… we spend a lot of time and energy researching the flora of the areas we are going to visit. We search out areas of the world where the climate is similar to that of the midwestern … document that our hosts submit to the national environmental agencies within each country for approval and permits for the trip. Among our goals on plant-collecting trips is to collect seeds to conserve and to …
Type: Blog
… check out some of the many insect identification books. A good bug I.D. book is a great tool for the gardener. Each morning, two of the Garden’s plant healthcare technicians scout for insect damage and disease and report back to Tom Tiddens, plant healthcare supervisor. Before … predators tends to increase along with the “bad” bug population—predation is an important (and free) control for your garden, too. Chomp, Chomp Spider mites are a common pest this time of …
Type: Plant Info
… Collection, graciously met me on a Saturday and more graciously waited two additional hours for my arrival. With Pat safe and sound, I headed to the New Jersey Turnpike. As much as … as take care of some additional botanical business. I conducted a national collections review for the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens in Newark, Delaware. Feeling weak after a long day … from the Chicago Botanic Garden a couple years ago. While in the area, I had a chance to visit Doe Run, which was the famed garden of plantsman, Sir John Thouron, and which is now owned …
Type: Blog
… patches, and scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden study prairie plants and their chance for survival amid changing climates and landscapes. For Dr. Barak, a key question is what restored plant communities will look like. Restored … rainwater and carbon dioxide—they also provide opportunities we can all enjoy each time we visit, said the scientist and former teacher. “I think it’s about more than that [the ecological …
Type: Blog
… We love nature here at the Chicago Botanic Garden, so we looked to the natural world for inspiration on how to enjoy the eclipse— here at the Garden , or in your own backyard. On … Shore Other ideas: Use everyday objects that already have holes—like colanders or crackers, for example—or by punching a hole in a piece of cardboard or other sturdy material. If you want a … Event The Garden partnered with the Adler Planetarium to host a solar eclipse viewing event. Free special viewing glasses were available so visitors could safely view the eclipse directly. …
Type: Blog
… “Back then, we were getting ready to pack it in,” says Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and the Linden Allée. Tom is responsible for curating and maintaining a collection of more than 5,000 roses in one of the largest public … years and Soulsby has no reason to believe that trend will not continue. “We continue to care for roses now as we do in June and July—we water, mulch, and keep on top of the deadheading to …
Type: Plant Info
… Sure, they are fun pets and a good educational tool for your kids, as well as a great source of fresh eggs. But what do chickens have to do with the … amount of organic waste. A mother hen teaches her chicks to forage. By fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au [ GFDL 1.2 ], via Wikimedia Commons An adult chicken eats around 9 pounds of food per … flock of chickens can turn all that vegetable matter from your kitchen into highly effective, free fertilizer. Chicken feet at work! These feet are made for scratching—and ridding your yard …
Type: Blog
… productive small-space garden. The cycle of selecting seeds or small plants, digging a garden for them, nurturing the plants, harvesting the bounty, and eating the delicious, nutritious final … source and easy to access, since food crops require hands-on tending, watering, and monitoring for problems—as well as daily checking on how big and colorful those veggies are getting! Start … A simple drawing of the garden is visually helpful and shows exactly how much space you have for each plant. This will prevent over-purchasing at the garden center. To prevent the tallest …
Type: Plant Info
… development, and home building all take their toll on the quality of urban soil. Tips for Restoring the Soil What can gardeners do to restore their soil? Avoid working in the garden … the garden: one layer of ground-up leaves and twigs, one layer of grass clippings and disease-free plant material, and one layer of soil. As you repeat the layers, sprinkle each layer with … in warm weather, not as often in cold weather. Dark, earthy, crumbling compost will be ready for your garden in four to six months. It's so easy, and it's the best thing you can do for your …
Type: Plant Info
… with the diverse plants appropriately themed to each specific garden. A fine starting point for this walk is the Great Basin, the Garden’s central lake, which is surrounded by gardens that … the roses, irises, daylilies, bulbs, and sages are massed by the hundreds, even thousands, for their color impact visible across the water. This time, too, is when the waterlilies and … is every gardener’s dream. Look and listen for all our water sources on your next Garden visit. …
Type: Walks
