… over these last 12 years. I arrived at the Garden just after 3 a.m.—my headlights reflecting in eyes of the raccoons who call our 385 acres home—and was let in by the third-shift security officers who keep the Garden safe at night. At the Semitropical Greenhouse, I met outdoor floriculturist Tim Pollak, “Titan Tim,” and we breathed in the plant’s horrible, wonderful smell. Tom Zombolo, senior director, facilities and …
Type: Blog
… conditions are ideal for the butterflies, and you can find them roosting or drying their wings in the post-rain sun—another excellent opportunity to take pictures of their ventral wings. You are also likely to find them flying around and basking in the heavy, humid air. Malachite ( Siproeta stelenes ) drying its wings after a heavy rain … cyane ) A white morpho (Morpho polyphemus) imago drying its wings shortly after eclosing in the early morning Hot, humid days: On sunny summer days, Butterflies & Blooms can be …
Type: Blog
… Day). Musing about how to share some seeds, horticulturist Nancy Clifton got interested in the guerrilla gardening-inspired idea of “seed balls” (or seed bombs, as they’re sometimes … to judge the consistency. Wearing gardening or plastic gloves, roll a teaspoon-sized ball in your hands (size can vary). Think “mud pie”—the ball should hold together when you squeeze it, … a few seeds to sprout from each seed ball. Too many seeds mean too many sprouts, resulting in too much competition for nutrients and water. All sun. All shade. All herbs. All spring. …
Type: Blog
… Francisco Mercado, Sr.—affectionately known here as "Pancho"—has been a staff member in the Grounds department since the early '70s. With many decades of training and experience, he specializes in areas including equipment operation, horticulture, and landscaping. He heads a team of four … that keeps machinery operating and mows the grass on more than 45 acres. Mercado grew up in Lares, Puerto Rico, where he helped his father on the family farm. …
Type: Staff bio
… I turned to Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, who lives in Chicago. She has an open lot next to her apartment, but also has some restrictions like me. … Sunburn isn’t a concern just for us humans. Plants can get scorched, too. Don’t put them in blazing sunlight. Porches with shade are prime locations for orchids and birds of paradise … plants. The outdoors makes your plants happy. A lot of plants really enjoy the strong swing in temperature that only the outdoors can provide, said Sherwood. If you have the space for it, …
Type: Blog
… For the past week, the big forklifts and trucks with their whimsical cargo have been rolling in to set up for the U.S. debut of Lightscape on November 22. Popular time slots are selling fast for the new holiday … ribbons of light. The illuminated trail was designed by artists in Australia, France, and the U.K. Insider tips: Be a human zoom lens. Get close to the lights and step back from them to take …
Type: Blog
… capacity to address priority management needs. Ultimately, our goal is to play a leading role in supporting the conservation, management, and restoration of native plant diversity in the Chicago region that serves as a model for work in the United States and globally. I am excited to be a part of the New Roots for Restoration …
Type: Staff bio
… As we are all adapting to new ways of connecting for work and play, students in Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm program have learned to adapt too. With a new way of doing … and social emotional learning. Working as a team, they learn to grow food responsibly, eat in a healthy way, and become accountable to themselves, their fellow farmers, and to their … of fun and it feels like a second family." Ordinarily, youth farmers work on-site and attend in-person workshops, five days a week for eight weeks. This year, because of the COVID-19 health …
Type: Blog
… First, remove, clean, and dry the seeds. After scooping the pulp out of the pumpkin, place it in a bowl of water and gently rub the stringy pulp off the seeds. Rinse seeds in a colander and let them drain. Prepare a baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper. Do not add any oil. Spread seeds in a single layer on the paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30–40 …
Type: Blog
… purple undersides. The purple hues will fade with low light levels, so keep this plant in strong, indirect light. Keep it on the drier side during the winter; water it regularly during … pitcher plant every few months to keep it fed and happy. Keep this plant moist; it does best in a humid and bright area. Your rock for the winter Lithops Lithops are fascinating succulent plants with adorable little blooms. Known as “living stones,” they mimic pebbles in arid soils. They require very little water during the autumn before they begin to grow new …
Type: Blog
