… get to play with my railroad at home because I get to play with this one,” said Dave Rodelius, in the tone of a man who can’t believe his good fortune. Dave Rodelius shows off one of the stars … a special treat. This season, the Model Railroad Garden will pay tribute to steam engines, in honor of the 125 th anniversary of the Chicago Horticultural Society (the Society founded … see the little rascals trying to get up and stumble around….Eventually, I was drafted into the U.S. Army engineer corps. Two years later, I was discharged and became a manager at a livestock …
Type: Blog
… of the World Online hosted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Centers of diversity are located in Mexico, China, and the Mediterranean nations. DNA research found that the European oaks are … over very long time periods into several related genera. Quercus is the largest tree genus in the flora of North America (north of Mexico) with more than 90 species recorded. They range in size from knee-high multi-suckering evergreen shrubs to the majestic live oaks of the South, …
Type: Blog
… The lovely sunny orange blooms of hoary puccoon ( Lithospermum canescens ) that spark color in the dormant prairie remnants of early spring are sought by everyone trying to recreate or … prairies. However, this pretty little spring wildflower has proved difficult to establish in prairie restorations. It’s not that this species is rare. In fact, it occurs abundantly in high-quality remnants of natural prairie. Yet, it is legendary …
Type: Blog
… of the milkweed foliage. After hatching, the larvae consume the foliage, which is high in cardiac glycosides—a poison that interferes with the heart functioning of vertebrates (animals … are native: Asclepias amplexicaulis is native to our prairies and is suitable for planting in sunny perennial flower gardens. The flowers are described as "eraser pink" in color and are fragrant (honey). Asclepias exaltata is native to our woodlands and is suitable …
Type: Blog
… vanilla is an orchid.) One unusual story comes from Ph.D. student Lynnaun Johnson, whose work in our doctoral program in Plant Biology and Conservation took him to Mexico, the native land of edible vanilla. Last … the spice used for flavoring desserts and beverages, and for providing wonderful aromas in candles, perfumes, and many other things. This collection trip would take me to vanilla’s …
Type: Blog
… During the exquisite Orchid Show, when the Garden was planning a summer of Brazil in the Garden, highlighting the influence of Brazil on gardens, arts and culture, and … home. Cattleya orchid (Cattleya coccinea) and hybrids from the Wisconsin Orchid Society Show in 2017—my plants! First, a few facts. Brazil has one of the highest diversities of orchid species of any country in the world , with more than 2,500 species reported, and no doubt many more undescribed species …
Type: Blog
… Even as the leaves start to turn in shades of scarlet and gold, we are thinking ahead to nature’s other big show—spring color. … able to shop at your leisure for hundreds of varieties of bulbs imported directly from growers in Holland. The members’ presale, with discounted prices, starts September 1; the public sale is … 9 to 25. Order pick-ups are October 9 to 10 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where you can take in the fall color . Can’t wait for spring? The sale also offers several fall-blooming bulbs that …
Type: Blog
… As director of horticulture, Tim Johnson oversees and directs operations in the Horticulture division, which includes 27 display gardens, plant production, plant healthcare, and general grounds. Johnson graduated with a bachelor of science degree in horticulture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1984. He worked as a foreman for Campbell's Garden Center, installing and maintaining …
Type: Staff bio
… that we hope to find at each of our planned collection locations; and costs: airfare, gasoline in the country, driver wages, botanist guides, food, and lodging. All of this data is condensed … is to collect seeds to conserve and to look for plants of horticultural interest to display in our collections. Invariably, some of the treasures we return with are unanticipated. Such was … of a very large population of Paeonia tenuifolia that was unknown to Georgian scientists in the remote and sparsely populated Vashlovani Reserve—a peninsula-shaped area surrounded by …
Type: Blog
… Allison Pillar is the grower for indoor floriculture in the Plant Production department. She produces high-quality plants for display in the Greenhouses, Krehbiel Gallery, Garden View Café, and Orchid Show. She also produces plants that are used in Garden programs such as classes, field trips, horticultural therapy, and Camp CBG. Pillar has …
Type: Staff bio
