… There’s less mystery in the natural history of aquatic green algae and its relationship to land plants, thanks to … research co-led by Chicago Botanic Garden scientist Norm Wickett , Ph.D., published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The study examined how major forms of … on prior theories while developing tools to make use of advanced DNA sequencing technologies in biodiversity research. “We have known for quite some time that all plants on land share a …
Type: Blog
… their school garden from summer to fall. Fall planters Creating fall planters—either in a personal, tabletop container or raised garden bed—is a great way to prepare your garden for … cabbage, kale, onions, pansies, and mums. This allows the group one more opportunity to work in their outdoor garden before the impending first frost. Therapeutic benefits This activity brings a cyclical close to the gardening season. In the beginning of spring, we discuss seed germination and the life cycle of a plant. It is …
Type: Blog
… revitalizing, and restoring degraded lands around the world if we want a habitable planet in the future. But ecosystem restoration is complex. It requires both a large amount of seeds … habitats without botanists. Scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden are at the forefront in understanding the threats to native plants—and the consequences of their decline. The Chicago … including research related to the National Seed Strategy, ensures we will have the right seed in the right place at the right time for restoration efforts. There are a number of seed banks …
Type: Blog
… In recent years, the plight of pollinators has gotten a lot of press, and rightly so. I spoke … Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered. A rusty-patched bumblebee working on Culver’s root in the University of Wisconsin–Madison arboretum. Photo by Susan Day, UW-Madison Arboretum. Many … Be sure to provide resources across the entire growing season, so include species that bloom in spring, summer, and fall. Regional native plants are the species our local pollinators evolved …
Type: Blog
… Summer-blooming lavender is everywhere these days—in botanical cocktails, in aromatherapy mists, on fruit salads. The National Garden Bureau, in fact, has named 2020 “Year of the Lavender,” based on the plant’s texture, scent, beauty, and …
Type: Blog
… I love my container gardens in the growing season, but what’s the best way to brighten your doorstep for the longest season … thumbs among us. The key is knowing how to create a harmonious design that doesn’t blow over in winter’s first blizzard. I attended a winter containers class at the Garden and this is what I … Step 1: Fill container with wood mulch to weigh your container down so it won’t blow over in the wind and to hold the branches in place. Step 2: Place birch branches in wood mulch, and …
Type: Blog
… For many people, lilacs are a sentimental flower. My mother planted many lilacs on our farm in Kansas. The scent carried across the yard as I played. When my husband and I started our family, planting a lilac in our garden was a priority so our children will have the same heavenly memory of the fragrance … failed. The flowers would droop within an hour of bringing them inside, even though I had them in a clean vase full of fresh water. Through trial and error I found the trick to help the blooms …
Type: Blog
… test is used by farmers, scientists, and others to find out what weed seeds are hidden in a garden or cropland’s soil that could affect the growth of the crop. You can use the same basic procedure to find out what is living in the soil in your yard or other location. For this variation of the test, your objective is to study the …
Type: Blog
… environment and so involved with environmental issues. Her example inspired me to write Earth in the Balance. . . . Her picture hangs on my office wall among those of political leaders... … It all began with the book Silent Spring . My mother read about chemicals used in farming post-World War II and the decline of birds, and that was it; she had to take action. … yard, spraying DDT without protection, as his grandchildren played. He had a big bottle of DDT in the garage that had gone unnoticed until then. My mother could not believe what was happening …
Type: Blog
… popular orchid with collectors: it prefers high humidity and indirect light, faring best in eastern early morning light. But how do you ensure early success? Just as we learned in our first video, Repotting Orchids, Part 1: Phalaenopsis , it’s always best to repot your orchids shortly after purchasing them—the sphagnum moss in which they are sold provides too much constant moisture for the plant, and can damage the …
Type: Blog
