… Production department's nursery supervisor. Many of the Garden's more unique and difficult-to-source plants are grown in the nursery. Raue started working at the Garden in 1986, as a … Following her internship, in the next seven years, Raue worked as a horticulturist for the Farwell Landscape Garden, Native Plant Garden, Graham Bulb Garden, and Aquatic Garden. She transferred to Plant Production as a grower for indoor floriculture in 1996 and then to the nursery as a …
Type: Staff bio
… To most people, the word “pollinator” is synonymous with the word “bee,” but only a fraction of … pollinators—bats, birds, beetles, moths, and more. As part of National Moth Week , we wanted to highlight our work on a very special group of moths: the Sphingidae, or hawkmoths, which … leaves, buds, and flowers. How does scent play a role in attracting hawkmoths? Do moths use it for pollination? Or do they use it to find host plants to lay their eggs? Or maybe both? Hawkmoth …
Type: Blog
… An edible orchid in an ice sphere adorns a cocktail from chef Daniel Boulud, marthastewart.com Why, yes, that's an orchid in my cocktail Noted French chef Daniel Boulud paired with a mixologist to come up with a white cosmopolitan recipe that calls for elderflower liqueur and a frozen orchid sphere. The “aromatic” Platanthera obtusata. Photo by …
Type: Blog
… we onlookers stop in our tracks, smile goofily, gawk unabashedly…and let our thoughts turn to romance. Over the years, the Garden has been the site of many a romantic story for both staff and visitors. With summer in full swing—and romance in the air—here are a few more … approached, a few people walked out on the grass, took their places, cued the music, and began to dance. Popping up from benches and stepping out from trees, others skipped into the action…and …
Type: Blog
… team from the Development Department (spearheaded by Lisa Bakker) brainstorm, gather, and plan for their wreath that it took them just two lunch breaks to assemble and decorate it. Monica Vachlon (administrative assistant of horticulture) and Jacob … and ‘Golden Bantam’—in a seasonless sunburst. The French saying on this wreath translates to, “the moon is my light and my joy.” Even the branches of this wreath are made of raffia. A …
Type: Blog
… fashion and design. Since the global pandemic began, designers have been turning to the earthy aesthetics and healing powers of mushrooms and other kinds of fungi. In particular, … of the design world. Mycelium—a network of tiny “threads” that links plants together to share water and nutrients—is an irresistible metaphor for connection and harmony. Designer Stella McCartney is making pants and other clothes out of …
Type: Blog
… When buckthorn moves in to the ecosystem, it dominates. Imagine a friend invites you to a dinner party, promising a delicious spread of food and libations. You arrive, excited and … While it may be true that one person at the party really likes kale, it’s hardly fair for the preferences of that person to supersede everyone else’s needs. In the case of buckthorn, …
Type: Blog
… Garden. The first significant snowfall of the season gives the Garden a perfect white coat for winter. What better reason for a walk through the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden ? Many consider winter to be the Japanese Garden’s most beautiful season. Its design emphasizes nature’s forms like … lumps of yews and junipers, resemble white boulders or fluffy clouds. Open-pruned pines, wired to maximize long and borrowed views, are natural snow catchers, offering up their own cushions of …
Type: Blog
… plant species. I manage a microproagation lab focusing on developing tissue culture techniques for both rare/exceptional and restoration-relevant plant species. I coordinate the Synthesis Center for Conservation and Restoration at the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I also work to support data analysis and visualization for projects with collaborators at the Chicago Botanic …
Type: Staff bio
… 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 ‘Panache’) With that in mind, here are five simple secrets for seed-starting success 1. Quality seed starter. Give your seeds a healthy jump start by … 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 …
Type: Blog
