… as you think about sharing your plant goodness with some of the people you miss seeing. Get your hands dirty in an activity that’s good for your plants and your spirit. …
Type: Blog
… world celebrated soil: the United Nations proclaimed it the International Year of Soils. Soil is perhaps the least understood—and therefore least considered—part of gardening. And yet soil … matter What's the difference? They're all natural soil amendments, but the terminology can get confusing. Compost is a general term for natural materials that have decomposed enough to be … dirt? Start fresh with a raised bed garden, and heatlhy, nutrient-laden soil. Don't fight your site! If your soil is simply too difficult or contaminated to work with, don't fight it! Consider …
Type: Plant Info
… below to reveal the correct answer. Hint: We have a big birthday coming up in 2022 The Garden is the same age as… Shakira Bugs Bunny Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) × Photo by Eva Rinaldi via … (80). Close Speaking of rocks… Rock steps lead to our lovely Waterfall Garden. Where did we get the stones and boulders for the steps? Wisconsin Stonehenge Lake Michigan × Wisconsin We … Wisconsin to make the rock steps. (Tram drivers’ tip: The east-facing slope of the waterfall is the first place to catch the sun’s light every morning.) Close You can’t jingle this bell We …
Type: Blog
… of all abilities to practice shooting after dark. And with a little time and effort, you’ll get some cool pictures of holiday lights—one of my very favorite subjects. As the Garden’s … to see what you come up with. Post your photos, #Lightscape, and tag us: @chicagobotanic. Blur is good If you manually focus closer to your lens, distant points of light grow into luminous … your widest aperture and watch them grow as you shift them out of focus. The resulting blur is called bokeh. Lightscape is a perfect opportunity to explore what your lens can do with this …
Type: Blog
… We have a problem. My cat is eating my plant. Despite the fact that my prayer plant has inhabited my apartment for over a … his orchids. I called floriculturist Deb Moore of the Garden’s Plant Production Department to get recommendations on how to keep a peaceful and pet- and plant-friendly home. 1. Choose non-toxic plants If you want to have houseplants in your pet-friendly home, make sure …
Type: Blog
… Bloom Highlights Begonia grandis Hardy Begonia This plant is native to shady areas in forests on rocky slopes of temperate mountains in central and … means “large, showy” in Latin. Clematis terniflora Sweet Autumn Clematis This plant is native to eastern China and Taiwan north to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, to the Amur and … “flower.” Datura metel ‘Purple Ballerina’ Purple Ballerina Angel’s Trumpet Datura metel is native to the Greater Antilles of Central America where it is found in subtropical pastures …
Type: Page
… for the natural world. Open House Registration Curriculum Policies If your preferred class is full, please contact Ann Halley via email to be placed on a waitlist. How is a nature preschool different from a traditional preschool? The natural world is the catalyst for the curriculum. Daily time spent outdoors in all weather (approximately half …
Type: Page
… Spotted beebalm ( Monarda punctata ) Soil Blue vervain ( Verbena hastata ) The Pot Struggle is Real First hurdle: winter. Chicago winters are no joke, and pots are a tough environment for … it out—but leaning toward dry. Phlox ( P. bifida and P. divaricata ) In the End Gardening is experimentation. Some plants will fail, and that’s okay. Others will thrive and surprise you. What matters most is creating spaces that invite life—birds, bees, and a little biodiversity—back into our urban …
Type: Blog
… Baltimore orioles have arrived in the eastern United States to set up breeding territories. To get her attention, the male hops around the female, spreads his wings, and bows forward. The … Life Histories of North American Birds series, Arthur Cleveland Bent noted that the oriole is “perhaps the most skillful artisan of any North American bird.” Those lucky enough to see an … to hop out onto a branch, exercise their wings, and then fledge. The Baltimore oriole nest is a labor of love. Photo © Carol Freeman These colorful birds eat insects, fruit, and nectar, …
Type: Blog
… waders including the great blue heron. A great egret ( Ardea alba ) fishes; in the background is a great blue heron. Photo © Carol Freeman During breeding season, a patch of skin on the … its motionless legs likely looking like branches to a fish, which will come closer, and then get snatched up by the hungry wader. The bird swallows the prey head first, sometimes having to … Lagoons. Photo © Carol Freeman Once on the state endangered species list, the great egret is doing well in Illinois; however, habitat loss and water pollution may threaten its future. …
Type: Blog
