… plants and let them sprout. We used biodegradable Fertilpots , but you could also start seeds in egg cartons, newspaper pots, or plastic pots. 2. Cut the burlap into squares that are twice … the fabric roughly into 8″-x-8″ squares. This does not need to be exact. 3. Fold the square in half diagonally and sew a seam along the side. You can use a heavy duty needle with a sewing … the wall, pinch the extra fabric so the burlap fits snugly around the pot. Fold down the point in front or cut it off—your choice. Push a long pin through the pot and the fabric and pin the …
Type: Blog
… animals including swans, pied-billed grebes, muskrats, and many others. The central character in the story is a turtle. The turtle, an island in a world of water, was chosen to carry soil and tree seedlings on its back, which eventually … on any given day during the growing season at the Garden. Like the early blooming wildflowers in McDonald Woods, turtles are truly one of the first signs of spring. Soon after the ice melts …
Type: Blog
… Helen Bartlett is the horticulturist for Evening Island, which was designed in the New American Garden style of landscape design, featuring five acres of hillside, woodland, and meadow gardens, surrounded by lakes. She has a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Knox College. Bartlett joined the Garden in 2013 as a seasonal employee on the aquatics team. The following year, she became a seasonal …
Type: Staff bio
… way to cement knowledge. Nature play abounds at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and can be found in many of our education programs, including Family Drop-In activities, Camp CBG, and the Nature Preschool. Ann Halley , Nature Preschool director, … play activities that can be done at home. Choose an activity—or two—to keep children playing in nature throughout the school year: Create land art. Use twigs, rocks, and leaves to create …
Type: Blog
… As a docent at that Show, I was eager to show off the Garden’s vanilla plant (located in the Tropical Greenhouse next to the banana trees), because I knew that may visitors didn’t know that they had an orchid in their spice cabinet. Currently, I am in the second year of my research of the vanilla orchid. Vanilla is an exciting plant to study …
Type: Blog
… and flowers you want to grow this year and envision how to lay them out. The renewed interest in gardening lately means that seeds sell out quickly so get your order in early. One of my winter projects is to get started on crop planning. Make a spreadsheet for the crops you want to grow in order to keep track of your planting dates. I’ve wanted to so in past seasons; this is the …
Type: Blog
… of nasturtium or chive flowers and let dry. Gently add flowers to a sterile quart jar. Pour in plain vinegar or white wine vinegar to cover. Let steep for two weeks in a cool, dark spot. Strain vinegar into a fresh jar to use. Note how the flowers have lost … While the farro is cooling (about 3 cups cooked), make the dressing: Toast ½ cup pecans in an oven or fry pan until fragrant. Set aside to cool, then chop. Sauté one small (or ½ large), …
Type: Blog
… turning to the earthy aesthetics and healing powers of mushrooms and other kinds of fungi. In particular, the underground part of mushrooms known as mycelium has captured the imagination … designer James Frost sketched this garden party-vibed headpiece, made of a Laccaria species in a summery shade of lilac. These fungi form a partnership with forest trees—they help tree roots absorb water and nutrients; in return, the trees provide nutrients to the fungus. The high-rise, swingy skirt has a retro …
Type: Blog
… salad dressing—we used ranch Notes from the chef/artists: Bell peppers don’t work well in the food processor. I recommend finely chopping them with a good knife. Broccoli was a bit … fourth-grade teacher Lindsay for eight great spiralizer ideas . Prepare veggies by shredding in a food processor, and place each kind in a bowl. Use your imagination to “paint” your canvas (plate). Make sure to take a picture …
Type: Blog
… life—as he did life here at the Chicago Botanic Garden—during the four weeks he was on display in our Semitropical Greenhouse. Spike brought the nation’s—and even the world’s—attention to the Garden, as we waited for our first-ever flowering titan to open up in all its stinky and colorful glory. The event—and I am proud to call this an event—brought more … Sunday, August 30, when we manually opened up the flower), making it by far the largest event in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s history.) In addition, there were 948 television and radio …
Type: Blog
