… Why Pumpkins Are Fruits and Other Cool Botany Think you know what a fruit is? Most people think of fruit as being sweet or tart, juicy or crunchy, or peel-able like a … small black berries. Close × Yes, jackfruits are fruits. Fun fact: A jackfruit can weigh up to 100 pounds, or about as much as a big dog. Close × Yes, pineapples are fruits. Fun fact: Pineapples are native to South America, not Hawaii. Close × No, rhubarbs are not fruits. Fun fact: We treat a lot of …
Type: Blog
… had changed. It was the beginning of a journey that took me from Gainesville, Florida, to Washington, 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 …
Type: Blog
… the loose bark of dead trees. Upon reaching a small stand of dead American elm trees, I began to lift the loose remaining bark away from one of the trees to see if any spiders were present. As I gently pulled the bark away from the trunk, a tiny black … 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
… poet William Wordsworth came upon the happy sight of daffodils in spring—and was inspired to write one of the most beloved nature poems in the English language. The poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” is a reminder of the ability of the natural world to lift spirits. Wordsworth wrote the poem on April 15, 1802, after a walk in the Lake District …
Type: Blog
… 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 … three primary benefits I observed: quiet fascination and stimuli reduction, the ability to follow direction, and tactile sensory integration. The first benefit has to do with the …
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 … 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 … and residues before filling with starting mix. 4. The right light. A strong light source is crucial for stimulating plant growth. Without it, plants turn leggy, making them weak and more …
Type: Blog
… Thanksgiving is here again, and we at the Chicago Botanic Garden are thankful for all the pollinators who make … the PDF (11″x17″) of this placemat. As you enjoy a meal with friends and family, take a moment to say thanks for the little things that make such a big difference—pollinators! Draw and color … you are eating at your feast in the center of your plate on our placemat. Check the answer key to see who pollinated them. Instructions: Click on the image above to download our placemat to …
Type: Blog
… be good for making prints. For younger children, this activity provides ample opportunity to practice color, fruit, and vegetable identification and hone their gross-motor skills. Older children may be interested to know that different foods come from different parts of the plant. Here is a fun and educational activity that will foster creativity in children of all ages. …
Type: Blog
… I study biodiversity and restoration in the tallgrass prairie. My post-doctoral research is focused on seed mix design for restoration from both a social and ecological perspective. … though observation and experimentation, I am determining how seed mixes become prairies, that is, which planted seeds and species are likely to germinate, emerge and establish in restored prairies. …
Type: Staff bio
… A lot of birds migrate through the area this time of year, but I have to say warblers are my favorites. The other day, when the rain cleared and the sun came out, I … heaven! Yellow-rumped warblers ( Setophaga coronata ) are some of the most common warblers to be seen at the Garden. You can spot them almost anywhere! Photo © Carol Freeman As soon as I … ) photo © Carol Freeman While I can’t promise you will see this many warblers in a day, there is always something to see, and the fun part for me is never knowing just what might show up. …
Type: Blog
