… orchid roots. A traditional winter drink in the cafés and restaurants of Turkey, salep is made from the tuberous roots of orchids—specifically, terrestrial orchids in the genus Orchis . Dried and powdered, the resulting flour is combined in a drink mix with other ingredients, much as hot chocolate or chai spices would be: … cinnamon, and vanillin (the main flavor component in vanilla) are added. A warm cup of salep is perfect on a wintry day. The instructions are hot-chocolate simple, too: mix 1½ tablespoons of …
Type: Blog
… The fourth of July is upon us, and while many beautiful flowers can be found in patriotic shades of red and white, the color blue is very difficult to find at the Garden. In fact, blue is a rare sight in the entire natural world. Less than ten percent of the plant kingdom …
Type: Blog
… gentian. Talk about taking your breath away! It seems that a brilliantly colored flower is necessary to attract pollinators to a plant of such short stature that chooses to bloom at a … in remnant prairies of high quality, of which very few have survived. To find this rare gem is a real treat. Gentiana puberulenta Gentianopsis crinita Equally impressive is its cousin, fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) . Fringed gentians can be found in …
Type: Blog
… August 6, 1878, he first observed the leaves and fruits of a plant (interestingly, August 6 is the date we put Spike on public view!) . Several weeks later, Beccari saw a flowering plant … flowered for the first time outside its tropical home. No one knows how common the titan arum is in the wild. Many suspect it is endangered. Its only known habitat is the rainforest of Sumatra, which is being steadily …
Type: Blog
… artful, and transporting. In a way, the experience of seeing Asia in Bloom: The Orchid Show is much like ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. On display now through … Garden’s Orchid Show invites you to pause and reflect on this historic art form. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. The practice of ikebana ( ee -kay- bah … Since then, ikebana has established itself as an art form beyond religious ritual, and is often seen displayed in people’s homes. Though it is now a secular practice, ikebana carries …
Type: Blog
… We had not seen much garlic mustard in our natural areas in recent years, and its reemergence is a reminder for all of us that controlling and managing invasive species is an ongoing challenge. Our natural areas comprise more than half of the Chicago Botanic … plants to maintain healthy habitats for birds, wildlife, and other plants. Prescribed burning is essential for control of invasive species. We were only able to do one prescribed burn at the …
Type: Blog
… it in the right spot and water it. Best for Sun ‘Joanna Reed’ catmint ( Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’) is one of the tidiest catmints I’ve ever grown, an attribute that cinched a top rating in our … pair well with catmint ( Nepeta —in the background). To me, lamb’s ears ( Stachys byzantina ) is an essential perennial for sunny gardens and ‘Big Ears’ is my favorite. Its large, pale silvery-green leaves are velvety soft and the perfect color and …
Type: Blog
… The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden is the place to explore small-space gardening. Seven Basil Types Planted at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden There, basil is king. (Of course it is—the word basil is rooted in the Greek basilikos , meaning royalty.) The bed is planted with …
Type: Blog
… May is the month to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and some shorebirds, as they … through the Chicago area. Most birders might agree that the highlight this time of year is warblers. It is for me—they are tiny jewels with wings. I feel totally blessed if I can see a few during …
Type: Blog
… and squeals of delight, as folks of all ages decided how best to connect with the fruit: Is it real? Should I touch it? Should I sit on it? Hug it? Photograph it? People even talked to … Garden. While they seem to be called “squash,” “pumpkin,” and “gourd” interchangeably, there is actually a science to identifying these cultivars, and pretty much everything called “pumpkin” is really a squash—although “pumpkin” is most commonly used to describe those distinctive orange …
Type: Blog
