… damage to the fence after a windy day, I discovered a large red oak that had lost its foothold in the frozen soil and had toppled over against a white oak. Since the tree was threatening to … These grubs are similar to the white grubs of Junebugs and Japanese beetles that you find in your gardens and lawns, but much larger. Although the rotten wood was frozen, I was able to … revealing a whole colony of 30 to 40 beetle grubs about 2 inches long and about a half inch in diameter. Each grub was cradled in a smooth-surfaced cell in the rotted wood. Even at …
Type: Blog
… ample shade for a hot summer day, and the heart-shaped leaves turn an outstanding gold color in the fall. They have a very symmetrical conical shape, strong central leader, and can reach a … by twig, a crew of four to five staff members from the Grounds Department prunes all 28 trees in the Linden Allée to precise measurements—once in the winter for shaping, and once in the summer for detail grooming. The design is very uniform …
Type: Blog
… on a nearby subject and then repositioning the composition on lights that are farther away. In addition to boken backgrounds, you can add glowing orbs to the foreground by shooting through … than your point of focus. You might even bring your own small battery-operated strand to hold in front of your lens. No tripod; no worries Tripods are not allowed at Lightscape. Instead, … subject and conceal any color noise. If you’re new to photo editing, try a class at the Garden in Photoshop or Lightroom. There is no replacement for a solid tripod, but these easy hacks will …
Type: Blog
… atreus are clearly visible. Photo by Stuart Seeger via Wikimedia Commons This blue beauty is in the genus known as the owl butterflies ( Caligo ). They’re called owl butterflies because the … Caligo translates to “darkness,” which corresponds to the fact that they prefer to fly in the early morning before their predators are out and about. They are native to the tropical … South America, and are among the world’s largest butterflies! There are a few other species in the owl genus at Butterflies & Blooms, including the giant owl and the forest owl. However, …
Type: Blog
… or lavender. Make your own wrapping paper: Wrapping paper that is glossy or shiny, or has foil in it usually cannot be recycled. Try decorating sheets of butcher paper for something more sustainable, or wrap presents in the comics section of the newspaper. Try out some of these ideas and get inspiration for more on December 15 at our free Gifts from the Garden drop-in. It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Burnstein Hall of the Regenstein Center. …
Type: Blog
… Research in the CaraDonna Lab investigates the interplay among species interactions, population dynamics, … of species interactions and to understand the ecological consequences of global change (e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss, pollinator declines, urbanization). We are also particularly interested in temporal ecology and the flexibility of species interactions. We address research questions …
Type: Staff bio
… of the largest, most diverse, and most beloved of all plant families. An edible orchid in an ice sphere adorns a cocktail from chef Daniel Boulud, marthastewart.com Why, yes, that's an orchid in my cocktail Noted French chef Daniel Boulud paired with a mixologist to come up with a white … Harris Have your orchid and eat it, too London-based sugar artist Robert Haynes specializes in creating, and teaching others how to make, “botanically correct sugar flowers.” Orchid mantis …
Type: Blog
… very similar to that of a flowering dogwood. The orange dead leaf butterfly is at home in broadleaf forests of India, where it blends in with dead foliage during the dry season, going unnoticed by all but the sharpest predators. … Here at Butterflies & Blooms , this butterfly seemed to seek out dead, brown leaves in the tree canopies and use them as a place to blend in. I always got a kick out of showing …
Type: Blog
… like to share one of my favorites: the hackberry, Celtis occidentalis . Hackberry may not be in the top ten trees you think of, but maybe it should be. Take a look at the interesting texture … side of Parking Lot 4. Scroll back up—do you recognize the large picture above? This was taken in McDonald Woods, along the trail near Parking Lot 4. The large tree to the left of the bridge … this tree is that the fruits—hackberries—feed birds, squirrels, and other woodland creatures. In the summer, caterpillars of mourning cloak, question mark, and hackberry emperor …
Type: Blog
… We’ve officially reached planting season, and it is now safe to put in warm-season flowering annuals, vines, herbs, and vegetables. Horticulturists at the Chicago … such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash. Happy planting! Summer plantings await in the production greenhouses. Get the best performance from your plants with these tips from the … planted annuals for two weeks. Continue to plant new perennials, ornamental grasses, and roses in containers. If plant roots are root-bound (encircling the pot), make four cuts into the bottom …
Type: Blog
