… not native to the Chicago region, was historically a source for blue dye. Both species are in the pea family. Many prairie plants belong to the pea family; other important families of the … might be seen visiting these plants, bumblebees being the primary pollinator. Butterflies, in their quest for nectar, will not be rewarded for their visit, however, since Ohio spiderwort … wool carder bee, with sharp spines on their abdomens, will attack other males who come in the vicinity of the female when she is foraging for nectar. Just opening on the gravel hill …
Type: Blog
… After my daughter and I recently painted some rocks, I was putting them around a flower bed in our front yard when a woman walked by. She said, “I love those—every time I see one on my … flowers or other embellishments, and write a short message or word. Place the kindness stones in your garden or around the neighborhood, or give them as gifts. …
Type: Blog
… softened butter to create sage butter to serve along with it at the table. A beautiful plant in the garden, sage is most familiar as the flavoring in stuffing—but it makes a great grill brush, too! After using your tarragon brush on grilled …
Type: Blog
… Fahrenheit outside right now, but that’s not stopping the Dwarf Conifer Garden from shining. In fact, many of the conifers are at their peak during the coldest weather. While other plants have gone dormant for the winter, various conifers are lighting up the landscape in shades of blue, yellow, bronze, plum, and more. Platycladus orientalis ‘Elegantisima’ and … the garden. The Dwarf Conifer Garden is full of dozens of varieties and species of conifers in all shapes and sizes. While the rest of the Chicago Botanic Garden slumbers under a thick …
Type: Blog
… Your plants won’t stand a chance if you don’t also protect the containers you’ve planted them in. If you use terra cotta pots, keep them dry in cold temperatures. If they’re wet and then freeze, cracks can form. Containers made from fiberglass and plastic will degrade over time if they’re in direct sunlight, so check these for damage and move inside if you’re unsure of their …
Type: Blog
… grapefruit and drain the remaining liquid. Then, use the skewer or knife to poke three holes in the grapefruit. They should be about half an inch from the top edge and spaced evenly around … like, you can add a little suet, but you may find it doesn’t stick well to the wet fruit. Here in the Chicago area, you’ll probably find that most of your winter guests are black-capped … for birds to discover their new food source, but once they do, they tell all their friends in the neighborhood. The final product is ready for visitors. After you hang your bird feeder, …
Type: Blog
… Fast forward to the turn of the twenty-first century, when Ray Wilke, a devoted volunteer in the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden, decided to make origami cranes as a take-away … Over the years, Ray and Ginny made 40,000 cranes. Now there are 10 people who fold, bringing in bags of 20, 60, or 100 origami cranes throughout the winter. And 3,000-plus cranes are ready …
Type: Blog
… at Threaded Films heard that the Chicago Botanic Garden’s first titan arum, Spike, might bloom in August, they immediately thought, “puppet.” An unusual thought, unless you happen to be … could be heated, bent, sanded, carved, airbrushed, and painted. The spadix (the tall structure in the center) is made of lightweight, open-cell foam…with buttons for eyes. The puppeteer’s arm …
Type: Blog
… evening”? Does it include picnicking? Flowers? Music? Dancing? Sunsets? Selfies? Walking hand in hand? A romantic picnic need not be formal or fancy. The secret to making it romantic is a … more interesting and look decidedly more romantic: Edible Flowers Violas or pansies come in beautiful and dramatic colors (including near-black), and are shaped like little hearts. Their …
Type: Blog
… Botanical (Own work) [ CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons Butterflies & Blooms home is in the Regenstein Learning Campus . I can’t think of a more appropriate place for visitors to come to interact and learn about nature in some of its most beautiful forms. Being able to study and interact with nature has a profound …
Type: Blog
