… keeps the wheels turning? The ability to access this information in real time during a Garden visit is what makes the app so special, according to Boyce Tankersley , the Garden’s director of … that people like to find other things at the Garden, so we created a new second database for the app. It has points of interest at the Garden, like water fountains, classrooms, … leading to ‘secret spots’ such as the quiet bench atop the Waterfall Garden where birds visit early in the morning. “The GardenGuide app was designed to deepen the visitor experience …
Type: Blog
… If you’re a beginning gardener, it’s easy to be intimidated by where to start and how to care for plants. The Garden offers many resources to get you growing. Let’s dig in. Start Small Don’t … rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you. Outdoors If you have a small … the existing garden or creating another one. We’re here to help. Take a class. Read a book. Visit the greenhouse. Watch a video. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… is also said to be redolent of lavender. British seed company Thompson & Morgan is one source for its seed. 'Tender and True' dates back to 1897 and sports wide shoulders and strong flavor. … Garden, we experimented with parsnips in 2013 and had such a fine crop of 'Albion' ( see here for our blog post about it ) that we added two more varieties this year. 'Albion', like most parsnips, is disease- and pest-free, and also resistant to the cankers that can affect some other varieties. 'Lancer' has the …
Type: Plant Info
… rakes to remove unsightly mats of algae and invasive shoreline weeds. See the water quality for yourself: at this rare break in the shoreline plantings, you can walk right down to the … species, have become not only part of the shoreline infrastructure but also important habitats for fish, frogs, turtles, and birds. Arranged in eye-pleasing drifts, some plantings extend out … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… I started vermicomposting (composting with worms) in April for Earth Day. It has been four months and my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) … and airy, not wet. (Note: If your worm bin is soggy, open the lid and let the bin dry out for a week or so. Do not add any food scraps before moving to the next step.) When you have a … in municipal water supplies kill microbes. While this keeps our drinking water safe and free of harmful bacteria, it also kills the microbes that are necessary for waste decomposition. …
Type: Blog
… a prescribed burn in Dixon Prairie. Fire burns through dead leaves and stems, opening space for native plants to grow from seed, nourished by the charred plant material and increased … areas.” That’s because periodic fires—ignited by lightning and set by Indigenous Peoples for hunting, managing resources, and more—shaped the Chicago area’s woodlands, wetlands, and … against them,” said Jim Jabcon, prairie ecologist at the Garden. Fire is an effective tool for keeping natural areas healthy because, over time, the cycle of burning, spreading native …
Type: Blog
… cups of flavorful tea. And you control the quality—you’ll know that the herbs you grow are free from pesticides, preservatives, and artificial flavors or colors. Hold the Caffeine All … didyma), rosemary, parsley, sage, dill, and thyme are some of the other herbs suitable for tea. It all depends on what flavors you enjoy. Lemon-tasting herbs can be paired with slices … while savory herbs like sage and rosemary are good on their own. (Never use a plant part for a tea unless you know it is safe to consume.) Most teas that use herbs are prepared by …
Type: Plant Info
… moth into the Midwest from the Northeast. Homeowners can assist by searching their property for egg masses or any other signs of spongy moths. If you live outside a quarantined area and find any evidence of the moth, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s toll-free Moth Hotline at (866) 296-6684 for specific instructions. In Lake County, currently the only county in Illinois under …
Type: Plant Info
… at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It’s really cool to see how there’s a cult-like following for this plant.” The scientist’s mail bins overflowed with leaves of native pawpaw trees. … from the seeds Pawpaw trees in Ithaca, New York, in the fall The plant has been around for millions of years, and has been used for centuries by Native Americans and others as food and … but can be found as far west as eastern Nebraska. Learn more about the pawpaw growing range, visit the related Plant Information page. “It will be interesting to see where our research …
Type: Blog
… prevailing idea is that mulch is a definitive weed barrier. I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but the answer to that one is, well…have you noticed that weeds will grow quite well from … break down or compost into smaller, organically beneficial material. But its primary benefit for trees and shrubs is threefold: To protect and optimize the root zone To protect the trunk, … for eons. Why mess with success? Save the shredded tire mulch for the playground. And save the free wood chips municipalities provide for things that begin with the letter “P,” such as …
Type: Blog
