… Have you noticed all the mushrooms popping up in lawns, mulch, and next to trees? We asked Greg Mueller , Ph.D., chief scientist and Negaunee vice president of science at the Garden for answers. Why do mushrooms pop up out of nowhere? Mushrooms can appear magical—seeming to pop up overnight. This is part of their mystique. The mushrooms we see are the spore forming …
Type: Blog
… If you’re ready to start a new tradition (enough already with the pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin cookies), consider this recipe for bourbon pumpkin-pecan fudge. The bourbon gives the fudge a bit of a kick (and who doesn’t need a little jump-start during the holidays?). The recipe is simple enough to get the whole family involved. Think butter…pumpkin…toasted pecans—what’s not to like? And …
Type: Blog
… in how species interactions, population dynamics, and the timing of biological events respond to various types of environmental changes. My work so far has investigated the consequences of climate change and species invasions for plant-pollinator mutualisms, plant populations, and plant communities. Using … key questions: Why is there so much variation in how species adjust their biological timing to a changing climate? What are the demographic consequences of changing environmental conditions …
Type: Staff bio
… which monarchs lay their eggs, and its caterpillars, also called larvae, eat milkweed leaves to grow. But these plants have other interesting characteristics, including blooms that are amazingly complex. Milkweeds are found mostly in open prairies and savannas and are known to most by their fruits, which are pod-like structures (follicles) that split open to release … are not large enough to escape the pollinarium’s grasp on its leg — an unfortunate situation for the insect! There are so many flowers in close proximity on a milkweed plant that it seems …
Type: Blog
… When plants are introduced to a new location, either intentionally or accidentally, they can spread prolifically, out-compete native species for resources, and eventually even dominate the landscape. Biologists are studying the mechanisms underlying a taxon’s ability to become invasive, but it can be difficult to predict whether or not a species will become …
Type: Research
… the Grounds department since 1991, when he started out as a seasonal employee. He was promoted to Grounds crew leader in 2009. Patino has broad expertise in landscaping, particularly in … Also, Patino is the lead employee on the team that puts outdoor lights on the large trees for Wonderland Express, a task that takes him more than 240 hours every fall. Patino grew up in …
Type: Staff bio
… I am the Managing Ecologist for the prairie and river at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The natural areas I maintain at the … and the 22-acre riparian buffer of the Skokie River. Management includes but not limited to, removal of invasive species, controlled burns, tree removal, planting local genotype plants, …
Type: Staff bio
… the orange dead leaf (Kallima inachus) . If we didn’t point out this character to guests, no one would ever suspect that they were looking at a butterfly. I like to describe the orange dead leaf butterfly as being able to mimic a dead leaf better than an … at rest on a branch Kallima inachus with its wings open The butterfly has another surprise for visitors: It has incredibly vivid coloration on the dorsal side of its wings. When the …
Type: Blog
… Thank you, Rachel Carson. For me, personally, Silent Spring had a profound impact. It was one of the books we read at my … of the environment and so involved with environmental issues. Her example inspired me to write Earth in the Balance. . . . Her picture hangs on my office wall among those of … built, we felt that it was so close to a large city…I put a full-page ad in the Highland Park News, and I wrote an article about nuclear waste and terrorists.” When my mom wasn’t lying down …
Type: Blog
… Deciduous trees, explains Boyce Tankersley, director of living plant documentation, respond to environmental conditions when preparing to go dormant for the winter. Just like animals that hibernate, trees slow their processes down in order to …
Type: Blog
