… life—as he did life here at the Chicago Botanic Garden—during the four weeks he was on display in our Semitropical Greenhouse. Spike brought the nation’s—and even the world’s—attention to the Garden, as we waited for our first-ever flowering titan to open up in all its stinky and colorful glory. The event—and I am proud to call this an event—brought more … 24/7, day and night…and I became “Titan Tim,” for sure. The power of one plant… Wow! “When is he going to bloom?” That was the number one question on everyone’s mind, both at the Garden …
Type: Blog
… get to play with my railroad at home because I get to play with this one,” said Dave Rodelius, in the tone of a man who can’t believe his good fortune. Dave Rodelius shows off one of the stars … a special treat. This season, the Model Railroad Garden will pay tribute to steam engines, in honor of the 125 th anniversary of the Chicago Horticultural Society (the Society founded … Q. What keeps you motivated after all these years? A. My passion for the railroad is what drives me—I absolutely love this railroad. The same passion goes for everyone. We have 18 …
Type: Blog
… We all remember first learning about haiku in grade school with the familiar pattern of three phrases written in five, seven, and five syllables. As I developed this year’s Words in Bloom: A Year of Haiku program, I learned that the world of haiku is an expansive one with many forms. Designed to be “one breath” poems with a focus on nature, …
Type: Blog
… at the U.S. National Arboretum, Bonsai and Penjing Museum (U.S. National Arboretum) happened in 2010. In that meeting, Baker inquired about a volunteer position—that conversation altered the path of … 2014 Baker was hired as the first full time curator of bonsai at Chicago Botanic Garden. Baker is the President of the North American Bonsai Federation and a board member of the World Bonsai …
Type: Staff bio
… from science class, as the chemical that makes leaves green. But ask why leaves turn color in the fall, and we get vague quickly. Colder temperatures? Shorter days? True, but there’s more to the story. American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus) turns a brilliant yellow late in the season— after it has gone through burgundy and bright red. A summer leaf, full of … or brown, the colors of carotenoid chemicals. Reds, crimsons, and purples happen when sugar is trapped in the leaves. As sugar decomposes, it creates chemicals called anthocyanins. …
Type: Blog
… Field & Florist’s Heidi Joynt, we learned to turn those branches into lovely, living wreaths in a perfectly timed class at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Sterling Range heather ( Ciliatum … willow varieties Flowering almond ( Prunus triloba ) Heidi Joynt demonstrated how to layer in curly willow cuttings and delicate flowering branches like bridal veil and bridal wreath … or curly willow wreath (purchased or handmade). That’s how surprisingly simple the process is. As everyone clipped and pondered and designed, Joynt offered helpful wreath-making and …
Type: Blog
… go dormant for the winter. Just like animals that hibernate, trees slow their processes down in order to conserve energy. What we can see of this process can be beautiful: leaves change from … to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Then trees drop their leaves and wait out the winter. In a regular year, trees aren’t in a rush to go dormant. The process that we see takes several … it isn’t a regular year. The heat can be a factor. Expect color, but some years, the display is shorter than usual. “The higher the temperature, the faster the processes go,” Tankersley …
Type: Blog
… are they all here right now? It’s all about their life cycle. These insects spend their youth in the woods during summer, growing up flightless. In late summer/early fall, their wings develop and they can take flight, seeking a nice, cozy … bite you! These insects also have two pairs of wings that cross in the back. The forewing is thicker than the bottom of the wing and this gives true bugs a distinctive “X” or inverted “V” …
Type: Blog
… A pitcher plant growing inside a beverage pitcher was a favorite table display. (This pitcher is a species of Nepenthes.) Home tips Since these containers were not made for plants, you may … to line them with a plastic bag or insert a plastic cup or pot. If you want to keep the plants in this container for any length of time, you’ll need to provide drainage or the roots will rot. Follow directions from Tim Pollack for planting a terrarium in this YouTube video . You may have to alter the container to make it work. I had to take apart …
Type: Blog
… Summer is in the air. As the nights heat up, it’s a perfect time to get outdoors and entertain in your garden. Chicago Botanic Garden floriculturist Tim Pollak shares how you can bring the … white or cream-colored foliage and flowers. White flowers and plants create brightness in your garden by reflecting moonlight, candlelight, and firelight. Some flowers even “glow” in …
Type: Blog
