… Are you feeling winter blue? Do you feel trapped in cold and ice? Has your mood gone south, leaving you wishing that you could, too? What, with … a brisk walk any time, anywhere. But never is it as urgently necessary for my mental health as in winter. A winter walk is the cure for cabin fever. And more than that, it’s the way to reshape … winter. Winter doesn’t have to be a sentence to months of suffering. Once you start walking in it, you see it as a time for a brisk spins through snow-frosted landscapes; an opportunity to …
Type: Blog
… Perhaps you noticed the spiderwort, with its striking royal blue flowers, in the Dixon Prairie as part of the perimeter walk of the Garden. Or did you say cow slobbers? … has a unique story to tell. Tradescantia ohiensis , better known to most as spiderwort, blooms in late spring in moist prairies. Its brilliant, royal blue flowers composed of three petals contrast with its …
Type: Blog
… Even when the Chicago Botanic Garden was buried in snow, our horticulturists would look for signs of spring and trade tips—did you see that … into undulating mounds so they always look good. But they are incredibly dramatic starting in April, when they’re blooming en masse on a slope that provides different perspectives. Redbuds … Campus We planted a large number of redbud trees to create a dramatic flowering display in early spring. The landscape architect for the Learning Campus , which opened in 2016, did a …
Type: Blog
… Summer is in the air. As the nights heat up, it’s a perfect time to get outdoors and entertain in your garden. Chicago Botanic Garden floriculturist Tim Pollak shares how you can bring the … white or cream-colored foliage and flowers. White flowers and plants create brightness in your garden by reflecting moonlight, candlelight, and firelight. Some flowers even “glow” in …
Type: Blog
… associated with werewolves, vampires, and witches. The plant has been a familiar plot element in horror movies, television shows, and novels. In the Harry Potter series, Remus Lupin, a tormented werewolf, drinks a potion of wolfsbane carefully concocted to control his transformations. As early as Dracula in 1931, wolfsbane casually replaced garlic as a repellent for vampires in film. Nevertheless, …
Type: Blog
… did the Chicago Botanic Garden end up sharing one of the most sought-after strawberry plants in the world with a three-star Michelin restaurant? The collaboration and conservation … to meet Aaron Keefer, the culinary gardener for the renowned French Laundry restaurant in California’s Napa Valley. At a conference in Iowa, their conversation turned to the rare Marshall strawberry, known for its exceptional …
Type: Blog
… These days, we text hearts. But in Victorian times, flowers acted as the instant messaging and emojis of the day. In nineteenth-century Europe (and eventually in America), communication by flower was all the rage. A language of flowers emerged. Books …
Type: Blog
… I’m reminded of the grandeur of the outdoors, that nature still grounds and uplifts us. In fact, short, regular “awe walks”—in any season—improve brain health and emotional well-being, according to a new study by the … compassion and gratitude, the study finds. Winter is the time to cultivate awe. It’s a season in which hidden beauty is revealed—as long as you keep your eyes open. A coworker recently told …
Type: Blog
… other outdoor spaces and why are they so important? Housing for the elderly has been provided in many western cities since the Middle Ages. Facilities such as independent living centers, … facilities have traditionally included some form of outdoor space. The Role of the Outdoors in Residential Environments for Aging , published in 2006. The majority of the elderly (over 65) reside in their own home or with relatives. …
Type: Blog
… grower for the Plant Production department. She was promoted to supervisor of specialty areas in 2003 and then moved into her current position in 2005. Sherwood shares her passion for and knowledge of gardening with the public by leading … regularly on the "Keeping It Green" television segment on ABC 7. Sherwood has been involved in horticulture since, at age 12, she started working at a cut-flower farm was across from her …
Type: Staff bio
