… garden in spring. Long-lasting. Sturdy. Cold-tolerant. Fragrant. Sun-loving. Pest-free. Gorgeous in a vase. Despised by deer . No wonder daffodils are so beloved by Chicago area … they're large, moveable, colonize naturally, and, as long as they're not waterlogged, last for decades—possibly outliving the person who planted them. In fact, there's only one real … for you to see in situ before you order for fall. How to find them? Our GardenGuide app (it's free) guides you to them, and it could prove to be your best memory tool. All you need is an …
Type: Plant Info
… garden, I grow at least one African American heirloom crop, partly to commemorate Juneteenth. For Black Americans, Juneteenth marks the final liberation of our ancestors held as slaves on … forgiving, and prolific crop. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds/rareseeds.com Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad Tomato This heirloom seed is still with us today because an … 19, 1865—in Galveston, Texas, when the last enslaved Black people learned that they were free. They got word more than two years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation …
Type: Blog
… of sites. Although most prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, there are grasses for shade, wet soil, pond and stream banks, slopes, or sandy soils. But which ones are the best? … large mounds and sends up pink bottlebrush flower heads. It is not hardy but is a good choice for containers or massed in annual beds. 'Rubrum' is an outstanding 4-foot, burgundy-foliaged … reed grass ( Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster') 'Karl Foerster' is a trouble-free, 4- to 5-foot upright grass that is stunning when massed or singled out as a vertical …
Type: Plant Info
… Growing plants from seed is fun and saves money—where else can you get dozens of plants for a few dollars? Many plants can be grown from seed indoors while others, such as carrots and … bags of seed-starting or soilless potting mix, available at local garden centers. Don’t opt for bags of inexpensive, heavy garden soil, which can harbor diseases that attack seedlings. … flowers or fruits form). Some seedlings can’t be placed outdoors until after the last frost-free date. In the Chicago area, that date generally is May 15. If you start your seeds too early, …
Type: Plant Info
… ranging from reducing inflammation to antimicrobial properties. People have used honey for these purposes for more than 5,000 years , from ancient Greece to the Mayan civilization, and beekeeping has a … Rodeo Farm honey at the Garden Shop, or in the market at Farm on Ogden while supplies last. Visit our farms! Come check out the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm, as well as Farm on Ogden, …
Type: Blog
… Their Bets As if on cue, tiny green leaves peek out from the dark soil each spring, reaching for the sun. But how do flowers know it’s spring? And can they detect real spring versus a warm … the warmest ever recorded in Chicago and as the highest global average temperature in history for that month. At the Garden, it was in the 60s one day and snowing the next. It’s no wonder … in the Landscape Garden Viburnum ( Viburnum prunifolium ) “It’s really weird and really early for this kind of weather. One day it was 65 degrees [Fahrenheit] and the next day it snowed,” …
Type: Blog
… Winter is a great season for bookworms—there’s nothing like a good book to keep you company during the colder months. And … and give us a glimpse into the history of plants all the way back to ancient Greece. For just a taste of what this collection offers, we asked Leora Siegel, Lenhardt Library’s senior … are digitized and linked above, but nothing quite compares with seeing a rare book in person. Visit the Lenhardt Library from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday to explore its full …
Type: Blog
… more. “Hands in earth, sand, mud: building, digging, sewing, baking—these are what humans DO.” For fun, interesting, and education-based ideas, we turned to a fun, interesting, and … employees, librarians, and just-plain-curious caregivers who came together at the Garden for a Nature Play conference (sponsored by the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Wilderness, and … undyed yarn or fabric into a personal style experience. 10. Paint Chip Color Hunt One quick visit to the paint store can send kids off to hunt for hours, as they try to match nature’s …
Type: Blog
… a closer look, you’ll notice signs of wildlife all around you, too. Their connection makes for the best kind of codependency. Killdeer, a shorebird that commonly nests at the Garden. … on each other, and the bond between them creates a healthy ecosystem. Plants provide food for various wildlife and, at the Garden, you can find examples of this everywhere. The milkweed … Sometimes, nature lends a helping hand to protect the plants, too. Foxes and coyotes that visit the Garden on occasion chase away geese and voles, small rodents that damage the bark of …
Type: Blog
… and shrub care Ice and snow challenges Indoor Plant Care Herbal harvest Monitor houseplants for infestation Bonus Recycle holiday evergreens For Chicago-area gardeners, January is primarily a time for planning, not planting. With winter … ability to absorb water. Retie vines that become torn from their supports. Keep small ponds free of ice by installing pumps or pouring warm water over ice as it begins to form. De-ice with …
Type: Plant Info
