… When buckthorn moves in to the ecosystem, it dominates. Imagine a friend invites you to a dinner party, promising a delicious spread of food and libations. You arrive, excited and … While it may be true that one person at the party really likes kale, it’s hardly fair for the preferences of that person to supersede everyone else’s needs. In the case of buckthorn, …
Type: Blog
… approximately 800 genera and over 19,000 species found in all parts of the world. In addition to being a source for economically important plants, the family is also important because legumes dominate many … legume specialists, working under the group name “Legume Phylogeny Working Group” is working to develop a better understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships in this …
Type: Research
… The Krasberg Rose Garden is naturally romantic. As with fine wines, the descriptive words for roses are rich and varied. Among the 5,000-plus rose bushes planted are some that speak the … is strong in this big, ruffly, old-fashioned rose. Finally, some roses have romantic stories to tell. The Portland rose ( Rosa ‘Comte de Chambord’) was a gift to the Empress Josephine, who established the greatest rose garden of its time at Malmaison. The …
Type: Blog
… David Murray is the horticulturist for the Shida Evaluation Garden. Our new Shida Evaluation Garden allows us to expand our acclaimed plant evaluation program, which began in 1982. The landscape plan by … interest the outdoors began as a broad curiosity of the natural world, where he was encouraged to spend much of his time as a child. As a teen while adventuring out west, he saw his first …
Type: Staff bio
… Take a peek in your closet, and you might find a long wooden broom for sweeping up dust or offering rides to witches and wizards. For broom maker John Spannagel of Hidalgo, Illinois, brooms are more than … love, made with a special ingredient: broomcorn. Broomcorn is a type of ornamental grass used to make specialty brooms, a passion Spannagel discovered nearly three years ago. The retired …
Type: Blog
… It’s always a fun day with a community vibe, as Chicago area gardeners gather to swap seeds, stories, and green-thumb tips. Panache sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ‘Panache’) With that in mind, here are five simple secrets for seed-starting success 1. Quality seed starter. Give your seeds a healthy jump start by … and helpful information—often spelled out in great detail—such as planting depth, days to germination, and watering requirements. Save the seed packs after you sow, too, since there’s …
Type: Blog
… degree in horticulture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1984. He worked as a foreman for Campbell's Garden Center, installing and maintaining landscapes. During summer breaks from … Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. He writes a weekly gardening column for the Chicago Tribune and a weekly gardening tips column for the Daily Herald , and responds to other media request. He is a regular speaker at the American Public Garden Association's …
Type: Staff bio
… of topographic relief, this expansive habitat appeared as a “sea of grasses” that extended to the horizon. On closer examination, this seemingly uniform and unvarying landscape was made up … important driver of this diversity was the mosaic of soil and bedrock underlying the prairies. For example, the xeric (dry) communities of the prairies were associated with exposed bedrock … increasingly isolated, and many populations are declining and exhibiting reproductive failure. To slow the decline of this regionally important species, we propose to identify demographic, …
Type: Research
… Sanchez joined the Grounds Department in 1987 as a seasonal employee. He was soon promoted to assistant heavy equipment operator with the Construction and Maintenance department. From there, he worked as an assistant electrician for many years. In 1994, he was promoted to foreman in the Grounds department. He also works as a lead heavy equipment operator and on …
Type: Staff bio
… growing conditions are met. They require full sun and moist soils in winter that are allowed to dry out in summer. Foliage should not be removed until it turns yellow. Protect from deer, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
