… characteristics, including blooms that are amazingly complex. Milkweeds are found mostly in open prairies and savannas and are known to most by their fruits, which are pod-like … prairies, and swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) , which is the only species we have that grows in marshes. You are not likely to see the other 11 species that occur in the Chicago area because some are so rare that they have been designated as endangered species …
Type: Blog
… complex mechanisms for both receiving and sending UV light, and they use these amazing gifts in a variety of clever ways. One well-known phenomenon is the relationship between butterflies and nectar-producing flowers. Thanks to special photoreceptors in their huge compound eyes, butterflies can detect ultraviolet light. Many flowers have evolved … ultraviolet patterning that helps lead the butterflies directly to their nectaries, resulting in a mutually beneficial exchange—nectar for the butterfly, pollination for the flower. These …
Type: Blog
… soon—we’ve got plenty of benches throughout our 385-acre grounds, some of them tucked away in secluded areas and others more public. We asked Leora Siegel, senior director of the Lenhardt … Walled Garden The Victorian Garden By Caroline Ikin You’ll see the influence of gardens in Victorian Britain in the English Walled Garden. This book brings that era to life and tracks the rise of suburban …
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… Look up! In partnership with Friends of the Chicago River ( FOCR ) and the Forest Preserves of Cook County … of the Chicago Botanic Garden near Dundee Road. The osprey is listed as an endangered species in Illinois, which means it’s at risk of disappearing as a breeding species. Fish-eating raptors … United States to South America, osprey are often seen during their migrations—yet few remain in Illinois to nest. The lack of suitable nesting structures has been identified as a limiting …
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… 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 …
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… 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 …
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… 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 …
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… In recent years, the plight of pollinators has gotten a lot of press, and rightly so. I spoke … the rusty patched bumblebee , native to the Upper Midwest, was just listed this month by the U.S. 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 …
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… 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 …
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… 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 …
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