… 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
… It starts with a summer filled with scientific observation at the Nativars Research Plot in the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden . The observer was Christian Acevedo, a Garden … provide the same resources for pollinators as their wild cousins. Understanding variation in pollinator attraction between natives and cultivars is critical to designing effective … (Penstemon digitalis) , a striking prairie plant and popular ornamental that blooms in the height of the summer (June to July). He worked with mentor Imeña Valdes, a master’s degree …
Type: Blog
… after being contacted by editors at Midwest Living magazine. Polling a number of experts in the Midwest, the editors asked for recommendations of award-worthy plants and then came up … with crazy beautiful flowers and one that’s so easy to grow that you basically just plant 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 trial. The strong stems never flopped and new shoots grow quickly to conceal the declining …
Type: Blog
… 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 seven very different basil varieties, laid out in a pinwheel design, and all grown from seed. It’s enough to make a gardener’s—or a … basilicum : ‘Dwarf Fine Bush’ The neat round globes that divide the pinwheel pack a big punch in those tiny leaves. This basil is highly aromatic, rich with cinnamon/anise/clove flavors. …
Type: Blog
… they are passing through. The good news is that there are a few warblers that actually nest in our area, so if you miss them during migration you can often find the nesting birds later in the summer. A great place to look for warblers, like this palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) , is in all the willow trees around the Garden. A less common warbler is this beautiful Cape May …
Type: Blog
