… questions, since they are on the cutting edge of scientific understanding. One such question is: “What are those specs of gold on the monarch butterflies?” The short answer is “Nobody … asking, “What sort of advantage would this feature give to the butterfly?” Every trait found in nature exists because it gave that individual more opportunities to reproduce. Perhaps the … thumb? One theory is that the specs imitate the iridescent glistening drops of dew on a leaf in the morning or after a rain. Another theory is that the gold specs are a way of the pupae …
Type: Blog
… recognize a squirrel nest, called a drey , when they see one. The eastern gray squirrels in our region build dreys in trees for shelter and protection from the elements. What you see as a messy clump of leaves is actually a structure formed from sticks and then lined with leaves and other materials to make …
Type: Blog
… Amorphophallus remains a unique occupant in the world of plants, and visitors to the Chicago Botanic Garden recently experienced the fascinating bloom cycle with the titan arum Sprout. However, there is an additional denizen of the Araceae (a.k.a. Aroid, a.k.a. Arum) family with rare and … This formation produces the startling look of snake eyes. One of the first jacks to emerge in spring, cobra lily has flowers that can last a long time in the cool spring weather. Japanese …
Type: Blog
… It’s OK to have a favorite. Phillip Douglas, the Garden’s new curator of woody plants, is not shy about listing his top picks. Spending his first summer in Glencoe, Douglas is especially taken with the variety of oaks at the Garden. The … the development of the oak and willow collections, and a review of all such plants already on-site. Douglas will also be helping to organize trips to collect plants in the wild with Andrew …
Type: Blog
… basics about male and female flowers. And then they started talking pollen. Flashback: What is pollen? Tiny squiggles of pollen emerge from the male flowers about three days after Spike’s … have evolved along with the bees themselves, offering up both nectar and pollen as food in exchange for the movement of pollen from plant to plant. Flashback: Why are insects pollinators? In a word, efficiency. Plants that rely on the wind are at the mercy of the wind: much of the …
Type: Blog
… Spice_holidaycards My 2-year-old son is a little too young to carve or paint his own pumpkin this year, so creating a “pump-cano” was … the pumpkin and enjoy the show. You can repeat this as many times as you like. First pour in the baking soda Then slowly add the dishwashing soap Red food coloring goes in next Eruption! What is happening: This is an acid/base chemical reaction. The vinegar is …
Type: Blog
… Tom Tiddens has worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the Plant Health Care department for 25 years. In 1994, Tiddens was promoted to supervisor of the department. Since then, the department has … collections from diseases, pests, and weeds in an environmentally sensitive manner. Tiddens is a certified arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture and serves as the …
Type: Staff bio
… In gardening, as in life, patience is a virtue. Twelve years ago, the Garden embarked on a mission to bring a rock … Botanic Garden. The titan arum ( Amorphophallus titanum ), also known as the corpse flower, is the largest flowering structure in the world. When it blooms, it puts on a show like no …
Type: Blog
… The Chicago Botanic Garden is on #TitanWatch. That’s right: if you visit the Garden’s Semitropical Greenhouse, you will see … to begin a bloom cycle. Our corpse flowers ( Amorphophallus titanum ) are now on display in a variety of life stages: in fruit, leaf, and imminent bloom. You might remember Spike and Alice in 2015: Spike failed to …
Type: Blog
… home to my quiet, tree-lined Chicago neighborhood, but one thing I miss about urban living is ample outdoor space. The back door of my apartment leads to a wooden fire escape—built after … lounging or late-night stargazing. Still, I find myself dreaming of an herb garden growing in the little patch of morning sun that filters through the stairs. Growing an herb container … & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She recently planted an herb container tower in the garden, so ideas were fresh on her mind when I talked with her. Here are her tips for …
Type: Blog
