that is easily accessible and preferably in a location that you can visit regularly. That might mean a …
Type: Blog
… North Branch Trail at the south end of the Chicago Botanic Garden near Dundee Road. The osprey is listed as an endangered species in Illinois, which means it’s at risk of disappearing as a … attacking the young. FOCR and the FPCC sought out the Garden as a partner for an installation site, in large part owing to the Garden’s strong conservation messaging and proximity to other … will bring to construct the nest. With the osprey nesting platform now in place, our hope is that within the next few years, a migrating male will select the site and pair with a female. …
Type: Blog
