… that folding 1,000 paper cranes, one for each year, can make a wish come true. So it is that the crane is the symbol of longevity and good fortune. 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
… boxes hint at the spirit of America’s first botanist and the oldest surviving botanic garden in the country. Nestled inside each box are thought-provoking items, including pieces of a tulip … Bartram’s Garden, once visited by notables such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, is now a 45-acre National Historic Landmark in Philadelphia. “It’s an amazing place,” said Owen. “It’s just beautiful. There are still …
Type: Blog
… Handmade greeting cards make people feel loved. Here is a fun and festive way to show friends and relatives that you care about them. It’s a great … to do. (It’s also a way to use up some of those 20-year-old spices that are languishing in your kitchen cabinet!) MATERIALS White glue in a squeeze bottle Construction paper Dried herbs and spices, whole or ground Salt and water in …
Type: Blog
… What an amazing plant science moment occurred in the Semitropical Greenhouse this morning, as a fascinated crowd gathered to see what was … determined that Spike had run out of the energy it needed to continue its bloom cycle. Spike is powered by energy from the sun, stored in its beach-ball-sized corm—a tuber-like underground structure. A tremendous amount of energy …
Type: Blog
… D.C., to Japan and finally here to the Chicago Botanic Garden, where I am the curator in charge of the Bonsai Collection , which is known as one of the best of its kind in the world. Shortly after I purchased my first tree, I started learning about bonsai and joined …
Type: Blog
… As we are all adapting to new ways of connecting for work and play, students in Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm program have learned to adapt too. With a new way of doing … a few obstacles, but discovered some positive surprises along the way. Windy City Harvest is part of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture program that strives to bring food, … It’s been lots of fun and it feels like a second family." Ordinarily, youth farmers work on-site and attend in-person workshops, five days a week for eight weeks. This year, because of the …
Type: Blog
… therapy and therapy gardens within health and human service agencies has grown exponentially in recent years. In senior centers, gardening and garden spaces are used to help with fine motor skills, socialization, and ambulatory movement. In veteran’s hospitals, gardening is used for exercise, vocational training, and education. There is one population that, in my …
Type: Blog
… A few years ago, in early spring, I was traveling through the McDonald Woods at the Chicago Botanic Garden, … for some of the flat-bodied crab spiders ( Philodromus ) that typically spend the winter in communal groupings under the loose bark of dead trees. Upon reaching a small stand of dead … that this piece of loose bark was the day roost of a silver-haired bat. The silver-haired bat is a medium-sized bat that is a dark chocolate brown or black with white hairs scattered among …
Type: Blog
… I could read,” he said. Now he’s a proud plant parent to more than 100 plants. The collection is impressive, to be sure. But just how does one transport a thriving plant collection? As I … for my green, leafy friends. Part of Weaver's houseplant collection, grown under grow lamps in his basement. Weaver's dog, Pepin, isn't so sure about the monstera coming along for the move. … monstera or 8-foot dracaena. Decide whether you want to bring the whole plant, or save room in your moving truck by taking a cutting (and gifting the large plant to a friend). “The nice …
Type: Blog
… A Paphiopedilum, or lady slipper orchid, is another popular orchid with collectors: it prefers high humidity and indirect light, faring best in eastern early morning light. But how do you ensure early success? Just as we learned in our first video, Repotting Orchids, Part 1: Phalaenopsis , it’s always best to repot your …
Type: Blog
