… Freeman By moving just a few inches to my left, I was able to get a more pleasing background for this orchid. Photo ©Carol Freeman It may be bright outside, but the light in the Chicago … images at a slower shutter speed. (Typically, you want to have at least 1/400th of a second for a 400mm lens, or 1/100th of a second for a 100mm lens, etc., so the shorter lens will gain … review the images on a large screen and know what will be acceptable to you on the day of your visit. Every camera is different, and what may work for me may be too grainy for you. Most …
Type: Blog
… 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
… 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
… are talking about ways to green their gardening. We hope you find this information useful for your own gardening purposes. Biodegradable Biodegradable products or packages decompose into … lanes. In some communities, commercial building codes require bioswales to reduce the need for larger sewer systems. Carbon Footprint Carbon dioxide is one of a handful of common … mechanical practices to address challenges posed by pests and pathogens Composting disease-free plant material for later use as a soil amendment or mulch Rain Gardens Similar to bioswales, …
Type: Plant Info
… a future on this planet,” said Kayri Havens, Ph.D., chief scientist of the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action at the Garden. “It is so gratifying to see our studbook … Wood, National Tropical Botanical Garden. The sea cliffs of Kauai were one of the last refuges for alula in the wild. Photo by Jeremy Foster. Seed collecting on a sea cliff Alula’s swollen, … 50% of known flowering plants are estimated at risk of extinction . And you don’t need to visit Hawaii to find rare and endangered species, they are also holding on in the face of habitat …
Type: Blog
… The aggressive root systems of these plants can go down 6 to 7 feet into the soil and travel for many yards underground before surfacing in another spot. These extensive root systems make … thistle Cirsium discolor Pasture thistle Image By Fritz Flohr Reynolds - https://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzflohrreynolds/15143788606, CC BY-SA 2.0, … being impaled by the spines. As you might imagine, the spines provide effective protection for the plants against herbivores. They tend to increase in pasture land, due to the fact that …
Type: Plant Info
… Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p. 227. At first glance, witch hazels hardly seem candidates for tests or trials, since, as a group, they are hardy, maintenance-free, and ignored by most pests. Whether you think of them as small trees or large shrubs, they … p. 227. In fact, the only major drawback to witch hazels lies at their roots—a preference for well-drained, loamy, acidic soil means that they grow less than happily in clay soil. That's …
Type: Plant Info
… many rootlets, it clings to brick, mortar, wood and stone and becomes virtually a maintenance-free plant. Fences, pillars, trellises, and posts of all sorts are perfect forms against which … ivy cultivars available are not winter-hardy here, 'Thorndale' is particularly recommended for midwestern gardeners. As an outdoor annual container plant, English ivy combines beautifully … in hanging baskets, decorative containers, or window boxes. A few cultivars suitable for pots include 'Brokamp', 'Cascade', 'Ceridwen', 'Domino', 'Irish Lace', and one of the best …
Type: Plant Info
… styles, is a walk through the history of English gardening. It is also an ideal opportunity for visitors to fill their own gardening dreams with beautifully inspired ideas. A Series of … Garden Rooms The noted English landscape architect John Brookes provided the original design for this garden in 1971, and he continues to visit regularly, checking on the progress of the signature plant specimens that mark each area. …
Type: Walks
